Cut back colourful cornus stems

Cornus (dogwood) and salix (willow) grown for their bright winter stems give the garden a real colour boost from autumn to early spring. However, it’s the young stems that provide the brightest colour, so they need pruning back annually to ensure a good display year after year.

Cutting back all the existing stems to ground level with sharp secateurs encourages strong new growth that will colour up ready for late autumn. It also stops the shrubs getting too large.

If you don’t like the idea of having such a prominent stump, remove half or a third of the stems instead. This is especially worthwhile on Cornus sanguineus

‘Midwinter Fire’, so you can enjoy the full impact of its colour variation on longer stems from yellow at the base to the glowing red tips. ✿ Use the prunings in craft projects or as homemade woven plant supports.