CUT DOWN POTENTILLA

Shrubby potentillas are tough plants that flower through summer and can be relied on to grow in even the coldest areas. Although pre y in summer, they’re rather scruffy in winter, with the remnants of their ferny leaves clinging to brown twigs. Now spring’s around the corner it’s the perfect time to prune and, for once, there’s no need to be precise – just cut them back to tidy them up. Young plants can be pruned by about half or two thirds but old plants with thick, gnarled stems can be pruned hard and will shoot from the base and bloom this summer.