Don’t prune these now

GRAPEVINES To avoid excessive sap-loss or ‘bleeding’, you should only prune these in the depths of winter.

BIRCH TREES These are similarly prone to bleeding if pruned now – although tapping the rising sap (to drink) can be fun earlier in the year.

WISTERIA This should be pruned in January and again in July. If you cut it back at this time of year, you will interrupt its flowering.

HAZEL AND OTHER COPPICED TREES Pruning these now that they are in leaf will result in weaker growth as you reduce the capacity for photosynthesis. Coppicing should be done in winter to promote strong stems.

Avoid pruning grapevines when they’re in leaf, as they’ll bleed a lot of sap from the wounds