READER’S QUESTION

TWO years ago, having admired the bright-red winter stems of Cornus alba Sibirica, we planted one in the garden. Instead of producing lots of stems, it’s grown into a rather untidy bush. How and when should it be pruned? P. Legget, Sussex. YOU chose the best of several dogwoods whose young winter stems are dazzling scarlet. The pruning technique is simple. To produce lots of straight, smooth, bright-barked stems your dogwood needs to be cut back to a short stump. The technical term is ‘pollarding’. Normally, it’s done in late March, but you can still do it now.

Look for the lowest pair of buds or leaf-shoots on the lower stems. Sever each stem just above the paired shoots and repeat that each year. The plant will grow increasing numbers of young stems or rods.