Top pruning tipsfor beginners

Autumn and winter tend to be the seasons when the structure of a garden is most appreciated. Frost picks out the shapes of evergreen shrubs and hedging, and sun pierces through a filigree of bare bran

There is a plum tree growing wild on wasteland with delicious fruits borne on its many suckers. If I dig up a sucker can I grow this tree in my garden or do I have to make a graft? Self-seeded plum tr

Once bush roses have finished flowering, prune them by between one-third and a half. Cutting them back will reduce the risk of them being rocked in windy weather through autumn and winter, which can l

Fruit may seem like something reserved for allotmenteers, or gardeners with enormous spaces at their disposal. However, this really isn’t the case, with more and more small space gardeners turning the

Looking after roses Cut back shrub ...

Toby explains how plants and trees set up natural defences and outlines what we can do to help