Plant this One of the earliest-flowering trees for a small garden is the Japanese apricot, Prunus mume ‘Beni-chidori’. Its magenta pink, almond-scented flowers start emerging now, but it needs a sheltered spot in full sun to prevent frost damage to the blossom. This shrubby tree is ideal for a container.
Prune this You know it’s time to prune shrub roses, but the array of advice can be bewildering. Simplify it this way: first, snip away stems that are damaged or spindly. Then reduce the rest of the growth by about a third, removing the oldest branches at the base. Make your cuts just above an outward-facing bud.
Visit this Escape winter with a trip to Colombia – or rather, Kew’s Colombia-themed orchid festival. Witness a cascade of hanging orchids representing Colombia’s famous rainbow river, Caño Cristales, and explore a forest scene complete with life-sized jaguars. See kew.org.
