Plant this If you love magnolias but can’t fit a big tree in your garden, the slow-growing, compact star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is your answer. The white flowers are a welcome sign of early spring. Needs full sun and protection from cold winds, but minimal pruning. Height and spread 3m x 3m, eventually.
Visit this If you’e in need of some garden glamour, Chiswick House in west London’s Grade I-listed conservatory is the ideal refuge right now. Its camellia collection – huge, venerable and utterly gorgeous – is at peak bloom this month and next. The Camellia Show is until 25 March.
Cut this Pruning can be a complicated business, but the general rule with flowering shrubs is this: prune straight after flowering. For now, tackle Mahonias and winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum); it’s also your last chance to get to grips with apples and pears.
