It’s time to cut down those Cornus (dogwood) stems that have been glowing red/green or orange all winter and bring them inside so you can extend enjoyment of them, while allowing new growth buds to form outside. If you cut only a third or half of the stems you can still have flowers this year and get coloured stems next winter from the new ones. Preferably place them in a turquoise pot so the colours can zing with each other!
Cornus siberica stems with Sarcoccoca
Add some evergreen leaves if you like although I think they look great on their own generally. These ones are a bit twisted so I have added some Sarcocca stems. Sarcoccoa is still flowering here in London after more than 2 months, sending out sweet perfume to welcome all who arrive at our front door. A wonderful plant for a dark corner in winter. See more here
Summer flowering clematis should generally be pruned at about 30cm height now (but check which pruning group yours belong to first).
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=109
Cut the dead stems of summer flowering clematis to within about 30cm of the ground
Stems of Miscanthus and Calamogrostis grasses should also be cut back before the new ones start to grow. Tatty evergreen fern leaves can soon be removed to make way for new growth. Cut back old Sedum flowers which have been giving sculptural interest all winter and the new leaves should already have formed rosettes at the base. This brilliant plant never has a dull moment. (see below)
Sedums: Now forming rosettes of grey green leaves at base
Pulmonaria in flower now
Iris reticulata harmony
Other plants that are great right now apart from daffodils & snowdrops are the Pulmonarias (lungwort) and tiny reticulate irises .
And lastly the frogs have already started their activity in our pond (don’t they realize we only have room for 4 pairs?!!) so if you have a bog garden or pond that needs cleaning out or cutting back this may be your last chance to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Bog garden partly cleared of roots and old stems: This makes way for new growth and leaves some open water for frog spawn
