I SEEM to be the owner of a disappointing collection of shrubs planted some years ago, I wonder if there’s anything I can do to improve them? Mrs Taylor, Kendal

With many shrubs there is a natural shelf life, some will go on for countless years and seasons looking terrific but with others there comes a time when you need to enhance the ground conditions around them, possibly prune them in order to stimulate fresh growth, writes TOM ATTWOOD.

When it comes to improving the soil it’s a case of adding organic matter to the soil, something that’s going to break down and release nutrients that are so important to all plants be they shrubs, trees or cottage garden plants. Handfuls of fertiliser is something often turned to as a remedy, and that alone, but if you can, use both fertiliser and a mulch as a twosome to get the best results. Lightly forking over the soil immediately around the base of the shrub will not only open up the ground allowing better aeration, drainage and water movement but will improve the efficacy of the mulch and fertiliser you apply getting to the roots where it’ll be used to the full. Don’t be tempted to add handfuls of artificial fertiliser, it’s potent and the correct amount will often do great things in a relatively short space of time but equally, excess amounts can have the opposite effect. The autumn and spring would be a recommended window of opportunity but I would say do it when you can irrespective of the time of year.

I can’t give a blanket recommendation to prune all the afore mentioned shrubs without knowing what they are as some would not appreciate an aggressive haircut at this time of year. Having said that, if these are largely ‘everyday’ shrubs such as forsythia, holly, laurel, dog rose or weigela, then the likelihood is that many would tolerate some cutting back. Be conservative with your pruning and combine it with the above soil prep and you’ll soon notice a positive growth response on every level.

Next week: container plants