WELL things are really hotting up here, everywhere I look someone is cutting back old herbaceous growth, someone is jet washing benches. The sound of clipping comes from the garden as all the hedges are trimmed back. I can hear the tapping of a hammer as someone else makes some lovely new planters for the entrance.

New trees are being planted, I’ve cut back and tied in all the clematis and ordered some new ones for planting next week and am moving on to sorting out the Physic Garden and the Garden of Contemplation.

There is an extra air of urgency as this year we open on Monday, March 26, a little earlier than normal, but as Easter is also early we wanted to have all the fun of welcoming you to the garden over that weekend.

One job I must get done at home, as well as here, is pruning back the dogwoods (Cornus sp) next to the Physic Garden. I’ll cut out any dead, diseased or damaged wood, followed by the oldest, thickest stems. You can, of course, coppice the whole bush if you wish.

Coppicing is when you cut the woody stems of the plant right down to the ground and is a traditional way of harvesting plants such as willow and hazel.

You get really fresh, vibrant stems that way and they make a fabulous display of colour in the rather monochrome months of winter.

Traditionally, shrubby Cornus were pruned in February or March, but now recent studies have shown that pruning annually in late March to mid-April (as the new growth is just beginning to develop) is preferable.

This later pruning allows the winter display to be enjoyed, but doesn’t seem to have any negative consequences for the bush from bleeding or the cutting off of some of the new growth.

These types of Cornus species are not fussy about soil conditions and can take moist soil in full sun or partial shade.

It is a good idea not to prune too frequently if the growing conditions are poor.

Every two to three years is often enough if conditions are very shady. Newly-planted Cornus should not be pruned for the first two or three years while they get established. Start to prune once it is clear they are growing away strongly.

If you really want to make a splash in the winter garden the following cultivars are good. Cornus alba "Sibirica" has bright red stems in winter, red autumn leaves. C alba Kesselringii has dark purple-black stems in winter and purple foliage year-round.

C sericea Flaviramea has lime green winter stems and we have a good stand of them next to the Physic Garden. Or try C sanguinea Midwinter Fire, which has yellow-orange-red winter stems.

They all make great bases for Christmas wreaths as the stems are quite bendy when they’re first pruned.

So even though this winter hasn’t quite let us out of its grip, think ahead to making next winter more colourful and plant one or two of these beauties in your garden.