Whether you have evergreen, deciduous, or conifer hedges as part of your backyard ideas, there are simple guidelines to ensure you prune them at the right time of year. Let us help clear things up ...

Most conifers require minimal pruning and will perform well in your landscape without your intervention. But if you need to prune them, here’s what to do.

Conifer hedges such as leylandii need regular pruning or these fast-growers will soon outgrow their location. Pruning informal hedges depends on when they flower.

Many evergreen hedges in this area appear to be dead. (S Groom, Attleborough) Answer: The problem sounds like Cypress aphid, which is one of the major causes of dieback on conifer hedges.