Get to grips with pruning in your garden with this handy little guidebook from an experienced National Trust head gardener.

Get to grips with pruning in your garden with this handy little guidebook from an experienced National Trust head gardener.

It's packed with useful, easy-to-follow advice on pruning all the plants that need it, from individual roses to the hedge that encircles your garden, including shrubs, climbers and fruit trees along the way. The author discusses the best equipment for pruning, from simple secateurs and loppers to pruning saws and powerful chainsaws (though you'll need professional training for those).

He includes an invaluable seasonal guide to pruning - find out why you should prune roses and lavender in autumn but keep your secateurs away from trees, and why spring is the best time to tackle buddleia to ensure a butterfly-filled summer.

There is a useful section on the legislation around pruning, including dealing with potentially problematic plants such as leylandii, and fascinating practices such as coppicing, pollarding, pleaching and decorative topiary are also covered.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, this practical guide contains all the advice you need to keep on top of your pruning and make your garden even more beautiful.