The ideal time to prune off excess or diseased looking branches is next spring or a little earlier. If they are only a year old, no need to prune too hard, just stray branches and anything that has shot up too high. In terms of mulch, I think the best ones for longterm plantings like shrubs are the bark chips. That's not to say other things on the market are not ideal. Sometimes, it's aesthetics too.
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The ideal time to prune off excess or diseased looking branches is next spring or a little earlier. If they are only a year old, no need to prune too hard, just stray branches and anything that has shot up too high. In terms of mulch, I think the best ones for longterm plantings like shrubs are the bark chips. That's not to say other things on the market are not ideal. Sometimes, it's aesthetics too.
I use the product of the shredder as mulch. It's very good at holding in moisture. You don't want then too soft and well fed,
In the sticks near Peterborough
Indeed nut
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks everyone for your help.