There is a common misconception that you need acid soil to grow heathers but this is in fact only the case for summer and autumn flowering varieties.

Winter and spring flowering ericas grow well in both acid and alkaline soils, be they light and sandy or heavy clay.

So with that out the way there is no reason you shouldn’t have a few of these versatile, colourful shrubs in your garden that are also a valuable food source for pollinating insects.

Full hardy, evergreen, low growing shrubs, heathers need good drainage. Their roots cannot cope being waterlogged for long periods, they also do not like to be dried out either.

Although not necessary if planted in the ground, if you choose to grow them in a container they will benefit from having some ericaceous soil added.

After blooming trim below flower spikes to encourage fresh growth, especially in the first three years of growth.

Fungal diseases that can affect roots or foliage can be a problem but normally only when the plants are stressed due to waterlogging or drought. Vine weevil and aphids can also be a problem with heathers.

Pink varieties to try are ‘Eva’ flowers Jan to Mar, dark green foliage, bronze in winter 15 height x 30cm spread or ‘December Red’ flowers Dec to Feb, mid-green foliage, vigorous spreading habit.

White varieties to try are f.alba ‘Isabell’ flowers Feb to Apr, bright green foliage, erect spreading habit or

f.alba ‘Snow Queen’ flowers Dec to May, mid green foliage, neat compact habit.

Team with the glossy leaves of bergenia ‘sunningdale’ or the variegated leaves of euonymus fortunei

‘emerald n gold’ in your containers with narcissi bulbs peaking up between. Or consider using them as winter/spring flowering hedge alongside your drive or pathway.

Coppicing cornus

Cornus, commonly known as dogwood, has done its job of giving us a vibrant winter display but to make sure they do so again next winter you now need to give them their annual prune.

Cutting back stems hard to the base or coppicing encourages vigorous new growth and is also used for willows, cotinus, elder, eucalyptus and catalpa.