Mahonia budding up nicely...

But you have. ? Brilliant. Gorgeous aren't they.

They are Dawn, we need winter flowering shrubs, especially scented ones!

Yes, they blend into insignificance in summer but our winters are long and shrubs like this are invaluable. Good to know they can be pruned, thanks

Your welcome......it stops them from getting too leggy!

Are you close to Hillier's Gardens Dd?

we are not far Dawn as the crow flies...

Love the perfume from the flowers.

Dd, thought you might be. Was listening on radio 2 to Michael Heseltine a week last Friday and he said he'd gleened inspiration from Hillier's for his own vast garden/arboretum.
Meadow, that's good to know.

Hilliers is so inspiring isn't it....I've never been of course, but have seen four of their Chelsea Gold displays, which are always my Best in Show. They are superb when it comes to shrubs, which is what I love for all year interest. As for the mahonia...I agree. Every summer it just fades to the background, but I am so grateful to see it in December. Mine hasn't opened its buds yet, but there are lots of them :)

K your correct Hillier's are well known for their shrubs and trees...our garden is mostly shrubs, especially evergreen ones, and I am always on the look out for more....!

Shrubs are vital I feel and in winter give it some backbone. Dd, So the mahonia pruning? Can you cut into the main trunk to stop it getting leggy? Mine has say a three foot stem with branches off, but would prefer it to be bushier.

Dawn, as Andrew said re his Mahonia prune hard and it takes a few years to recover, so if you have the patience to wait, go for it.......

I pruned mine quite hard and it didnt flower at all last year. But this year it has romped away and is flowering very well. So Its taken a year to rcover. It was definitely worth it as its a much better shape. I removed all the low branches and took out the tops.

Thank you everyone