Plant of the Week: Dwarf Conifers

Compact, handsome dwarf conifers really come into their own at this time of year. In a world of sepia brown, it’s lovely to have a neat splash of brilliant green, honey yellow or even steely blue to enjoy. What’s more, even the smallest garden can accommodate these pint-sized performers: most are perfectly happy in containers.

Dwarf conifers work particularly well with rocky landscapes such as gravel gardens or rockeries: try combining them with small shrubs like daphnes, bulbs and alpines. All are low-maintenance, but benefit from an annual prune: cut back new spring growth by half in early summer to keep your conifer neat.