Early March is a great time to visit Sheffield Park Garden and immerse yourself in stunning spring colour. You’ll be treated to magnificent displays of camellias, azaleas, spring-flowering bulbs and a host of early-flowering trees and shrubs, set around five shimmering lakes. Our mature trees are also stirring from their winter slumber, revealing varying shades of soft, fresh green.

Behind the scenes we are busy rejuvenating some of our older, rough-barked rhododendrons, which respond well to heavy pruning. If you are feeling bold (and all good pruning needs to be bold) then you could try this at home. Cut down a third of a mature rhododendron to approx 15 to 20cm, leaving two-thirds to provide a screen and flowers. In three to five years cut the next third, and so on. You will be rewarded with strong new growth and an abundant show of flowers.

The same principles apply to a whole host of plants – just do a little research to ensure what you are working on will respond well to a hard prune. In fact, early spring is a good time to learn a little more about all your plants. You might discover why a plant sometimes disappoints; more often than not we gardeners have simply selected something that does not thrive in the conditions we have. Standing in cold water, being exposed to cold winds and never feeling the warmth of the sun works for some plants, while others hate it.

So take advantage of the dark evenings, put the kettle on, pick up a book (or turn on a computer) and obtain a better understanding of the plants you grow, or want to grow. They will give you even more enjoyment when you know why they flower and what makes them tick.

If you do pop along to Sheffield Park and Garden this March to experience an early springtime explosion, check out our selection of gardening books in the shop. See what’s thriving where and stop for a chat with a gardener for some top tips.

  • Sheffield Park and Garden, Sheffield Park, East Sussex, TN22 3QX, Tel: 01825 790231, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffieldpark. Gardens, restaurant, shop and parkland open every day (except December 25)