NO-ONE wants overgrown trees, bushes or shrubs in their garden, so it is important to keep them in shape - and the cuttings can be used to plant elsewhere.

Here is how you should take cuttings.

It is vital to select a suitable plant for cutting material. Make sure there are no signs of disease, particularly viruses, which makes leaves seem discoloured.

Look for strong straight stems, not a flowering stem. If it is in flower, wait till the flower has passed.

Use a sharp clean knife or secateurs. Viruses can be spread through infected tools.

Containers are needed and pots, pans and seed trays will all be suitable.

You need compost, but make sure it is cuttings compost. Rooting hormones will promote growth response in plants.

To strike a stem cutting (nodal cutting) cut from your selected stock a section about 8cm long, ensuring a clean cut is left.

Remove all the lower leaves from the stem, leaving two or three at the top.

Then cut about 8cm horizontally across just below a bud.

Push a hole in your already prepared pot, pan or tray and then dip your cutting in rooting hormone (optional). Insert your cutting and firm it in. Take a few because they will not all root.

Next, you need to water in the cutting and place it in a protected area. Depending on which plant the cuttings are from, they will root in about four weeks. Do not over-water or they may rot off.

You can check if a cutting has taken by gently pulling on the leaves upward. If the cutting comes up easily then it has not rooted yet, so firm it back in. If it is resistant gently pull it out and put in an 8cm pot.

Hardwood cuttings should be taken during the dormant season, frost free.

Take your material from a fully mature deciduous tree or shrub. Cut off several available lengths, look for good vigorous growths about 60cm long and 1cm diameter.

Remove all the leaves. Make a sloping cut just above the proposed top bud. Then make a horizontal cut about 15cm-25cm from the top. Dip in rooting hormone (optional) and then insert as above.

Place the cuttings outside and they should root by spring. Check for growth from the top. When they are ready, tease them out and plant directly or put into a 15cm pot. Got a question, or a garden-related event to publicise? Write to Gardeners' Column, Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB, or email news@eveningtimes.co.uk