You will need - secateurs.

Pruning can sound scary but it's really easy, quick, satisfying and your garden will thank you for it.

Roses, hydrangeas and clematis will really benefit from 'cutting back hard' this month while they are still dormant (asleep for the winter). This promotes fresh new growth and more flowers, as well as reducing overall size and old woody stems.

Look closely and you will find small buds emerging on the stems in January or February. Cut back each stem to the lowest bud or bud you can see. Cut just above the bud and at an angle so that rain can run off the cut). That's it!

You can use the same technique on a whole range of deciduous shrubs that have dropped their leaves for winter, particularly those that are grown for their foliage like cotinus and black elder. Winter pruning encourages larger leaves, as well as flowers, and stops shrubs becoming straggly. If a deciduous shrub is over large or has stopped flowering then a good prune can make a big difference. Check out this guide and find out more here:

Buddleia

Coppicing e.g. Dogwood (cornus), Elder (sambucus) or Smoke Bush (cotinus)

Wisteria