The vigorous new shoots that emerge after some of these trees have been cut back offer their own special effects, in addition to the pollarded look.

Claudia M from Hampshire is alarmed by the vigorous new shoots put up by the healthy young hollyhocks that she cut down in October.

I also shorten by half or more some of the new vigorous shoots that resulted from the spring snipping session.

Choose healthy and vigorous non-flowering shoots (if this is difficult just trim off any flowers), and make the cuttings about 10cm (4in) long.

Still, the most vigorous new shoots will be those near the top of the main stem, and that's where you want them.

It's lighter and fluffier than soil, so usually it doesn't promote rot, and vigorous shoots can push right through it.

'Crippsii' makes a broad conic golden-green crown with a vigorous leading shoot, growing to 15-20 m or more tall.

Choose vigorous shoots and cut just below leaf nodes.

They respond by producing vigorous young coloured shoots.

On young, vigorous shoots, the leaves may be up to 30 cm long, and deeply and intricately lobed, with the lobes rounded.