But with a little careful pruning they are neat, tidy climbers deserving of that little bit of effort.

To learn the importance of rigorous and careful pruning, observe the shoots of a vigorous peach-tree, say three or four years old.

The plant grows quickly, and by careful pruning a fine colored leaf is obtained, varying from a straw color to dark brown or black.

Espalier and cordon fruit trees take a few years of careful pruning and training to find their shapes but are well away after year three.

Careful pruning of the bushes had ensured that each flower was fully exposed to the sunlight, none of them overlapped.