Experts say gardeners should check one thing before pruning in December to avoid 'increased risk of disease'

Winter can feel like the perfect time to give your plants a good prune. Their branches are bare and growth dormant, which may tempt you to give them a thorough winter trim. But while it's a good idea to tend to your plants in the winter months, experts warn that you should only do this when the conditions are right.

“What you do now will ensure healthy growth in the spring," says Dean Meadows, Principal Arboriculturalist at Arbtech.

"Every cut should have a purpose, to improve safety, structure or sustainability."

Meadows shared three common pruning mistakes people make in December: overpruning, pruning an already unhealthy tree, and pruning during frosty weather. According to Arbtech, pruning during frosty weather can cause an increased risk of disease, meaning it's the one thing you s