Alan Titchmarsh shares his top tip for bringing colour to your garden this winter

During the winter months, gardens can often appear drab and lacklustre as the vibrant hues and lush greenery of summer and autumn retreat. This is why gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has revealed his top tip for adding a touch of brightness to UK gardens during the gloomy winter period.

The TV personality and horticultural specialist told the Mirror that the ideal plant to inject some colour into your outdoor area, regardless of its size, is Winter Jasmine. Alan emphasised the hardiness and attractiveness of Jasminum nudiflorum, which blossoms with striking yellow flowers from November to February.

"Its botanical name, Jasminum nudiflorum, refers to the fact that it flowers on naked stems, and the yellow flowers are carried at any time from November until February," Alan clarified. The popular gardener reassured enthusiasts that Winter Jasmine is sturdy enough to endure the cold without much frost protection, guaranteeing a display of joy even on the coldest days.

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He observed: "Only severe weather – when the stems are rimed with frost – will cause its blooms to be stopped in their tracks, but once the cold snap has passed the plant recovers and the flowering continues."

Alan Titchmarsh has imparted his knowledge on the care of Winter Jasmine, a plant that can bring vibrant colour to your garden during the bleakest months: "A wall or fence of any aspect will suit this scrambler and horizontal wires or trellis will allow its stems to be tied in," he suggests for those wanting to train the plant against a support structure, reports the Express.

Winter Jasmine is ideal for container gardens, providing a beautiful trailing display, as recommended by Gardener's World suggests. The best time to plant is in autumn or winter.

As Alan notes, maintenance is relatively simple: "Only when it stops flowering will you need to worry about pruning." In March, remove a few of the oldest flowered stems and secure new, healthy green ones in their place. Although the flowers are scentless, their vibrant appearance is a welcome addition to any garden.

Alan also highlighted the plant's remarkable ability to quickly take root, saying: "A shoot of jasmine has only to touch the soil to form roots and start up life."