1. If brown in the centre, remove small dead branches to reveal the shape of the main branches. Cut off a few of the lower large branches to enable you to underplant with ground cover plants.
2. If the conifer is brown at the base, plant variegated ivy at the base which will use the brown, lower branches as a climbing frame.
3. Transform a conifer into a standard by removing all branches up to 1.5m (5ft) or lower and then lightly trim the top to shape.
