GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME

Questions for Ruth

Sue McBain – Back garden is a sun trap, south facing hot and sunny – all plants are in pots – perennials do well. Acers and Lavenders are ok, can the panel suggest other shrubs for this environment?

Ruth suggested a number of plants that would do well in a hot sunny position.

Edgwothia, Witch Hazel, Cystus, Hebes, Aubrecia and Rosa Minsterwood.

Lucy Austin – I’m planning to plant 3 eating apple trees and a bramley apple tree, can you advise the best possible start I can give them for quality and plentiful fruit. The soil is clay. 

Lucy Austin – I have always pruned my roses in March, but was recently told it was fine to prune them in January, is this right and if so why?

Questions for Laura

Lucy Austin – I have an area at the bottom of my garden which used to be full of crocuses, it’s now overrun with brambles and stinging nettles, it was cleared 2 years ago but has now come back with a vengeance. How do I deal with this and get the grass and crocuses back, is there a short cut other than digging out every bramble?

Clare Campbell – Best plant for all year round colour in heavy clay soil?

Laura suggested a plant called Nandina Domestica, (Heavenly Bamboo), “Fire Power” that’s belongs to the berberis family.  The young foliage is a  pinky orange in the autumn and changes colour to a soft light green through the year, as they mature. It grows to 5-7 feet high and spreads to 3-5 feet wide.

Wendy Cole – Should I cut back my Penstemon or leave it like this until new shoots appear? 

Laura suggested Wendy wait until mid April then cut the Penstemon down to ground level.

Wendy Cole – Dhalia’s have got massive, very tall. How do I keep them smaller?

Laura suggested that once they are planted up in pots and have grown to about 12”, cut off the tops to restrict height.

Questions for Angie

Val Murray – I have tried growing garden mint for many years but without success. I’ve put it in pots and moved it from sunny to shady spots, watered it regularly, not watered it, but it never thrives, what am I doing wrong?

Angie suggested lining the pot with a plastic liner to keep in the moisture, also recommended a glazed pot as terracotta pots dry out quickly in sun and mint needs plenty of water.

Irene Corbett – Daughter is moving to a new build, front of house is south facing, but as with many new builds soil could be poor. Which types of Lavender would do best here, I’ve done some research and Hidcote and Munster come out best, do you agree? Also should I add soil improvers, i.e manure?

Angie suggested Irene check the PH of the soil as Lavender prefers an alkaline, free draining soil. Also suggested she mound the soil around the plants to improve drainage. Improve the soil with organic matter. Hidcote and Munster agreed to be viable choices

Clare Campbell – Indoor Cyclamen aren’t flowering, plenty of new leaves but no flowers. They aren’t pot bound.

Angie said that it might be in the wrong position - they need a temperature of 13 degrees and no more, and not too much sun. Drain water through and don’t let it stand in it. They also like a peat based soil, with a bit of gravel. Hopefully if I do this, then it will start to flower again.