Question What is companion planting? Answer This involves planting simple flowers, such as Tagetes Marigolds, and planning how you are actually going to plant your crops. The marigolds will attract Hover Flies and Lady Birds, whose larvae eat lots of aphids. How you actually plant your crops also has a big influence on deterring pests. [...]

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Question I have several houseplants which appear to have small black flies in the compost. Answer These unsightly flies are more of a nuisance than a pest. Their larvae resemble very small white maggots with black heads which, when watered, surface. They feed on decaying organic matter, it can be a sign that you have [...]

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Question I have brown dead areas in my conifers which seem to be spreading Answer When brown patches appear in your conifers inexplicably, consider the origins of these conifers in damp rainy, mild woodlands on the western edge of North America. Many brown patches result from adverse growing conditions such as drought, frost or cold, [...]

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Can you recommend a smaller tree for my garden? Tthe following small trees would be suitable for your garden. These trees are to limit the total size by light annual pruning in the autumn – Amelanchier lamarki, Gladitsia triacanthos Ruby Lace, Acer Negundo Flamingo, Malus Red Jade, Robina pseudoacasia, More

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Question How can I establish outdoor Azaleas? . Answer The best way to plant out door azaleas is to use sedge peat and an acid loving plant food. The sedge peat is the type of peat you find in cheap grow bags, used for tomato growing in a glasshouse. Azalea roots are always near to [...]

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Question Can You suggest some grasses for my garden? Answer Miscanthus Sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ has yellow horizontal striped foliage for summer interest and then in autumn it produces silky, brown-pink flowers. Stipa Arundinacea continue to give form and shape throughout the year with the added bonus of autumn/winter colour. This grass is not tall – it [...]

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Question I have been given a cyclamen for Xmas, how do I care for it? Answer With care, cyclamen will bloom for several months and will flower again in future years. Buy a plant with plenty of buds showing under the foliage and avoid any plants with drooping or yellow leaves. Choose a brightly lit [...]

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Question Please could you recommend some simple plants to propagate from hardwood cuttings? Answer These are some of the easiest plants to propagate from hard wood cuttings- Ribes, Cornus, Salix, Forsythia, Vitus, Sambucus, Jasminum, Viburnum, Roses, Kerria, Buddlhia, Select wood which has had a full growing season to mature. Cut one year’s growth from the [...]

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Question How can I remove Yarrow from my lawn? Answer Once established in your lawn Yarrow is (Achillea Millefolium) is a very difficult weed to control. It normally invades a lawn when it is weak through excessive use, or a stressful period for the lawn, for example, in a drought. Firstly, maintaining your lawn correctly [...]

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Question Some of my plants have powdery mildew, is there a cure? Answer Powdery mildew tends to attack plants that are weak, often from being grown in the wrong conditions. It is best to ensure that plants are in their ideal position and have the correct treatment. For example, a sun-lover will struggle in shade [...]

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Question Can you give me any gardening tips on Pruning Wisteria? Answer Wisterias flower more freely if pruned in summer and winter to build up a spur system in the same way you would encourage a fruit tree to create fruiting spurs. In August shorten-back the current season’s shoots to about 30cm. This allows more [...]

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Question I have a Wisteria that has never flowered? . Answer If your Wisteria does not flower by July this year, I would try cutting it back and feeding it with a liquid tomato food. Unfortunately, a number of Wisteria have been propagated from parent plants that have never flowered that is why it is [...]

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Question How can I improve my soil with the minimum of work? Answer With regard to your question on your soil, the best way to improve most garden soils is to spread organic mater on top of the soil and allow the worms to drag it into the soil, in doing so improving the soil [...]

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Question How can I care for my indoor Yucca? Answer Yuccas need a light position, but not in strong direct sun light, for example, next to a south facing window. They need watering little and often, so that the compost does not dry out between waterings. Feeding can be carried out once a month with [...]

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Question How can I care for my new Dracaena Plant? Answer Dracaenas can tolerate most light conditions, except direct hot sun light and positions. Watering – In the indoor environment watering should be carried out weekly. Many people overwater the plant keeping the compost soggy. It should be kept moist, but not soggy. The soil [...]

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Question I want to plant out a low maintenance bed with evergreen plants Answer Some good plants for this purpose are the following: Euonymus Fortunei forms – low growing, ground cover plants evergreen, Artemisia Powis Castle – feathery silver foliage, Berginia – low evergreen, flowers in the winter early spring, Cistus silver pink – pink [...]

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Question How do I cure Fusarium in my lawn? Answer This disease is the curse of anyone trying to create a first class lawn, especially now we seem to be getting warmer winters. The disease spreads in humid conditions mainly in the autumn and warmer periods of the winter. The best control is by cultural [...]

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Question I have heard that Swiss cheese plants are poisonous, is this true? Answer Swiss Cheese plants are poisonous to cats and humans. If you have feline friends or small children this may not be the plant for you. The leaves of the plant contain calcium oxylate and if these, or the sap of the [...]

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Question Please could you recommend several evergreen plants for chalky soils? . Answer The following plants are useful evergreen plants for chalky soils: Cistus, Choisya Ternata, Elaeagnus, Griselinia, Hypericum, Lauras, Pittospurum, Mytus, Mahonia, Rosmarinus, Pyracantha, Senecio, Viburnum Davidii, For More information click here

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Question How can I stop the black spot on my roses? Answer Black spot is a fungal disease, and the best way to stop it, or cut back on the effects, is to use cultural methods which are as follows. Firstly, in the autumn rake up and burn all the old fallen leaves. Secondly, spray [...]

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