I want to encourage butterflies in my garden and have a patch of nettles. At which time of the year is it best to trim the nettles as they do spread about a bit and I don't want to ruin the butterflies by chopping the nettles down at the wrong time of year for them?

Answer:

The best time to cut back the nettles is March and again in October. Visitors to nettles are the Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma butterflies. The eggs and larvae of these butterflies are present on nettles between April and June, with adults emerging between May and October. Adults either hibernate in sheds, attics or shrubs and hedgerows through the winter.

I don't know if you are aware that nettle leaves can be used to make liquid manure which is great for your garden. The best time to start is in the Spring so that you can use the feed throughout the summer period.

You will need four things:
• nettles
• watertight container such as a large bucket
• water
• a weight

Here's what to do:
• Cut down the nettles bruise them slightly then chop or tear them into pieces
• Fill your container with water and immerse the nettles
• Place the weight on top of the stems to keep the nettles under the water
• Leave to brew for three to four weeks
• The brew will get quite smelly so you may want to place it away from the house
• Before using, the brew should be diluted around one part liquid to ten parts water
• Just water it around the base of your plants throughout summer
• Continue to top up your container with more nettles and water throughout the year
• In autumn put the remainder of the feed and the sludge in your compost heap and start again next spring

• Butterflies in your Garden - A well designed and maintained garden is a joy but what make a garden complete is to have it full of bird song and the fluttering of butterflies. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plants for Butterflies - Shrubs are used to add structure to a garden and can provide interest all year round. The shrub most loved by butterflies is Buddleia but they also like Choisya, Ceanothus, Ceratostigma, Hebe and Lavender. For acid soil try Hydrangea. Share and Enjoy: ...
• The Butterfly Year - In most parts of the country the butterfly season runs from March to November. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Tree Stump Killer - Question: I have several shrub stumps (ie camellia and osmanthus) that I want to kill. The shrubs were planted about 20 years ago so they are quite big; they are all in the same bed and there are no other plants there. I have bought ‘Deep Root Ultra Tree Stump and Weedkiller’ which contains sachets of ...
• Overwintering Cannas - Question: What do I do with my canna this time of year it has lots of shoots at the base. Answer:  Wait for the first frosts to blacken the leaves of the cannas then lift them. Cut off all the dying growth and remove as much soil from around the roots as possible. Leave them upside down somewhere ...

In February I bought a lavender dentata tree which claimed on the label to be hardy to the UK I found out some time later it was not and bought the tree in and planted it in a pot I have put it out during the day has the weather has warmed up but on inspecting the same tree at my garden centre yesterday I think mine is dying the spikes are all drooping downwards and its spikes are brittle the one I saw in my garden centre seem to have the spikes pointing upright and the spikes are soft what I cant understand is when I bought it and on subsequent visits to my garden centre the trees were all outdoors for 24hoursso I unsure where I have gone wrong do you think it can be saved and what steps can I take to resurrect it any help appreciated

Answer:

I'm not sure how your garden centre managed to keep these lavenders outdoors all winter as they are not hardy in the UK. If all the spikes are brittle then I'm afraid it is probably dead. However, if you do have any soft green growth left you can try cutting back to the green parts, keep it indoors for another couple of months and see if it comes back. Don't cut into the old, woody parts of the plant as it will not survive. Hope this helps and your plant survives.

• Peony Tree - Question:Hi can anyone please help? I am looking for a peony tree I have no idea what they look like I am trying to buy one for my friends birthday any help information about this plant/tree would be most helpful also can anyone tell me were to buy one from? I live in Derbyshire.Answer:At this ...
• Cistus - Question:I am a new gardener with a garden I have owned for a year. I have 2 Cistus (sorry know idea what the variety is) that are approx 2 metres high bushes-one has a pink flower and the other a white flower with a yellow and deep red centre. The flowers are open saucer type ...
• Fuchsia - Question:I received half a dozen lady booth by fuchsias yesterday they came has small plugs which I was somewhat disappointed in and no planting on instructions whilst it described them has hardy I doubt they would be at moment there were 5 in the pack so I have transferred them to a large pot on ...
• How can I keep cats off my garden? - Question:Although I am 57 years old I am new to gardening, 3 years only. I have a major problem with cats, and have been assured by an old gardener that putting out banana skins in my borders will help reduce and maybe solve the problem altogether. Another has said that it cannot hurt; at least ...
• Nasturtium seeds - Question:I planted a lot of nasturtium seeds in an old wheelbarrow about 2weeks ago has the directions on the packets said plant march to April. Then the cold snap came and we had a frost the other night I am wondering if that will have killed of the seeds I grew these last year and ...

I am not sure if you can help but I am looking to buy some coprosma evening glow or/and coprosma fire burst so far I have had little luck I have tried googling it but very poor results none of my local garden centres stock it I bought some last year from a local market and would like to get more I really want a fairly well established rather than a small gutting that needs to be grown on do you know of any online nurseries that would sell this also regards dogwood I really like the look of this but again not been able to find it in my garden centres does this come in the form of a shrub or bush has its something I am not familiar with thanks for any help you can provide

Answer

I have to admit to not knowing about Coprosma but I have managed to find a company who sell a few varieties. Click on this link:  http://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pn_id=176. There are several types of Dogwood (Cornus) so I have added a link to a few at Crocus for you to look at.

Question

We have a well established pear tree in our garden. The problem is that is has grown lopsided / horizontally right across the garden, so much so that it is obstructing the garden path. I would like to keep the tree but would like some advice on how to prune it to encourage it to grow upwards rather than outwards.

Answer

It is possible to do what you are asking but it will need to be done in stages as to reduce the stress to the tree. I think the best thing for you to do is to follow RHS advice on this matter so I have included a link below on Apple and pear tree renovation: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1101/fruit_tree.asp

Question

I have what seems to be three different type of spotted laurels one is dark green in colour the other light green with what seems like the beginning of possibly some flowers the other is the same colour light green the first two were planted around a month ago and around 2 3 ft the last one was planted last summer and has hardly grown at all I did read for these to produce flowers you need a male and female like a holly and I thought they were very quick growers I have seen some has high has well over 20foot round where I live they seem to get bigger every year mine are planted in full sun in a good quality compost any information on this plant would be welcomed thank you. I bought a shrub called a beauty berry in October last year it had a abundance of purple berries which have gradually dropped of I believe it is suppose to have pink flowers in summer but at moment I have just a bare shrub is this normal

Answer

Regarding your laurels; do you know which variety you have? I have detailed three of the more common ones below and as you can see their sizes and flowering requirements do vary. If you can find the actual varieties I can do more research for you.

• Aucuba Japonica Crotonifolia. Evergreen, bushy, dense shrub with stout, green shoots. Large glossy, dark green leaves are heavily mottled yellow. Grows in sun or shade and well drained soil. Height 1.7m Spread 1.7m. Male.
• Aucuba Japonica Rozannie. Very handsome shrub which has large, toothed and leathery green leaves. This all green form is self pollinating and produces large red fruits in winter. Grows in any situation and any soil to about 1m. Male.
• Aucuba Japonica Variegata. Evergreen, bushy, dense shrub grown for its yellow spotted leathery leaves. Height 7 ft. Spread 7 ft. requires any reasonable soil. Will thrive in sun or shade. Plant with crotonifolia for berries. Can be kept as a colourful hedge or as a specimen plant. Female. As regards your Beauty Berry (Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii Profusion). The lovely purple berries will gradually drop off, or get eaten by the birds, before the end of the winter which is normal. It will remain bare until it begins to produce its leaves then small pink flowers around July.

Question

I have got some branches on our pear tree where the buds are not opening - should I cut them back or just leave it?

Answer

If the tree is the right size and shape for you then I'd leave it. However, you may want to read the RHS article below for information on how to prune your tree should you wish. http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1101/fruit_tree.asp

Question

Now that the buds are out on the roses does this mean that I can cut them with an outward facing slope away from a bud at a height of 6 inches from the base now? Can I cut the honeysuckle back to 6 inches as well now?

Answer

I would wait until all risk of frost has passed because if you get a hard frost it can cause the tips of shrubs to die back. This die-back can be trimmed off but if the shrub is at its lowest height you will have nothing left to trim away. You should be OK to do it at the middle of April. You will still get a good display so don't worry, you'll be surprised how quickly they will grow from May onwards. You method sounds good but don't forget to give them a little feed of fertilizer. You can buy one specifically for roses or you can use blood, fish and bone meal which can be used on all your plants. A mulch of well rotted manure around the base will also be good to keep down weeds and help improve the structure of the soil.

Question

Leaves on the hyacinth are going yellow. Can I cut them to the base; remove bulbs from the indoor pot and plant in the garden now? Any thoughts as to where best and how i.e. depth etc to plant them?

Answer

Yes you can cut them back and plant them out in the garden. Here's a link to my Bulbs page which should help you when planting but the general rule is three times its own depth in a sunny position. http://gardeningregister.co.uk/NonProductPages/Articles/bulbs.htm

Question

I have recently bought some of the pretty flowering heathers you see at this time of year but know little about them I did hear that they need to be planted I the special compost you use for azaleas and rhododendrons also how long do they flower for I am told the ones you see in the garden centres are all forced has I believe they do not flower until early summer do I prune them when they finish flowering and when should I feed them thank you for any advice you can provide

Answer

There are two types of heather so I'll give you the details for both. The first type is the "Erica" variety. These heathers do prefer acid soil but they will tolerate slightly alkaline soil, either way it needs to be well-drained and placed in a sunny spot. If you don't know how acidic your soil is then it would be best to plant into pots using Ericaceous compost although it's not essential. This type of heather flowers January to March and should be trimmed after flowering with shears or secateurs to remove the dead flowers and encourage bushy growth. The second type is "Calluna". They like full sun and well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil or ericaceous compost. They flower July to November. In March or April cut back the flowered shoots to within 2.5cm (1in) of the old growth.

Question

My husband would like to know are than any certain types of methods used to make top soil more firm? He's clearing out some land and the soil is too soft to hold weight.

Answer

I'm not entirely certain I understand exactly what the problem is but I think it is one of the following. The top soil may be too "soft" meaning it is not compacted enough. If this is the case then you should be able to carefully tread down the surface by slowly walking around until it is firm. However, the problem may be that the soil is too sandy, meaning that it has no substance and keeps falling apart. The added problem here is that it will also be very poor making it difficult to grow anything. If this is the case then you need to improve the structure by adding lots and lots of well rotted organic matter such as horse or cow manure. This can be bought in bulk or, if you live near a farm or stables, you may get it for free if you agree to collect it. If you have to go this route then it will take some time for the soil to change and become more substantial, perhaps as long as a year. To avoid weeds taking hold while you're waiting you could grow some green manure which will subsequently be incorporated into the soil, again adding goodness. Here is an article which might help. http://gardeningregister.co.uk/NonProductPages/Articles/soil.htm#Green_manures0

• Laurels - Question:I have what seems to be three different type of spotted laurels one is dark green in colour the other light green with what seems like the beginning of possibly some flowers the other is the same colour light green the first two were planted around a month ago and around 2 3 ft the ...
• Pear Tree - Question:We have a well established pear tree in our garden. The problem is that is has grown lopsided / horizontally right across the garden, so much so that it is obstructing the garden path. I would like to keep the tree but would like some advice on how to prune it to encourage it to ...
• Pruning - Question:Now that the buds are out on the roses does this mean that I can cut them with an outward facing slope away from a bud at a height of 6 inches from the base now? Can I cut the honeysuckle back to 6 inches as well now?Answer:I would wait until all risk of frost ...
• Heathers - Question:I have recently bought some of the pretty flowering heathers you see at this time of year but know little about them I did hear that they need to be planted I the special compost you use for azaleas and rhododendrons also how long do they flower for I am told the ones you see ...
• Pear Tree - Question:I have got some branches on our pear tree where the buds are not opening – should I cut them back or just leave it?Answer:If the tree is the right size and shape for you then I’d leave it. However, you may want to read the RHS article below for information on how to prune ...

I bought a Grevillea plant today the guy at the garden centre just said it grows to about 3 feet and flowers until June I have since found there are many types mine has pink and black flowers on pine like branches what is the general rule of where to plant type of soil etc any tips welcomed thank you

Answer

It seems to be quite tender and prefers a light, sandy soil. Plant it out in a sunny, sheltered spot and perhaps protect it when the weather is severe. You shouldn't need to prune it unless you want to keep it to a certain size or shape, if you do wish to prune it do it once flowering has finished.

Question

I want to replace my Acer in the garden. Is it ok to plant a new one in the same place as the one I am now digging out?

Answer

As long as the Acer you are replacing is healthy then I can see no reason why planting another would cause problems. Ensure you remove all the roots of the old tree and dig a hole twice the size of the root ball of the new tree. Add lots of well rotted compost to the soil when back-filling. Water if it doesn't rain but ensure it doesn't get waterlogged.

Question

I have a wisteria tree which is well established (over 25 years); it is situated in my front garden and has been trained to grow over an archway and along the side of my garage. We have invested in a larger vehicle and as a result need to widen our driveway area which impinges on where the wisteria trunk is sited. As we will be digging up this area to lay a new driveway and paving area, rather than lose the wisteria, we wondered whether once the roots are exposed whether it would be possible to re-site the trunk a few metres away and re-bed in the new paving without causing damage to the tree.

Answer

I am not confident that you will be able to easily re-site your wisteria.  As a rule a tree's roots spread the same distance underground as their branches do above ground so I would doubt that you would be able to remove all the roots without damaging them and therefore risking the tree. Having said that it sounds as if you have to remove the tree anyway so it may be worth the risk. If you decide to go ahead you should dig a hole in the new location before you begin removing the tree. Make sure the hole is wide enough and deep enough to contain all the roots and add lots of well rotted compost to give it as much help as possible. You may need to detach some branches from the support wires prior to moving. Once you are ready, carefully expose as much root as you can and only cut off roots if absolutely necessary. The most important roots are the smaller fibrous roots which take up the goodness in the soil, the bigger roots are there to hold the tree in place and seek out water further below the surface. Before laying the new paving give the tree lots of water each day for as long as you can to help it establish. If it does happen to die off you could always use it as support for another climber such as a clematis or honeysuckle.

Question

I bought a Cistus snow white yesterday and planted it by the instructions on the plant card however when I looked on the Internet it says not to use organic compost not to mulch and not to feed I used multi purpose compost give it a feed with miracle grow all of which the plant card suggested will it harm it or should I dig it up.

Answer

Cistus plants are originally from the dry, rocky soils of the Mediterranean, which means that they like poor, sandy soils so do not need fertile soil or fertilisers. I must admit that when I planted my first Cistus I also used compost and feed and it did OK. You may find it possibly won't do as well as had you planted it in poor soil but as long as you don't add any more mulch or feed then it will be OK in future years. However, if you have only just planted it, you should be able to dig it up quite easily if you prefer to replant. If you do just dig a hole and pop it in! The good news is that this plant copes with fairly extreme droughts so does not need much watering and loves strong sunlight. Also, this is one of the few Cistus plants that respond well to occasional pruning of its stems.

• Wisteria - Question:I have a wisteria tree which is well established (over 25 years); it is situated in my front garden and has been trained to grow over an archway and along the side of my garage. We have invested in a larger vehicle and as a result need to widen our driveway area which impinges on ...
• Cistus - Question:I bought a Cistus snow white yesterday and planted it by the instructions on the plant card however when I looked on the Internet it says not to use organic compost not to mulch and not to feed I used multi purpose compost give it a feed with miracle grow all of which the plant ...
• Acer - Question:I want to replace my Acer in the garden. Is it ok to plant a new one in the same place as the one I am now digging out?Answer:As long as the Acer you are replacing is healthy then I can see no reason why planting another would cause problems. Ensure you remove all the ...
• Grevillea - Question:I bought a Grevillea plant today the guy at the garden centre just said it grows to about 3 feet and flowers until June I have since found there are many types mine has pink and black flowers on pine like branches what is the general rule of where to plant type of soil etc ...

I have a Xylosteum (fly honeysuckle) growing in my garden. Please could you tell me if the red berries growing in the winter are poisonous? I have several young children and am concerned for their welfare.

Answer

The berries on the fly honeysuckle are mildly poisonous so I wouldn't > take a chance near small children.

Question

We have recently purchased a property with a Bore, the Bore water has a high Iron content, and although my newly planted garden isn't affected by this my neighbour has reported that he has lost his plants due to the Iron levels in the water. So my question is will the Iron affect the growth of my plants? (The Iron level isn't extreme; it is still suitable for drinking)

Answer

I have tried to do some research on this but can't find an awful lot on the subject. The usual problem in gardens is lack of iron as a lot of plants are unable to absorb the iron the soil. I would think that as long as you look after your soil and plant good quality specimens your plants should be OK. Keep the site well drained and add plenty of well rotted organic matter each year to improve the structure. Sorry I couldn't offer more help.

Question

I live on a estate where when I come out of my flat I come on to a dark outside landing that gets little natural light I was wondering if there was any type of trees shrub I and my fellow neighbours could put in to pots that would brighten the place up I would like some thing that would grow to around 6ft I did thing about conifers but I believe like a lot of trees and plants they need a fair amount of sunshine and /or natural light if you can think of anything I would be grateful preferably something that would be evaluable in your average garden centres

Answer

Firstly you could try ferns. These come in various sizes, not as tall as 6ft but some can reach 3ft and have a good texture. Alternatively, why not put an obelisk into a container and grow ivy up it, twining it in and out as it grows to make it bush out. There are some lovely brightly coloured ivy such as Sulphur Heart. For a long term investment you could try a climbing hydrangea. I have one on the back wall of my house. It faces north and never gets any sun, it won't grow as big as it says in the description and you can prune it each year if needed and it still flowers well. Here's a link so you can see what it looks like. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/climbers/other-climbers/hydrangea-anomala-subsp.-petiolaris/itemno.PL00003342/. For a short-term show you could try a few hanging baskets or containers filled with Busy Lizzies. They won't flower as long or as bright as when they are in sunlight but you should get a few weeks out of them and they will tolerate being dried out if they don't get watered for a while. In all cases you will need to ensure the soil is of good quality and add some well rotted organic matter to help retain moisture. Either re-pot or top-up the containers each year to keep them fresh.

• High iron levels in water - Question:We have recently purchased a property with a Bore, the Bore water has a high Iron content, and although my newly planted garden isn’t affected by this my neighbour has reported that he has lost his plants due to the Iron levels in the water. So my question is will the Iron affect the growth ...
• Plants for the shade - Question:I live on a estate where when I come out of my flat I come on to a dark outside landing that gets little natural light I was wondering if there was any type of trees shrub I and my fellow neighbours could put in to pots that would brighten the place up I would ...
• Xylosteum (fly honeysuckle) - Question:I have a Xylosteum (fly honeysuckle) growing in my garden. Please could you tell me if the red berries growing in the winter are poisonous? I have several young children and am concerned for their welfare.Answer:The berries on the fly honeysuckle are mildly poisonous so I wouldn’t > take a chance near small children. Share and ...

HI, I need some advice please on what to do with an old veggie patch in my backyard. The previous owner maintained a veggie patch, taking up about one-third of the yard.  It is no longer maintained as a veggie patch and if I could afford it I would makeover the whole backyard.  That area is now just a patch of dirt that is overgrown with weeds.  The man that mows my front lawn previously cleared it, but then I found that the loose soil was unsightly and would blow onto the paved area on windy days. It also had a lot of debris in it (from old construction work on my house, bits of broken plaster) that was unnoticeable while the weeds were growing over it. How do I keep the patch looking neat, would it be possible to cover it over with gravel or wood chips?  I don't want to spend a lot of money by putting a lawn over it as I intend to redo the whole area someday.

Answer

It should be quite easy to deal with this area. First of all I would ensure that all the weeds are well and truly dead by treating the area with a good quality perennial weed killer. Leave it for a few weeks to see if any annual weeds germinate and if they do pull them out by hand. Then you should lay a weed suppressing membrane ensuring that the whole area is well covered. You will be able to buy this from your local garden centre or DIY store. Finally lay a thick layer of your chosen mulch. You can use anything you like as they all do the same job. The thing to remember is that weed seeds will find there way into the mulch and germinate. However they are usually quite weak so if you pull them up as soon as you see them they should be quite easy to control.

Question

I have just bought a lovely Cordyline australis red star it says on the plant card its only half hardy and wont survive hard frosts yet elsewhere I have read its fully hardy and the frost wont damage it I have bought it in doors placed it where it can get plenty of light and avoided putting it near radiators so should I keep it indoors for now or plant it out it is in a large black plastic pot at moment I have other Cordylines which have done ok over last two winters though different from this one

Answer

You are correct that some Cordylines do survive the winter but I think it best to play safe. Leave it indoors over this winter and plant it out into a sheltered, sunny spot once the risk of frost has passed. Next winter cover the leaves with horticultural fleece to protect it. Alternatively plant it into a nice pot and bring it indoors each winter.

Question

I have a very shaded area of my garden 5 6 hours max sun on a good day in summer I was looking at a relatively inexpensive way of planting some form of hedge that will not grow much over 3ft but will be noticeable perhaps something that may have flowers or berries on at some stage in the year any advice welcomed

Answer

I have done some research and found a few plants which should make a good, low hedge with some interest. There are not many hedging plants which like full shade so I have also included some that like partial shade. They should still do OK although they may bloom a little later than usual. Switch Ivy - likes acid soil, Snowy Woodrush - I don't know this one well but enjoys full shade, Common Box - needs to be kept well pruned to shape, Berberis - likes sun or shade. Lovely colour but has thorns, Pyracantha - also like sun or shade but again is thorny and will need pruning well each year, Red-barked Dogwood - the red bark is even better when cut right down each year.

• Cordyline australis red star - Question:I have just bought a lovely Cordyline australis red star it says on the plant card its only half hardy and wont survive hard frosts yet elsewhere I have read its fully hardy and the frost wont damage it I have bought it in doors placed it where it can get plenty of light and ...
• Hedging for shady area - Question:I have a very shaded area of my garden 5 6 hours max sun on a good day in summer I was looking at a relatively inexpensive way of planting some form of hedge that will not grow much over 3ft but will be noticeable perhaps something that may have flowers or berries on at ...

• Japanese Maple Problem - Question:Hello I wonder whether you can help me I have had a Japanese maple in my front garden since I moved in my house 5 years ago, but suddenly the branches seem to have started to die, and stop growing. It is in my front garden which faces south and it isn’t in direct winds ...
• Overwintering Strawberry Plants - Question: Could you please tell me the best way to store new bought strawberry plants over the winter. Answer: Strawberry plants do fine outdoors during the winter, mature plants will die down and re-emerge in the spring. If you have only just bought the plants and they are very small you may be best giving them some protection. If ...
• Pruning Penstemons - Question: Do I cut back PENSTEMONS before winter or leave them alone? Answer: It is best to leave Penstemons over the winter the old stems help to shelter the new shoots from frost. In late April or early May you need to have a look at each plant. If the plant has new shoots growing from the bottom of ...

• Pruning Rhododendrons - I received an email from Joseph Michael asking how to prune Rhododendrons. Unfortunately the return email address was invalid so I hope you manage to pick up your reply here. Pruning rhododendrons is carried out to improve the shape of the shrub and to increase flowering.In early spring you can cut out any dead or diseased ...
• Overwintering Strawberry Plants - Question: Could you please tell me the best way to store new bought strawberry plants over the winter. Answer: Strawberry plants do fine outdoors during the winter, mature plants will die down and re-emerge in the spring. If you have only just bought the plants and they are very small you may be best giving them some protection. If ...
• Mistletoe and Apple Trees - Question: Can I put mistletoe on apple trees? Answer: Yes you can grow mistletoe on apple trees, here’s what the RHS says: Do not sow berries from Christmas mistletoe as they are generally harvested when immature, and so will not germinate. Instead wait until March or April to harvest berries, when they should be white, plump and fully ripe. ...

• Pruning Penstemons - Question: Do I cut back PENSTEMONS before winter or leave them alone? Answer: It is best to leave Penstemons over the winter the old stems help to shelter the new shoots from frost. In late April or early May you need to have a look at each plant. If the plant has new shoots growing from the bottom of ...
• Mistletoe and Apple Trees - Question: Can I put mistletoe on apple trees? Answer: Yes you can grow mistletoe on apple trees, here’s what the RHS says: Do not sow berries from Christmas mistletoe as they are generally harvested when immature, and so will not germinate. Instead wait until March or April to harvest berries, when they should be white, plump and fully ripe. ...
• Japanese Maple Problem - Question:Hello I wonder whether you can help me I have had a Japanese maple in my front garden since I moved in my house 5 years ago, but suddenly the branches seem to have started to die, and stop growing. It is in my front garden which faces south and it isn’t in direct winds ...

• Pruning Penstemons - Question: Do I cut back PENSTEMONS before winter or leave them alone? Answer: It is best to leave Penstemons over the winter the old stems help to shelter the new shoots from frost. In late April or early May you need to have a look at each plant. If the plant has new shoots growing from the bottom of ...
• Mistletoe and Apple Trees - Question: Can I put mistletoe on apple trees? Answer: Yes you can grow mistletoe on apple trees, here’s what the RHS says: Do not sow berries from Christmas mistletoe as they are generally harvested when immature, and so will not germinate. Instead wait until March or April to harvest berries, when they should be white, plump and fully ripe. ...
• Pruning Rhododendrons - I received an email from Joseph Michael asking how to prune Rhododendrons. Unfortunately the return email address was invalid so I hope you manage to pick up your reply here. Pruning rhododendrons is carried out to improve the shape of the shrub and to increase flowering.In early spring you can cut out any dead or diseased ...