I am planning to make miniature gardens with young children and would like to use petunias ans Impatiens (bizzie-lizzie). I just wanted to make sure that neither of these plants is poisonous.

Answer:

Petunias and Impatiens are not on the poisonous plants list. However, if eaten most ornamental plants will cause sickness in children and some adults. You will need to keep an eye on the children when they are in the garden or consider planting edible plants. Here's a selection for you to consider:

• Nasturtiums - colourful and quick growing
• Alliums - taste of onions with purple or white flowers
• Rosemary - grows quite big but can be pruned down. Smells great. The flavour is strong so the kids won't like it anyway!
• Mint - lots of different types with slightly different minty smells. They can take over so it's best kept in a pot
• Violas and Pansies - cheap and easy to grow
• Parsley - annual only but easy to grow in a sunny spot
• Try planting strawberries or small tomatoes in hanging baskets

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Answer:
I'm sorry to hear about your Cordyline. I think we need to establish whether the plant has dried up because the ground dried out or because it has been affected by a pest or disease. Is the soil around the plant dry and if so how far down is it dry? If the soil is damp a few inches down then the plant could be infected which has caused it to shrivel. Have a look around the leaves and the surrounding soil and let me know if you find any evidence of pests or diseases and I'll investigate further.

In the meantime I would give it a good drink of water and a sprinkling of fertiliser. Add a couple of inches of well rotted manure around the base to help keep the moisture in.

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• Weeds in Hedge - Our hedge in invaded by climbing weeds, possibly ivy. We have removed most of it by cutting the weed and pulling them as gently as possibly. The hedge is in a bad state, lots of dead wood and very little foliage in the bottom part. We have managed to pull some of the weeds root out ...

Answer:
Most fruit trees are very hardy but once they start into growth in spring, flowers and buds are especially vulnerable to frost. It may well be that the flower buds were affected by the frost and died. Next year in early spring cover the tree with horticultural fleece until all risk of frost has passed.

• Plants for Containers - We have a side 3ft gate (adjacent to pavement verge/road) set into a well established 8ft hedge of mixed varieties. We cannot plant as the area is a concreted path so…. have you any suggestions of a large POTTED plant that we could place against the gate to provide ourselves some privacy (gate does not ...
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Answer:
For the best results plant 30cm (12in) apart. Prepare the soil well, adding lots of well rotted manure to the surrounding soil. Don't allow the manure to touch the roots directly. Firm the plants well and sprinkle some fertiliser on the surface before watering well. Ensure that the soil is never allowed to dry out. Carefully trim the plants in mid or late summer. Prune each year in late spring. After pruning apply a top-dressing of a balanced slow-release fertiliser such as blood, fish around the base of the plant, ensuring that none touches the leaves or stems. This should produce a good quality hedge in no time.

• Weeds in Hedge - Our hedge in invaded by climbing weeds, possibly ivy. We have removed most of it by cutting the weed and pulling them as gently as possibly. The hedge is in a bad state, lots of dead wood and very little foliage in the bottom part. We have managed to pull some of the weeds root out ...
• Replacing an old Hedge - I have a west-facing garden with a border of 12′ leylandii on the south side. As a result, the grass on the south side of the garden is almost constantly in shade and waterlogged most months of the year. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plants for Containers - We have a side 3ft gate (adjacent to pavement verge/road) set into a well established 8ft hedge of mixed varieties. We cannot plant as the area is a concreted path so…. have you any suggestions of a large POTTED plant that we could place against the gate to provide ourselves some privacy (gate does not ...
• Cordyline Drying Out - I’ve just got back from holiday to find that my cordyline red star has unexpectedly dried up. Everybody else’s in the close seems to be doing well. What could have gone wrong? Is there any way I can salvage the plant? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Pruning Fruit Trees - Is it OK to prune unwanted limbs off a pear tree after is begins to bloom. One of my trees is an eating pear and the other is a canning pear. Has not been pruned in years and need to get rid of dead limbs and cross overs. Share and Enjoy: ...

I have a monkey puzzle tree in a large pot and hope to plant it in the garden this year. It is approximately 1 meter tall, how big will the roots grow over time as this will have a relevance on were the tree can be planted.

Answer:

As a general rule a tree's roots grow as long as the tree is high so as Monkey Puzzle Trees can grow to 70ft I would keep it in a pot.
As long as the pot is large and you continue to top-dress and fertilize each year it will do fine for quite a number of years.

• Pruning Fruit Trees - Is it OK to prune unwanted limbs off a pear tree after is begins to bloom. One of my trees is an eating pear and the other is a canning pear. Has not been pruned in years and need to get rid of dead limbs and cross overs. Share and Enjoy: ...
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• Replacing an old Hedge - I have a west-facing garden with a border of 12′ leylandii on the south side. As a result, the grass on the south side of the garden is almost constantly in shade and waterlogged most months of the year. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plants for Containers - We have a side 3ft gate (adjacent to pavement verge/road) set into a well established 8ft hedge of mixed varieties. We cannot plant as the area is a concreted path so…. have you any suggestions of a large POTTED plant that we could place against the gate to provide ourselves some privacy (gate does not ...
• Weeds in Hedge - Our hedge in invaded by climbing weeds, possibly ivy. We have removed most of it by cutting the weed and pulling them as gently as possibly. The hedge is in a bad state, lots of dead wood and very little foliage in the bottom part. We have managed to pull some of the weeds root out ...

I have a Hibiscus which is several years old. This year it has many orange fungal looking blotches on its branches. What is it & what should I do about it?

Answer:

This sounds like Common Orange Lichen (Xanthoria parietina) and is not dangerous or harmful to your Hibiscus.

• Pruning Fruit Trees - Is it OK to prune unwanted limbs off a pear tree after is begins to bloom. One of my trees is an eating pear and the other is a canning pear. Has not been pruned in years and need to get rid of dead limbs and cross overs. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Monkey Puzzle Tree - I have a monkey puzzle tree in a large pot and hope to plant it in the garden this year. It is approximately 1 meter tall, how big will the roots grow over time as this will have a relevance on were the tree can be planted. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plants for Containers - We have a side 3ft gate (adjacent to pavement verge/road) set into a well established 8ft hedge of mixed varieties. We cannot plant as the area is a concreted path so…. have you any suggestions of a large POTTED plant that we could place against the gate to provide ourselves some privacy (gate does not ...
• Replacing an old Hedge - I have a west-facing garden with a border of 12′ leylandii on the south side. As a result, the grass on the south side of the garden is almost constantly in shade and waterlogged most months of the year. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Victoria Plum Tree - I planted a small Victoria Plum Tree last year in spring, I have no blossom this year only leaves, is this normal? Share and Enjoy: ...

Our hedge in invaded by climbing weeds, possibly ivy. We have removed most of it by cutting the weed and pulling them as gently as possibly.
The hedge is in a bad state, lots of dead wood and very little foliage in the bottom part. We have managed to pull some of the weeds root out of the soil, but some of them are too deeply rooted to be able to be pulled out. We are left with weed stumps that we would like to kill for good to minimise future growths. Have you got any suggestion to deal with these stumps; we thought we should not spray with weed killer as this would damage the sorrounding hedge plant. Also is there anything we should apply to the hedge or soil to help the hedge grow and get stronger again.

Answer:

To get rid of the weed roots / stumps you can use Roundup Tree Stump and Root Killer.
Here is a link to the Roundup page which gives you lots of information on how to use it safely. Click here.
You can buy it at most garden centres but if you have a problem getting hold of it you can buy it online here.

As for the hedge; the RHS have a good article on how to rejuvenate a hedge. Click here to find out how.

• Planting Box Hedge - I want to plant a box hedge this summer – how far apart should they be? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Replacing an old Hedge - I have a west-facing garden with a border of 12′ leylandii on the south side. As a result, the grass on the south side of the garden is almost constantly in shade and waterlogged most months of the year. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Monkey Puzzle Tree - I have a monkey puzzle tree in a large pot and hope to plant it in the garden this year. It is approximately 1 meter tall, how big will the roots grow over time as this will have a relevance on were the tree can be planted. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plants for Containers - We have a side 3ft gate (adjacent to pavement verge/road) set into a well established 8ft hedge of mixed varieties. We cannot plant as the area is a concreted path so…. have you any suggestions of a large POTTED plant that we could place against the gate to provide ourselves some privacy (gate does not ...
• Pruning Fruit Trees - Is it OK to prune unwanted limbs off a pear tree after is begins to bloom. One of my trees is an eating pear and the other is a canning pear. Has not been pruned in years and need to get rid of dead limbs and cross overs. Share and Enjoy: ...

How can I prevent my rose bushes getting rust, also do I need to put a pot ash in soil, they are just starting to get the leaves, then during the summer they get what I think is rust and they fall off.

Answer:

Rose rust fungi can survive over the winter on fallen leaves or on the soil surface. They can also become attached to objects such as stakes, fences and rose stems.

Spray your plants and surrounding area with a fungicide now before the overwintering spores germinate, make sure you spray both sides of the leaves and the stems. Try one of the following: Scotts Fungus Clear, Systhane Fungus Fighter or Roseclear 3 (the last two also contains an insecticide if this is needed), you should be able to get them at your local garden centre. These sprays also help control powdery mildew and blackspot.

If you prefer not to use chemicals pick up and burn or otherwise dispose of fallen and infected leaves. Prune the plants to keep them as open as possible and allow air to circulate. Cut out and destroy any rust lesions on the stems, as well as old and weakened wood.

For best results use a combination of natural and chemical solutions.

• Planting Box Hedge - I want to plant a box hedge this summer – how far apart should they be? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Weeds in Hedge - Our hedge in invaded by climbing weeds, possibly ivy. We have removed most of it by cutting the weed and pulling them as gently as possibly. The hedge is in a bad state, lots of dead wood and very little foliage in the bottom part. We have managed to pull some of the weeds root out ...
• Cordyline Drying Out - I’ve just got back from holiday to find that my cordyline red star has unexpectedly dried up. Everybody else’s in the close seems to be doing well. What could have gone wrong? Is there any way I can salvage the plant? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Victoria Plum Tree - I planted a small Victoria Plum Tree last year in spring, I have no blossom this year only leaves, is this normal? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Replacing an old Hedge - I have a west-facing garden with a border of 12′ leylandii on the south side. As a result, the grass on the south side of the garden is almost constantly in shade and waterlogged most months of the year. Share and Enjoy: ...

We have a side 3ft gate (adjacent to pavement verge/road) set into a well established 8ft hedge of mixed varieties. We cannot plant as the area is a concreted path so.... have you any suggestions of a large POTTED plant that we could place against the gate to provide ourselves some privacy (gate does not need to be in use). The spot gets the sun (when it's out!) most of the day and is in a pretty sheltered location.

Answer:

There are lots of plants which are happy to be kept in containers long term.
The important things to remember are:
• Use as large a pot as possible even if the plant looks a bit "odd" to begin with, it will soon fill it's space
• Place stones, broken up bricks or broken clay pots in the bottom of the pot to aid drainage and provide stability
• Use a good quality compost and add manure and a general fertiliser to help get it doing
• Don't overfill the pot, leave a good 2-3 inches to ease of watering.
• Fill the pot with water and leave it to seep through the compost, once you see the water escape from the bottom you know its watered correctly
• Don't overwater and don't allow it to dry out completely.
• Top dress with a layer of manure, bark, slate or gravel to help keep moisture in and weeds out
• Each autumn, remove any weeds or moss which may have grown on the surface, remove the top inch or so of compost and replace with a mulch such as manure or bark
• To also help retain moisture you can add some Moisture Retaining Gel
• If you want to grow acid lovers such as camellias or rhododendrons use an ericaceous compost
• Buy some pot "feet" to raise it off the ground, this will allow water to escape more easily and stop water-logging

Here are some examples of plants that should do well.

I have included a link to the relevant pages on Crocus.co.uk for you to find out more, just click on the links:

Camellia - acid loving so use ericaceous compost
Olive - if you live in a milder area this can be grown without protection, otherwise cover with fleece during frosty periods
Phormium - quite a dramatic plant which may also need some protection
Acer - there are lots of varieties available and most of them have wonderful autumn colour, prefers acid soil
Hibiscus - I have one grown as a standard and it looks great
Cherry Tree - you can get lots of ornamental cherries which have great spring blossom. I have just bought a "Stella" cherry tree and planted it in a pot, it should start producing edible cherries very soon
Rosemary - although this is a herb it produces a good sized shrub. Prune it to a pyramid or other shape for interest. The smell is wonderful and, of course, you can use it in the kitchen
Clematis - place a nice obelisk in the pot and grow a couple of clematis for colour. They will die down for winter but will be great for quite a few months
Box - evergreen shrub which can again be pruned into a pyramid. I wrap fairy lights around mine at Christmas time and move to by the front door

You could plant up two pots, one for summer and one for winter interest and swap them over. You can get wheeled pot trays to make moving them easier, they are available at most garden centres as well as B&Q.

• Replacing an old Hedge - I have a west-facing garden with a border of 12′ leylandii on the south side. As a result, the grass on the south side of the garden is almost constantly in shade and waterlogged most months of the year. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Cordyline Drying Out - I’ve just got back from holiday to find that my cordyline red star has unexpectedly dried up. Everybody else’s in the close seems to be doing well. What could have gone wrong? Is there any way I can salvage the plant? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Weeds in Hedge - Our hedge in invaded by climbing weeds, possibly ivy. We have removed most of it by cutting the weed and pulling them as gently as possibly. The hedge is in a bad state, lots of dead wood and very little foliage in the bottom part. We have managed to pull some of the weeds root out ...
• Planting Box Hedge - I want to plant a box hedge this summer – how far apart should they be? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Flowers for Young Children - I am planning to make miniature gardens with young children and would like to use petunias ans Impatiens (bizzie-lizzie). I just wanted to make sure that neither of these plants is poisonous Share and Enjoy: ...

Is it OK to prune unwanted limbs off a pear tree after is begins to bloom. One of my trees is an eating pear and the other is a canning pear. Has not been pruned in years and need to get rid of dead limbs and cross overs.

Answer:

Apple and pear trees should be pruned every winter to ensure a good crop of fruit the following season.
This should be carried out when the tree is dormant, between leaf fall and bud burst (usually between November and early March).
If yours has already started to bloom you may be best waiting until next winter.
However, you should be OK to cut out dead or unwanted branches but pruning branches which you want to produce fruit is not advisable.

Here is a link to an RHS article about renovating older tress which may be of use: http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1101/fruit_tree.asp.

• Victoria Plum Tree - I planted a small Victoria Plum Tree last year in spring, I have no blossom this year only leaves, is this normal? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Weeds in Hedge - Our hedge in invaded by climbing weeds, possibly ivy. We have removed most of it by cutting the weed and pulling them as gently as possibly. The hedge is in a bad state, lots of dead wood and very little foliage in the bottom part. We have managed to pull some of the weeds root out ...
• Monkey Puzzle Tree - I have a monkey puzzle tree in a large pot and hope to plant it in the garden this year. It is approximately 1 meter tall, how big will the roots grow over time as this will have a relevance on were the tree can be planted. Share and Enjoy: ...
• Planting Box Hedge - I want to plant a box hedge this summer – how far apart should they be? Share and Enjoy: ...
• Plants for Containers - We have a side 3ft gate (adjacent to pavement verge/road) set into a well established 8ft hedge of mixed varieties. We cannot plant as the area is a concreted path so…. have you any suggestions of a large POTTED plant that we could place against the gate to provide ourselves some privacy (gate does not ...