| Q I'm building a rill in our garden. I now have two reservoirs but it is still running out of water after about 10 hours use. Can you help please? |
A I would say that either there is a leak somewhere or the reservoirs are inadequate for the length of the rill. The recent hot weather will be evaporating lots more water off than normal too.
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Q I have a 30-year-old rowan tree which was ok until two years ago. Last year and this yera it has few buds, little foilage, no blossom or berries. Any ideas on theproblem? |
A I would think that the tree is suffering from a fungal disease called scab, similar to that which attacks apples. If the leaves appear at first then they gradually go brown and fall prematuely this is certainly the problem. Feed the tree with Vitax Q4 fertiliser a little now and more in March. If possible treat the tree with a fungicide like Bio Systhane Fungus Fighter when foliage first appears and again about 14 days later. <<Back to gardening questions index |
| Q I have planted leylandii cyprus trees to make a private hedge that will enclose my garden and I put some miracle grow in the holes and then covered them with a little soil before planting the trees. I would like to know how often to water them and any other tips you can give me to help with the growth of these trees. My soil is also very sandy so is this good or bad? |
A Just keep the trees well watered they will need little feeding until next April, then give a little growmore if necessary.The main thing to remember is that they will grow about 1m per year so prune the sides regularly to keep the hedge thin.
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| Q I have elderflower taking over my garden, how can I get rid of it? |
A The best way is to use Growing Success Deep Root or Dax Root Out on the elder according to the instructions on the pack. <<Back to gardening questions index |
| Q My mature laurel tree's leaves are shrivelling and developing holes. What should I treat the tree with? |
A Your laurels are suffering from possibly two different problems the twisting and withering of the leaves is probably powdery mildew. Treat this with a funcicide like Bio Fungus Fighter and water the soil around the plants.
The holes in the leaves are caused by a bacterial disease called shothole and the best treatment is to use Bordeaux mixture or Traditional Copper Fungicide in the manner recommended for bacterial canker. <<Back to gardening questions index |
| QMy potted gerbera is doing very well - it is very leafy and green. However, the new flower buds keep dying before they get a chance to open (4 flowers have shrivelled and died). What could be the problem? I have kept the soil moist, it is in a light area - what is going wrong? |
A Certainly the plant does require plenty of bright diffused light in order to flower. Try feeding it with liquid tomato food as this has lots of flower promoting potash in it.
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| Q I have just bought an arch to train my two laburnums over. Please can you tell me the best way to train the trees? |
A Just tie the main stems of the trees in to the arch and allow the side branches to begin to grow but remove the growing points after the side shoots have made about five leaves to control the growth and induce flowers.
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| Q In my new front garden I have inherited a wisteria over 100 years old. It has no support and stands spider like with branches like small trees taking up half the garden. How do I tackle it without doing serious damage? |
A In August you trim back all the spidery side growths to five leaves from where they originate on the main branch.Then in February you cut the same shoots back to one bud long.
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| Q Could you please tell me the best time to prune a 20-year-old mature Labernum Tree? |
A The best time to prune the laburnum is in the autumn after leaf fall.
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| Q When detering badgers why is male urine used to deter them? Can female urine be used aswell? |
A The reason is that male urine still contains territory making scents that makes it more pungent, long lasting and threatening for the badger.
Female urine was once used as an aid to promote cuttings rooting before hormone powder. <<Back to gardening questions index |
| Q I planted an hibiscus this spring. It is now covered in flower buds but not many of these come into flower - they drop off before completely opening. Help!! |
A I think that your Hibiscus could be suffering from a lack of water, but remember that the flowers only last for a few days before dropping off anyway.
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