Q: Is there an insect that eats the roots of grass and how can I solve the problem of grass that disintegrates?

P Mayfield - Heckmondwike

A: Yes your lawn is suffering from either leatherjackets or chafer grubs and if the grass is so badly affected that you can lift it from thje soil chafer grubs are more likely to be the problem. The bad news here is that there are no chemical controls for these problems so we have to rely on biological controls.These consist of microscopic worms or nematodes which are watered on to the grass so that they can prey on the chafer grubs. There is another species that is used to control the leatherjackets. Unfortunately you are too late to use any this year but if you visit Greengardener.co.uk you could find more details for next September.
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Q: How to treat ivy killing trees.

DR.M.S.BATTH - Village

A:The best thing to do is to treat the ivy with a product called Growing Success Ivy Killer. Most garden centres stock it.
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Q: Can you please tell me how phytopthora is caught to plants and how to eradicate it?

Sue - Hemel Hempstead

A: Phytopthora comes in various forms but all of them are fungal disease that spread either through air currents or some of the root affecting species spread through soil moisture, which is why they proliferate particularly in damp conditions. There are currently no chemical control measures availabkle to amateur gardeners.
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Q: Would like some advice on moving some fruit bushes, (black/red & white currants.) Should I prune first and is now a good time to move them? And... Apple trees. 1 James Grieve and 1 Newton Wonder. These are well established trees of about 9ft and 6ft respectively. I am selling the bit of garden they currently reside on and they're going to be chopped down anyway by the buyer so can I move them and should I prune first and let recover or just move them as they are? Any advice much appreciated!!

Sarah Butler - West Moors Dorset

A: Yes this would be a good time to move the soft fruit bushes, the blackcurrants can be cut back quite hard but if you cut the red and white currants down hard they will not fruit for at least two seasons. With the red and white currants I would cut every other branch back hard to relieve the strain on the depleted root system but you will still retain some fruiting potential. Take plenty of roots and soil with each one. I doubt that you will have much success moving large fruit trees like the apples, but if you would like to try this is a good time.
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Q: We've got a weed that's grown into a sapling that is growing out from under our back porch's concrete foundation. How can I get rid of it without digging it out?

Kristy - Baltimore, MD/USA

A:Iam not familiar with garden chemicals in the U.S.A. but you need a systemic weedkiller containing either of these active ingredients Glysophate, or Ammonium Sulphamate. Applied as directed on the pack they should kill the sapling.
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Q: I'm told I shouldn't prune my lavender in the spring. So when should I prune it, as it's getting rather straggly?

Gail Donald - Glasgow

A:Trim you lavender up in April but you cannot cut the plant back hard as it will not re-shoot from old wood.
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Q: I just added redwood bark to my beds and now my flowers are drooping. why is that?

Tracey lough - Irvine

A: I presume that the redwood bark has been laid down as a mulch on top of the soil. I think that your plants are wilting due to a lack of water, but you will have to water them well as it will have to pass through the mulch in order to get to the soil and so in to the plants.
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Q: Earlier this year I had a new lawn laid and had quite a lot of mushrooms growing I now have what appears to be yellow spores in paches over the lawn they appear to be on top of the grass. what is it and can you advise how to get rid of it as there are small children in the garden

Sandra - carrickfergus

A: Your lawn is very compacted the best thing to do is to spike the area thoroughly with a lawn aerator and brush sharp sand into he holes. Feed the lawn with an autumn lawn fertiliser when the soil ias moistened by rain.
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Q: I have a 60foot chestnut tree with some dead wood, surgeons say either lightening damage or from previous bad pruning. Dead wood a hazard, should I wait till leaves have dropped or ok to do now? Surgeons seem to disagree with each other. Also most surgeons say do a 30% reduction, but one says 10m foot only as bigger wounds will not heal properly, who is right? T

Helen Hatton - Waterlooville

A: I would have the job done after leaf fall and it is true that smaller cuts heal much better.
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