Tokely's Tips

Leave your question for Andrew below:

Lauren
My Euonymus has powdery white residue on the leaves, which have partially browned and a lot of them seem to be falling. Any ideas?

Andrew Tokely
Alan, I suggest you try a different insecticide for caterpillars . Try buying one of the concentrates and mixing your own as per instructed on the label. Sometimes the ready made spays are not as effective if there is a bad infestation as they are a slightly lower dosage rate within the ready made spray. Are the white blotches from the caterpillars or are they a fungal disease called White Blister. If they are white blister there is no chemical you can use. All you can do is pick off infected leaves and burn them .

Andrew Tokely
Jill, Euonymus Green spider thrives in normal garden soil,planted in either in sun or shade.

Andrew Tokely
William , Leeks normally run to seed if they have had a check to their growth or the seed was sown too early. If grown from Leek pips , these will run to seed if the pip is taken too early , i root mine in November . If sowing seed types for show , i would sow in January under glass.

alan
a problem this year, westland bug killer spray does not kill off theunusually small caterpillers on my purple sprouting broccoli. the leaves are peppered with white blotches.help please

Andrew Tokely
Lesley, normally as the bottom leaves of Brussels Sprouts turn pale or yellow they are removed. But removing earlier than this should cause no damage.

Andrew Tokely
Tim, This often happens with French beans later in season as plants get older. Often when plants are under stress due to lack of water or weather damage (strong winds) distortion can also occur.

Andrew Tokely
Bob , Sorry but there is probably nothing you can do this year with the blueberries. But next year once the blueberries start to form , cover bushes with enviromesh as this will stop the caterpillar eggs being laid to hatch and spoil your fruits.

Andrew Tokely
Gillian , Provided the Begonias you purchased from plugs are tuberous begonias , then they will produce a small corm by the end of the season , which can be dried down and stored over winter in a frost free place , then replanted the following year.

Andrew Tokely
Tony, Knotweed , is very deep rooted, Digging out is the best method , alternatively when new growth appears next spring spray with roundup weedkiller . It may take a few applications to totally eradicate it , but over time should disappear. The weedkiller will be more effective on young growth in the spring rather than using on an older plant. Good Luck

Andrew Tokely
Janice , If leaves have shrivelled , gone brown and died it could be as simple as drought. Often Wisteria planted near a house are protected by the eaves of the house and get no water when it rains. If you scape back the bark and underneath it is still green , the plant is still alive, if so give it a good drink and you may say it.

Andrew Tokely
Derek , The White spots on bark sound like either a fungal disease or a woolly aphid. Without seeing a sample it is very difficult to diagnose. I suggest you send a sample into the gardening slot on saturday mornings for us to look at and advise treatment.

Andrew Tokely
Jude , Rhododendrons respond very well to being cut back hard. If you do this you will have no flowers for at least 12 months but the plant will be bushier and more manageable. A feed with Miracid would also be benificial .

Jill
How do I care for the plant Euonymus Green spider

William
my show leeks have gone to seed early

lesley palmer
can I pull the bottom leafs of my brussels even if thay are green

Tim Stygall
This year has been very good for french beans,but as the season goes on more and more of them are contorted and have blemishes.i have never come across this before ?

bob waddington
many of my ripening blueberries are bored into with small caterpillers inside.advice on food safe control appreciated.thanks

Gillian Dale
I have always grown my gegonias from corms always to a great success using the previous years corms. This year I purchased some plugs which have been highly successfully will these turn into corms?

tony price
i'm sure you've been asked this before but, knott weed, is there a way to get rid of it,think i must have tried everything, but like looking for a banker who,s half human, hopeless

janice
my wisteria is 2 yrs old it has just shrivelled and died. the leaves were still green, no sign of insect.can you help please?

DEREK
MY PRIVET HEGE SEEMS TO BEE DYING IT HAS WHIT SPOTS ON THE BARK WHAT CAN I DO TO SAVE IT

Jude
Dear Andrew. We recently moved to a new house and after clearing back the undergrowth, discovered a rhodedendron which had become very leggy due to lack of light and space! Could you please advise me how to bring this lovely rhodey back to full strength. Thanks in advance.

Andrew Tokely
Jill , The White cotton wool like stuff on your Apple Tree is Woolly Aphid .This can be sprayed with a suitable insecticide that is suitable for trees to get the problem under control . Although the tree may look unsightly the aphid should not affect the Fruit .

Andrew Tokely
Dominick, If you have only just planted the Plum in June or July , i hope it was a container grown tree and not bare root. The leaves are probably wilting due to being planted at this time of year and are getting over the shock. Hopefully it is only a shock to its system and the plant recovers.In recovery it may drop some of its leaves before growing new ones. To check the tree is still alive and not died , scape a small piece of bark and if the tissue underneath is green the plant is still alive. Wilting can also be caused through the plant being too dry or too wet. Keep the plant Moist but not waterlogged.If the plant was to die , most trees and shrubs have a 12 month guarantee and can be returned to where purchased.

Andrew Tokely
Michele, The only thing you can do is Spray your Petunias with a suitable insecticide that kills caterpillars. This Spay may also mark the flowers , but will stop the caterpillars . Once new buds come out the flowers will no longer be marked. Good luck with the rescue of your baskets.

dominick
I just planted a baby shiro plum tree ouand the leaves are wilting. Is there anything I can do to save. thank y

Michele
Dear Andrew:I hope you can help me. I have three beautiful Surfinia hanging plants. They are gorgeous, however, recently they have been infected with white caterpillars that are eating their flowers. I am sick over this. Please help me quickly, before they destroy my gorgeous plants totally. Thank you for your time in answering this.Sending light & blessings,Michele BargerMontrose, NY

Andrew Tokely
Jill , Your Apple Tree has Woolly Aphid . The tree can be sprayed with a suitable insecticide. Check at the local garden center for a product that is suitable for spaying on Fruit Trees as , not all chemicals can.

Jill Raymond
Hi Andrew,My Apple tree has got patches of white fluffy cotten wool like stuff on it what is it please and how do I get rid of it.

Andrew Tokely
V M Stone , Sounds like you grass has got Red Thread , a fungal disease on grass. If is very difficult for you to treat alone . I suggest you call in a specialist grass consultant like Green Thumb to offer advice or to treat the grass to restore it to its former glory .

V M Stone
I have a problem with my lawn grass. The tips have gone brown where cut and orange in colour spore like spots grow and spread on the brown part of the grass blades. Can you tell me what it is and how do i go about stopping it and get a green lawn back. Your help/advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Andrew Tokely
mgcarnarvon, When your Lilies stop flowering , remove the flower buds then leave the stems to naturally turn brown and die down. Reduce the watering also . Once the stems are completely brown they can be cut off, until this point they are putting goodness back into the bulb as they die down which will produce next years display.

Andrew Tokely
Chris, Rhubarb is usually almost indestructable. If the leaves are dying it could be due to lack of moisture , without seeing evidence it is very hard to dect. You could always send a sample in to the gardening program on a saturday

Andrew Tokely
Peter , I suspect the Parthenocissus may have suffered some damage to the stem , probably caused through wind damage. The parts of the stem with withered leaves may re-shoot next year ,if the stem is still alive. To check this scrape back a little bit of the bark and if it is green underneath it is still alive. If it is not unfortunately that part is dead and will have to be removed.

Andrew Tokely
Trevor, Cordalines will flower once they are are established which could be 5 years plus. Usually once they start to flower they will then continue to flower each year or every other year.

Andrew Tokely
Ray, Your Leylandii could haver the Leyladii Aphid , if so this will show as black marks on the side of the plants. It could also be a fungal disease which is affecting some plants and looks like brown die back . More likely if the plants are only a couple of years old they could be suffering from drought. I would give the plants a really good drink first and see what happens.

Andrew Tokely
Peter, I think your Agave is actually producing a flower stem . Many Agaves would take up to 10 years to grow before flowering.

Andrew Tokely
Chris , Rhodendrons will grow in dapple shade but not full shade. If they get a little sun each day few a few hours they will perform much better.

Andrew Tokely
Pauline , Your Rhododendron would be best repotted into Ericaceous compost in the autumn this year .

Andrew Tokely
Ruth , Many gardens do contain Clay , mine included. This has it benefits as it retains moisture , but can also dry as hard as concrete. The best way to garden with Clay is to only work the soil when workable (not too wet but before it gets rock hard) Adding plenty of organic matter to the soil and working it in each autumn will improve it no end . I have had a clay soil garden and allotment for a number of years and can grow most plants very successfully in it.

Andrew Tokely
Michael, I suspect your Blue Spruce is suffering from Drought, maybe not from this year but from the previous one . I suggest the plant is given regular waterings and a Folia feed during the evening once a month , which should hopefully brighten up the plants.

Andrew Tokely
Jill , Your Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) maybe lacking in food . Feed with Sequested Iron which should quickly green up the plant. If plant still looks pale , it may have a virus of some sort and would be best removed.

Andrew Tokely
Maureen , There is no need to remove the shoots from your Begonia corms. The more shoots on a corm the busier the plants will be .

mgcarnarvon
what to do when my lillies have stopped flowering

chris pickett
why is my rhubarb red leaves then they die

Peter Buck
I have a Parthenocissus on a sheltered, north facing wall. It is around 7 or 8 years old and until this year has been really good.Recently (possibly after the recent strong winds) the leaves have started to wither and are now falling off but one small part of the plant remains unaffected. Any ideas what might have caused this and is it likely to come back next year?

trevor cornwell
How often does a cordalineplant flower, as mine is in full bloom and never seen it flower before.

Ray Soames
Hello Andrew,I have a 3yr old lleylandi hedge that is just showing signs of die back on some of the branches -is this the dreaded lleylandi "bug"?

Peter Beasley
I have an Agave in my front garden which was in a pot until 14 days ago and now has an enormous stem in the middle which I think is the formation of leaves yet to open. It has been in a pot for 10 years but I have seen nothing like this before on an Agave. I have taken a photo of the plant which I think is an Agava Americana but can't be certain. Is this unusual?

ChrisBradford
Can Rhodedendrons be planted in the shade?

Pauline Kirkman
Please can you tell me when is the best time to repot a Rhododendron Yakushimanum?

Ruth McDonagh
Hello Andrew,My husband and I have moved into a house which is 2 years old and found the soil in the back garden has clay in it. As a novice gardener, I don't know how to deal with this - can you advise please? Thank you.Ruth

Michael Townson
Last autumn we planted blue spruce which now seems to be dying from the bottom up; although there is initial new blue growth,the needles lose colour and look dry. What could it be, and what can we do? Thanks for your help.

Jill Gregory
Hi Andrew,I have several bleeding heart plants in my garden, they are all healthy except one. The leaves start off a mottled yellow and gradually turn completely yellow, the flowers look fine. I'm baffled.

maureen wild
andrew, I am growing begonias from corms. Do I have to nip out any new growth? thankyou

Andrew Tokely
Eileen, Avocado can be repotted into any good Potting Compost. I would use one of the Soil-less (Peat based) types.

Andrew Tokely
Katie, Hanging basket Tomatoes are a great way of getting an early crop and taking up very little space. I plant 3 plants in an 45cm (18in) diameter basket .

Andrew Tokely
Jill, Ornamental Cherries can be Pruned in April, after the tree comes into leaf, cut vigorous growth to a bud.Alternatively you can prune in August, Removing badly-placed shoots. Pruning should only be done if absolutely necessary.

eileen holmes
I need to re-pot a well established avocado.What compost do I use

Katie Goddard
This year i have grown some basket tomatoes but am unsure how many plants to put in each basket. could you offer some advice

Jill long melford
Can you prune ornamental flowering cherry's & when do I do it.

Andrew Tokely
Linda , Raspberries can be grown in pots . When growing in pots i suggest you grow one of the autumn fruiting varieties like Autumn Bliss or Polka. These are easier to look after and will happily grow with 3 raspberry canes planted per 60cm (24in) pot filled with John Innes No3 compost .

Andrew Tokely
Alan , I guess when you cut this down all you will be left with is a bare trunk and no leaves.I think such a shock will kill it and it won't re-sprout. You could try saving some of the seeds, sowing them and starting from scratch again.

Andrew Tokely
Cheryl, The black at the end of the stems is possibly weather related . Red robins are susceptible to wind/ frost damage if in exposed areas. I suggest you lightly trim off these damaged plants and your plants will soon recover.

Alan Lamplough
Hi I have a palm tree in the front garden, when i plantedthe palm it was about 2 feet high,Its now about 20 foot high, the question i need ansering it if i cut the tree down,say to 3footwill it grow again and sprout new limbs.As it is now its only 1foot of telephone lines and i'm going to have to cut it down anyway, but it as a lovely purple flower and the starlings love the seeds when its finshed flowering, i look forward to hearing from you thanks Alan

cheryl yearsley
hi, I'm hoping that you can help me. I have a red robin plant that is quite healthy and showing lots of new growth, however on some leaves the end has gone black and looks dead! Can you offer any advice, Thanks.

Andrew Tokely
Anne, Climbing Hydranger Plants are slow to get going, and often make little new growth in the first few years.They prefer to be in moist soils so i wonder if yours is too dry in its pot? try to keep the plant moist , or plant it into the ground rather than a pot and feed from April to september once a week with a high Potash feed (Tomato food) and hopefully it will start to flower very soon. The climbing hydrangea (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris) should have overlong shoots cut back immediately after flowering.

Andrew Tokely
Georgina, Digging over the soil in the autumn and spring , and encouraging the birds to feed on the ground will eradicate some of the wireworm and eelworm from your soil. Slugs can be controlled with the nematode that is watered into the soil and hatches out and feeds on the keel slug underground that are feeding on your spuds. Reducing the amount of homemade compost that is added to the soil will also reduce the amount of slugs you get. You could also change your variety to maybe Sarpo Mira which in our trials has shown some resistance to Slugs and is Blight resistant.

Andrew Tokely
LeS , The comeercial growers start th plants off alot earlier than you would if growing for your garden. Plus they use extra heat and sometimes Lights to increase day length to encourage the bedding to flower. I guess you want them to flower earlier to sell the plants at the gate. Bedding plants will always get away better in the garden and flower longer if planted out when still green (with no flowers).

Andrew Tokely
Paul , Broad beans can be sown at different times of Year. October , November outside in the soil will give an early harvest in late June. A sowing made underglass in 9cm pots or root trainers in February will give plants to plat out in late March for a crop early July. But you can also Sow Direct outside in April for a crop late July. If sowing underglass , a frost free greenhouse is all thats required and seeds can be sown in a multipurpose soil-less compost.

Linda Mudie
I have a small garden and want to grow raspberries. Can I grow them in pots.How large should the pots be. Will they grow in peat with grit added?

Anne Howlett
I have a climbing hydranger - planted in a large pot on a North facing wall for about 4/5 years. It's healthy and has climbed well - but no flowers. I have not pruned it, except for crossing branches. Is there anything I can do to get blooms ?

georgina prestwich
we have a problem with our maincrop potatoes with the eelworm,wireworm,and slugs,is there anything we could treat soil with before planting and during growth. king edward are the variety

Les Wernstein
I have been growing bedding plants for a number of years - starting the off ina greenhouse - but I can't get them to flower early - they tend to grow large, then flower when I plant them out - is there is a trick to making them flower early (like the commercial growers do)

Paul Lowe
Growing Broad Beans in pots:* when do I sow?* indoors (quite warm) or outdoors?* plant out when?* size of pot?* ordinary seed compost/Any other info gratefully received.Many thanks,Paul.

Andrew Tokely
Ann, I suspect your butterfly palm is indoors as a houseplant . The normal cause for leaves to go brittle is a too dry an atmosphere , usually caused by central heating. Standing your plant on moist pebbles and misting the leaves every day will help create some moist air and help overcome this problem.

Andrew Tokely
Matt, If you are on heavy ground and the soil has become compacted the lawn will not drain properly. Aerating the soil will help , this can be done with a mechanical aerator or by pushing a long fork in as far as you can . Once you have been over the whole lawn you can apply some sharp grit or sharp sand and brush this into the aeration holes. This is a lot of work and may require repeating on an annual basis but should improve the drainage over time.

Andrew Tokely
Neil, Ideally you need to add some form of drainage so the water drains away and your new lawn does not end up as a muddy mess or full of moss.Incorporating some grit and sharp sand will give some form of drainage , but you must also make sure the ground below is not to compacted. If you are unsure it may pay to get a Landscape adviser to call in and take a look first in case any land drains are needed as well .

Ann Pryke
Andrew, My butterfly palm leaves are going britle,What can i do to stop it,Hope you can help.

matt
I have a terrible drainage problem in my garden.I have a dog who while running around has taken most of the grass off and now due to heavy rain we have puddles building up in what is left of the lawn.What can i do to help

neil ashman
hi andrewin my back garden i would liketo put a lawn in the top tierof my garden, which is made out of mountain side but has been flattened,before i put some topsoil on what should i do about the drainage on it please can you help me thank you NEIL

Andrew Tokely
Liz , You are doing quite well , the only other method would be to take out a trench , place the plants in this and back fill with soil. But this will depend on how big the roots are of the plants you are planting. Alternatively carry on as you are and cover the polythene with a mulch of bark to hide this and the unsightly split. I hope this helps.

Andrew Tokely
Vivienne,Bleeding heart is quite easy to grow and look after. Provided it is planted in soil that has had plenty of organic matter added to it to help retain moisture it will thrive. Each autumn as the foliage dies back , cut this down and mark the spot with a label or cane and it will reappear the following year. A little base dressing of Fish Blood & Bone fertilizer once a year is all it requires after that.

Andrew Tokely
Peter, I also garden on heavy Clay soil. I try to add as much organic/ Farm yard manure as I can . I also add any old compost from containers that had bedding plants in the previous year.Over the last eleven years I have transformed my heavy clay soil into a workable structure. Grit will help with drainage and should be obtainable from any good aggrigate company as long as it is washed grit.Clay soils do have there benefits of holding moisture during dry spells , but it is important that when working with this type of soil to keep off it until it is workable , otherwise if you walk on it when very wet it will go down rock hard as it dries out.

Andrew Tokely
Brian , I always raise my Brussels sprout plants in Modular trays sown in February. These are then planted out in firm ground as you describe. I am unsure of what variety you are growing , but historically the older Open pollinated(non hybrid) varieties would often produce open flowery sprouts. I suggest one of the slightly more expensive Hybrid types like Trafalgar(My Favourite) which I have always had good results with and tight firm buttons to harvest.

Andrew Tokely
Brian , I always raise my Brussels sprout plants in Modular trays sown in February. These are then planted out in firm ground as you describe. I am unsure of what variety you are growing , but historically the older Open pollinated(non hybrid) varieties would often produce open flowery sprouts. I suggest one of the slightly more expensive Hybrid types like Trafalgar(My Favourite) which I have always had good results with and tight firm buttons to harvest.

liz walters
Dear Andrewcould youu help,I have just started planting 1500 hedging plats the soil has been prepared for some time,and has been overlaid with a plastic membrane through which I am cutting holes diging a hole inserting root ,cane together with plastic shroud.And heeling the ground firm around each plant.This is taking an extremely long time,as much as 2-3 minutes per plant,but also leaves a large split the width of the spade in the polythene.Could you please advise of a speedier method to plant my remaining 1450 plants,your help would be appreciated.many thanksliz

vivienne simpson
Hello Andrew, I've just bought a few young roots of the plant "bleeding heart". I'd like to know the best way to make this beautiful plant stay healthy. I have just bought the roots and have put them down in my front garden with plant food.

peter
i have created a new vegetable patch.the soil is v heavy clay.how can i improve the soil.i have access to lots of stable straw manure produced this winter.someone mentioned horticultural grit,would this work and where do i get it from ,for a 10mx13m area .i live near ipswich.thanks

Brian
For several years I have tried to grow sprouts on my allotment, with little success - the plants are small with small cabbagy sprouts. I have tried firming the soil and staking the plants without success. I use a cage to keep the pidgeons off, and have tested the soil, which measures 6.7. Any ideas?

Andrew Tokely
John , I suggest you plant a Norway Spuce Christmas tree (The traditional kind ) these are easy to grow and will grow almost anywhere. Alternatively you could plant a Scots Pine or a Blue Spruce both of which are a little slower growing but offer a slightly more attractive tree once mature.

Andrew Tokely
Raymond, Chrysanthemum stools (Old plants) are best lifted and boxed up in John Innes NO2 compost and placed in a cool greenhouse over winter. Then late January /early February they should be moved into the warm and this will encourage them to produce some new shoots. These new shoots can be used to make cuttings that will root quickly with a little added warmth, to produce you some newer stronger plants that will perform a lot better than old plants that have been split .

Andrew Tokely
Rachel, From December to March is an ideal time to plant your Christmas tree in the garden . Plant in a well prepared hole that has had plenty of organic matter added to it and in an area of the garden with plenty of space as eventually this tree could reach over 20ft tall.

Andrew Tokely
Kate, Cane fruit like Raspberries need a sheltered, sunny spot and rich but well-drained soil. Plant the dormant canes in autumn or early winter so that in the first year all the energy goes into establishing a good root system and canes for the following year. Before planting, put up a support that you can tie them to.As a rule Raspberries and Blackberries will grow in almost any aspect.

Andrew Tokely
Help! i suggest you contact a local Market gardener there are quite a few in east Anglia who i am sure will be able to give you some guidance.

Andrew Tokely
Emma, I suggest you move your Date palm in ins pot up closer to the hose as the heat from the walls will help give it some protection. Then you can wrap the plant with fleece just like you are wrapping someone in a blanket . You only need to have the plant wrapped in Fleece when the weather is very cold and frosty, the rest of the time it can be left uncovered.

Andrew Tokely
Sue , Bleeding Heart are ok grown both in the border and in pots. Once the foliage has died down trim this off and your plants will re-shoot again next spring. If growing in pots give the compost a top dressing in the spring of a few inches of fresh compost to help give the plants a feed and a little boost.

Andrew
Isobel, Please see my answer to Brians question detailing how to take Geranium cuttings which hopefully should help you also

Andrew Tokely
Helen , Japanese knotweed is very difficult to get rid of. Digging it out is the best method of control or hoeing the young growth off as soon as it pokes through the soil will gradually weaken it over a number of years. If the plants are away from other shrubs or plants you wish to keep your could also spray the young growth with Roundup weedkiller and this in time will also kill the plants.

Andrew Tokely
Brian, Geranium cuttings are best taken in September , but can also be taken in January from overwintered plants. When taking the cutting always cut just below a pair of leaves and remove these bottom leaves and maybe the next pair as well leaving a cutting approx. 2-3in long. Insert the cutting into some rooting powder then insert the cutting into some moist seed and cutting compost. Inserted cuttings are best placed on the base of a heated propagator or a warm windowsill. Unlike other cuttings geraniums must not be covered. Only water thye compost when very dry , because more cuttings are lost through over-wet compost by black leg disease than from being kept very dry. The cuttings should start to root within 21 days.

Andrew Tokely
Sue, Rhus is a superb tree and I suggest this would look attractive underplanted with pulmonaria with its attractive spotted foliage and sky blue flowers .

Andrew Tokely
Edith, If your garden keeps getting waterlogged , you would be wise to get the drainage improved. This could involve adding land drains filled with grit or even digging in extra grip to the soil. Once you can overcome the waterlogging you will have a better choice of plants to grow.

Andrew Tokely
Ray , If there are brown patches in your Conifer trees this could be caused by a conifer aphid , which is black and leaves inside the trees . If you pull back the brown patches and see aphids inside on the bark this is the problem . These can be sprayed with Ultimate bug killer to help control. If however you don't see any bugs inside the brown patches could be caused by a fungal disease which unfortunately will spread throughout the foliage. If it is the fungal disease unfortunately the is no cure available to hobby gardeners.

Andrew Tokely
Audrey , Picking off the affected buds on you Azelea is the best method of control . But you can also spray with a general Fungicide as well to help keep this under control .

Andrew Tokely
Caroline , If your Banana plant is kept too wet the leaves will sometimes turn black. But if the leaves are dying from the the base upwards this is nothing too much to worry about as long as new growth is still appearing from the top of the plant. Through the winter plants will naturally slow down and must be given frost protection.

Andrew Tokely
Sue , The Stickness on your Orchids I suspect is residue from some pest. The most likely candidates would be either Scale insect or mealy bug , but as you can not easily see any sign of a pest I guess it is Scale . This pest appears as tiny bumps on the bottom of leaves.I suggest you carefully wipe all the leaves with a leaf wipe to remove the pest and the stickyness rather than resort to spraying with an insecticide.

John
I want to plant a permanent Christmas tree in my front garden, but have been told there are diffrent types of tree. Which species is beat for this. I have also heard that there are some flowering Christmas trees, would they be suitable.

raymond bowles
can i lift the roots of chrysanthemums & split them now

rachel
i brought a non drop christmas tree last year and it has grown where and how do i plant in garden its in a large pot at the moment

Kate Bolland
Could you tell me the optimum orientation for cane fruit. Should the rows be east/west or north/south?We are planning a recently acquired allotment.Thanks

Help!!
I'm trying to do an assessment on market gardening but I can't find much information on the internet. Please could you help me by giving me geeneral information on market gardening and telling me why it's difficult? Thank you.

Emma
I bought a Dwarf Date Plam this summer. It's in a pot at the bottom of my garden. It has thorns so I can't bring it in. I've bought some fleece to protect it from the winter but searching the web has left me none the wiser as too what to do with the fleece. Please help as I don't want it die. (I need the idiots guide)!!

Sue Heaton
Do I have to prune back my bleeding heart plants now that they have died off. I have them in very big pots on the patio, are they okay in pots?

Isobel Johnston
Like Brian Coleman I have pots full of Geraniums that I would like to take cuttings from and save the plants for next year.Kind RegardsIsobel Johnston

HELEN WARNE
HELLO, HOW CAN WE GET RID OF JAPANESE KNOTWEED?

Brian Coleman
I have a raised bed full of geraniums and would like to take cuttings for next year can you tell me how to cut and keep, please. I have a small lean-to greenhouse.

Sue Williams
I have a small (at moment) Rhus tree which had overgrown privet growing under it. Also there are 3 types of bluebells which come through. I have cleared most of the privet and now have bare earth. Can you suggest perennial planting to cover a metre and half square. Thank you

Edith boyne
My garden keeps getting waterlogged what can i do to stop this and what plants can i plant to stop this

Ray Broome
My 15'high Leylandii hedge has brown patches which were only really noticed after it had its annual trim. As the hedge separates my garden from a busy road,it's very important to us not to lose it and would appreciate your advice as to any possible treatments. Unfortunately, I missed your recent programme regarding aphids in conifer hedging.

is it possible to grow my rouge cardinal clematis from the seed heads that form on it after flowering

audrey
My azaleas have fungas gall which treatment should i use as well as picking them off?

Caroline Welham
Please can yu help. I have recently bought a Banana plant from my local homebase and ever since i have planted it and watered it the leaves appear to be turning black.What am i doing wrong?

sue
Hi i have some Orchids that are flowering but a bit scragly they mostly seem to have some sticky residue on their leaves looked for small insects but found nothing. can you tell me what it may be.

Andrew Tokely
Charles , Cucumbers can be very sensitive. If your plants collapsed the cause is usually one of a few things , like overwatering, The stem being nipped and damaged of if the plants are wet and the nights turn cold this will also make them collapse. The plants you have remaining i suggest you keep on the dry side in-between watering. I suspect it is the combination of the cold and wet that has caused your problem , which shouldn't hopefully be a problem any longer now the warmer weather has arrived.

WILLIAM
Dear AndrewI would be very grateful if you will tell me hao to eradicate Japanese Knott weed. Many thanks

jacqueline
could you tell me,the best way to look after a banana plant.please

Maggie Darban
Do you have any magic solution to getting rid of rabbits?They have demolished much of our veg garden and have now turned their attention to our new wildflower garden just as it is coming up.we have done the usual fencing off, and are currently trying grazers. Any ideas greatfully recieved. maggie darban.

Charles
Having raised my cucumber (Tiffany) seeds into well formed plants in small pots very successfully and then potted them into 2 L pots .. then many of the plants dramatically wilted and & the stems rotted ..half of them before planting into 12 L pots in the greenhouse and the other half afterwards I do not believe I have overwatered them and I have created a ridge around the stem so that the water runs away from the stem.Any ideas what causes this problem and how I can save the extra plants I've had to buy to replace all the ones that died.

Andrew Tokely
Pat, The small eggs on the leaves , may not be eggs but scale insect ? If this is the case spraying with a suitable insecticide will help. If only a minor attack you could rub them off with finger and thumb. Without seeing the leaves and eggs it is difficult to give a more definitive answer . You can always send a leaf sample into the Saturday gardening show for one of the gardening experts to look at and identify.

Andrew Tokely
Brian , You could use Grass cuttings provided they have not had any lawn weed, moss or fertilizer added to the grass. Do not add to much otherwise you could end up weith some black sludge around the plants.

Andrew Tokely
Crystal , The black tips on your Bleeding Heart could be a result of the young growth being nipped by frost or the wind. I think this will grow out of this and is nothing to worry about .

Pat Millman
I have a blueberry plant which is being eaten. There are some small white eggs on one of the leaves. Any suggestions as to cause and remedy please? Thank-you

Brian Harrold
Can I use grass cuttings to bank up around potatoes

Crystal Chenoweth
I have a bleeding heart that I just bought and the tips of the leaves have turned black. What can I do to fixs my plant.

Andrew Tokely
Jan , If your lawn is getting very waterlogged , you could be on heavy soil, which is compacted and has very poor drainage . To help with drainage , the lawn will benefit from being aerated , this can be done by pushing a fork in as deep as you can and pulling back and forward. If this is done all over the lawn and then some Sharp sand is brushed into the lawn the drainage will improve in time. This may need doing each year in the autumn and again the early spring , until conditions improve. A lot of work , but worth doing , Good Luck !

jan clarke
i have a small lawn in my back garden which is west facing but it gets very water logged so i assume that the soil would be clay as i live in between truro and st.austell in cornwall. please could you tell me if i could solve this problem . thankyou

Andrew Tokely
Peter ,If the leaves keep wilting it sounds like there could be something wrong with the roots. It might be worth taking the plant out of the pot and checking them . My worry is there may be Vine weevil larvae within the pot and eating the roots , hence making it collapse . If you do find these present , you can water the pot with Ultimate bug killer . This may cure the problem and save your Banana , but it depends on how much damage has been caused. If none are seen , as the plant is loosing leaves rapidly i suggest keeping the plant on the dry side , otherwise there is a risk of overwatering. Another cause of leaf loss and wilting is if the plant is standing in a draft.

Peter Try
I have a sick banana plant too! It is in a pot indoors with central heating (not very high) and gets watered infreguently. Two weeks ago it was looking really healthy but suddenly all the leaves started to discolour and wilt - even the new ones growing from the centre almost as they unravelled. The stem and bulb are still green.

Andrew Tokely
Blanche , lets try and save your banana plant . I would reduce the watering first. Then I would stand the plant pot on a saucer of moist pebbles ( But not with its feet sitting in water) this will help create a humid atmosphere which I believe the plant is lacking due to the central heating. Banana plants as they grow always loose the lower leaves so don't worry too much , as long as the centre of the plant is green and healthy it will keep growing. Don't start to feed until next spring.Hopefully you banana plant will be soon on the road to recovery .

Andrew Tokely
Clare, You could try Rosemary Oregano or Thyme if you still want a fragrant plant.

Blanche
Hi Andrew, I have been given a banana plant in a small pot. I have watered i twice over 2weeks -once with rainwater, 2nd time tap water (we live in a hard water area) I now seems to be dying!! The tips of the leaves are brown then the whole leaf dries and shrivels.Itis inside with central heating, in a south facing room. I feel awful as it was a gift and I would not like to report that I have killed it!! Should I let it dry out, feed, or let it die back , hoping for recovery? Any help would be much appreciated.

Clare McGowan
Apart from lavender are you able to recommend another plant that will look good between our box hedge in our formal garden?Thank you

Andrew Tokely
Rita , This is a bit of a mystery . The only plant i can think of with this fragrance could be one of the Salvia family . Possibly Salvia bleparophylla . But to make sure you could always send me a picture or a piece into the Radio Show . All the best

Rita Lee
Hello AndrewCan you please help to dentify a plant I am looking for.It is on bloom now and has been for the summer, it stands about three feet tall, bushy and it smells of red currant (not Ribes), the blooms are red and stands proud of the actual leaves on longish single stems (like fronds) the blooms are single, small and saucer like.I have seen this and admired it from someones garden, they do not know what it is called unfortunatelyThank you so muchKind regardsRita Lee

Andrew Tokely
Jude , You can Sow Pea Meteor , Broadbean Aqualdulce In October or November . You can also plant autumn Onion sets in October. Shallots can be planted in November or December . All these veg will be ready to harvest the following Spring .

Andrew Tokely
Lindy , If th soil has got broken concrete below it would always be best to remove it . But if this is not possible you can grow some of the Annual bedding plants in shallow ground as this have small fiborous root structures. I wouldn't advise planting shubs in this area as i believe they would struggle. Remember if there is only a shallow depth of soil , you will have to water more regularly to keep your plants alive .

Andrew Tokely
Barrie, Banana p[lants often get these black spots , it is a fungal leaf spot. You can try spraying the plants with a fungicide that is used for Black spot . These may help . Next year spay before the spots are seen as prevention is always better than cure.

Andrew Tokely
Mal , If the new banana shoots are coming from the base of the plant , i suggest you scrape down and see that they are producing there own independant roots. If they are , you shoulkd be alble to tease these away from the original plant with as much root intact. Yo may need to carefully cut away from main stem if strongly attached . These smaller plants i suggest are grown on in pots undercover for a year to get estabilished before replanting in the garden.

Andrew Tokely
Rebecca , I think the original plant although given protection may still have been nipped by the frost during the winter . Resulting in the new shoots appearing from the base and the original plant only growing about a foot. This year pack the plants with Straw , wrap with fleece and then put an unbrella of polythene just over the top to stop the crown getting wet . But Do not cover the whole plant with polythene .

Andrew Tokely
Susan Cobbold , you could try growing a lonicera or Privet hedge . Romary also makes a dwarf attractive hedge. All will grow best if the soil is well prepared and the concrete broken up and removed. A hedge will be in place for a number of years , so a little preparation now will reward you with a better quality hedge for many years to come .

Joan Powell
I have a lovely salvia bush in my front garden which blooms prolifically - the garden is facing NNE - gets early morning sun - and seems to do well - but it is getting very straggly - I think it is called Gregorii (not sure about that name) - has fantastic pink blossom on it - - can I prune it - as I would like to make it more contained- or will I loose it - do hey last- or should I either try to take cuttings (can I) or buy a new one

Jude
Hi Andrew....we are a British school in Hungary where the weather gets quite cold....we want to start a school garden but are unsure of what vegetable seeds we could plant directly in the ground in autumn which will then grow in spring...any ideas?

lindy
hiya. please can u tell me if flowers/shrubs can be planted in a shallow-ish soil with broken concrete underneath?

barrie galston
i have banana palms in the garden that are approx 2 years old, they have got black spots on the leaves then the leaves dry up and die before they fully grow. cn you explain what this is and how to deal with it

Mal Hant
HelloI have a banana plant which has produced 5 smaller banana plants from the base. How do I go about reming these to plant elsewhere without damaging the main plant or the small off shoots?

Rebecca Wilkinson
Last year i planted a Banana plant in my garden. It is protected by a fence,some bamboo & a palm.I protected it over winter in plant fleece. This year all my other plants are doing well but the Banana plant (although there seems to be 2 baby plants sprouting)has only grown a foot??? what am i doing wrong???

Susan Cobbold
Can you recommend a low growing, evergreen hedge that will cover a width of 80ft, some ground is good, other parts we have found a layer of concrete under - is there a hardy hedge that will grow its roots anywhere to conteract this? or do we have to try and break the concrete up (it's old footings from a pig sty) Hope you can help. Thanks

Doreen Harold
Every year my surfinias become 'sticky' can you suggest a cure please.

Andrew Tokely
Lorraine, If you are on heavy clay you will need to add some grit to soil to help improve drainage . If water is seeping threough the soil and you have a stream at bottom of garden i wonder if you have a natural sping ? I suggest you get a local Lanscape gardener to come round and have a look to see if they can track down this water source . Once you have got rid of the water and improved the drainage it is possible to create a wonderful garden on Clay .

Andrew Tokely
John , Certain varieties are hardier than others . I suggest you try either Musa sikkimensis, Musa lasiocarpa or Ensette glauca . Although hardy , they are will only be hardy when estabilished . So I suggest for the first 3 years you grow them in a container and protect over winter underglass. Then the following year you can plant them into your borders . If left in the borders through the winter it is still advisable to give them some protection with Straw and fleece , to ensure they come through the winter ok.

John from Downham
your tip about growing a banana plant, for the border how hardy are they and can I leave it in the border over winter.

Andrew Tokely
John , Perlite and Vermiculite is available from many garden centres and mail order companies . If this is added to compost these products will both improve the compost drainage.

Andrew Tokely
Phil , I agree many Chemicals have been banned for some reason or another , but most good garden centres will still have a certain brand of Chemical on its shelves that will still control caterpillars. It is so difficult to keep track of what is still available , so it is a case of seeing what is still on the shelves .

Andrew Tokely
Pauline , If you already have an established Banana plant rather than try to take cuttings , wait until a sucker appears at the base of the trunk . This can then be carefully removed with some roots still attached from the main plant and potted on. Alternatively Banana plants grow from seed very easily.

Andrew Tokely
Rick Shallots were always traditionally planted on the Shortest day ( Just before Christmas ) . But you can still plant shallots up until the end of March direct outside on the vegetable plot . Many gardeners also plant Shallots under glass in pots in January or February and then plant them out once they have grown onto the vegetable plot in April .

Andrew Tokely
Valerie , Japanese Knotweed is a devil of a plant to get rid of . What you are doing , trying to weaken the plant is a good plan of action. However to control fully you need to try and dig as many of the roots out as you can . Take care whilst handling as the sap from this weed can bring you out in a nasty rash . I have known many gardeners who have had this weed who as a last result have moved house so they don't have to tackle it any longer. I hope this doen't happen to you . Good Luck

john bury st edmunds
where can i buy perlite or the same sort of product as my african violet is suffering as it's planted in to heavier soil?

Phil, Kent
You say to use a "suitable insecticide" on brassica caterpillars, but what is left that hasn't been banned by the eurocrats?

Ian St.John, Stratham
My flowers keep dying! Why! Why! Why!

pauline,yorkshire
I have a banana plant and would like to take some cuttings from it could you please advise me how to do this.

Rick from Cornwall
I an new to planting. How and when can I plant shallots. Just bought a bag and I am unsure. Please help somone!!!!

Valerie Woodhouse
Dear Andrew I have a Japanese Knott Weed plant in my garden which has been there since before I moved in. I know this is a very difficult plant to get eradicate and I am currently cutting down and pulling up the shoots as they come through during the growing season in an effort to weaken it and control the growth. Can you please advise me of the best course of action to deal with this problem. I would be grateful of any advice you can offer. Thank you Regards Valerie

Andrew Tokely
David , Like me I see you have an eye for a bargain . Swift is an Autumn onion set that should have been planted from September - November. These are onions that grow through the short days . As the day are now lenghtening , I think If you plant them now direct outside on the plot , you will still get some onions , but alot smaller . To help them on their way plant under cloches so the worst of the weather is kept at bay. By planting so late also be prepared for some to bolt and run to seed . Good luck , would be interested to hear how you get on .

David Ellis
Hi Andrew, I have today, Jan 16th bought some Onion sets SWIFT. They should have been planted last autumn. But they were cheap!! Is it toolate to plant them?

Andrew Tokely
Polly , I'm not sure if you are growing your Palm indoors or outside , but i suspect indoors . The Drying leaves and black spots I suspect are caused by the dry atmosphere indoors , one of the problems of central heating . I suggest you try to increase the humidity around the plant . This can be done by spraying the palm foliage with a mist of water each day , and by standing the pot on a saucer of moist pebbles so the humidity rises around the plant .

Polly, Bungay
I have a butterfly palm which has very suddenly got shrivled and dying leaves, which are brittle to the touch. Being a total palm novice I'd like to know what to do. There are black mottled spots on some of the leaves. The soil has not dried out, but about 80% of the leaves are affected.. Is there anything I can do?

Andrew Tokey
Len, Moss and Lichen can be scraped off and your greenhouse can then be washed with Jeyes Fluid . This will help but not cure the problem . If you are getting a lot of Moss growing, your glasshouse must either be partly shaded or very damp . If you can overcome these problems , your moss will disapear.

Len, Swindon
what is the best way to get rid of moss and lichen in my greenhouse?

Andrew Tokely
Lynn, I think your Bleeding heart ( Dicentra ) will be fine. As a perennial they often die right back during the winter and reshoot again in the spring.

lynn, belfast
i need help i left my bleeding heart plant out overnight and i think the frost might have killed it, the main stem is turning black, can someone help,,plssss x