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A selection of your gardening queries.
June 2005
Q: A reader has a problem with
honeysuckle..
I have a large amount of honeysuckle along a retaining wall in front
of my home. I have lived here for 2 years, and it has bloomed
beautifully. However, last summer a small patch of it died, then
recovered. Now, again this year, the same spot has died, but now it
is spreading to almost half of the shrub. This year it started to
bloom, but never did. It has a lot of drainage. It has been here for
about 40 years and is overgrown. Would it possibly help to cut it
back, or could it be a disease?
A: Perhaps it has an aphid
infestation which is destroying the new growth and flowers. Have a
close look at it to see if this is so..
Look at the ground surrounding the roots in case there is a
subsidence problem.
Shrubs always benefit from a good hard pruning and I suggest you do
this anyway to improve its health and appearance.
Q: Dave`s yukka has frost burns..
I have a large YUKKA about 4ft tall which was put outside too early
and the frost has made the leaves go brown and droop. (frostbite) How
do you suggest I can revive it please. Cut the top off and start
again?
A: You could try removing
just the green parts and waiting to see if new shoots start to
appear, which they probably will. Use a sharp knife or saw and make
clean cuts back to the original stem of each shoot.
It will look like a pollarded tree though and you might not want to
live with it, even on a temporary basis!
Q: New lawn question: If you
were laying new turf in your garden do you need to dig up the old
grass?
A: No you don`t have to, but you
will get a much better result if you do remove the old lawn.
Ideally, you would remove the old lawn and rotavate the soil in case
it has got compacted. Then add a fertilizer and use a roller to get
a level finish, finally laying the new turf.
Q: Lilies: My husband has just been
given some outdoor calla lilies. Could you please tell me what area
of the garden they should be planted in?
A: I still have the instructions from
some I have just planted at home, which reads:
"Plant from March - May in well cultivated soil to which some well
rotted compost has been added. Choose a well-drained, sunny
position. Plant 5cm deep and 30cm apart, pointed side up, new buds
facing upwards.."
Q: From Jean: I have had a cordyline
for about 4 years and this year it has a growth coming from the
centre, could it be a flower? I have enclosed a picture.
A: Thanks for the photos, and
yes, they are indeed flower spikes appearing.. You will find them
quite spectacular. Don`t be afraid to cut them off when they become
unsightly at the end of the flowering period.
Q: Patsy has algae problems:
Having moved to a bungalow last July, we have inherited a greenhouse
[on the south facing wall of the bungalow]. It is not heated but I
have installed capillary matting on the staging which is fed by a
trough. I fill the trough twice a day with tap water and open the
window and door from 9am to 5 pm or later if it is still warm. I
hose the ground with rose nozzle each day too.
My problem is that I am getting moss on some of the soil.
A: I think you will find that
fluctuating temperatures will cause mosslike algae to grow in the
seed trays.. If the seedlings are OK I shouldn`t worry about it.. Do
take care not to over water the plants.
Q: Busy Lizzie dropping its flowers:
Can you please tell me why our potted Impatiens
is losing it’s flowers? It is moist and in a dining room with lots
of indirect light.
A: Newly bought plants have been
kept in tip top condition prior to being sold, often artificially
`brought on` so they look their best at point of sale.. It is very
hard to copy these conditions at home and often the plants tend to
look sad after a while..
If it is an existing plant of yours, could the fluctuating
temperature of the central heating perhaps be the cause? Some plants
dislike being moved too, the Christmas Cactus is one which will drop
all its buds when moved, very often from the shop to home.
Q: Ant nests:
I have enormous red ant hills throughout my entire garden. I have
tried
laying ant powder in the nests only to find that another ant hill
appears
elsewhere. My entire garden is now covered in nests and I can't seem
to
get rid of them....I am even finding them coming up through my
patio.
A: We have the same problem which seems
to get worse each year.. I have tried ant powder and the `Raid` bait
tins, without much success, so have decided to let them be!
I have surfed a few websites and there doesn`t seem to be any one
cure. They
do like sweet food though and will enter the house to get to jam,
for
instance. So if there is any food about outside you could remove it.
If you
put baby powder down outside, they can`t get a foothold, so that may
deter
them for a while.
Q: Wisteria query:
I have just bought a Wisteria Sinesis Blue and wondered where should
I plant it and how should I take care of it.
A: Wisterias are twining climbers
suitable for walls and pergolas and for growing against buildings.
Fully frost hardy, they grow in sun and fully fertile, well-drained
soil. Prune after flowering and again in late winter.
If you bought a grafted plant it will flower each year from a young
plant, but if it is grown from seed, it could take many years to get
to flowering stage and then might have poor flowers..
Previous editions of your gardening
queries:
Please
e-mail me with your garden problems, comments,
or ideas for this section of laterlife.
Click here for previous
editions of Gardener`s
Diary..
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