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From Mr D. Peacock:-
Q: Please could you advise of
the recommended method for pruning Phygellius?
A: Phygelius are one type
of shrub that I have in abundance at home here in the Midlands. They seem to thrive here.
I have four different colours: red, dusky pink, yellow and a yellow leaved one with purple
flowers..
You can really treat them in several different ways, but you asked for the recommended
method of pruning which is to cut back to just about ground level in spring, or, if
plants have woody bases, prune to live wood..
I leave mine to grow to about five feet in height, just cutting out the dead wood and any
straggly tips annually. They also have new stems which creep along the ground which I pull
out with some new root and replant, thereby dividing my stock.
I have successfully collected their seed and grown new plants that way and also taken stem
tip cuttings in the spring.
It really is a versatile and amenable plant.
From John:
Q: I wonder if you can help me... I
am a beginner to the world of "home grown" vegetables, and as such do not have
any experience in growing vegetables from seedlings.... I currently live in Norway where
the climate is less than favourable, although we do have plenty of sun and is, needless to
say, warm inside. I have planted the following vegetables into ice cream cartons, and have
placed them on a windowsill in the bathroom, which is (I'm told) ideal growing
conditions... cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts and runner beans. The problem I have now is
that the seedlings are tall and thin (leggy), and I'm, not too sure what to do...The
seedlings are about 2 weeks old now... and I hope that I haven't left it to late to save
them, or at least make them hardy for when I transplant them outside... I have
read so many different stories as to how to make them stronger (fanning them with a
newspaper, pricking them out and sowing them deeper.... etc etc) all of which sound
fine, but I'm not too sure which one I should do....
A: It`s funny that I
should write in April`s column about the very problem that you appear to have... The
seedlings desperately need LOTS of natural daylight and some warmth. There are electric
light bulbs available from specialists that give the effects of daylight. April is a very
difficult time of year for seedlings, we currently have night frosts again..
Dorothy from Scotland says:-
Q: The very old
roses growing up the back of the house are
really looking very neglected and may not have been pruned for some years. There is
a bit of new growth showing but it is very high up probably about the second floor. Some
of the wood is I think dead. Should I wait to see what happens this year or give
it a drastic chop back to ground level to hopefully encourage it to start growing from the
bottom.
A: Some
remedial work can be done now.. If you can see any obviously dead wood, you can cut this
out to give the living stems more space. Give the whole plant(s) a good feed of rose
fertiliser and mulch round the base of the stems to build up strength ready
for the `big prune` next season.. Also check that none of the stems are being
strangled by wire ties that are too tight..
Next season:- Occasional renewal
pruning may be necessary if the base of a climbing rose becomes bare. Cut back one or two
of the older, main shoots to within 30cm (12 in) above ground level to encourage
vigorous new shoots to develop and replace the older growths. Repeat this with the
remaining branches as required in subsequent years.
Prune roses when they are dormant or
semi-dormant, that is between autumn leaf fall and when the buds are just beginning to
break in the spring.
Please e-mail me
with your garden problems, comments, or ideas for this section of laterlife.
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