Questions on Gardening

By on July 1, 2010 in Gardening, Novice Gardeners Advice and Pointers


Some of our gardening books

If you would like to ask a question on gardening, feel free to leave a comment on this post.
Comments on individual posts are always reviewed and answered where possible.

We will try to add the answer as a new post. So check : gardenerstips.co.uk/blog

We will try to focus on common sense gardening advice, avoiding too much technical jargon.

80 Responses to Questions on Gardening

  1. Chris Ferne May 24, 2011 at 10:53 am #

    We have two Irish Yews, planted in 1891. They have now reached a height of 25′ with a base of 3′ diameter, spreading to a girth of about 10′. They’re so tall, we can’t see out of the upstairs windows! Can we prune them back – and if so, how should we go about it?

  2. admin May 24, 2011 at 2:01 pm #

    You could move house!
    Reducing the height will change the form and look of the tree but if needs must.
    Irish Yew can be cut back and kept in check by regular pruning/trimming in future.
    At this age it is still in middle age for a yew it will take some time to recover. I would only trim the sides back to darker leaves in the first year and see how you and the Yew get on.

  3. FN June 18, 2011 at 5:32 am #

    Hi, I am worried about next doors Japanese Acer; it is about 4ft tall and its stem is flush against the wall.

    I am worried what it’s roots are doing to the foundations of my wall, and my double extension, which is about 3ft from the wall. I need this knowledge in order to inform my new neighbour of any likely damage that may be caused.

    There is also a water joint between a lead pipe and an aclethene pipe below somewhere near

  4. jennifer June 21, 2011 at 5:23 am #

    I have a hydrangea in a pot in my yard. I have noticed the leaves getting a redish tinge and spots on the stem. Any ideas what it is and if it is harmful? Many thanks jennifer

  5. pixiecharm June 21, 2011 at 1:22 pm #

    Are Honesty & The Chinese Lantern plants ericaceous? Can I plant these seeds in ericaceous compost?

  6. Kayla June 22, 2011 at 2:45 am #

    As a regular reader and user of Jeyes Fluid, i found this fascinating and thought i would share with you all! :) http://www.clickcleaning.co.uk/cleaning-guides-tips/22/the-history-of-jeyes-fluid-.aspx

  7. kevin June 22, 2011 at 5:27 am #

    What do I do with foxgloves once they have lost all their flowers? Can I strip them down and replant them somewhere else in my garden@

  8. admin June 27, 2011 at 11:35 pm #

    If you let them seed you will have lots of new plants for 2013. They may not flower in the first year. After flowering the plants may die so do not bother replanting the old stock.

  9. admin June 27, 2011 at 11:39 pm #

    I think they will both be OK in your compost or any average soil.

  10. admin June 27, 2011 at 11:40 pm #

    It shouldn’t be harmful as long as the pots are well watered. If it spreads try a fungicide.

  11. admin June 27, 2011 at 11:45 pm #

    Ornamental Acers should not have massive roots but Maples and Sycamores are part of the Acer family.
    Far less damage is done by tree roots than is imagined, the main cause of problem is the shrinkage caused by the tree taking water from the surrounding soil.

  12. Chris Norton July 27, 2011 at 9:26 am #

    Hi Guys, great gardening blog we have a competition running for a client called Ronseal which is looking for the next big gardening superstar – you can win £1,000 just for showing off your best work. I really think you guys would have a good chance of winning. Here are the details if you want to enter or share – it’s very simple: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.240621355961828.68580.204245726266058.

    Apologies if this isn’t of interest.

    Best wishes,

    Chris

  13. vmb July 31, 2011 at 1:27 am #

    My chilean potato tree has not flowered this summer! Could you give me some advice please. Thankyou

  14. admin August 1, 2011 at 5:56 am #

    I am not sure of the cause. You could try leaving it unpruned for next year so you don’y cut off the flower buds by mistake. Water in spring.

  15. Ros Logan August 27, 2011 at 9:57 am #

    I have a fig tree, and this year the figs have grown really big and starting to darken, almost pear sized, and look ripe and feel soft. When you open them they only have a small red part and are really quite dryish, and they are rather tasteless, even though the taste is sweet. Should I have fed them something earlier in the year to make them taste better and be juicier or is it just not a good variety? I have no idea what the variety is, but they have never been this size before, and we have lived here for 17 years. Any comments welcome, thank you.

  16. admin August 28, 2011 at 1:54 am #

    I would let them ripen until soft.
    The variety may be Brown Turkey

  17. kathleen clewley September 19, 2011 at 6:38 am #

    can I over winter gazanias please

  18. Green James December 8, 2011 at 9:27 am #

    Thanks for posting this. Really great information on greenhouse gardening.

  19. John December 20, 2011 at 4:10 pm #

    Hi tejvan, what an amazing blog. Keep up the nice work!

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