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Q: How can I prevent my  herbaceous perennials from being blown over when they come into flower?

A: A cost effective support is a plastic hoop which is supported by a  stout cane through the middle.You'll find these in garden centres.

Q:  Rabbits  eat my flowers. Are there any bedding plants they don't like?

A: Rabbits tend not to like Busy Lizzies. Also Dianthus, Diascia and Nicotiana are not so favoured by them.

Q: Do you have any tips for growing organic potatoes?

A: Always buy seed potatoes that are certified virus-free. It can be tempting to use potatoes that are sprouting  in your larder, but these may contain viruses. Avoid growing potatoes on very alkaline soils or on soil that you have limed. Lime encourages scab disease.If scab is a problem, choose varieties , such as Maris Peer,that are resistant. If your crop suffers from blight you can use a copper-based spray as a last resort, but you are better off trying to grow resistant varieties. If blight does stike, destroy the damaged stems to stop the spores spreading.

Q: How should I prepare my greenhouse for sowing seeds in the spring?

A: In winter clear out last seasons growbags and dead plants. Wash all surfaces with Jeyes fluid and light a sulphur candle to kill off unwanted insects.

Q: How can I get an early crop of rhubarb?

A: You can force rhubarb by putting a dustbin or big pot over the crown to exclude light.You will get lovely tender light pink stalks.You can buy quite ornamental looking forcers, like the Victorians used to use in their kitchen gardens. Don't use the same crown to force each year as it weakens the crown. Leave it at least two years before you use it again. You can also force chicory and seakale by using the same method as for rhunbarb.

Q: How can I find out what kind of soil is in my garden? I want to choose plants that will grow well in my soil type.  

A: Take a handful of soil and squeeze into a ball. If it does not stay in the ball then your soil is sandy. If it crumbles a bit but holds together,the soil is good and loamy. If it doesn't crumble at all then it is probably clay. Both clay and sandy soils need to be enriched with organic matter such as garden compost and manure. You can buy soil testing kits to check PH and find out if your soil is acidic or alkaline.  

Q: I have a laburnum tree and a lilac tree which have grown too big for where they are in my garden. I  would like to move them. When is the best time to do this?

A: Move from November to March when they are dormant. It is a good idea with big plants to root prune by slicing down with a spade around the trees about 2 feet from the stem to encourage new fibrous roots which will transplant better.

Q: Can I plant up hanging baskets with winter colour?

A: Yes. Evergreens, variegated foliage plants and trailing plants mix very well with pansies, violas and primroses. Since winter baskets will not grow as vigorously as summer baskets you will need more plants.

Q: My non-stop begonias have been damaged by frost. Can I keep them for next year?

A:Once the tops have gone black, lift the plant and cut  off the tuber.Store this in dry peat over winter in a frost-free place. Start the new shoots in a greenhouse in spring.

Q: Can I plant shrubs during the winter?

A: If the ground isn't frozen you can plant container grown shrubs. Bare root varieties can be planted between November and March. Add a little bonemeal at the same time.

Q: Squirrels dig up my bulbs.  How can I deter them?

A: Difficult to do but  you can try to make it difficult for them.You could try protecting your bulbs by covering them with a section of wire mesh after planting.

Q: I have a holly bush in a half barrel. It does well but only grows outwards, not upwards. Why? 

   A: It has probably lost it' s leading stem thus all the other branches just grow outwards. Choose a new leader and tie it up to a cane to encourage it to grow outwards. The rest of the plant should follow.

Q: When do I harvest parsnips?    

A:Harvest once the foliage begins to die down in the autumn and after the  first frost, which is believed to improve the flavour.

  Q: What can I plant to provide winter colour and berries to feed the birds?

  A:Here are a selection of stunning shrubs which will do this:- Hypericum Magical, Pyracantha, Skimmia Reevesiana and  Pernettya.Suitable trees are Malus Red Sentinel AGM,Sorbus Vilmorinii (also known as Vilmorin's Rowan) and Solanum Thurino. 

  Q: Can you suggest any perfumed winter-flowering shrubs?

 A: There are some to attract the few insects around in winter to pollinate them. They include Viburnum Bodnatense Dawn, Mahonia Bealei and Hamamelis Mollis.

Q: How can I improve my vegetable patch for next year?

A: Vegetables thrive in a fertile soil. This can take several years to improve. Deep beds where two spade depths of soil are turned over and manure or other organic material such as garden compost, spent mushroom compost,etc. are incorporated, will improve your soil and produce quality vegetables. Hard work but well worth the effort!!