Q My callicarpa has shrivelled berries and leaf drop – any tips? CHRISTINA GRIFFITHS, WEBSITE

A It sounds like your plant has dried out while growing in a pot. If you can’t grow it in the ground, repot it into John Innes No 3 compost, as this has better structure, more nutrients and is less likely to dry out than multipurpose compost. While the berries form they need lots of moisture. The plant should recover if it’s not gone too thirsty for too long.