Quick Qu estions
Can I grow a daphne in a container?
Sonia Norfolk, by email Daphnes are notorious for not reacting well to container growing, or to any kind of root disturbance. If you want to try, I’d opt for one of the Daphne transatlantica
hybrids such as ‘Eternal Fragrance’, with highly fragrant, pink flushed white flowers, or ‘Pink Fragrance’, which is darker. Both make long-flowered, rounded, evergreen bushes best sited out of direct sunshine.
How deep can I plant potatoes in raised beds?
Arthur Gold, Knaresborough, N. Yorks Potatoes are usually planted about 10-15cm (46in) deep. In a well-drained soil you can go to perhaps 22cm (9in) but you’ll still have to earth up or top dress with well-ro ed manure or garden compost to prevent tubers near the surface going green. If you plant too deep the seed tuber may exhaust itself before the shoots reach the surface.
Should I compost moss?
Andy Thompson, by email Mosses will rot down, especially if you turn the heap when full. This gets oxygen into the material and results in far be er compost. Personally, I’d bag it and put in the municipal green waste recycling.
Why is our laurel hedge yellowing?
Jeane e Starke, by email Laurel is a pre y tough shrub but general yellowing over the plants could be a sign of winter waterlogging. Yellowing on younger growth is a sign of a shortage of nitrogen. With the former, plants will hopefully recover with drier conditions. With the la er, apply a general-purpose fertiliser, such as Growmore.