Quick QUESTIONS
Why did my young pears turn black and fall off last year?
Anne Crawley, by email
This is caused by an attack of the pear midge. Its larvae feed inside the small fruits and then pupate in the soil but I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do to prevent them causing damage this year. Collect up any fallen fruits and destroy them and then cultivate the soil beneath the tree to bring the pests to the surface where birds will feed on them.
How do I prune my Acer japonicum ‘Aureum’?
Rachel Lambert, by email This is a lovely yellow-leaved form of the Japanese maple, now called Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’. It’s slow growing and needs a fairly acidic soil, good drainage and shelter from winds. It can be grown in a large container if your garden soil is unsuitable. It needs no pruning and this, in fact, might encourage dieback. Feed it twice a year with slow-release fertiliser granules
Will a conifer 3m away from the house damage the foundations?
Robert Bird, by email Probably not because most conifers are fairly shallowly rooted although on a heavy
soil, it could be more serious. But I think this tree might pose a threat simply through the damage that will arise if branches are blown off. It would be worth having a local tree surgeon to see it. Always choose one who is registered with the Arboricultural Association.
How do I prune a large, neglected honeysuckle?
Willow MacInnes, by email
I suspect this may well be our native honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum. It can certainly be pruned but I think it’s best done in stages. Cut back half of the shoots close to soil level next spring. If good new growth then arises, you may safely cut back the remainder in the following year.