I don’t really know when to prune my rhododendrons

When and how should I prune rhododendrons? Dylan, via email Rhododendrons don’t need lots of pruning except to remove any dead or diseased wood and flowers. If the bush has overgrown, it can be cut back hard in spring by removing about a third of each stem’s length. Then all you need to do is mulch, water and feed – especially if the soil conditions are poor – to encourage new growth.

How do I prevent my baskets being hung out to dry?

How can I keep my hanging baskets moist? They dry out so quickly. Shirley, Mansfield

When planting up your basket, bury a water bottle diagonally with holes spiked into it, so that just the top pokes slightly out of the edge of the basket. Once the bottle is filled with water, it will gradually seep out into the soil to keep it moist and you can add more water easily to keep it topped up.

Give kids the joy of gardening and make them eager to play, grow and learn – and even win a cash prize. As more people than ever spend time in their gardens during these unprecedented times, we’re receiving record numbers of entries for our Cultivation Street campaign, sponsored by Miracle Gro® and supported by the Sunday Mirror.

From sensory gardens to orchards, schools across the country are helping pupils turn under-used spaces into delightful and delicious displays.

To inspire your kids to grow for gold in our Cultivation Street contest, I’m sharing four of this year’s stand-out entries so far…

Colourful flowers can cheer us up and add playfulness to a space. The jolly flowers of Antirrhinum (snapdragons, pictured right) get their name from flowers that look like a dragon’s mouth. When you squeeze the neck, it snaps open so these are sure to get little ones’ imaginations going.

The lively golden-yellow of marigolds in a sunny or partially shaded spot will also bring a sense of energy and enthusiasm to the garden.

in Glasgow has used the past few months to transform their once concrete-surrounded school. Its new sensory garden is packed with raised beds and a music area. They have even grown plants in recycled tractor tyres, with the central piece a sunflower. Children are fascinated by the height they reach and how the flower head follows the sun. Teacher Allan Lynn said: “We incorporated plants such as mint and lemon thyme and used pine wood chippings to appeal to those with autism and sensory processing issues.”

Elmvale Primary School