GARDEN GURU

QI grow strawberries in a raised bed. Last year they were devastated by little black slugs, so this year I treated the soil with nematodes and covered it straw. However, they are still being eaten. Margaret Monkman

AUse organic slug pellets made from ferric phosphate (Flower Power Slug & Snail Control or Sluggo Slug & Snail

Killer). Once they’ve eaten them, they’ll head underground to die. As a bonus, any pellets that are ignored will decompose, releasing iron into the soil.

Straw won’t deter slugs – so remove it to make spreading pellets more effective.

QWe’re taking out a tall conifer and want to replace it with a tree in a pot that has flowers and grows no taller than 10ft. Mrs R. Wallder

AOne that springs to mind is Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’, a gorgeous evergreen with a narrow, columnar habit. It boasts large, glossy leaves and pretty, scented white flowers in late summer. Raising it in a large pot would restrict its size.

QA mass of small, round, brown ‘things’ have appeared at the base of my raspberry canes. What are they? Judith Parkinson

AYour photo shows brown scale, a sap-sucking bug that will reduce the vigour of your plant. You need to take a twopronged approach to tackling this. First, don a pair of rubber gloves and rub the adults off stems by hand. Next, spray with an organic pesticide to knock out any freshly hatched nymphs. I’d suggest using Bug Clear Gun for Fruit & Veg or Vitax Organic Pest & Disease Control.