GARDEN GURU

Q

There is an invasive weed in our garden that we can’t get rid of. It has infiltrated pots, the lawn and any crack it can find. What is it and how can we control it? Chris Snowdon

A

Your photograph is of liverwort, which thrives in ground that is poorly drained, damp and compacted. Remove from pots by scraping off the top layer of compost and replace with fresh material. Rake liverwort out of borders and mulch the surface. It can be difficult to control in lawns. However, the fact it is growing indicates that the lawn could probably do with some attention – in early spring, remove thatch and aerate to improve drainage.

Q

I have a seven-year-old hydrangea that has refused to flower for the past few years. In the past I’ve tried to wake it up by cutting back by half and have even left it unpruned, but still nothing. What can I do? Alfred Brown

A

First of all, I’ll assume that your hydrangea is in a good spot – a semi-shaded position that’s protected from strong winds, with moist, well-drained soil. If not, that might be the cause. Otherwise, poor flowering is sometimes down to over-feeding – all they really need is a fix of slow-release fertiliser in late spring. As for pruning, remove thin, spindly shoots in early spring and lightly prune shoots at the same time to keep plants compact.

Q

This year the tops of many of my tomato fruits were cracked. What caused this? Michael Locke

A

It often occurs when the ground or compost has been allowed to dry out, resulting in the fruit becoming more dehydrated than normal. When water is applied, the fruit swell up and crack. You can avoid problems by watering regularly to prevent drying out.