Welcome to my potting shed! This is the column where I’ll share all my gardening hints and tips – and I’ll try to answer any queries you may have.

Q Why is my Photinia ‘Red Robin’ turning crispy at the leaf ends? – Hazel Morrison, Stonehaven.

A Photinias have quite delicate foliage and it is perhaps being buffeted and burnt by the wind. Move it to a more sheltered spot or use netting to create a temporary wind-break while it becomes established.

Plant summer-flowering bulbs now including lilies and eucomis, in sunny spots with well-drained soil. Q I’ve tried using fleece and raised beds, but my carrots have still been struck by carrot fly. – J. Donaldson, Edinburgh.

A Carrot fly are attracted by the smell of carrots and this is strongest when seedlings are being thinned. Reduce the risk by using seed tape, which is impregnated with carrot seeds at a good distance apart, so that there’s no need to thin so regularly.

Thin out flower and vegetables seedlings as they emerge. Q How far up the stems should I earth-up potatoes? This is the first time I’ve grown them. – David Robertson, via email.

A You can cover the new growth completely. Earthing-up encourages the plant to grow tubers along the length of the stem and should ensure a better crop. Keep newly-planted flowers and shrubs well-watered. Sun and breezes can dry out the soil and showers may not be heavy enough to soak the roots. Q A few years ago I bought some grape hyacinth bulbs. Now they are everywhere. What’s the best way to remove those that I don’t want? – Joy Anderson, Hamilton.

A Some varieties of grape hyacinth (muscari) increase very rapidly and to keep them in check it is best to dig over the ground and remove even the tiniest bulblet. Removing the flowers before they set seed will also help.

Bedding plants bought as plugs should be moved into larger pots as they grow. Q My camellia has failed to flower this year. – Mr L. Campbell, Greenock.

A Camellias form their flower buds in autumn and to do this they must be kept moist. The most likely reason for the lack of flowers on your camellia is that it dried out last year. Keep it well-watered throughout the growing season and it’ll flower again next spring. Remove last year’s flowerheads from hydrangeas, but do not prune. Cutting now will result in no flowers this year.