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 I’d like plant a tree with beautiful bark. – Mike Allan, Aberdeen.
A Prunus serrula, the Tibetan cherry, has bark the colour of polished mahogany. In China sections of their trunk were traditionally turned into tea caddies. Sweet peas planted last month should be moved to a coldframe or greenhouse as soon as they germinate to prevent seedlings becoming spindly.
Q Last year I tried to store dahlia tubers but they all dried out. How do I stop that this year? – Mhairi Caulder, Lenzie.
A Keep them moist, but not so wet that they become soggy. If they begin to dry out, mist lightly with water. Leave seedheads of Phlomis fruticosa to stand through the winter, cutting old stems back to the new buds in spring.
Q Can I leave gladioli bulbs in the ground? – Andrew McNeil, Glenrothes.
A It is best to lift and store gladioli bulbs but if you want to leave them where they are, mulch with a very thick layer or leafmould or straw. Gaultheria is frequently sold as a winter bedding plant but it is a useful small shrub that will spread by underground stems if planted in the garden.
Q I’ve been building a compost heap for over a year but it still hasn’t produced any compost. – Les Wallace, Edinburgh.
A Turn the heap to incorporate air and make sure you have a good mix of woody and green material. A bin will heap up faster than an open heap, which can take up to two years to produce usable material. Check bedding plants in containers for signs of grey mould, at the same time removing yellowed leaves and spent flowers.
Q Where is the best place to plant out small cyclamen once they are no longer flowering in containers? – Clare Collins, via email.
A Find a spot around the fringes of trees or shrubs in soil that is neither too dry nor saturated. They will die down then reappear in autumn, eventually spreading out to produce a carpet of winter flowers. Brush fallen leaves from the tops of shrubs, hedges and evergreen perennials as they can cause rot to set in. Pile up some leaves in a quiet corner to provide shelter for hedgehogs.