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 Last year I bought half a dozen auriculas in small pots. I kept them in the greenhouse all winter so why are they now looking very sorry for themselves? – Margaret Young, Ayr. A Auriculas can cope with cold weather but not with wet and they have may have been too damp in a closed greenhouse. Put them outside now and then next winter, pop them beneath a sheet of glass supported by bricks.

Snip off the heads of daffodils as they fade but leave the foliage to die back naturally in order to feed the bulbs.

Q Every year the climbing rose against the wall of my house is covered in powdery mildew. I’ve tried spraying it. – Mr G. Aitchison, Howwood.

A Dry conditions are at the root of the problem. Next to the house, your rose is probably starved of moisture. Watering regularly, picking up and disposing of all fallen leaves and continuing spraying may reduce the problem, but probably won’t eradicate it. You may be better off removing the rose and replacing it with something else.

The flower heads of hydrangeas, left in place over the winter to provide frost protection, can now be removed.

Q Can I use mulch to reduce weeding in my borders? – Jim Sinclair, via email.

A Yes, but only if you apply it deeply (at least 10cm) and keep it topped up. You’ll see the best results if you first weed the area to be mulched very thoroughly and ensure your mulch material is completely composted and doesn’t contain annual weed seeds or perennials roots.

Wash the glass in greenhouses to allow as much light as possible to reach seedlings.

Q How do I remove daisies that have infiltrated my borders? – Clare Hamilton, Dumfries.

A Dig over with a fork, shaking off as much earth as possible, then rake up the daisies. You may have to do this several times.

Keep off areas of the garden that are waterlogged until the soil or grass has had a chance to dry out.

Q Some of my seedlings have become a bit stretched. – Lesley Chalmers, Uddingston. A You can rescue some skinny seedlings by burying them right down to seed leaf level when you prick them out.

Tackle weeds between paving slabs, using a slim blade to scrape them out.