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 planted three lots of freesias, two in the ground, one in a pot. I got a lovely show, and I left them in the ground but there’s been not a leaf this year. – Tom Beagrie, Peterhead.
A Even in a mild winter freesias, from South Africa, aren’t hardy in this country. You have to lift them, cut back the foliage, and store the corms indoors for replanting in spring.
Sow seed of digitalis and violas now to allow young plants to grow strong roots before winter.
Q I made late sowings of lettuce but, despite seed from the same packet growing well earlier in the year, this lot failed to show. – M. Walker, Lumphanan.
A High temperatures are the probable cause. Lettuce needs cool conditions in order to germinate.
Pinch out tips of annuals to encourage side shoots to start producing flowers.
Q I came home from holiday to find my Kilmarnock willow had dropped all its leaves. Is it dead? – Irene Kennedy, Irvine.
A The chances are this is a defence against drought. Water it well and it should recover. Scrape the stem and if the wood underneath is green then the tree is still alive.
Mix up a solution of sugar and water
and place outdoors in a saucer to provide energy for exhausted bees.
Q Why do my cut flowers always wilt after just a couple of days? – Mrs L. Macdonald, Bathgate.
A Some kinds of flowers do last longer than others but all will benefit from being picked early in the day, plunged into deep water for a couple of hours, then being cut again before arranging. Changing the water in the vase every day also promotes longevity.
Check that your compost heap has not
dried out, watering it if necessary to restart the process.
Q How do I get rid of bindweed from my garden? – B. Grant, Aberdeen.
A Treat individual stems with glyphosatebased weedkiller. You may have to retreat several times before the plant dies back.
When harvesting potatoes from a
container, sink your hand into the compost and pull out as many as you need, leaving the rest to grow larger.