Potting Shed

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.

Since spring I have had a camellia in a large patio container. It appeared to be thriving and I put bubblewrap round the container and a fleece lightly over the foliage as winter arrived. However, when heavy frosts came, we moved it into the garage and most of the leaves have turned bronze with only a few still green. Will it recover? – Mary Mckenzie, via email

Evergreens need moisture, even in winter, and in the garage your camellia will be suffering from both drought and darkness. If it is a williamsii variety it will be perfectly happy outdoors, so give it a drink and move it to a sheltered corner.

Is there any way to stop pots from cracking during the winter? I have some new ones and don’t want them to shatter. – Emily Morrison, Livingston Lining the insides of the pots with bubblewrap helps them absorb the pressure that’s created when compost freezes and prevents the terracotta from shattering.

Part of my garden where I’ve planted lots of spring bulbs has been under water because of local flooding. Will the bulbs rot? – Ron Mears, Cumbernauld

If the floods recede quickly then daffodils will be fine. Crocuses and tulips rot more easily, so you could have some casualties, but snake’s head fritillaries will relish the damp conditions.

Why are the stems of my dogwoods not so red now as when I first planted them? – Aileen Crawford, by email

New stems have the brightest colour, so in early spring cut down the plants to allow new growth to emerge and, next winter, they will have regained their bright hues.

Do voles cause damage? My garden is over-run. – David Hildrey, East Kilbride

Voles eat seeds, roots, bulbs and the bark of trees, so place guards around any new trees that you plant.