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.

Two 10-year-old dwarf apple trees on my allotment produced no flowers this year and last year’s crop was poor. What am I doing wrong? – Mrs M. Pusey, Driffield

A lack of water or nutrients could be the problem, but I suspect that this is a pruning issue. Prune the trees in later winter and give them a gentle prune in subsequent years and they should start producing fruit.

How do I get rid of the rushes growing in my lawn? – P. Brown, Lanark

Rushes are a sign of very damp soil and while aerating the lawn may bring about some improvement you may have to remove the turf and lay drains.

What’s gone wrong with my plum tree? Some of the leaves have become shiny. – Andy Jackson, by email