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 The leaves on my plum and peach tree are curling up. I don’t know what to use on them. – Mrs Reaich, Fochabers.

A This sounds like the fungal disease, Peach Leaf Curl. No treatment is available but you can reduce the chance of the infection reappearing by removing affected leaves.

Keep plants in containers happy by

piercing the lids of plastic drink bottles, fill and sink into the containers.

Q I managed to keep the red bracts on my poinsettia. They have finally dropped off, leaving me with a healthy green plant. How can I keep it going? – Isabel Law, by email.

A Normally you would cut down the plant in late spring and allow it to produce new growth but it is a little late to do that, so pinch out the top, feed and water regularly and in Autumn move into darkness daily between 5pm and 8am to produce red bracts.

If removing lawn, pile the turfs upside

down in a quiet corner. It will eventually break down into crumbly topsoil.

Q How can I prevent Lady’s Mantle from taking over my garden? – Mrs H Baird, Greenock.

A Lady’s mantle is a lovely plant but is inclined to spread everywhere. You can discourage this by cutting off the flowers before they start to set seed.

Take cuttings of fuchsias and pelargoni

ums now and they’ll be ready to plant out next summer.

Q I’ve got a Ligularia that is looking very unhappy. How can I get it to buck up? – Mr D Walker, Cowdenbeath.

A It sounds as if yours isn’t getting enough moisture, so either move it somewhere damper or mulch it thickly and keep it well watered.

Keep picking courgettes while small to prevent them from turning into marrows.

Q Last year all my carrots split. This year the top growth looks nice and healthy but how do I know that the roots won’t do the same? – Isabel Mitchell, by email.

A As long as the soil hasn’t dried out, your carrots should be fine. Splitting occurs when roots grow quickly when there’s heavy rain after a dry spell, so regular watering is the solution.

Top up ponds using water from a butt.

Rake off blanket weed and pile at the edge to allow creatures to escape.