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 I’ve grown a lovely meadow in the past, but this year it was full of weeds and grass with hardly any flowers. How can I remedy this? – Charlie Docherty, by email.

A Cut the grass really short now and remove all the clippings then sow seed of yellow rattle over the meadow. This is semi-parasitic and will weaken the roots of the weeds. Then next year, use wildflower plug plants to re-establish the meadow.

Set traps among dahlias to catch earwigs.

Q I’ve been given a cactus plant. Should I water it? If so, how much and how frequently? – Catriona Sweeney, Cumbernauld.

A Check it once a week and if it looks grey and slightly shrunken, then water it and leave it to drain thoroughly. If it still looks green and plump then leave it alone.

Buy bulbs as soon as they arrive in the garden centre, storing them somewhere cool and dry.

Q Is it true that you can overwinter chilli plants? – L. Faulkner, by email.

A Yes, cut them back in autumn and keep them on a kitchen windowsill, watering infrequently. Start watering them again in spring and they’ll start fruiting much earlier than plants raised from seed.

Check nasturtium plants grown near brassicas to divert cabbage white butterflies and remove affected foliage.

Q I’ve found a large, shiny green insect on my azalea. What is it and do I need to do anything about it? – Andrew Harper, Stirling.

A This is a harmless but beautiful shield bug and all you need to do is enjoy it.

Hang fake wasp nests from plum trees to prevent wasps from feasting on the crop.

Q Why did my Cirsum rivulare fail to appear this year? Was it the bad winter? – Audrey Anderson, Cults.

A Even without bad weather, Cirsum can fail quite suddenly. To keep this from happening, split it up and replant it every two or three years.

Grow Swiss chard and Rocket under fleece to protect from flea beetle damage.