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 Despite watering them daily throughout the summer, my phormiums are now turning brown and have lost many leaves. What’s gone wrong? – Linda Sinclair, Dalbeattie.
A I suspect that your plants have become too damp. Pull away any dead foliage, cut out any sections that have turned soft or started to rot, then keep the plants a little on the dry side and they should recover.
Harvest apples if they come away easily from the branch when the fruit is twisted gently.
Q I planted a beech hedge last winter. When should I trim it to encourage it to thicken up? – Len McPherson, Cowdenbeath.
A Give it a very light trim this winter and again next summer then just clip in subsequent winters until it reaches its desired height.
Make wire enclosures to hold this year’s fallen leaves and turn last year’s leafmould to speed up decomposition.
Q My agapanthuses have produced seed pods. Can I grow more plants from these? – Deborah Hume, by email.
A Yes. Collect the seed now and store it until spring then sow in trays of seed compost.
Remove weeds that have seeded themselves into areas of the garden that have been mulched.
Q Help, my garden is being taken over by Montbretia. How do I control it?
– Mrs M. Eames, Carlisle.
A Montbretia is highly invasive, so remove all the flowerheads to prevent seed from being scattered and then dig up as many corms as you can find. You will have to repeat this process for several years in order to reduce the spread of the plant.
If grapes aren’t yet ready for picking, remove some of the foliage from vines to allow more sunlight to reach the fruit.
Q I have a new fig tree in a pot. Can I leave it outside over the winter?
– Jim Harkness, by email.
A You can, so long as you don’t allow it to become too wet. Move it to a sheltered spot, wrap the pot in Bubblewrap and protect the branches with fleece to prevent frost from damaging the embryonic fruits. Next spring, start feeding and watering it regularly.