Declining ivy

Q Why is trained ivy dying? CHRIS WILD, BY EMAIL; AND PATRICIA, WILTSHIRE

A Drought is the most likely cause for trained ivy dying. As the plant has grown bigger and its water needs increased, it may have struggled to find enough moisture to maintain the canopy of foliage.

For Chris’ ivy (right) that’s slowly dying, it’s also worth checking if there’s any damage to the roots or the base of the stems. With Patricia’s ivy that seemed to die suddenly, almost overnight, it’s likely that the roots dried out in the hot, dry summer and the ivy was already dying before the weakened leaves turned crispy in the extreme temperatures.

Ivy usually sprouts from the base so it’s worth cutting away the dead areas and seeing if it starts to grow again.

Q I can’t see any wasps but is this a nest? LUCY TRAVELL, BARNWOOD, GLOUCESTER

A This does look like the beginnings of a wasp nest. Perhaps you disturbed them before they got very far in building it or they abandoned it for another reason. Wasp nests are remarkable and beautiful, but if you find wasps start emerging and cause a nuisance, you should have it removed.

Q What action should I take against fuchsia gall mite? CHRIS TOPP, BY EMAIL

A Fuchsia gall mite is a relatively new pest that was first found in the UK in 2007. Although initially restricted to the south east of the country, it’s now found further north and west. It infests the shoot tips and causes distortion of flowers and foliage. There’s a new biological control, a predatory mite called Amblyseius andersonii. The other way to reduce it is to cut off the shoot tips and dispose of them – don’t compost them. To attempt to reduce the problem, try cutting back the plant hard, then watering and feeding to promote new growth. The hot summer weather has been challenging for fuchsias, making the problem worse than previously.

Q What is causing discoloured circular patches in our lawn? KERRY GILLBANKS, BY EMAIL

A These don’t look like pest damage so the most likely answer is it that it’s dog urine or, if you don’t have a dog, they might be caused by different species of grasses in the lawn. These are difficult to control but it is usually possible to score the patches with a knife and remove the offending patch. You can then allow the surrounding grass to grow over or resow.