Quick Qu estions
How do I train an ornamental quince?
Laurel Watkins, Retford, No inghamshire
Select a few main stems, fan them out over the
wall or trellis and tie in to form the main framework. la A y m In summer, prune back shoots growing directly out from the wall and remove crossing or badly-spaced stems. Once established, prune back excessive growth in summer and cut back all sideshoots to two or three leaves.
What do I do with my tree seedlings?
Simon Cox, Skipton, N Yorks Pot them up individually before they get too large. Use a deep pot 10-15cm (4-6in) in diameter. In autumn, re-pot and prune back any tap root. If this is long and circling, unwind and prune it away.
Why are my olive leaves browning?
Steve Hemmings, Chippenham, Wiltshire The most likely cause is either drying out last summer or wind chill. Neither is of any great significance. Apply a general fertiliser, such as Vitax Q4, over the root area to just beyond the canopy. Even evergreens replace their leaves on a regular basis so fresh new growth should occur in later spring.
Will next door’s new drive damage our apple tree?
Caroline Tatham, Maidstone, Kent Tree root spread is hard to predict, but rule of thumb suggests they typically extend to just beyond the canopy or mirror the height of the tree. Most roots are in the top 60-80cm (24-32in) of soil and grow sideways, not down. In my experience, trees may tolerate losing up to one-third of their roots, although it’s be er that it occurs when the tree is dormant rather than the middle of summer.