Quick Qu estions
Can you suggest some hedging to create a narrow screen?
Viv Goddard, Oswestry, Shropshire Evergreens, such as Portuguese laurel, Griselinia li oralis and Pi osporum
tenuifolium make very good screening hedges and can be kept to no more than 45cm (18in) in width. You could also opt for a pleached hedge. The above shrubs would be suitable for training in this way, as would hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus), beech ( Fagus sylvatica), or lime ( Tilia
platyphyllos ‘Rubra’).
Will earthworms thrive under ground cover weed fabrics?
Hayley Brianson, Derby The effects of membrane coverings on earthworm populations hasn’t been studied in detail. I suspect a decline in the population because there’ll be a decrease in the availability of organic material on which they feed. Once the membrane is removed and organic material added, the population would regenerate and stabilise.
Why are the tips of my yew hedge turning orange?
Colin Golding, by email With evergreens, such as yew and box, bronzing of the shoot tips is common in winter in response to cold weather. Plants usually grow out of it or can be clipped over. These symptoms are also common where evergreens are planted in winter and so can’t really establish much root growth.
Can I repot my houseplants now?
Mary Su on, Warminster, Wiltshire If possible, wait until spring. In our latitude, with low winter light levels, many houseplants that originate from the tropics are just ticking over. Repo ed at this time of year, many will sit and sulk in a pot of damp compost. Be er to wait until late March/April, then repot.