Garden Guru

Q Last year I planted several ornamental grasses in pots, including some that are deciduous. Do they need pruning or can I just leave them? Sarah Edwards

A Pennisetum, deschampsia, calamagrostis and other

ornamental grasses look unsightly if left to their own devices. Prune them back in late winter or early spring, cutting them close to the ground. Take care to avoid new shoots emerging from the crown.

Q I only have a patio and would like to grow some

bamboos in pots. What do you suggest? Marianne Howard

A Compact bamboos that spread slowly to form tight clumps are best for containers. Among the most suitable are Fargesia murielae ‘Bimbo’, Fargesia murielae ‘Simba’ and Shiba-

taea kumasaca. It is possible to grow taller varieties in large pots, but it’s best to install an automatic irrigation system to prevent compost drying out.

Q I planted snowdrops ‘in the green’ some years ago, but they’re not multiplying. Why? James Kent

A Snowdrops ‘in the green’ are supplied by nurseries once the plants finish flowering and can sometimes take a few years to get going, especially if the supplied clumps are divided into individual bulbs with leaves. As long as you planted the snowdrops in moist, but fairly welldrained soil in dappled shade, then they should eventually establish a colony.