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 For the first few seasons my daffodils gave me lots of flowers but this year I had virtually nothing. I’m about to plant more, so how can I make sure these don’t do the same? – Audrey Miller, Dunkeld. A Plant deeply, feed regularly with liquid feed once they produce foliage, and dig up and split any congested clumps. In damp soil, a thick layer of grit at the bottom of each planting hole will prevent bulbs from rotting.

Dry sweet peas and nasturtium seeds, then seal in an envelope, label and store in cool, dry and dark conditions. Q Why hasn’t my plum tree produced any fruit this year? - Mrs D. Watson, Mauchline.

A Frost may have nipped the flowers and insects may have failed to pollinate the blooms. If your tree produced a heavy crop last year it may be ‘exhausted’ so next spring, rub the buds off half the branches as soon as they appear, to reduce the burden of fruit.

Dig out seedlings of Alchemilla mollis and Wild Marjoram, as both have a tendency to spread like wildfire. Q How can I get rid of chickweed? – S. Robinson, Portrush.

A Hoe out seedlings as soon as they appear then cover in a thick layer of mulch. Glyphosate-based weedkillers should also work but why not eat it? Chickweed is packed with vitamins and tasty in salads.

If the leaves of Camellias are starting to yellow, dose with ericaceous feed to restore colour and vigour. Q I’d like to grow some alpine strawberries around my veg plot. – Colin Simpson.

A Garden centres stock them and they can be grown from seed. Sow in a propagator in March and pot on regularly until planting out the following Autumn.

Leave dead heads on hydrangeas to provide protection for new buds. Do not cut back as this removes next year’s flowers.

Q I’ve just built a new pond in my garden and would like advice on winter care. – G. Edwards, West Kilbride.

A Stretch a net over the pond to prevent autumn leaves from settling on it and causing methane levels to rise. Float a ball in the water to stop ice forming a complete sheet and remove any pump over the winter months.

Identify which perennials need splitting this autumn and prepare the soil for replanting with home made compost.