Potting Shed

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

I was out for a country walk and came on a lovely bush with yellow flowers and shiny red berries. Can you tell me what you think it is as I would love to get one. – Margaret Stewart, by email

This sounds like Hypericum androsaemum, a form of St John’s Wort that is very easy to grow in most gardens.

How do I improve a deciduous azalea that is looking a bit sparse. – Jim Walters, Johnstone

Dig a new planting hole and place the azalea so that the point where the stem joins the roots is several centimetres beneath the soil. This can prompt it into sprouting from underground level.

I didn’t cut back my box hedge earlier in the year. Can I do it now? – Linda Halliday, Gartcosh

It’s not too late but try to do it during a dry spell as that will make your hedge less susceptible to box blight.

I’ve seen pots in a garden near my house that are filled with plants that look a bit like pineapple flowers. What are they and are they easy to grow? – Cara Docherty, Ballloch

These are eucomis, a very attractive group of summer-flowering bulbs.

Tulips are coming into the garden centres, so should I plant them now? – Dorothy Ross, Elgin

If possible hold off until November, when the bulbs will have less risk of picking up disease. In the meantime store them somewhere cold, dark and dry.