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 I have a very large rambling rose that is bare of flowers for many months. Can I grow something through it that will brighten it up? – Sam Alexander, Linlithgow.

A A climbing rose is the perfect host for a clematis. Many of these flower from mid-summer.

Cut back climbing roses as they finish

flowering, pruning side shoots to an outward-facing bud, and tie in new stems.

Q Some of the leaves of my water lilies are showing signs of rot. – Tom Clark, Stirling.

A Water lilies can be prone to fungal disease and the best way to tackle it is to take them out of the pond and remove all affected stems and foliage before replacing the compost in the planting basket using one is designed for use with aquatic plants. When repositioning, ensure they won’t be splashed by water from a fountain or stream.

Start planting container-grown trees and

shrubs while the soil is still warm and they have time to settle in before winter.

Q Our plums have been covered in wasps. – G. Mitchell, via email.

A I’ve heard very positive reports about Waspinator, a fake wasps’ nest, that you hang from trees to deter the insects. Waspinators are available in many garden centres priced around £13 for a pack of two. Or call 0113 815 4994.

Take cuttings of pelargoniums and

osteospermum for overwintering on a bright windowsill or greenhouse.

Q I have grown a fig tree for the first time this year. Will it survive outdoors during the winter? – Melanie Boyle, Balloch.

A It’s not cold weather so much as damp conditions that are a threat. It would do best in a cool porch or shed where it won’t get frosted and where you can keep the compost almost completely dry.

Cut back lavender bushes removing the

spent flowers and some of the top growth without cutting into old wood.

Q How do I stop the leaves of peace lilies from going brown at the tips? – Gillian Lawrence, Inverurie.

A They do best when their compost is permanently damp, not waterlogged. To do this, place a handful of pebbles in a container then sit the pot on top, ensuring there’s water in the bottom of the container at all times.

Dig up potatoes before slugs get them.