大象传媒

Eric Robson hosts the horticultural panel programme from Gloucestershire. Answering local gardeners' questions are Chris Beardshaw, Pippa Greenwood and Anne Swithinbank.

Produced by Howard Shannon
Assistant producer: Darby Dorras.
A Somethin' Else Production for 大象传媒 Radio 4.

Q. What can I do to give my paved front garden the 'wow' factor?
A. If you have any areas of soil, you could plant something woody like a Caryopteris. You could plant a Pieris in a container. You could also plant a Sparmannia or a Purple Yam (a kind of Diasporia) or Pennesetum grasses.

Q. Does the panel think that I could cut my box hedges (Buxus Sempervirens) down to about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) from 15 inches (38cm)?
A. The Box will come back from very hard pruning, but Box can suffer from box blight. When pruning you must ensure that the foliage is thoroughly wet and the tools used are all clean and sterile. Prune when the plant is actively growing, and it's a good idea to prune one side of the hedge per season to give the plant a better chance of surviving the trim.

3) Q. I have tried growing Acanthas and have good leaf growth, but no flower growth. Could the panel suggest the best growing conditions for this plant?
A. If you grow the plant in a smaller container or a smaller area, this will help encourage flower growth. Ensure the plant is kept moist (but with good drainage) and is exposed to lots of sunshine. You could also use high-pot-ash feed to encourage growth and try growing the plant in calcium rich soil.

4) Q. Is the growth of Mistletoe on an elderly Medlar Tree (Mespilus Germanica) harming the growth of the tree? If so, what is the best method of getting rid of it?
A. The Mistletoe won't cause too much damage so long as the growth is proportional to the tree. If you harvest the Mistletoe in the proportions that you harvest the fruits of the Medlar tree, a balance will be achieved.

5) Q. Will planting more fruit trees in a fruit cage keep the weeds away?
A. Yes, you could plant some Cherries, Golden Gages, Plums, Rhubarb, Red Gooseberries (Whinham's Industry is a good variety). You could also have a go at growing Japanese Wine Berry.

6) Q. What does the future hold for a 40ft (12m) high Larch tree, the top 30ft (9m) of which looks dead?
A. The dying wood is fabulous for wildlife, so you can let it decay naturally.
Be careful of the wood falling, this could be dangerous. If you do wish to prune down to the healthy growth, this will not harm the tree. It might be worth investigating what caused the upper part of the tree to die, this could be a case of phytopthora.

7) Q. Would it cause damage to prune the main stems of a 25-year-old climbing rose in order to encourage growth further down the plant?
A. Pruning would be necessary to encourage growth further down the plant. You must prune gradually (a third of the stems each season) and train the fresh growth to create a fan structure. Don't be afraid to be ruthless with the stems you chose to prune.

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