大象传媒

Eric Robson and the GQT team are at Oxford House in Bethnal Green for the Chelsea Fringe. Bunny Guinness, Anne Swithinbank and Matthew Wilson take questions from the audience.

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

This week's questions:

Q: What is better, stone or lawn for a shaded garden?

A: You could grow some shade-loving plants in the stones to green things up a bit. But if you did want a lawn, you could try growing Micro Clovers, which are lot more tolerant of poor conditions than regular grass.

Q: What can I plant with my 25feet (7.6 meters) tall Phyllostachis Bamboo, other than the Clematis that is already growing there?

A: The only thing you can really plant, is another voracious grower, perhaps a Buddleia. But you could put some long troughs in front of the bamboo and grow things in there instead. You could also try growing Arum Italicum Pictum Marmoratum around the base of the Bamboo, or Leycesteria (Himalayan Honeysuckle) or soft shield ferns.

Q: What can the panel suggest to replace a fallen Robinia Pseudoacacia in a north-facing space about 3.5 by 1.5 metres? I'd like something with good shape and colour in the summer.

A: You could go for a crab apple tree or an Amerlanchier.

Q: What's the best way to move my fruit bushes? I have to move allotments by the beginning of next year.

A: Prune the bushes hard and then move them in the autumn, planting them in early September. This will stem root growth before you move them and then encourage root growth when replanted. If it's a very hot dry summer and the plants go into dormancy, then you could try putting them into pots placed on capillary matting and put shade netting over the top. Be sure to prepare the ground before you move. Cut the roots now with a spade (about a spade head's circumference around the plant) and this will also make the move easier.

Q: What would the panel recommend growing in out small garden, which is in direct sunlight from about 11:30 am until 6:30 pm but is in the shade the rest of the time? We are looking to plant a cottage garden that can handle these contrasts.

A: Don't worry too much about the light contrast; this is enough sun for sun-loving plants. Even real sun-lovers like the silvery leaved Brachyglottis would do well with this much sun. Roses might be a little less floriferous, but Lupins, Delphiniums, and other cottage plants would be fine. To encourage plants such as Sweet Peas you need to have very fertile soil. Cat Mint might be another plant to try.

Q: What do you have to do to Tulips in pots to make them flower again the following year?

A: It's very difficult to get Tulips to perform well in pots year after year. You could try moving the tulips from the pots into the ground and getting new Tulip bulbs for the pots. The Queen of the Night variety tends to come back year after year.

Q: What can I do with my empty greenhouse?

A: You could plant a Passion Flower in there, a Cucumber plant, an Aubergine plant, Chilli Peppers and cacti and succulents could also work. You could also try salad crops such as Ameranthus callaloo. Sweet potato would also be a good plant to try in the greenhouse. You could try planting out seeds, but it's probably better to buy in some plants now.

Q: What suggestions can the panel make for keeping foxes away?

A: An electric wire would keep foxes out. Chilli powder also keeps them away. Robust plants with irritable sap like Euphorbias can also help keep foxes at bay. Lemon rind is also an idea for deterring foxes and cats.

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