´óÏó´«Ã½

Q - What plants would the panel recommend to stabilise cliff erosion at my new house?

Bob – Brambles will mesh together and hold things in place. Any climbers would work and protect the ground from the weather. Pampas grass has a very strong root system.

Christine – Pachysandra terminalis has a good thick evergreen leaf with yellow flowers. Some of the Thymus or Alexanders would work. Think about suckering shrubs such as Alders, Cornus, Salix. They will naturally produce thickets and bind the soil together.

Matt – Brooms are very tough such as the Cytisus lena with its pretty red and yellow flowers.

Q - I have some very colourful Rhododendrons in my garden. They are getting very leggy and have long woody branches with a bud at the end. How can I prune them?

Christine – some Rhododendrons can be pruned and some can’t. To find out, push your hand along the bark about a foot (30cm) from the soil. If you feel bud initials that are like small grains of rice then you can prune it.  If you don’t feel them, you will kill the plant by pruning back.

Q - How many trusses of fruit would you recommend for tomatoes growing in pots?

Matt – Go up to about six trusses. Be careful with watering. Fewer trusses are easier to maintain.

Bob – I would reduce the number of tomatoes on each truss. For the larger varieties I reduce the number to one.

Q. My apple tree produces a lot of apples but they are very small and bitter. Can I thin it to produce a better crop?

Bob – Thinning is one of the most important jobs with fruits. Naturally there is a June drop. At the beginning of July give the tree a really good shake and thin further by removing several apples from the clumps. Remove one of any pairs that will touch when full size.

Q - How can I keep my perennials going year on year in containers?

Christine – Often the compost deteriorates over time. Top dress and remove as much of the top layer as you can. Add liquid feed and water regularly. Make sure the pot can drain properly.

Matt – For herbaceous perennials make sure you lift and divide. You can make some fantastic displays with the late summer flowering plants such as Heleniums, Echiums and grasses. You can add some tender plants such as Osteospermum around the edges.

Bob – Herbs do not require too much feeding.

Q - Which plants do you think have gone out of fashion and what will be the next big thing?

Christine – Chrysanthemums, Gladioli, Dahlia varieties, Astas and many old fashioned cut flowers have gone out of fashion. There is a considerable revival of the Foxgloves and the new tall varieties of Heuchera.

Matt – Carnations and Alpines are not as popular as they were.