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Correspondence Edition: Anne Swithinbank's House

Eric Robson hosts a correspondence edition from Anne Swithinbank's Devonshire home. Helping Anne to answer the questions are Pippa Greenwood and Bob Flowerdew.

Eric Robson hosts a correspondence edition from Anne Swithinbank's Devonshire home. Helping Anne to answer the questions are Pippa Greenwood and Bob Flowerdew.

The questions cover trees and shrubs that can withstand salty winds, what to do with an infestation of Mare's Tail and why Sweet Peas are suffering this year.

The panellists also offer advice on moving a Myrtle, badger prevention and what to do with a surprise Walnut tree.

And Matt Biggs turns detective as he joins up with a forensic botanist to find out what role plants can have in solving crimes.

Produced by Hannah Newton
Assistant Producer: Laurence Bassett

A Somethin' Else production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Jul 2017 14:00

Fact Sheet

Q – Can the panel recommend a tree or shrub that can be grown in a container on a balcony that gets direct sun and occasional salty wind?

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Anne – We’ve used Pittosporums to shelter other plants that get hit by the wind.Ìý Dwarf Pines, Dwarf Lilac grow beneath them

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Bob – Holm Oak would be the most reliable.Ìý Put bulbs underneath for colour

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Anne - ÌýThere is the smaller-leaved Pittosporum tenuifolium and the larger-leaved Pittosporum tobira.Ìý

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Q – How long do soil treatments last – they don’t have a sell-by-date?

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Bob – If they are unopened they should last indefinitely.Ìý Once opened fertilisers will absorb carbon dioxide and moisture but it will still have fertility value.

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Pippa – Keep them in cool, dry locations they will last longer

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Bob – Blood Fish and Bone you need to keep away from rodents

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Q – What use might I make of a Mare’s Tail infestation?

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Anne – We’re talking about Equisetums here.Ìý The Romans and Victorians used to use it to scour pans and bathtubs.Ìý

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Bob – It is a good fertiliser too.Ìý The Hippurus Ìýis the proper Mare’s Tail.Ìý It is not the same as Horse’s Tail.Ìý

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Anne – My husband creates a bit of Jurassic feel to the driveway by using Equisetum hyemale (the rough Mare’s Tail) which is often called the ‘Lego Plant’

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Bob – Nettles outgrow and shade it out so if you’re happy with lots of nettles do that instead!

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Q – When we acquired our house thirty years ago came with a 50ft-wide (15.25m) fig tree strapped to the front of the house.Ìý One third has started to become a bit lacklustre.Ìý What might be happening?

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Bob – It could be nutrient deficiency as it is so old.Ìý Give it potassium, magnesium and iron rather than nitrogen.Ìý

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Anne – We had some cold nights in the spring and that could have added to the stunting

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Pippa – It could be a viral infection

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Q – Is there any added value to using the water from my fish tanks?

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Pippa – It will have a high nutrient level – it’s what causes algal blooms in ponds.Ìý I wouldn’t want to use it on anything edible nor in a container.Ìý General flowerbeds should be fine.

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Bob – I put goldfish in my water butts to keep mosquito levels down.

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Anne – Might as well

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Q – My sweet peas are suffering from buds dropping or withering on the stems.Ìý What’s happening?

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Anne – I suspect the soil isn’t conditioned enough or under-watered.Ìý Or an aphid attack

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Bob – Sweet peas can actually grow in a water butt! Which shows how much water they need

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Q – We have an orchard that’s overgrown with brambles – should we scythe or strim it? And how do we stop the brambles coming back?

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Pippa – I don’t think you need to keep the trunk clear

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Bob – That’s true of established trees – with new trees (up to five years) you need to keep it clear because of the small root system

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Anne – When I added a plum I used a 6ft (2m) circle to get it established

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Bob – A strimmer won’t work on a bramble.Ìý Nor a scythe.Ìý Use secateurs in the winter.Ìý Brambles are very good for wildlife though.

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Eric – I have a fancy lightweight Austrian scythe which is brilliant – you do need to learn how to sharpen it though

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Q – My Cotoneaster is covered with a web that I think is produced by a moth.Ìý What should I do?

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Pippa – You see a similar thing on Hawthorns.Ìý It is produced by a moth – it is used as protection.Ìý You can use insecticides or you can manually clear it away and then use nematodes.Ìý I would cover up and wear goggles to avoid getting any of it on you.Ìý Brown-tail moths in particular can bring you out in a very bad rash, cause temporary blindness, bring on asthma attacks

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Anne – I would leave it and then prune once the caterpillars have pupated

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ÌýQ – I have a forty-year old, fifteen-feet tall Myrtle tree.Ìý Can I move it?

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Bob – I wouldn’t move it. If you have to then definitely reduce it first. ÌýYou could layer it.

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Q – We have a problem with badgers digging holes in the garden.Ìý We are looking for animal-friendly ways of deterring them please

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Pippa – The only solution is to make your garden less appealing, so it’s a lose-lose.Ìý You could try and entice them to one area to distract them – you will find them near bird feeders especially if there are peanuts involved

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Q – A squirrel planted a walnut in my garden and now I have a new tree.Ìý Will it be worth growing if it is not grafted?

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Anne – It would take longer to flower and fruit. They are better when not alone.

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Bob – Move it before it gets too big as they can cause problems.Ìý I had a bed with one of my favourite plants, the Dictamnus, in it.Ìý I didn’t clear the walnut leaves properly and the residue from them has stunted the growth of these Dictamnus.

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Q – If you had to make a garden out of weeds what would you plant?

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Pippa – Herb Robert is a favourite weed/wildflower

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Anne – Pink Campion and the Oxeye Daisies

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Eric – Buttercups

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Anne – Chickweed you can put in salads

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Bob – I would create a 20-ft Leylandii wall with a chair in the middle

Broadcasts

  • Fri 14 Jul 2017 15:00
  • Sun 16 Jul 2017 14:00

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