Roots and Shoots Gardening Club
Garden Club News
Diary of Club meetings and events
Julie's Garden Gems
Gardening - A little bit about......
Use Water Wisely
Insects Friends and Foes
Wild Side
Garden Problems
Club Members Articles
Garden Perennials & Companian Plants
Pond Life
Gardening Tips
Folklore of Plants
Pelargoniums
Fruit and Vegetables
Our Summer Garden Show
Fuchsia Pictures
Outings
Links for Whittingham Gardening Club
Guestbook
Event Calendar
Mail Form
|
Garden Problems
 Do you have a gardening problem or question? Have you got a sick plant? Well let us try to solve it for you. We have within the Club a number of very knowledgeable people who cover a wide variety of subjects. Just email us on the site page, and we will put the answer if we can solve it on this page within a week or so. If you're desperate we will email you as soon as we have an answer. If we can't help we can suggest gardeningadvice@rhs.org.uk a RHS help service. |
Clay soil problems
 Q
I live in Harrow and the soil is very clay based.My garden is starting to be permanently water logged and in periods of heavy rainfall becomes entirely flooded. During the process of having had a recent extension built the builder suggested I have a sump dug in the garden. Can you provide me with your thoughts on my problem and a recommended solution.
Your assistance will be much appreciated.
Kind regards
David Miller
A
Hi David.
I have been in touch with an aquaintance who is in landscape gardening. He can only suggest the same, a sump. He suggests you find the lowest point in your garden and dig a sump hole around two foot square and at least three foot deep, more if possible. fill the bottom six inches of the sump with large stones. The next foot with medium stones and then up to six inches below the surface with shingle. Then fill the last six inch in with topsoil if it is in the lawn, right to the top with shingle if not. He said this will help to drain most of the standing water away. He said if this doesn’t work pray for dry weather. Also may I add if you continuly add grit, well rotted manure, compost or any organic matter it will gradualy open the soil. Because we have received this letter, i have put an article about clay soils in the members articles page. |
Tree steps
 Q
I have an old damson tree in the garden which fell down in the recent gales. It seemed a shame to just burn it, so I tidied it up with my chainsaw. As a result I am now left with the trunk and a few substantial branches which I'd like to slice and put down with pebbles to make a curving informal path dug out through an area of grass. Firstly, is it feasible to do this -presumably I'd need preservative on the slices
and some sort of membrane under them and the pebbles? Is there a recommended size for the depth of the slices to be cut, and could you suggest any alternatives for the edging rather than the standard flimsy green corrugated plastic? Any general hints would also be most welcome.
Regards
Brian Scott (Essex)
A
Hi Brian
I have put your question to our Landscape friend. He says, I take it that you want to make a stepping stone type of path set into pebbles through the grass. If so I would suggest you cut the trunk into sections not less than six inches thick. You will need to soak them in a wood preservative not just paint them. I know it smells but I would use creosote, as this would work out a lot cheaper. Place them on weed suppressing membrane, not plastic as you will need any water to drain away. Infill with 10ml pea shingle or gravel and tamp down. As an edging why not make a log edge with some of the thick branches. Cut them into lengths of about five inches, and hammer them upright against each other, or you can buy them in sections already made. My one worry is that I believe damson Prunus damascena is a soft wood and if so I don’t think it will last very long even with preservatives. If you change your mind about a path, why not make a garden seat out of it. |
A Clinging problem
Q
Dear Gardening club -
Does ivy growing over the trunk of a tree do the tree any harm in a suburban garden?
Brenda.
A
Dear Brenda
Thanks for your E mail. The answer to your question is in general no. Only when ivy completely smothers a tree will it be likely to harm it. The ivy itself does not live off the tree like a parasite, but only uses it as a climbing frame. If it really bothers you, cut through some of the lower ivy stems, then all the growth above the cuts will die off. It may look unsightly for a time but new growth from the tree should replace it very quickly. |
Scat Cat
 Q
Has anybody any solutions to stopping cats doing their toilets in my garden. I have heard somebody say rue leaves. Have you any other suggestions please.
Thanks Jo.
A
Hi Jo
Thanks for using our web site. The only sure cure for cats is a shotgun! No mustn't be cruel, I've got one myself. There are a few plants on the market that are said to deter cats, but I've never really found them to work. You can try Renardine which I hear is a chemical mix used to stop foxes or one of our members swears by the electronic deterrents that use sonic noise. All you can really do is to make the area they are using as inhospitable as possible. Has anyone else got a more sensible answer? |
CREOSOTE TREATED RAILWAY SLEEPERS, ARE THEY OK
Q....
Having read in the press that sale of creosote treated railway sleepers is to be banned I am now worried about continuing to grow vegetables in my small vegetable plot which is bordered by 4 sleepers. Does anyone know how serious the health risks are as I really enjoyed my fresh veg last year!
Angela Williams
A.....
Hi Angela
To be honest I don't think there is any risk what so ever. We have been using creosote for years, and all of a sudden they ban sleepers with it on but you can still buy creosote. If you are worried I would suggest you dig away some of the soil from the side of the sleepers and put a polythene lining down. But if you ate the vegetables last year and your still here I shouldn't worry. Does anybody out there have any comments. |
Weedy Problem
 Q
In our back yard we have a steep hill covered with ivy. The problem is that every month or so I have to rummage through the ivy, pulling up big weeds which quickly tower ove the ivy. I try to pull them up before they get too big. Is there anything else I can do besides tearing up the ivy as I struggle up the hill? Anything I can put down to get rid of the weeds while not harming the Ivy? Any response is appreciated!
Rocky
A
Hello Rocky
It sounds like when you pull these weeds up that you are not getting the roots only the the top growth, so they will keep coming back. The only thing I can suggest is to use a paint on weed killer which will destroy the whole plant. If you go to a good garden centre and explain your problem they should be able to suggest the most suitable one. |
Beetle Trouble
 Q
I have found a beetle on my lilies that look like ladybirds without spots. They appear to be eating the plants. Please can you help
Jane Williams
A
What you almost certainly have is lily beetle. Both the adult and the larvae will destroy your plants if left unchecked. The larvae is yellow, humped back and covered in a black slime. They will feed on the leaves, stems and flowers. I find in my garden the best way to get rid of them is by hand squashing them as soon as I see them, or use an insecticide. Any good garden centre will recomend one. You don't say where you live. We have had them for a number of years down here in London, but they seem to be moving through the country now. |
Leaf drop
Q
Can you help?
I have a problem with a Fuchsia.
It is a Hardy type (don't know its name), about 3feet tall and all of a sudden all the leaves and flowers have dropped off. The stems etc look all brown as though it is dead, but it is green within the "bark".
- Margaret Tuhey
A
Hello Margaret
This can be caused by a number of problems, You don’t say where you live, but if it’s in the Southeast then join the crowd as this is happening to many plants because of the heat we have had over the last couple of weeks, and this what fuchsias and indeed many other plants do to survive in these conditions. It could also be a root problem. Check the plant to see if it's loose in the ground. If so it could be vine weevil. dig some of the soil from the root area and if there are white grubs with brown heads it is weevil and if you want to try to save the plant treat with "Provado". If there are no grubs it sounds that the plant is still alive so I suggest you cut it back to about a foot from the ground and see if it starts to throw new leaves or comes back next year. |
Peeling Tree?
 Q.
I have a eucalyptus tree, and this year the bark has started to peel off. I have asked at a local garden centre what the problem is, but they don't seem know. Can you help?
Peggy Clifford.
A.
Hello Peggy. I have asked a very Knowledgeable Gentleman on the subject, and he says, don't worry this is a natural thing that happens to eucalyptus trees. There is nothing wrong with it.So there you are, Just enjoy it. |
Hardy Iris's?
 Q
Dear Garden Club
Please help with some advice. I recently put some bulbs of lilies in a pot ready for next year, but I suppose because of this mild weather we are having, they are already poking through the compost. I am worried that if we get a cold spell I will lose them. I don’t have anywhere inside I can store them. The type are Lilium lancifolium. Please what do I do?
Ruth Belton.
A
Hello Ruth.
I have asked around and although you don’t say where you live you should be all right. I have been informed that the lilies you are growing are Tiger lilies and are very hardy and can survive temperatures down to -15c. If you are still concerned my contact said stand the pots up against the wall of your house and cover them with horticultural fleece. |
Another Ivy Problem
 Q
I do hope someone can help me, I have recently bought a house and along with the house came a fantastic 70ft garden, which I cannot wait to get started on, however I have also inherited a large amount of Ivy which I really need to get rid of, I have tried pulling it up but I'm not getting all the roots out, I have seen some Ivy Killer can you tell me if this is safe to use in the garden and will it work ???
Thank you
Emma Simpkin
A
Yes the weed killer that is on sale in garden centers is safe to use as long as you follow the instructions on the bottle. You may find though that you may need to treat the ivy for three or maybe even four times before it finaly gets rid of it. I would suggest that you leave it till the weather warms up slightly, as most weedkillers work better when the plants are activly growing. Also keep cutting it back hard as this will also help to weaken the plant. |
Croak those Crocosmia
 Q
I planted some gladiolus bulbs three years ago and have been trying to eliminate them for the past 2 years. These multiply worse than dandelions. I dig them out, but they form hundreds of smaller bulbs and have had a nightmare trying to get rid of them. Any suggestions - digging them out doesn't work because of the smallness of the new ones. I even tried sifting through by hand about 4-5 inches of the toplayer without getting them all.
Thanks C.
A
Hello C
Are you sure they are gladiolus? They sound more like Crocosmia (Montbretia) to me. I've never known Gladi's to form bulbs that fast. If they are bright red or orange then i'ts almost certain they are Crocosmia, and if they are the only way I know of getting rid of them is keep pulling them up if they have other plants round them. If there is nothing in the ground with them then use a strong weedkiller such as roundup. This is applied as they grow. You spray the leaves and the poison goes right down to the bulbs. Roundup is neutralised once it hits the soil. |
Yellow Leaves
Q
Please, what is causing some of the leaves on some of my plants in the garden to go yellow? They all seem to be the ones in pots.
Jan Collins
A
Hi Jan. I do have quite a few questions about the leaves of shrubs in pots turning yellow. Although many factors could be to blame such as too much or too little water, or even exposure to cold winds. But usually it is the lack of nutrients that is the problem, a disorder known as 'chlorosis'. Acid lovers such as camellias and rhododendrons, are usually worst effected. If the young leaves are suffering then iron is the deficient mineral, if it's the old leaves then it is the lack of manganese that is the problem. To solve either question, apply a feed such as Miracid for lime haters every two to three weeks during the growing season. Dissolve it in water and apply over the leaves and around the roots. Other plants which don’t require an acid soil can also exhibit symptoms of yellowing and this is most likely to be due to a magnesium deficiency. The remedy here is to feed with a fertiliser containing magnesium (horticultural Epsom salts). |
When do I cut?
 (Q)
I have a beautiful buddliea which has just finished flowering. It has grown really big and I need to cut it back. Can someone please tell me the best time of year to do it and how far back ( hard ) should I cut it. It is about 2 metres tall and wide, but, I really need to reduce it, but it is so nice I don't want to kill it.
Allan Atkinson
(A)
Hi Allan
You can cut the shrub back now just enough to tidy it up. In early spring cut it back really hard, down to about a foot from the ground all round. Sounds drastic but it really works. You need to do this every year. |
Nice Mice?
Q. I noticed I have mice in my garden. Could you tell me do they do any harm, and more importantly will they come into the house?
Anita. Maidstone, Kent
A. Hello Anita, I don’t really know much about them, so I looked on a couple of web sites for the answer. They seem to agree that although field mice, (that is almost certainly what you have) do nibble bulbs and plants, They do no significant damage to the garden. The second answers is no. The field mouse is an entirely different species from the house mouse, with very different habits. |
Sawfly
 Q
Dear Garden Club, I hope you can help me. My gooseberrys are being stripped of their leaves by grey catterpillars. Please, please tell me what to do.
A
What you have is almost certainly Gooseberry Sawfly. Spray straight away with Provado Ultimate Bug Killer. Next year start spraying in April as soon as you see them and repeat at five to six week intervals.
|
Fidler on the roof?
 (Q) Help!
I have a building which I look after in Mayfair, which has a buddleia growing on (and through) the roof. What is the best way to kill it off (without using explosives) as the leaves are blocking the gutters and causing damp problems in the building. I have cut the plant(s) (there are several of them) back to roof level to minimise the leaf drop problem for now.
Thanks in advance.
Pete
(A) Hi Pete
What you need to do is use a strong systemic weedkiller such as Roundup. Actually it would have been best to let the shrub grow when you use it,
it works better when the plant is growing strongly, then it will take the poison right down to the roots. My advice is to let it start growing again and when a foot or so high, spray. You may need to spray them three or
four times at weekly intervals to kill them. When they are dead then cut the stems down to ground level. They will soon rot off. Make sure they are fully dead or else it will soon start to grow again.
|
This page has been visited  times. |
