I love my dahlias, but I often lose them over winter. Some come up again, but others don’t. Our soil is mostly clay. Do you have any suggestions to help?
We have just bought our first house and are landscaping the garden. We would like to plant some bulbs, but we need to rid ourselves of these weeds. They just keep coming back! Could you please tell us what they are and how we best get rid of them once and for all! We want to plant something much prettier there.
I have been inspired by the amazing show of Dahlias at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens to grow them for the first time. When is the perfect time to plant tubers and what soil preparation do you recommend?
My clumps of daffodils have stopped flowering or much reduced, despite receiving bulb fertiliser. What could be the problem?
When is the best time to lift my lilies? Do I split them and plant straight away or store for the winter and plant again in spring?
Every year my dahlias develop mildew as we come into autumn. It then spreads around the garden and limits the plants’ ability to thrive. Is there anything I can do to prevent mildew?
I have a small plot of about 100 purple Dutch iris plants. Each one produces 2-3 flower heads per stem. As one flower dies another blooms. Do I have something unusual and unique or is this the norm with Dutch iris?
Why do some daffodil bulbs not flower in similar soil and light conditions in different areas of my garden, whilst others do? These are all well-established bulbs.
I have always managed to grow good shallots, but this year was awful. Are there any special things I should do to get better success e.g. soil wise?
I have never had any luck growing hyacinth bulbs, is there any special treatment they require?
My daffodils didn’t flower last year. Have they had it or can I feed them something?
I have a large patio pot planted with tulip bulbs. During winter, is it alright to plant some primulas and pansies over the bulbs which have not sprouted yet? Or do I wait for the bulbs to sprout, then plant in the gaps?
Each year, my Hellebores do not seem to flower as well as they should, having short stems and small flowers. They are growing in a damp, shady spot and some of the plants have not flowered for years. What could be the problem?
Should you lift your bulbs every year or can you leave them in?
Over winter we dug up our dahlias and kept them in dry place in sawdust. We prepared the soil with sheep pellets and pot ash. Then in mid-April we planted them, but only eight came up. Some were rotten, others had no sprouts. Where did we go wrong?
My daffodil bulbs have all sprouted but none of them have a flower - they look like big spring onions! What’s gone wrong?
Each year since being on our new property we have daffodil leaves come up in the lawn but never any flowers. Is there anything I can do to promote flower growth when I don’t know how long the bulbs have been in the ground?
I have Obdam (a Double White) daffodils. Each year they have dozens of flowering stems, but only 2-3 ever get to the goose-neck stage. What can I do?
I would like to know if it is better to leave tulip bulbs alone or dig them up and transfer them? Mine are in a pot and were spectacular and I want to add more.
This year, for the first time, I planted tulip and iris bulbs. There was a wonderful display of flowers. Now in March, what do I do with the bulbs over winter?
Some of my lillies are distorted and deformed when they bloom. Do you know the reason for this please?