My lavender bushes have finished flowering and are looking a bit woody. When and how much do I cut them back?
How do I keep earwigs away from my beautiful Dahlia plants?
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?
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?
We have a fairly large bank I would love to fill with easy-care flowers and foliage. Preferably ones I can use as cut flowers in vases and arrangements as I’m a florist. Any advice on what will grow well in our area?
I have a sunny windy deck area where I want to grow potted geraniums. How do I ensure that what I grow will be compact and full of long-lasting blooms? What do I do to ensure I have good flowering over several years?
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?
When is the best time to cut down or cut back perennials for winter?
I have had several different coloured dwarf Alstroemeria which I have tried to grow in pots. These always seem to die right back just as they are about to flower.
I have a beautiful camellia in my garden. Can I transfer this lovely plant to a pot? It is medium size and about 5-6 years old. Also, can you plant rhododendron in a pot?
I am trying to set out a small rock garden, as there is a large magnolia tree growing in the middle of the main garden and it has a lot of spidery roots. It is very hard to grow anything successfully because of these roots. What advice would you give me to grow cactus etc?
Can you please tell me if wildflower seeds come up each year?
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?