Gardens Expert

hello there,

I desperately need some advise on how to brighten up a small north facing garden with some zingy plants.

The dull winter months need a bit of brightening up in my garden!

Thanks

Trish

Hi Trish,

This should not be a problem provided you are prepared to change their position.

All plants will tollerate a north facing garden if they are moved to a sunnier position once they show they are suffering.

I would invest in a torbay palm or a cordyline - the red or purple ones are good... under planted with blubs and finished off with violas (these flower better than pansy's)... there are a few roses which will tollerate the conditions - check out the David Austin Roses site for suitable ones...

But the zing is better kept in containers so that you can swop them around once they tire.

Angela

oh my god mine needs a face lift completly

Hi lilly123,

I know it can be daunting knowing where to start - but now is the time to start planning.

I would start with the area nearest the house and then work outwards. When split into smaller bit sized projects tackling a garden makeover is not as bad as it seems.

When I bought my house the garden consisted of large patio, large area of lawn, very narrow borders, a conifer in one bottom corner and a shed in the other - with a dead tree in the middle.

The garden was infested with ladies mantle, - to the exclusion of most other things, and congested alliums (which did not flower) (also gave me a megraine when I tried to lift them)...

Now I still have the large patio - which is in despirate need of being lifted and a proper weed suppressent being laid... wide borders filled with cottage plants, the dead tree has gone to be replaced by a trellis and rose arch - to split the garden so you don't see it all at once, and a vegetable plot...

I have now got an allotment so I can change the vegetable plot over to garden - which is my challenge for this year...

Angela

Can anyone tell me about conifer secretions?!! I know they secrete some kind of substance that can be an irritant to the skin. I think my dog is allergic to this and i'm desperate to find out more so i can help him overcome his allergy. Do any other plants do the same thing? Thank you.

Cathy A Can you tell me what kind of plant's or shrub's to grow, that will just keep on coming back year after year, as i am new to gardening.Thank You.

Hi How would i get Sven Wombwell to come and design my mums garden just as she has not got time to do it as she has to look after her father who is very ill.
Please let me know thank you
Stace

hi, we moved house in October and after months of clearing hedges and overgrowth, we've discovered horsetail from front to back, left to right of our gardens, please please please, do you have any idea how we can get rid of it. The gardens are huge and i'm prepared to try anything !!! i was so looking forward to beautiful flower beds. It seems to be in our neighbours gardens too, is there any way that it can be totally eradicated:Thank you in anticipation

My mother in law has three hydrangeas, one in the front garden and two in the rear. The one in the front is currently in full magnificent pink bloom. Unfortunately neither of the other two have flowered in the last two years. They look healthy with lots of green leaves, but no flowers. Can anybody please suggest what can be done to encourage new flower growth. All three hydrangeas are more than ten years old.

Thanks

Brian

hydrangeas i have been given a hydrangea in flower i,ve planted it in my front garden but have no idea how to look after it please please help

Hi , I grew some beautiful Calla Lillies in a pot and they have developed these large seed pods, that look a lille like a VERY big rasberrys, but green, what do i do with then please does anyone know?

Hi

All the gardening programmes seem to design long narrow gardens - I have the opposite problem being a short but wide garden (approx 25ft long by 45ft wide). Could anyone advise me on the best design principles I should follow ? I also have a leylandi hedge at the far (or should that be near) end. Useful for catching my son's stray footballs and privacy but terrible boring to look at! Thanks

Mandie

Hi, what should I do with my blueberry plants over the winter? Is it best to leave them outside in their planter, or move them into the greenhouse?
Thanks

can u please tell any good advice of the same. Last year I left overwinter in the ground and I got a lovely amount of blueberries this year. Do you think it was a fluke

Could you please help. we had some turf that we laid and we recently mowed it. Its growing pretty well but, the problem we have is a mole keeps coming up threw the ground and its ruining it. Is there anything that we may be able to do.

Thank you

Julie Shambrook

Hello,
Does anyone know if it's possible to reduce the girth of an African Grass (and how to do it). The grass is growing in the earth of our front garden and is about 2 metres around and 2 metres high (not including the flower/seed spears). It was probably very nice when originally planted, but is becoming a bit to big for the location so could do with reducing in size.
Thank you
Rob

Imagine a very, very steep garden, ivy now removed from trees, etc. Steps up the side to deck area (not started yet)at top, looking out over the boats. Now visual the lower half, lawn very soggy and then the next lower area (even wetter) that needs goodness knows what. How do we solve the water problem. Actually it is not for me, it is my son and his girlfriend, they are at a loss where to start. From the top or the bottom. HELP Annie

hi we have hust moved into a new house our garden has a slight slope we need to put in a retainer wall then slab the bottom do we put the wall in before the slabs are laid. lisa o'dwyer

How do you get to be on one of these shows?

You never seem to see anything advertising how you can apply.

yeah i would like to know too how to allpy to go on a garden amkeover as you dont see it advertised...anyone know?
my garden is in need very badly and my daughter more so!!

Advice please.....
I have permission to enclose about 450 sq metres of common ground to front and side of my home.It is woodland edge and in a conservation area.The planners are happy with the idea of a fairly informal woodland garden with a little path and steps in steeper areas.
We have vandalism and while I wish to put my boundary in keeping with the general plan,I need to see there is no one lurking outside it.Eventually there will be some hedging etc but what sort of boundary fence should be aesthetically pleasing but see through and vandal-proof in the meantime.
I am not allowed wire or netting.

Hi Last year I started a rose bed, I'm sure some where in the past I've heard it is good to grow other things in with your roses as they look after each other, The soil as got well rotted leaves and horse manure mixed into it are there any herbs I can grow in with the roses, thanks.

Please,please,Help Sven,

I aleady posted my query about trying to keep our local planning officer happy whilest enclosing my new woodland edge area.It is L-shaped.on a widening area and growing steeper as it moves to the south west wooded area.I will eventually put mixed native hedging interspersed with light canopied saplings.The shady part will have typical woodland bulbs,shrubs etc.The semi-shade and brighter area will have natives suited to them.A path will snake round the edge and up the hill.
Sven...our anyone who hears my plea.The planners want to see and ok the type of enclosure.It needs to keep very persistent vandals at bay.They will not allow any type of wire.What do I install here which will look good and be in keeping with the area, while the hedge gets going?I have been researching this so long that I am going round in circles and getting desperate.

Help someone help
If you are out there Sven......please,please,I need advice.
Lots of hugs to any of you with the solution.

i have a apple tree that is about 4 years old i got 3 apples last year,but had lots of flowers on it but did not turn into apples why is this could you give me a name of a good food for the tree and will give us more apples this year thank you

Diysel,
Could be the youth of the tree perhaps.....or if you live in the south the drought in the spring and summer months.Collect such rainwater as you get and give as much as you can to your sapling.Mulch thickly around the tree for a good few feet,
I have found tomato food gives my apple tree a boost.
Mentorscotus