Phil McCann from the RHS answers your gardening questions

[RachelMumsnet]

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is the UK's leading gardening charity. As a charity the RHS helps to bring gardening into people's lives and support gardeners of all levels and abilities; whether they are expert horticulturists or children who are planting seeds for the very first time.

Phil McCann, PR Manager for RHS Gardens, with support from gardeners at the four RHS Gardens, will be answering questions from Mumsnetters throughout this week. Whatever your query - from carrot fly to container vegetable growing, wisteria pruning to water-free gardening - Phil and the RHS team are on hand to give you advice and information.

Phil, who was previously Assistant Producer on BBC's Gardeners' World, is a trained horticulturist, a keen and knowledgeable gardener and allotment holder, a member of the RHS Vegetable Trials Committee and garden writer. Phil will be checking this thread each day and answering your questions on this thread along with his colleagues at the RHS. Final day for questions is Monday 5th July.

In return for posting a gardening question we will automatically enter you into a prize draw to win a pair of tickets to the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show next week. Each ticket will allow an adult and two children under the age of 16 into the show free of charge. Tickets will be valid on any day from Thursday 8 July to Sunday 11 July. For more information about the show visit www.rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt.

[PhilMcCann]

Dear GrendelsMum,
Have you mused enough yet?

[catinthehat2]

(Phil -
thank you for the answers so far. It might look as if you are on your own, but I've been checking in all morning - this is good stuff.)

[G0ingPostal]

Hi just to second catinthehat's post - keep reading through and thinking I will have to save this thread, loads of great info. Thank you!!

[PhilMcCann]

Dear eltham,
It's a tall order as you would have to smash up the paving, build up the sides using bricks or wood to a depth of 18 inches at least, import a lot of quality loam topsoil and then turf over. Watering would be a nightmare.
So - build yourself some raised beds to a design of your choice ( make sure you can reach into the middle of them) , fill them with topsoil, grow some veg and flowers and 'green' the whole area like that. It's a lot more productive than grass!
You've got to visit one of our gardens to get inspiration ( www.rhs.org.uk) or come to the veg weekend, this weekend, at one of the gardens. It will be worth it.

[PhilMcCann]

Dear Butterbur,
It's so frustrating when this happens - shrubs do suddenly keel over for no apparent reason.
It might, just might, be the dry weather. Lilacs can be affected and your roses are great in those conditions. Has it all died? Scrape some of the bark away and see if it is green underneath - if it is then it is alive and may come back. I wouldn't give up -maybe water some more, a good two gallons - and keep an eye out. I'll be honest - it won't make you feel better about your lilac, but might give you ideas for a replacement if it is dead, if you check out the Hampton Court Flower Show. It starts on Tuesday July 6th and runs to July 11th. More details are at www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/Hampton-Court-Palace-Flower-Show/2010

[PhilMcCann]

Dear Lulumaam,
Herbs are great fun to grow - and usually so rewarding. We all know most like hot conditons but a windowsill can fry the leaves and boil the roots. Spring, early summer, autumn and winter are great times for windowsil herbs - bright conditions are best and don't forget to water. The pots dry out quickly. But it is best to plant them outside in the peak of summer. Plants I like to use are the ones from supermarkets sometimes labelled as growing herbs. They are great when planted out and a fraction of the cost of garden centre plants or even raising your own from seed.
Your peace lily - they are tough ( as you know) They will grow almost anywhere and put up with all amounts of over or under watering. A bright but not blazing windowsill is good, or a bright bathroom is fine. You'll do well to get rid of that plant.

[PhilMcCann]

Dear choccyp1g,
I guess you are near London if parakeets are causing you problems. I'd leave the nets off the strawberries when you are up at the plot but definately cover them when you leave. If you are London get yourself to RHS Garden Wisley and the model fruit gardens - great displays of tasty fruit and veg. And not a sign of parakeet damage anywhere. They , and all the RHS gardens. are holding a veg weekend this weekend. www.rhs.org.uk
And if you're really into your plot have you tried this: www.rhs.org.uk/iphone- might worth a go.

[PhilMcCann]

Dear fruitshootsandheaves,
Do I pick up a sense of frustration with the old Bright Eyes kind of animal?! A lot of people are in the same boat.
There are actually lots of good plants for such a situation, the full list is at www.rhs.org.uk, but I like crocosmia for their vibrant orange flowers, tulips for a great spring display ( lift the bulbs every year and replant in November) and aquilegias for their floriferous attitude.

[PhilMcCann]

Dear pebblejones,
I think you know the answer - you can't paper over a problem and expect it to go away! The moss is there because the water content is high, there's not much air gettting to the roots and the light levels are low.
You can kill moss off by using a shop bought treatment. They act within days and once the moss is black and dead, rake it all out. Then tackle the soil. Spike or aerate the whole surface. Brush in sand or loam and don't cut the lawn too short. This weakens the grass, exposes the surface and moss takes it chance.
If there are any overhanging branches then get rid. It might take a couple of seasons but you'll crack it.

[PhilMcCann]

Dear catinthehat2,
Many thanks - I know you are out there (hopefully in the garden weeding or watering!)

PHIL

[PhilMcCann]

Dear G0ingPostal,
and thanks to you too - better get back to page 1, 2 and 3!
So much gardening, so little time!
P

[Ineedmorechocolatenow]

Hello Phil.

We have a problem with horse-tail.

How do you get rid of it without harming other plants around it?

[PhilMcCann]

Dear Lastyearsmodel,
I've seen some fantastic patio clematis at the shows this year and Hampton Court will be no exception (www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/Hampton-Court-Palace-Flower-Show/2010)
Clematis Forever Friends might be a good one - satin white flowers on plants perfect for your position. Add a small leafed ivy - less thuggish than some of the larger leafed ones - and I reckon you'll have a great display.
Remember - clematis like their feet in the shade and heads in the sun, so mulch the top of the soil surface with pebbles.

[midnightexpress]

Wow Phil - just wanted to say you're doing a sterling job! Will save the thread to have a good look at all the advice later.

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Has anyone asked about insecticides yet? I am trying my hardest to squash the black fly and cabbage white caterpillars that are variously trying to destroy my runner beans, broad beans, peas and broccoli, but it is far from a perfect method of getting rid of these pests. Is there one really really good insecticide I should look for when I go to the garden centre next? I hate the idea of spraying but if I don't, I fear my crops will be paltry.

Oh and I was disappointed when my lovely beetroot plants were attacked by what I have decided from reading books is Mangold Fly. Anything I can do to prevent this happening next year?

Thanks!

[PhilMcCann]

Dear midnightexpress,
Many many thanks - although I might have to nip out in a minute to water my veg as my spuds are wilting ( v early morning watering is best but if a plant wilts it needs water fast - whatever time of day)
Thanks again.
P

[LaserWidow]

Hi Phil,

I have a peony in my garden which produces two different types of flower... last year it had a few, this year more than half. The "original" looks rather like Ballerina, the other (also double) has an outer layer of pink, separate layers of cream, ruffled centre of pink. It's a really nice flower. So, queries:

What's going on with the differing flowers?
How best to propogate peonies (personal inclination to lift-and-divide) - will cuttings take or seed come true?

I'm also on the lookout for Lathyrus grandiflorus but nowhere seems to stock it - any ideas? And the collerette Dahlia "Dandy" - also seems unavailable. Bah.

[CuppaCoffeeJanice]

Thanks very much for answering my questions Phil. Before I head off to the garden centre, I just wanted to check that Cotoneaster berries aren't poisonous as I have a 2 year old son.

Thankyou

[PhilMcCann]

Dear thislittlesisterlola,
Lots of plants sulk for a year after planting before romping away - climbing hydrangea is one and jasmine is another. Hopefully you have it in a the right position - lots of sun, plenty of moisture at the roots and a good root run ( no competition around it) - otherwise keep it watered and don't feed it. It's often so tempting to bung a load of miracle this or supergrow that on the soil and to be honest, that can scorch sulking roots. Give it time and watch it flourish.
Carrots: year after year they cause me more headaches than any other veg. Germination is tricky and like most gardeners, I sow early in the year, get caught by cold spring nights and the seeds sit there and die. This year I had three attempts to get my carrots on the way, my last sowing was in the middle of May! My advice is to wait longer than you usually do, even get them started on kitchen paper in the house, planting out as soon as the little roots appear. The taste is worth the effort. And so is visiting one of our gardens veg weekends, this weekend.
Entry is free with normal garden entry.

Check out;
apps.rhs.org.uk/rhseventfinder

[PhilMcCann]

Dear CuppaCoffeeJanice
Thought it was a cuppa tea?
Cotoneaster berries can be poisonous if enough are eaten - maybe best to play safe and choose a berberis instead( non poisonous but still does the job) There are plenty to choose from at most garden centres and most staff are helpful.
P

[buxomblonde]

Hi Phil
I have a spot in my garden which I have earmarked for a small tree to plant in memory of my daughter who died in december. It is sunny, sheltered, well drained. My first thought is i love magnolia as they always cheer me up early on in year and make me look forward to spring/summer. But I wonder if there might be something that would be interesting for longer period of the year. It is beside a sitting area so scent might be nice, and prob should be not taller than couple of metres so as not to dominate. Any thoughts?

[PhilMcCann]

Dear ImSoNotTelling,
How maddening that neighbours can grow camellias and have flowers and you have just the one.
Obviously the soil is correct ( or you have been so unlucky to pick a patch of soil with the wrong acidity) and the amount of sun is OK - but they gnerally don't like early morning sun as dew or frost on the buds can act as a magnifying glass and burn the buds off. But you'd see the buds before they fell off.
My thought is that you aren't getting enough water to its roots in late August early September - this is when next years flower buds are forming. A dry late summer = poor flowering the following spring. Give it a go and if the leaves are looking Ok, leave the fertiliser in the shed for a year or two. I bet yours will be as good as your neighbours next year.

[PhilMcCann]

Dear MayorNaze,
marvellous - and it doesn't get dark until 10ish so there's no excuse - get back out there!

[PhilMcCann]

Dear Granny23,
It sounds like your neighbours tree is growing in the soil - I bet it is rained on and never goes short of water. If yours is in the same pot and compost it originally was put in, chances are the compost is old and even difficult to get water down to the roots. Old compost has that horrible knack of capping over, getting crusty and repelling all water. Try scraping off the top couple of inches of compost and replacing with new. Make sure the tree is watered - even in spring when the fruits are developing the compost can be dry - and maybe add a drop or two of tomato fertilser to the water in May and June. It should do the trick. Of course, you could also get yourself to one of our gardens this weekend and test the gardeners who are holding our popular Grow Your Own events - look up www.rhs.org.uk I bet they say the same!

[prettybird]

Thnaks PhilMcCann. Mice was one of the things that I wondered about - although with two cats (and more next door) and urban foxes around, they must be very brave ones!

Having said that, the raised beds were extremely dry until I started watering them about two weeks ago (although at least I had* been good about watering the spuds bed) - and I have just realised that every single one of my garlic plants has bolted, together with the two(!) overwintered leeks

I'd love to come to one of the RHS events - but we're off to Greece on Sunday, so have other things on the go. We do keep on thinking aobut making a trip dwon to Malvern for the Autumn Show though