Your Garden: Best Time To Snowdrop In

Jan 20 2008 Carolyn Spray

QI had a red-leafed cordyline in a border beside the house but the leaves all look dead. Could I have avoided this?

ACordylines can live quite happily in milder areas but in more exposed places they will not come through the winter unless protected. You can wrap them in fleece when it is very cold to keep the frost off.

QI want to plant a hedge between my garden and the veg patch to disguise the 'working area'. What do you suggest?

AA hedge should be as attractive as possible for many months of the year. My favourite is beech because although it is deciduous it does keep its beautiful coppercoloured dead leaves over the winter. I also love Cotoneaster Simonsii, a dense evergreen hedge covered with red berries in winter.

QMy friend has a lovely shrub with glossy oval green leaves and amazingly sweet perfumed flowers. What is it?

AI suspect it is Sarcococca or Christmas Box. The sweet scent from the creamy white flowers is very intense and loved by flower arrangers. The flowers are followed by red or black berries.

QHow can you tell what kind of soil is in your garden? I do not want to waste money on plants that will not grow well.

ALook at the texture of the soil and squeeze it into a ball. If it doesn't stay in the ball at all it is sandy, if it crumbles a bit but holds together the soil is good and loamy. If it doesn't crumble at all then it is probably clay. Both clay and sandy soil really need to be enriched with organic matter and manure. You can also buy kits to test ph alkalinity.

QMy fruit trees are quite old and are getting more pests and diseases. How can I help protect them?

ASpray them with a tar oil winter wash which kills pests lurking in the crevices. Do this on a calm day so the spray does not drift on to other plants as it will damage evergreens and grass.

QI have lots of primroses in my greenhouse which I bring into the house when they flower but I see grey mould on them. What is it and what should I do?

AThis is a common fungal disease called botrytis. It is more likely to appear when there is not enough ventilation but good hygiene is important so remove any yellowing leaves before the fungus sets in. You can also spray with a fungicide.

QI have a huge area of snowdrops which look gorgeous at this time of year. I would like to give some to my daughter for her garden. How and when should I move them?

AOnce the plants have finished flowering - but are still green - you can lift clumps. Replant immediately in moist soil with a little shade - under deciduous trees is perfect

QWhen there is a lot of snow the garden looks pretty but

does it damage the plants?

ASnow does not affect the plants but its weight can cause branches to break and snap, so go round in the morning with a broom and brush off any big clumps. QI grew vegetables for the first time last year.

Should I plant them in different places next year? ACrop rotation does help prevent a build-up of certain pests and diseases. There are three main groups which are best to rotate - root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and potatoes, brassicas such as cabbage, cauliflowers and sprouts and then peas and beans. QIs a peanut feeder the best food for garden birds in winter?

ABlue tits will adore it - but other birds cannot hang on. A seed feeder is the best bet to save the lives of lots of small birds but use sunflower seed or a good mix. Fatty snacks are vital. Birds love the excellent peanut cake tubes and squares from the online shop at www.birdfood.co.uk

TOP TIP: This weekend I will clear out my greenhouse which is still full of last year's growbags and dead plants.

I'll wash all the insides down with Jeyes fluid and light a sulphur candle to kill off any nasty beasties lurking in the corners.

If I can fit my timber bench inside, I might even give it a lick of wood stain.