Flowers: Gardening Q & A

Apr 20 2008 Carolyn Spray

Q I have pruned my spring-flowering clematis. Will it still flower?

A Most large-flowered hybrids are pruned in March or April but the spring flowering clematis Montana varieties are pruned after flowering in May. I am sorry but you have cut all the flower buds off yours.

Q My rose bed has become short of soil and the roots are exposed.

How do I rejuvenate them?

A Garden centres sell sterilised top soil so you can top dress with this and apply plenty of rose fertiliser after pruning.

Q Patches of leaves on my non-stop begonias turned white and wilted.

What have they caught?

AI suspect you watered them overhead on a sunny day and they have sun scorch. They will grow out of this but stick to watering overhead in early morning or evening.

Q My mother ties her daffodil leaves neatly into bunches. Mine fend for themselves. Who is right?

A The purpose of all leaves is to make food for the plant so the more sunlight they see, the better. So in this case untidiness wins.

Q Last year my beetroot bolted and was unusable. How can I stop this happening again?

A Beetroot forms premature seed heads (bolts) when the seedlings are exposed to adverse conditions. Sow later or use a variety called Bolthardy which has genetic resistance to bolting.

Q I only have a cold greenhouse. When should I plant tomatoes?

A Leave it until early to mid May. If you plant too early they will go blue with the cold and may succumb to disease.

Q I have a wall covered with aubretia but they are getting untidy. Is it possible to prune them and, if so, when?

A Aubretias can be pruned hard back to the base immediately after flowering. They will then make a neat clump for next year.