Flowers: Q & A

Aug 17 2008 Carolyn Spray

Gardening

Q My lavatera is in full bloom but how and when do I prune it?

A Lavatera is a beautiful shrub with large hollyhock-like blooms mid to late summer in shades of pink and lilac. It tends to need staking as the plant can get top heavy but a hard pruning in April should keep it a bit more compact.

Q My wisteria is huge and leafy. I can't walk past it without getting wet as it overhangs my path.

Can I chop it back now?

A By August wisteria has grown a lot and this is the perfect time to keep it in check. Reduce the side shoots to three to five leaves.

Even if you prune back all the shoots in the way, that will certainly help the plant.

Q The wet weather has made my David Austin roses mushy and they have not opened. What can I do?

A Rain can damage the blooms of these large multi-petalled roses and stop them opening. Deadhead the flowers to encourage new ones to grow and hope for a dry, sunny spell.

Q My veg patch made lots of produce when I was on holiday so I missed it. Is it too late to sow more?

A You can still sow quick crops such as radish and salad leaves plus it isn't too late for another crop of early variety peas. You could also try hardy spring onions.

Q I can't believe how many of my plants have been munched by slugs. I don't want to use pellets so what else can I do to protect them?

A Encourage birds, frogs and hedgehogs into your garden. They will devour the slimy creatures. Beer traps work well as do physical barriers such as rough gravel, egg shells and gritty ash.

Q My plum tree has grown a lot since planting last year. Should I prune it and when?

A You must prune plums in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf infection. Take out enough to stop overcrowding and remove dead and damaged shoots.