Garden Doctor
Hello there! I’m the Garden Doctor. My my, you do seem to be in a pickle with your petunias, and those dahlias are dreadful. Never mind – I use this special corner of the website to answer all my patients’ gardening questions. I’m quite the authority, you know. Just type your question in that little box down there on the left, and click “submit”. I’ll pop an answer on this page, so your hostas will be healthy and your lilies luscious before you know it. Ta-ta for now!
Question:
I placed a slide on my grass and it has made it go brown, will the grass return to it's original colour? Is there anything I can do to it to ensure it comes back?
Answer:
The grass will eventually return to its former glory, grass is very resilient but to help it on its way, a light dressing of lawn fertilizer will be beneficial.
Question:
I live near the sea and I would like to plant a hedge, what would you suggest?
Answer:
The best seaside hedge Griselinia Littorails, this is an evergreen plant which is very tolerant of seaside conditions. Alternatively you can use certain diciduous shrubs such as Hippophe, Rhamanoides, or Rosa Rugosa.
Question:
I purchased a number of thuja trees about a year ago and they grew perfectly until we had the bad winds recently when they nearly all went brown on one side and they do not seem to be recovering. Is there any thing that I can do to aid them other than feed and water? will they recover?
Answer:
It will take them some time to recover, but they should be looking a lot happier by the Autumn. The gales this winter have been very severe and this is what has caused them to go brown.
Question:
I have had my rhododendron for a year and it was perfectly healthy when I got it. However, the tips of the leaves have turned brown and are crispy to the touch. Can I remove these leaves and what is the main reason for this? Is it frost?
Answer:
The tip burn on your Rhododendron is almost certainly due to the severe gails we had last Winter. The damaged leaves will eventually fall off and be replaced by fresh new growth.
Question:
I need climbers to cover a new fence . It faces west(ish) and doesn't get much sun. also there is not much depth to the soil although I have replaced it with new top soil
Answer:
The favorite for this would be Clematis of varieties, white and pink shades. The other possibilities are Lonicera Hallian and Evergreen Honeysuckle.
Question:
I have a long thin window box and wall hung pots in my back garden that never gets any direct sunlight - can you recommend anything that I can plant that will last - I'd prefer something that lasts all year / returns each year (is not just for a season)
Answer:
Hedera's will do very well in this aspect, some of the variegated varieties are very attractive, I have them in my own North facing window box.
Question:
Hello, Located near Blackpool, 100yds from the beach. Last January we had a severe storm which turned my leylandii conifers brown (one or two bits of green left). Since then I have watered them every day and fed them miraclegro. They do not seem to be recovering. Will they recover and what can I do to help them recover? Thank you, Ken Randall
Answer:
We have the smae situation at the Garden Centre, Miraclegro will not do them any harm, but it will not speed the recovery proccess up. The last time these strong gales caused this sort of damage, it took about two growing seasons fot the plants to re-grow, and even then it was not a full recovery. Patience or a brickwall is the only remedy I can offer, sorry.
Question:
if i buy a dahlia plant will it last year after year or just be an annual
Answer:
The large rooted Dahlias will regrow again the year after, if when they have died down in the autumn you lift the root, clean off the soil and store them in a frost proof and dark place and then re-plant again the following May. The small fibreous bedding Dahlia's are not worth saving.
Question:
Could you please supply directions from Lytham to the centre
Answer:
We are just off Junction 3 of the M55 roundabout, on the kirkham side just after the the Fairfield Arms Pub.
Question:
do you sell turf
Answer:
We sell Rolawn Turf at £3.55 per metre square.
Question:
I HAVE AN APPLE TREE WHICH SEEMS TO BE OF POOR STATE THE BRANCHES SNAP SO EASILY SO I CUT IT DOWN AND REPLACE
Answer:
It sounds as though your apple tree has run its course. Time for a healthy new one I think, in perferably a new planting position.
Question:
could you please tell me the latin for spike heath as my friend has one but need to know the latin for buying purposses.Thank you
Answer:
The latin name is Bruckenthalia Spiculifolia, now defined as an Erica and is found in Southen Europe and Asia, it is not hardy in the UK.
