GARDENING: Q&A

ASK THE EXPERT

MY lawn is in need of attention. Can you give me some tips on how to make it lovely again? - Trevor Black, Guildford, Surrey

START by mowing the lawn and raking up dead grass and debris. Use a garden fork to spike the lawn to help relieve compaction and allow air into the soil. Brush a top dressing (mixture of peat, loam and sand) into the holes. This will encourage stronger grass. Repair bumps and hollows by cutting an H-shape in the lawn over the problem area. Pull back the flaps of turf and remove excess soil or add more as required. Replace the flaps when the area is level.

I WOULD like to grow a small weeping willow as a focal point in my lawn. What do you recommend? - Lisa Crawley, Nelson, Lancs

A SUITABLE weeping willow for a small garden is Salix caprea Kilmarnock or Pendula. They make an umbrella shaped tree with stiffly pendulous branches. Silvery catkins are prominent throughout the winter before turning a fluffy yellow in spring. Its mature height is less that 10ft.

I HAVE ordered some garden chrysanthemums by post. What do I need to do when they arrive? - Paul Green, Dereham, Norfolk

PLANTS that arrive in the post should be unpacked immediately. Pot them up to get them off to a good start and, if you haven't got a greenhouse or cold frame, keep them on a cool windowsill until the danger of frost is past. Plant them in the garden in a sunny spot in soil enriched with organic matter and fertiliser. Space them about 15in apart and protect the plants from slugs and water in dry weather. Use canes to support tall varieties.

IS it essential to have an acid soil to grow heathers? - Sue Lancaster, Andover, Hants

WINTER flowering heathers such as Erica carnea and Erica x darleyensis varieties can tolerate soils up to pH 7.8, so you don't need an acid soil for them.

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