QUESTION
    We have just been given local council approval to trim several protected beech trees. I want to keep the chippings and use them on my borders Question: How long do I have to keep them in canvas bags of composting before spreading them on my borders?
Regards, Peter

ANSWER
    If your beech trimmings have been put through a shredder they will be ready for spring, if not it could take some considerable time for the branches to rot down.

QUESTION
    When is the best time to transplant a mimosa tree, fall or spring? Do you wait for the leaves to fall before transplanting?
Thank you for your help.

ANSWER
    Now is the perfect time to transplant your tree, try to dig up with as many roots as possible. Some well rotted cow manure or similar in the bottom of the planting hole would also be of benefit.

QUESTION
    I have small areas in my yard that I would like to clean up, plant bulbs and most of all transplant hydrangeas into it.

My question: Is this the right time to do it, or wait 'til springtime.
Thank You

ANSWER
    Now is the perfect time to transplant your hydrangeas, try to dig up with as many roots as possible. Some well rotted cow manure or similar in the bottom of the planting hole would also be of benefit.

QUESTION
    I have some vines (trumpet) that I want to put against a wall. Do I put the trellis in front of or behind the base of the plant?

ANSWER
    Your plants are best planted away from the wall. Too close to the wall and they will be short of good soil. The only reason for not planting in front of the trellis is if you have children or dogs, which might trample down the plants.

QUESTION
    Hello,
I would like to ask a question, which is; How do I rid my grass of unwanted Fungi without harming the grass? I thank you in the hope of a reply.

ANSWER
    Toadstools or fairy rings may appear in lawns in autumn, especially in wet weather. There are several species of soil-inhabiting fungi that might be responsible. Or there could be rotting wood in the subsoil. The mycelium responsible for the toadstools could be living on the wood and will vanish in time.

There are no chemical remedies available to the amateur. As the fungi appear, rake up and carefully dispose of the toadstools this helps reduce new infections elsewhere.

QUESTION
    My daughter bought some pretty daffodil and narcissus bulbs, but not knowing anything about gardening she also bought compost, which the packet tells her, is 'lime-hating'. Now she is worried that it will affect the bulbs.

I suggested she mixed some compost with garden soil (not sure what it is - it's in North London, but that won't be much help, I think - perhaps clay?) and sand, but we would really like to find out how not to kill the bulbs. She has no spare cash for buying more and the garden is just a patch of brown earth.

She is quite depressed about finances and would like a little show of colour in the spring. Unfortunately all her spare cash - and mine - is going on wood and plasterboard.
Can you give advice to save the day, Please?

ANSWER
    Lime hating compost is for heathers, azaleas, camellias, etc. If growing the daffodils in pots, the compost your daughter has purchased will make little difference to the bulbs this year. Watering with tap water, which contains lime, will add a slight amount of alkalinity to the compost.

If she intends to keep the bulbs in the pots for longer than a season, it would be best to add a small amount of lime in the spring after flowering. Lime can be purchased in small amounts at garden outlets or DIY builders merchants. If planting in the open ground there is no need to worry.

QUESTION
    Good evening I have something in my back garden that keeps digging holes all over the lawn, its not moles as there are no hills left, the holds go down fairly deep and more and more are appearing daily We did wondered if it could be squirrels coming to unearth their stash of food I would be grateful for your comments and maybe some solutions to the problem
Many thanks, Carole and Graham

ANSWER
    Your problem is most likely foxes digging out moth caterpillars, if this is so not much you can do about it. Some cold frosty weather will drive the caterpillars lower in the soil and solve the problem.

QUESTION
    Hello, I've just moved to the Oregon coast, which is wonderfully mild-weathered with LOTS of rain. We have an messy neighbor along about a 200 foot property line and we're looking to plant a fast-growing evergreen hedge that will get at least 6-8 feet tall or even as tall as 20 feet.

We were hoping for hydrangea but discovered they're deciduous. Hawthorne sounds lovely too, but same problem, bare in winter. The soil around here is wonderful. We may have some trouble with deer nibbling but haven't seen any yet.

We are considering maybe some sort of Laurel (English or?) and we've also considered something called Corynabutislon Vitifolium, and one called Ramnus Alaternus. Or anything else you may suggest.

We are not fond of Italian cypress and would like a softer look. Blooms or berries would be a plus; especially if they're not something a deer would love to eat. I very much appreciate your assistance.
Kris in zone 5, USA

ANSWER
    Evergreen plants for your hedges.

Aucuba japonica; variegated form of laurel, some berries in winter. 10 ft

Berberis Stenophylla, Thorny with gold flowers early spring, some berries during winter. 8 to 10 ft. Forms an impenetrable barrier.

Cotoneaster franchetii sternianus; White flowers coral berries fall and winter. 8 ft.

Pyracantha firethorn; White flowers spring, thorny, various colored berries according to variety. 10 ft.

There are many varieties of holly, some variegated, some with spines; some will grow to great heights.
Valecroft.

QUESTION
    I have scale on several philodendrons. Any suggestions how to remove them other than rubbing alcohol?
Jean

ANSWER
    There are sprays available to control scale; brand names vary from country to country so I cannot name a specific product. Ask at your local garden centre or other garden outlet.

QUESTION
    HI
I am moving house in January and want to take my favourite bamboo plant with me. It has grown over the past five years to about seven feet by four feet and I was looking for advice on how to lift or divide it. Please help I don't want to leave it behind,
thanks, Alistair

ANSWER
    A plant of the size you describe will be very heavy to transplant, so best to move as big a part as you can lift. A transplant is more likely to succeed if you provide, rhizomes with healthy buds, plenty of roots and culms with leaves.

You can dig up and transplant in January, but do not do the job when the ground is frozen. The shoots will most likely die after transplanting, but not too worry. Dig up the shoot and rhizome carefully, don't pull it up, you must not rip off the roots, they are vital too the plant.

Bamboo increases in size by its rhizomes, so make sure your transplant has plenty of rhizomes and roots. A handsaw or an electric reciprocating saw will be useful for dividing the root if they are particularly tough.

QUESTION
    We live in Australia. We cut down a Camphor Loral tree that was mulched up. Can the fine mulch be used to work into tough soil to air it? Can you plant anything in soil, which contains the mulch? Someone said if you put it on the grass it would kill everything.

ANSWER
    The basic idea of a mulch is to cover the ground and kill all the weeds by depriving them of light and oxygen. So a mulch of wood chippings will kill grass. If you wish to improve your soil you must first compost i.e. rot down the chippings. If you mix them into the soil in their present state you will just dry out the soil.
Valecroft



November     Autumn, Fall, turns to winter ------------

If your lawn is in a sad state of repair, now is the time to repair with turf, at this time of year when turf is laid it stays moist and the grass roots can grow into the underlying soil. Turf can be laid at any time of year, but in summer the turf can dry out and then the grass dies off in patches, as often seen on new housing estates.

When laying turf always prepare your ground in advance, then when the turf arrives it can be laid immediately. Laying turf is not the easiest of jobs and if a large job is contemplated employing a professional should not be ruled out. If you do wish to do it yourself, there are many exellent publications available, dealing with the subject in greater depth.

Your ornamental trees and bushes and fruit trees, should be checked over at this time of year for broken branches and other damage. Any damaged limbs should be removed; this prevents further damage when the winter winds do blow. Use a sharp pruning saw.

Also any ties holding the tree to the stake, should be adjusted while you can see them. As the tree grows, the ties can constrict the growth and cause problems if not slackened off slightly on yearly intervals.

In the vegetable area, broad beans can be planted now for an early crop. If you have grown carrots and parsnips, they can be lifted and stored now. But with global warming and more hardy strains of the two crops, most growers leave the crop in the ground and harvest as needed.