GARDEN GURU
I would normally hardprune
Q my climbing roses in late winter, but they are still in flower due to the mild weather. Should I proceed?
Hannah Tobin
Yes. Remove dead, diseased A or dying branches, then tie in new shoots to fill gaps in supports. Trim back sideshoots that bore flowers by two-thirds, before cutting out any old branches if the plant is heavily congested.
I used to hang up fat balls Q for birds, but found that crumbs dropped to the ground and attracted rats. What feeders could I use that would eliminate this problem?
Evelyn Gottlieb
Garden birds can be messy A eaters, so hanging feeders fitted with a seed catcher tray are a good choice. Prevent a build-up of spilt seeds and their casings by clearing trays daily. A hanging bird-feeder with seed catcher tray costs £15.99 from notonthehighstreet.com.
My indoor azalea has
Q flowered well but is now looking a bit tired. What can
I do to perk it up?
Jill Marsh
Move the plant into a slightly A
larger container using ericaceous compost. Ensure compost remains consistently moist at all times and spritz foliage once a week with a handheld spray filled with water. When new growth appears in spring, give it a half-strength dose of Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron
Liquid Plant Food.
Gardens
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2022-01-23T08:00:00.0000000Z
2022-01-23T08:00:00.0000000Z
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