GARDEN GURU

Q I’m planning to buy a tree fern this spring. Could you give me some growing tips?

Sam McNulty

Tree ferns prefer a sheltered A spot in light shade and do best in neutral to slightly acidic soil. The trunk and crown, where fronds emerge, hate drying out, so pour water into the crown regularly and apply liquid seaweed fertiliser to it each month from mid-spring to mid-summer.

Q We moved house last year and inherited a rampant Russian vine that swamps our fence. What’s the best way to get rid of it?

Chrissie Benson

A Russian vine (Fallopia baldschuanica) is a fastgrowing climber that can engulf anything in its path. It’s not easy to eradicate once established, but I suggest starting off by

cutting all stems down to ground level. When new shoots that appear from below ground are about a foot tall, ‘paint’ with Roundup weedkiller gel.

Q Are there any springflowering lilac shrubs that are suitable for a small space? Phoebe Matthews

There are some lilacs that A

are quite compact. Among the best are Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’, a form of Korean lilac with pale pink flowers that grows to just 5ft, and similarsized Syringa ‘Bloomerang

Pink Perfume’. This variety produces a heavy flush of dark pink flowers in late spring, followed by an on-and-off display until autumn.