蜜芽传媒

Eric Robson hosts the horticultural panel programme from Harrogate.

Produced by Darby Dorras
Assistant producer: Hannah Newton

A Somethin' Else Production for 蜜芽传媒 Radio 4.

This week's questions and answers:

Q. Why are my Sweet Pea plants bushy with few flowers?

A. You should grow them from seed rather than buying the plants. Make sure to water them a lot and that they are in good soil and getting enough sun. If you do buy plants, ensure you separate them when you plant them out. Pick the flowers to stop the plants going to seed.

Q. How can we get rid of chafer grubs to stop the birds ripping up the lawn to find them?

A. You could try covering the lawn with a tarpaulin over night and taking it off in the morning. This brings up the grubs and then birds can eat the exposed ones rather than digging up the lawn. Keep the lawn short. Or, put a positive spin on the experience and think of the birds as scarifying your lawn.

Q. How can I make sure my Orchids flower again?

A. Make sure they are in a position where they have enough light but not too much harsh light. Make sure to water them a little bit every four or five days and give them a little bit of weak feed.

Q. If the panel wanted to encourage pollinating insects into their gardens, would they plant a border of wild flowers, or nectar-rich perennials?

A. Both. A mixture is best. Also remember that bees need a very shallow water source from which to drink. Plant things like Helxine (Mind Your Own Business) that will collect water that bees can drink.

Q. What should I do about the area in my garden made up of stones, pottery shards and some soil? Annuals do okay but most perennials don't.

A. You could import lots of green waste but there are hundreds of herbaceous perennials, such as geraniums, that will love that stony free-draining soil. You could also try growing Verbascum, Knautia Macedonica, Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana' or Arborescens, Thymes, Alliums, Scholtzias and Penniseum Hameln.

Q. My Dahlias have been fantastic! Should I leave them in the ground or lift and store them?

A. Lift them and store them in a cardboard box in a frost-free location like a greenhouse.

Q. I'd like some suggestions for autumn replacements for my summer bedding plants in containers on the patio.

A. Winter-flowering Pansies, Bellus, small Euonymys, Ophiopogon, Arum italicum, Ivy, clipped Box, bulbs, Chervil, Parsely, Watercress and Mint, small Phormium and Cornus. Change the top half of the compost.

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