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fallen leaves. When pruning, cut out any stems with blackspot on. In late-winter, spread a thick layer of mulch around the base of the affected plant to prevent rain splashing soil-borne spores on to new spring growth. Grow rose varieties

that are often found when plants are grown near or against a wall.Leaves and buds on roses, possibly even stems and thorns, are covered by a dusting of white powder.Prune out and bin (don't compost) infected leaves or stems. When buying roses, choose varieties

The fungus Rhytisma acerinum overwinters on fallen acer leaves, then infects the new spring foliage. The first signs are yellow leaf spots that turn into large shiny black blotches up to 1.5cm across. Severe cases can mean the leaves drop early, but the health of the tree won't s...

Rust fungus is the curse of hollyhocks. The undersides of the leaves are often peppered with bright yellow or orange-red rust spots with corresponding beige-yellow splodges on the upper surface. Eventually, it affects the whole plant, with leaves starting to fall away from the ba...

Sometimes shoots appear on previously plain-leaved plants with attractive variegations, and these can then be propagated by nurserymen to make a new plant. But the new variegated plant might try to revert to all-green foliage because the mutation isn't stable. If left, this all-g...

This fungal problem results in rounded spots on the leaves. Although it's unsightly, leaf spot is only a significant problem on poorly growing or unhealthy plants, which might end up dropping a substantial number of leaves.A fungal attack causes an outbreak of spots on the leaves...

Apple and pear scab is most prevalent in mild, damp seasons. The fungus overwinters on fallen leaves in the form of spores, which can be splashed by rain or carried in the wind to infect newly emerged shoots in spring. Overwintering can also occur on infected stems and branches. ...

Clematis wilt is caused by a fungus that enters the plant through a wound made by an insect or an abrasion, such as rubbing from a plant tie. It's spread by water splash, and blocks the uptake of water in the stems, causing instant collapse. Infected foliage must be disposed of i...

This weekend, I have been mostly cutting back catmint. Having spent much of last week at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, I returned home on Thursday (feeling somewhat jaded), just in time for temperatures below 10ºC and battering rains. The catmint, and various other plants, had bee...

Learn how to recognise and remove dead wood from garden trees, in Chris Beardshaw's video demonstration.summerMore advice on growing treesPlanting a bare-root treePlanting a fig treeTraining a nectarine tree against a fencePlanting a small treeBrowse a selection of deciduous tree...