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As spring finally springs and the soil warms up, we should address a very common hosta problem. You may not, I suppose, be aware that there is any sort of problem, but that may be because you are either very lucky, or that you have never grown them

already completed the operation.Under the mulch I like to scatter something with a bit more ooomph: mulch is very good for the soil but the plants could do with some sort of fertiliser as well. I usually use blood, fish and bone which gives a good balanced

in a rented flat in Twickenham) as it is pretty elementary that soil needs nourishment and manure is a good option. This week a huge pile of the stuff arrived. Brown, crumbly and pleasantly pungent it sat on my drive, lightly steaming and awaiting

my previous blog and this is their reply:Dear Mr Alexander-SinclairMany thanks for your enquiry. For some years we have noticed an unusual number of wisteria dying, and indeed have suffered casualties amongst the Wisley wisteria. There are probably

and barrowing loads of muck all over the place. For a while everything will be empty and brown but beneath the soil roots will be stretching, bulbs will be shooting, worms will be worming and everything will be getting ready to sprout.But, for those of you

I am more often asked how to keep cats off gardens. The scenario is this: Neighbouring cats slouch through fence and leave interesting surprises just below soil level. The innocent gardener comes into close contact with said deposit and swears loudly

sprouting.It was not that long ago that farmers burnt the stubble from their fields as it was a convenient way to get rid of excess straw and the ash added goodness to the soil. The secret is always not to allow the fire to last too long or get too hot

easily push their way through even the heaviest soils. They get themselves in amongst the roots of other plants - the solution then is to dig up the whole plant and wash all the soil off until you can clearly see which roots are good and which are evil

of Worms outlined the contribution made by worms to the decomposition of vegetable matter (fallen leaves, dead plant material etc) and thus to the fertility of the soil.Darwin kept worms in tanks in his study and spent many hours observing their behavior

heathers are Calluna vulgaris and Erica cinerea. These, and many other varieties need an acid soil, although many of their relations (notably E. carnea and E. x darleyensis) will grow in any half-decent garden soil. The RHS has good heather collections