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I have bamboo (Phyllostachys Nigra), which is growing well (very healthy green lea ves) but its stems are very spindly so when it rains, it ends up laying prostrate on the border and onto the lawn. Ive ended up staking it to keep it upright. If I

before I prune them? That sounds like a Herculean task!   I would be worried about wind-rock - you can get some powerful wind-eddies around walls - what about staking them? I have considered tying them temporarily to wall ties or posts, will giving them a

.  They took two seasons to flower well and needed staking, but only lasted about 5 years although that may be down to them not liking my clay soil much, or perhaps not getting enough sun (I planted them by an East-facing hedge, so they only got full sun

My kerria japonica has put out several news shoots about six foot tall,but they've all flopped and leaning forward. Should I chop them down and tell the plant to try harder, or stake them upright? Does reducing the plant by half after flowing

Our potatoes have been growing in a potato sack since mid-April. The plants themselves are getting really big (we've even had to tie some to a stake to hold the plants up). When do you reckon would be a good time to start harvesting? Not sure what

The fungal spores that cause rust are spread on the wind, and they can survive over winter on the soil surface, on fallen debris and even objects such as fences and stakes. The symptoms spread in early summer from patches of orange on the stems

. I now need to earth up again and stake each plant to help it survive the autumnal winds that pummel our hilly site. I don't think canes are going to withstand the onslaught, especially as the plants are so big, but, like most allotmenteers, I've got

be shaded in summer but not too sheltered from the rain.Weed-smothering membraneChicken wireFour tree stakesHammerRubber malletWire or twineautumnan hourCut a piece of weed-smothering membrane to about 1m², allowing a little extra at the edges to tuck around

that's a good sign that roots are forming. The cuttings should grow vertically with perhaps a bit of support from a stake although there is likely to be some side growth. Select a strong side branch and prune away the others cleanly with no snags

, they do not need a lot of maintenance and are evergreen, mind do not seem to mind the wind and they would not need staking. You could inter plant them with hebes, sedums, rosemary, cistus rose. grasses, euphorbias. What is your soil like? Hi kate, my soil