Live webchat with gardening expert Phil McCann, today, 1-2pm

spid

I suspect I am unlike most people on Gransnet in that I'm not much of a gardener. I have a lovely yellow climbing rose in my back garden (don't ask me what make!) which I have never pruned but which flowers magnificently year after year. Am I accidentally doing something right? Or would it be even better if I pruned it?

What!!! You have a rose that flowers every year, doesn't get diseases, you don't prune, is the talk of the town, never causes you heartache or sleepless nights, asks for nothing and gives so much - and you ask me for advice?! Get out of here! All rose queries are heading your way from now on!
And who cares if you don't know it's name - you don't need to know the name of something or someone to know beauty when you see it! And change your name from spid to the accidentalgardener!

abfab

I recently stayed with a friend in Devon who had a daphnis outside her back door and the scent in spring was heavenly. I went straight home and bought one and planted it, whereupon it promptly died. I live in the North East London suburbs. Are the conditions here less suitable than in Devon, or was it me? Should I try again, or admit defeat?

Thank you!

Dear Abfab,
It isn't you and don't give up - daphnes can be tricky but as you know, no other plant is worth this much attention to detail. Here's the detail....
well drained soil is a must; but not one that dries out too quickly; no drought condtions; never allow to get waterlogged; plant in the spring, never in summer or autumn..or winter for that matter; plant in neutral to slightly alkaline soil or compost; plant in an open site; a site that is sunny; mulch with garden compost in spring; don't put the mulch straight up to the stem; once planted don't lift and move; don't prune. There, easy one isn't it! Told you it wasn't your fault! Have fun getting it right and enjoy those flowers - gorgeous!

crosspatch

I am looking for a low-growing (about 18ins) spiky leaved plant to break up the front of a border - variegated if possible. Do you have any suggestions for plants that might fit the bill?

Dear Crosspatch,
Eryngiums sprung immediately to mind. Spiky leaves, silvery grey and sometimes variegated, with a piercing blue flower - quite sensational. They are also tolerant of dry, or wet and are tough customers. They do get to 90cm high but that should fit your border as they aren't a solid mass of foliage and flowers. Has to be a winner!

teamleader

I have a very large ash tree growing at the back of my garden. I am very fond of it (and even if I weren't, it has a tree protection order on it, like all the trees round our way) but it sucks the moisture out of the ground relentlessly. Is there anything I can grow underneath without constant watering or do I have to live with a large expanse of bare earth? Some large-leaved plants would probably be a good idea, if there are any that would thrive.

Trees do that - they look great but can suck the ground dry. The usual suspects lke ivy and periwinkles once you have encouraged them to get a toehold, will thrive and cover large areas quite quickly without any bother. If there is any moisture there, and if you can put leafmould down, try cyclamen. Not the large blousy types but the small flowered ( Cyclamen hederifolium) - I've seen them thrive in such conditions. Or go with the flow and put in a tree seat, a table and a nice glass of wine

firenze

I have always liked the look of espaliered trees, which make me think of walled Tudor gardens in lovely stately homes (possibly quite mistakenly!) Unfortunately I don't have any suitable walls, but recently I've noticed a trend for pleached fruit trees. Is this a realistic option for the amateur gardener? Once you have the basic structure, are the pleached branches difficult to keep in shape or will they do what they're told? And are there any types of tree that are particularly suitable? Many thanks, Phil.

Pleached trees, fruit or otherwise, are quite a sight. Or put another way, trees on stilts are the future! I love them, can't afford to buy them ready trained but I am quite happy, like you are, to have a go. Yes, fruit can be trained into any shape you like. You need to start with young trees to train the branches where you want them to go. Then it's a tying in and pruning exercise until you get the finished article. Except that nothing in gardening is ever finsihed so it's more tying and pruning! Have you thought about a smaller version of large, pleached trees - and something most gardeners will have space for..and that's stepover fruit? These are in effect pleached trees but the horizontal branches are 18 inches above the ground. They are brilliant and a real talking point when used as edging to paths in veg plots ( or anywhere in the garden) As for trees doing what you tell them..that all depends on how you tell them!