Postbag: Raby Castle

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – Is it worth using arborist mulch in the garden? (02’53”)

Q – What shrubs or small trees could I plant in my 75-meter herbaceous border, that would give height and interest? (07’17”) 

Anne Swithinbank –

Cotinus, smoke bush

Matthew Wilson –

Cotinus coggygria 'Young Lady, smoke tree 'Young Lady'

Topiary

Tim Marshall –

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy', eastern redbud 'Forest Pansy'

Broussonetia papyrifera, paper mulberry

Edgeworthia chrysantha, paperbush

Q – What can I add to help lighten the clay soil? I’ve already used poultry, topsoil and horticultural gravel. (10’21”)

Q – Please could you advise on how to maintain large camellias? (12’52”)

Q – My Wisteria has barely flowered this year – what’s gone wrong? (16’13”)

Q –There are suckers growing on my dying Sorbus vilmorinii tree, should I prune them or let them grow from what's left of the tree? (19’33”)

Q – The development we live in has an attenuation pond which is now being overrun with iris and bulrushes, should we get rid of them, or should we leave them to grow?(21’03”)

Feature – The panel discuss the benefits of encouraging birds in the garden to tackle box blight and other garden pests.

Matthew Wilson –

Osmanthus

Ilex crenata, japanese holly

Taxus, yew

Q – What variety of Rhubarb thrives in damp conditions? and what other edibles could I plant in these conditions? (30’10”)

Bunny Guinness –

Nasturtium officinale, common watercress

Q – Can you tell me what has been destroying my herbs? And how do I get rid of it? (32’15”)

Q – What peat free growing media could I use to reduce my use of Perlite and vermiculite? (35’43”)

Q – Can I use non-alcoholic lager in beer traps? (39’12”)