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Over the years, Gerry has answered more than 5,000 of your gardening questions. His knowledge is based in science and practical experience, and by working on radio and television.
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Hi Gerry, congratulations on a great site. I'm having difficuly sourcing trained apple and pear tees in Ireland - any suggestions? Kind Regards.Brian
I have a new 'woodland' garden, bounded by mature trees but freshly landscaped with paths and planting areas. In the middle, the least shaded area, bounded by wooden roundels is a patch planted with 5 young fruit trees and filled in with meadow grass. The meadow grass, though beautiful in the spring, grew tall and straggly and hid the trees. I am thinking of pulling it out and replanting. Would lavender and roses be possible in such an area? If so, what varieties of roses would do well? Alternative ideas very welcome. Many thanks!
Hi Gerry. When is it suitable to prune apple and plum trees and about how much should you take off them? Thanks Breda.
looking for old variety of apple tree dont know botanical name it was always called lady finger.
Planted two years in unsuitable place. Can I move them now?
hi gerry i have just planted an apple 'Elstar' and pear 'Conference'. There are no other flowering trees or shrubs in my garden yet its a new house ..do i need to plant something to cross-pollinate them?
Gerry,We grow our own fruit -plums, apples and damsuns. We have made delicious rum pot and damsun wine in the past. We are keen to make cider and would like to purchase an apple press. However, we do not know where one can buy these in ireland or are there course available on winemaking. Any information provided would be gratefully recieved. Thanks a million Mary Flood
I have a single Apple Tree "James Grieve" which I planted 3 years ago. This year there is a fair number of large fruit- We have had 2 or 3 windfalls in the past week (1st week Sept). The fruit is very firm to hard and lacks any sense of 'sweetness'- There would appear to be no blemishes on any of the fruit and only small streaks of red.How much longer should we leave the remaining fruit on the tree before harvesting-or if picked does the ripening/sweetening continue or cease ?
Gerry We have purchased a farm on which there are some very old apple trees. Part of the trees are actually rotten in that the branches just crumple when handled. Yet some of the branches are still alive and have produced quite reasonably sized fruit. We just wonder how and when we can cut off all the decayed wood and if there is anything else we could do to revive the trees. Maybe it is a waste of time and you might suggest simply uprooting the trees and planting new ones. Thank you very much.Pern Head
I INHERITED A SITE/GARDEN WITH SOME APPLE TREES UPON IT ,I AM TOLD THAT THEY PROBABLY GREW FROM SEEDS THAT WeRE THROWN OUT ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO . LAST YEAR I PLANTED 2 NEW APPLE TREES ALONGSIDE THE OLD ONES. THERE WAS PLENTY OF FRUIT LAST SEPT/OCT BUT THIS YEAR I HAVE NONE. SHOULD I REMOVE THE OLD TREES AND PLANT ALL NEW YOUNG TREES?
My Bramley tree has grown very "leggy"with long thin branches that bend excessively with fruit. Can I shorten these branches and if so when?
Hi Gerry, I'm just wondering can I do the above,they are Coxs orange ippin and Apple Laxtons superb.Also how near do they need to be planted and when can I expect some fruit?Thank you
Dear Gerry,i planted both Malus 'Cox's orange Pippin' and 'Elstar' May '06. aThey have now produced fruit. They are both approx 2 metres tall 500mm wide. Fruit is about 1.5 inches diameter. Some apples have fallen (I need to support trees better also - weight dragging them sideways). Can you please tell me when the fruits can be picked to eat. I gather they are edible apples.Novice but persistent gardener. Thanks with Best Regards Julia
I inherited two trees when I bought my house 3yrs ago. One is an apple tree. The other one seems to have died! this is recent. I am concerned that the disease could have spread to the apple tree:which now has brown spots on it's leaves. Should i have the dying/dead tree cut down-do I need to do anything else to protect spread of fungus to apple tree? I would like to have at least the trunk of the other tree left as I had a perfect hammock spot.
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