Ask Gerry

I'm planting up pots for wjnter at the moment. planting tulips in layers to give a longer period of colour in spring, any suggestions for what to plant on top of pots to give colour now and throuh the winter, no great success with cyclamen in the past.

when is the best time to plant tulips? its late september now....

Is there was any way to keep flowers alive during the winter?

I've noticed some damage on the leayes of lupins. What could be the problem, i.e. what pests are common to these flowers?

I planted a bishop of LLandaff last year and a bishop of York this year.The llandaff came back with a vengeance this year. My question is when do I need to seperate the bulbs? Do I wait for them to die off for the year or just stop flowering? Also my bishop of york is quite small as it was only planted this summer so do I leave it? Do I just store the tubers in a plastic bag for the winter and plant in spring?

My bedding dahlias have formed tubers.Is it possible to sow these tubers next April?

Should I deadhead my jasione as the old flowers look very dull? how far down the stem should i cut?

Sunflowers - have sunflowers in a pot and they were flowering but now have closed up. Can you tell me why they might have closed and what to do with them?

You mentioned a flower with "big white blossoms" on Trish Taylor programme this morning (Sep17). I can't listen back on the internet at the moment due to gremlins. Any chance you could tell me what flower you were referring to?? My German husband still can't believe that you guys can plant out that sort of thing already - they would all freeze in the ground over here.

can I save sunflower seeds for sowing next year?

I am getting rid of a flower bed which has alot of Geranium Endressii in it. I was just wondering if I sprayed them with a weed killer would it kill the roots also as there are too many of them to dig up.

I have some hanging. basket plants which I would like to save - Dichondra Silver Falls & Trailing Verbena Lanai Early Scarlet. I think they're perennial in warmer climates but is there anything I can do to safely overwinter them here ?

I planted out my Everlasting Sweet Pea earlier this year. At that time I had very little in my new garden. My Verbena was very small then. Since then I have spotted these sweet pea in other gardens and they seem to be very bushy and strong. I am afraid for my Verbena which gives me great joy and even in the bad summer that we've had has attracted lovely butterflies. Can I move my sweet pea or when should I do that?

I got a gift of this beautiful shrub. It hasn't thrived at all. I started gardening in April of this year. The flowers are beside a beautiful wall of an old walled garden. I am aware that years ago this area had glass houses and in places there may be old foundations. I have cared for and encouraged the shrub but to no avail. My friend has been able to cut hers as cut flowers. I hope you will be able to help me and I would appreciate same.

I sent in a not very good photo of this plant to you and you suggested it might be tritonia; I'm attempting a better shot, as I read that tritonia only flourishes in mild climates and this one has survived two very bad winters! It's about5 inches high. Many thanks for such a great site!