Ask Gerry

I have just planted two Cotoneaster hybrid Pendula trees, with the high winds at the moment I need to support them, can you suggest a good support please, was thinking of an upright timber support with a rubber type hold between it and the tree, I need to make sure I do not damage the tree, is there a particular material that should be used when attaching to supports.

I bought a potted weeping cherry tree in a garden centre and when i was putting it into the car i accidently ripped off one of the branches. its left some damage to the bark of the tree. will the tree be ok and is there anything i should do?

The old oak tree was cut down over 3 years ago. I have drilled lots of little holes in it, filled them with the appropiate tree stump decayer chemical every autumn and covered to no avail. It is still as solid as the day it was first cut.I do not want to have to go to expense of stump grinder, or trying to burn it. I would be very grateful for any useful tips or advice you could give me to solve this problem.

I have planted about six hydrangea plants approx two years ago and none of them are flowering. They are all doing well with leaves and growing but wont flower.

Would you please give me instructions for growing a willow arch - from scratch?

Our ivy leaves have large brown patches, holes in the leaves and look like they are being eaten or withering at the edges. I would really like to know what the problem is please?

We have a number of yew trees of different ages in need of shaping and pruning. Can this be done without damaging the trees? When is the best time to do this?are there any particular problems in pruning older trees? What is the natural lifespan of a yew tree?

A new crab apple tree. How far do I prune back.?

I planted 5 ft leggy copper beech for retaining hedge last March (late) and then cut back in mid/late july as the plants seemed to flourish. I have mypex down and bark mulch on top. Any risk the frost will kill them. Some neighbours suggested I should not have cut back in year 1

Is there a product that will eradicate roots that enter water drains, as opposed to sewer drains. I have a listed willow tree in my garden and its roots sometimes clog up the drains. I was wondering if there is a product that will help with this problem.

We have a "Jacquemontii" planted approx. 16 foot from the back of our house. It is planted in a raised bed 4 foot from a boundary wall. The raised brick bed (6 inches in height) is underpinned by a small retaining wall ( 3 inches in height) which has been cracked by one of the tree's roots (8 inches below ground surface). This root is 3 inches in diameter and since it has split the wall it is lifting it up off the ground.1. Can I sever this root to stop it doing more damage? 2. If so will it kill the tree? 3. Is this type of tree too near the house and likely to do more damage?

about 3 months ago i started peeling the dirty bark off the whitebarked birch. i peeled too deeply and was left with what is now a cracked brown stem.i've often peeled the bark before but never so deeply and to this day i dont know why i din't stop when i saw i was going too deep. fingers crossed it will revert to a nice white stem and no damage will be donebut can i do anything about it to help it become white again? or will it ever become white again

Two weeks ago I burned a pampas grass (stupidly) and set fire to a thirty year old golden cypress. One section of the tree is now charred to the top but the remaining four fifths seems to be unaffected so far. Will the tree survive the trauma?

I've got another question about my two acers, having looked more closely I've realised they've both got grafting marks, how will this effect their growth/eventual size? And also why do people graft them?

Is it a good idea to let a closely clipped beech tree (3 metres high, dome shaped) grow into a tree now and forget about closely clipping it?