Ask Gerry

I have grass growing up through my heather. The heathers were planted several years ago and we used a black membrane to stop weeds. However the grass is shooting up through it and when it try to pull the grass it breaks and I am unable to get the roots. Do I need to dig it out and start again?

This old church has pervasive ivy growing on it. We have attempted to sever the roots at the base but the ivy seems to be rooted behind the stones. We believe that if we do not restore this building now it will be beyond saving. How can we get rid of the ivy without damaging the building further?

Part of our garden in being overrun by Russian Vine which is coming from a neighbour's garden. Our bamboos are being strangled and the vine is scrambling through the tree canopy. No sooner do we take it back to the boundary than it returns. Our neighbour invited us to chop it back on his side but it is rooted in an impassable thorny thicket. I don't like using chemicals but I'm desperate! Any ideas?

I planted a Magnolia Tree in Spring 2009. It went in in blossom and blossomed 2010 & 2011. In 2012 & this year it only produced two or three blossoms. The tree appears to be extremely healthy however, I have under-planted it with spring bulbs and sweet William for the summer. Is this the problem? Do I need to remove them?

I planted 2 rows of hawthorn shrubs last year on hillside entrance laneway. They are 2 feet high now but weeding is very labour intensive . Row length is 100ft. I'm advised to place pearmeabile plastic sheeting along rows to suppress weeds. They say rainwater will get through but I'm worried because of medium gradient of hillside. I'm concerned that plant will be starved of rainwater. Can you please advise?

How do I eradicate brambles that are growing through a privet hedge without killing the hedge?

I took down wild Ivy which was growing on and around my shed it is very hard to get at the roots could you suggest how to control it or destroy it.