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Q – In 2013 I moved house, mid-summer, and took about ten roses with me.Ìý The colours were a beautiful peach colour and upon replanting they turned red!Ìý Will they stay this way?

Christine – You might just have the rootstock and you’ve lost the stock on the top.Ìý I think that by moving them and pruning them you’ve actually just got the rootstock

Matthew – If they’re coming from the rootstock then they will stay that way – they won’t revert to peach.

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Q – For two years we’ve had no success growing carrots, salads, and nasturtiums on our allotment.Ìý They seem to grow rapidly but then just die.Ìý Any suggestions? They are in a raised plastic bath, in there with commercial compost.

Christine – If you are just using the bath’s plughole for drainage I suspect they’ve got soggy bottoms!

Matthew – It would be an idea to put a layer of grit or shingle at the bottom of the tub to aid drainage.Ìý

Eric – You could try growing blueberry bushes in it

Matthew – Rhubarb or runner beans would also do well

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Q – Which shrubs would you recommend for a newly dug border? It is approx. 18 inches (45cm) wide and 10ft (3m) long.Ìý It faces west and has a 5ft (1.5m) fence at the back.Ìý Previously, there has been a mock orange, lilac, and camellia for 35 years which are in the process of being removed.

Pippa – If it’s free-draining I’d go for trained wall shrubs.Ìý Something Cytisus batanderii (Pineapple Broom) could do well.Ìý Has a pineapple aroma and is gorgeous.

Christine – Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’ – it’s a small shrub that will only get up to about 4ft (1.2m) high and spread to around 5ft (1.5m).Ìý

Matthew – I agree with the wall-trained shrub idea too.Ìý One of my favourites is Itea ilicifolia.Ìý It looks like it’s cascading down the wall; very graceful.

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Q – I’m about to move into a house with a tiny garden but a big (20ft/6m) sandstone wall that faces south west.Ìý Do you think I could grow apricots?

Christine – Yes! You need to take out a decent hole, fork it over, and then leave it for two weeks to make sure it doesn’t fill up with water – because you need to ensure good drainage.Ìý Then make sure you’ve got a good covering of soil – about 18inches (45cm) – and compost.Ìý New varieties like Tomcot will do very well there.

Pippa – I’ve had Flavourcot and it’s delicious and fruits quite young too

Matthew – If it’s 20ft (6m) high I’d get a fig in there and maybe a kiwi too.Ìý You’ll get so much radiated heat from that – try and see what you can get away with!

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Q – How do I improve the condition of our lawns where turf has been laid onto rotavated ground which has not been smoothed and rollered?Ìý It’s a new house on previous farmland – weed and feed only provides patchy results.

Matthew – Have you tried digging at all?Ìý You might have builders’ rubble under there.Ìý The turf that’s in contact with rubble will get less nutrition and will drain differently to the rest.Ìý The only way to tackle it is to dig it up, remove a layer of 200-300ml, and then put lots of fresh soil back on top.

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Q – Liverpool soil is very sandy – what do you think about the ‘no dig’ method of gardening?

Christine – the most difficult thing is getting enough organic matter down.Ìý You really need a good 3inch (8-10cm) layer and that can be very expensive.Ìý

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Q – In an area 6m x 2m (20ft x 6.5ft), heavily populated by bluebells, am I trying to achieve the impossible by encouraging other plants to grow?Ìý English bluebells that are about 18inches (45cm) deep.Ìý A pine tree shelters the plot.

Pippa – I doubt it’s the bluebells – more likely the pine’s roots and dropped needles that are hindering other plants.

Matthew – I agree.Ìý The pine will also be drying the soil out a lot.Ìý

Eric – I’d suggest White Foxglove

Matthew – That’d be fine because they’re shade tolerant and will withstand dry soils.Ìý But I would improve the soil and the watering.

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Q – I have a medium-sized front garden – about 30ft (9m) x 40ft (12m) – and I would love to plant a beautiful Ghost Silver Birch.Ìý Would I need to worry about the height of it?

Matthew – Best not to pollard them because you immediately spoil the form of them.Ìý I wouldn’t worry about birches because they have open canopies and small leaves so you don’t get too much shade from them, even at full height.Ìý Go for a multi-stem – Jacquemontii is the most common but you could try Betula nigra, or albosinensis fascination, but I wouldn’t worry about pollarding them.