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Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

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Q – A couple of years ago I bought this ornamental grass - it had beautiful seed-heads on it, but I haven’t really seen any since. What am I doing wrong?

(2 minutes 15 seconds)Ìý

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Pippa -

Pennisetum

Miscanthus

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Bunny -

Luzula

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Q – I have a mistletoe problem. The birds are obviously enjoying the berries from a nearby hawthorn tree but they are coming to my Bramley as a rubbing post.Ìý I’m getting little plants growing alone, then in patches of ten or more.Ìý Last year I had twelve, this year I stopped counting at fifty.Ìý How can I get rid of my little mistletoe plants?

(5 minutes 20 seconds)Ìý

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Q – We had new turf put down in our garden in September 2019 and we now have several large patches of hundreds of small mushrooms or toadstools.Ìý What is the best way to get rid of them?

(9 minutes 0 seconds)Ìý

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Q – We have a laurel and dogwood but both are far too big.Ìý How extreme can you prune them, and would a chainsaw be a good weapon of choice?Ìý

(11 minutes 40 seconds)Ìý

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Feature – In 2008, one special tree was planted in Flamstead, Bedfordshire.Ìý On the surface the plane tree seems normal, but it has an inter-galactic pedigree that is far from down-to-earth.ÌýÌý Matt Biggs visited the tree and its owner.

(15 minutes 10 seconds)Ìý

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American Sycamore

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Q – We have a cooking apple tree which we pruned quite hard around 3 years ago. Since then, many thin shoots have grown but no fruit.Ìý Nearby we have a smaller eating apple tree which has done very well since we pruned the larger tree.Ìý What have we done wrong to the cooking apple tree?ÌýÌý

(23 minutes 50 seconds)Ìý

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Q – We hear a lot about the benefits of companion planting, but we hear less about combinations that should not be planted together such as onions and beans because they are said to impede each other’s growth, and fennel is said to have few friends.Ìý Can the panel please shed some light on these combinations?

(26 minutes 37 seconds)Ìý

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Q – I’m trying to make my borders more drought tolerant.Ìý I’d like to apply a thick mulch to the very chalky soil, but don’t have enough home made compost.Ìý What do you suggest I buy?Ìý

(30 minutes 55 seconds)Ìý

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Q – What would you recommend for underplanting a rose bed that’s currently bare, and, apart from it looking a lot better, are there any practical benefits for doing so?

(36 minutes 00 seconds)Ìý

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Bunny –

Salvia microphylla 'Cerro Potosí'

Stachys

Nepeta ‘Midsummer Beauty’

Alliums

Tulips

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Q I have a tin of plant labels that I call my ‘Casualties’ – plants that have not survived my shady, frost pocket, wet in winter garden at the back of the Downs.Ìý Can the panel suggest pretty plants that won’t end up in my ‘Casualty’ tin?

(37 minutes 35 seconds)Ìý

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Bob –

Pinks - Mrs Sinkins

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Bunny –

Rose Jacqueline du Pré

Agapanthus

Ferns

Pulmonaria, Soldiers and Sailors

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