Hello, It is quite normal for evergreen shrubs to lose some of their lower (older) leaves as they put on new growth each year, but if it is quite a significant loss, then I suspect that it does need a feed - a good general purpose one like Vitax Q4 would work well.

Helen

Hello, This is a bit trickier than it sounds as while it can be used as a windbreak in milder coastal areas, it is not fully hardy so will need protection in colder areas. Therefore, I doubt it would be ideal for your exposed garden in Scotland.

Helen

Hello there Unfortunately it is hard to say how far the roots will have spread, as roots will naturally go towards available water and don't spread evenly. Whether the plant will die, this it really depends on how much of the root system is damaged.

Hello, These plants are not suited to very exposed coastal gardens, however if you are set back a little, or have a very sheltered garden, then you may get away with it. Ideally however (as they get pretty big), they should be planted out into the ground where their roots can spread out and grow. Finally, these are shrubby plants, so if you want them to grow flat against a wall, their stems will need to be tied onto support of some kind.

Helen

Hello there A Garrya would be lovely grown against a wall. It will tolerate a clay soil and likes a west facing aspect, but if possible I would grow it in the ground as this is quite a large shrub. Hope this helps.

Hello, These make very handsome wall shrubs, particularly if they are given a little formative pruning. For best results cut way any outward facing stems when you plant it, leaving just one or two stems that will create a permanent framework. These remaining stems can then be tied onto a support - ie. trellis panel or wires. Then as the plant grows, you can pinch out the growing tips of any outward-facing shoots as this will encourage side branching, or remove badly placed branches to their base in early spring. Lanky lateral growth can be trimmed back, again to encourage bushy new growth, which can be tied onto the support as it grows. As for the catkins, they do turn brown as they mature and do remain on the plant until they become almost crispy. At that point they can either crumble entirely, or fall off in one piece.

Helen

Hello there Given the right conditions it should produce tassels, you could always try and give it a push by feeding through the growing season with a high potash feed. You can give it a light trim to remove any dead and straggly branches in April or May. Hope this helps.

Hello there You could try growing it in a really large pot, but it would need to be well watered and fed. Ideally it is better to grow it in the ground, as this large shrub could grow to 4m x 4m eventually. Hope this helps

Hello Terry, If you click on the following link it will take you to all our winter flowering climbers - of which the Jasminum is tougher and more like a shrub. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/climbers/plcid.15/vid.204/ Alternatively, this link will take you to all our winter flowering shrubs. http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/plcid.1/vid.204/ I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

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Hello Dorothy, There are several plants you could consider, including the Ceanothus if your soil is not too heavy. Alternatively any of the following would work well Aucuba http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.aucuba/ Elaeagnus x ebbingei http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/elaeagnus-%C3%97-ebbingei-/classid.3772/ Garrya http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/garrya-elliptica-james-roof/classid.3880/ Pyracantha http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.pyracantha/ I hope this gives you a few ideas. Helen Plant Doctor

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