Dear Helen Many thanks for list of plants I have ordered several of them. Regards

Crocus Helpdesk

Hello Emma, There are a few plants that will thrive in boggy soil - here are some of the best:- Gunnera manicata http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/gunnera-manicata-/classid.2880/ Osmunda regalis http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/ferns/classid.1834/ Carex elata Aurea http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/grasses/carex-elata-aurea/classid.77799/ Ligularia http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.ligularia/ Astilbe Fanal http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/astilbe-fanal-%C3%97-arendsii/classid.2579/ Zantedeschia http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.zantedeschia/ Sambucus http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.sambucus/ Rodgersia http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.rodgersia/ Hostas http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.hosta/ I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

emma freeman

Hello Pamela, You can do the herbaceous perennials anytime between now and spring, but the Caryopteris and Lavenders should be tackled in spring. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

Crocus Helpdesk

Hi Helen, Thank you for your helpful information. The snow made the decision for me, it has lain for 4 weeks now. Kind Regards Pamela

Pamela Spiers

Dear Crocus Customer Helpdesk, Could you give me some further advice please. I have identified what I think is Couch Grass amongst a border with lots of other plants. Should I try to get rid of it now and can I isolate it without damaging other precious plants? I can't lift out all the other plants. I am also planning to make changes to the same border, to limit the number of plants for next Spring. I want to move some now and wonder if it is safe to do that now? I Also, I would like to plant one more fruit tree in what is a small garden in Scotland. I have had problems during two growing seasons with a James Grieve Apple Tree. I believe the apples have scab. I would like to know what other small Apple or Pear Trees would suit the climate here. I would be really grateful for advice on all these matters. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind Regards Pamela

Crocus Helpdesk

Hello Pamela, There are loads of plants that would be suitable, here are some of my favorites Bergenia http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.bergenia/ Pachysandra terminalis http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/prices-that-have-been-pruned/pachysandra-terminalis-/classid.3288/ Hosta http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.hosta/ Ferns http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/ferns/plcid.309/ Liriope muscari http://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.liriope/ I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

Pamela Spiers

Hello Pamela, If the surrounding plants are very close to the tree, then it may be better to tackle this in the autumn when the plants are dormant and they can be temporarily lifted and moved. Failing that,the only way to tackle it is carefully, cutting it back in manageable chunks bit by bit. Once you get the branches and most of the stem down, then you may want to grind out the stump (you can hire a stump grinder), but this is a hefty bit of kit that will damage the surrounding plants unless they are moved. If you decide to keep the stump, then I would treat the fresh cut with a strong herbicide to make sure it is killed off. I hope this helps, Helen

Crocus Helpdesk

Hello Pamela, There is an excellent page on the RHS website about how to deal with Couch Grass. As for moving plants, autumn or early spring are the best times to do all this,so wait until the plants have become dormant and then you can start. Just make sure you have the new planting hole ready for them to go straight into - with a sprinkling of bonemeal, as this will help them get settled back in. I'm afraid there are no apples that are going to be better suited to your climate in Scotland as they all need the same conditions. You could also consider Cherries, Pears and Plums as these should be fine in Scotland, but make sure you choose a self fertile variety if you are only planting one. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

Pamela Spiers

Dear Helen, I also have a Cherry Tree. I believe it is of the Stella variety, which has been in the ground for about 4 years. I need to take it out as it is growing far too large for my small garden. Could you please give me advice on how to cut the tree down, without doing damage to surrounding plants. I plan to replace the Cherry Tree with a small, bush variety of Pear, suitable for our climate, probably a Conference Pear. I look forward to your advice on removal of the Cherry Tree. Many thanks Pamela

Crocus Helpdesk

Hello Hazel, The best way to combat a boggy garden really depends on if the garden is waterlogged all year or not. If it is then the main way to sort this out is to put in an underground land drain. However, this can be expensive and you will probably need a contractor in to help you. A less drastic measure if it isn't too bad is to make a soak away at the lowest part of your garden - this is a big hole filled with rubble and then covered over with a membrane though which the water can drain and finally re-turfed or plant over the top. The excess water can then drain away into this hollow away from the rest of the garden. If the bogginess is more isolated, digging in sharp grit and well rotted manure will help break up the soil and improve the drainage. It is also worth choosing plants that will happy in the kind of soil that you have. Use moisture loving plants that will thrive, like ferns or Hostas. If you want to grow things that won't be happy in your soil you are best off putting them in pots where you can control the environment more easily. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

Crocus Helpdesk

Hello Anna, It really depends on what time of the day the sun hits it. If it is early or late it should be OK, but if it is in the middle of the day when the sun is hottest, then it won't be too happy.

Crocus Helpdesk

Hello Suzanne It certainly was a beautiful garden and it included the following plants.Rodgersia podophylla, Molinia caerulea subsp. caerulea Strahlenquelle, Epimedium grandiflorum, Asarum europaeum, Hosta Devon Green, Paeonia Jan van Leeuwen, Astrantia major subsp. involucrate Shaggy, Selinum wallich, Darmera peltata (the one with the big, rounded leaves), and Hakonechloa macra. I hope this helps Helen Plant Doctor

Crocus Helpdesk

Hostas are herbaceous perennials which die right down in late autumn. Therefore it is normal for them to look 'dead' at this time of the year. Each spring they start to grow again, becoming very lush and leafy quite quickly. With this in mind, I would keep an eye on them, as they should start to show signs of new growth very soon.

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