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Q – How can I get rid of Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica)?

Matt – For spraying it’s better to crush the leaves then spray with a systemic herbicide – your best bet is to keep weakening them before they have a chance to photosynthesise.

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Q – How do I make a mini Japanese Garden? What plants do you recommend to accompany small Acers?Ìý

James – Cornwall is a very good climate for Japanese Gardens – moss on trees, unusual shapes from the effects of wind and salt air, boulders. When buying online, check the size of the pots because pictures can be deceiving

Matt – I would stick with the Acers – less is more, maybe add some moss, small broken twigs, rocks and stones.

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Q – Last year my daughter’s greenhouse tomatoes and potatoes grew very well, now they have keeled over and gone mouldy. What has happened?

James – Black and brown patches just after they are beginning to ripen can only mean blight (late blight). They are more at risk if grown outside – best thing to do is choose a blight-resistant variety, such as ‘Crimson Crush’ – delicious and blight resistant.

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Q – I’ve got an Evergreen Azalea which normally flowers from the end of April to early June but it began flowering at Christmas 2015 and is still in full bloom – what TLC can I apply to help the plant recover, when will it flower again?ÌýÌý

Anne – I don’t think you need to worry too much; it has been tricked by the mild winter. That may be its flowering over for the year, it should flower again next year as normal depending on our weather conditions. You can feed it with ericaceous plant food.

Matt – the only cause for concern could be that sometimes plants flower out of season or for a particularly long time before they finally die – but you should be able to tell from the plant’s overall condition.

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Q – I’m thinking of making a low, grandchild-friendly maze in the garden, could it be done with Lavender or is there something else you could recommend?

James – Yes, Lavender is perfect! If you want it to be low, quick-growing and adaptable to our climate and great for wildlife, flowers and scent. Also – Chilean Guava – Identical to Box in many ways but Box blight-resistant, small scented flowers and delicious small fruit. ÌýÌý

Anne – There’s an oriental privet which is much finer than the usual privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium or Ligustrum delavayi), it’s worth looking at privets because they can be really nice low, easily-clipped evergreen hedges.

Matt - Ilex crenata the Japanese Holly (non-prickly) – used a lot as a substitute for Box hedge. And Lonicera nitida. You could mow the grass to create a pattern on your lawn.

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Q – I recently dug out a north-facing bank (part shaded by Beech trees) and it was full of nettles and brambles. I hope I have removed all the brambles, what should I plant to stop the weeds returning? And what are the chances that the bramble will come back if I didn’t remove it all?Ìý

Matt – I would plant several different Ivy over it to make a patchwork - like Vinca Minor and Jasminum nudiflorum. Planting climbers as ground covers will work well.

Anne – Yes, because of the potential problem with brambles, you should plant transient plants for now. I’d be sewing Foxgloves, Honesty (biennials) and Ferns – from garden centres can be quite cheap by the tray.Ìý

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Q – We are creating a garden from paddock land, views to the west and ‘leggy’ Hawthorn trees on the boundary – must we lose the open aspect to plant protection for a garden of shrubs, herbaceous plants and vegetables? What will survive strong westerly winds, be beautiful and grow fairly quickly?

Anne – If you are going to landscape the paddock you can create shelter within it by planting quick growing trees and shrubs – by creating ‘rooms’ you will be creating shelter. Design the plot first and find where you will need sightlines – use hedges and ‘shelter belt’ trees to protect the new plants.

Matt – To create interest and surprise throughout the garden I would recommend Griselinia littoralis or some of the Escallonias or even more Hawthorne hedging.

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Q – I planted a lot of Hyacinths and they all turned to mush in the ground. (They were indoors for some time) What am I doing wrong?

Anne – Lack of ventilation, warm and muggy conditions will harm them. The cooler you can keep them – like a cool porch – the better and the longer they are going to last.Ìý ÌýÌý

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Q – I have a problem with pigeons, who poo all over the steps; and mice, who eat all the tulip bulbs. How do I deter them?

Matt – Roses over the archway should stop the pigeons from being able to perch. Dip the tulip bulbs in liquid seaweed – anything that smells strongly should deter them.

Anne – Small, pale plastic spikes might stop them perching.

James – Small horticultural wire across the arch held just above by a few nails. Plant hormone Methyl jasmonate (Jasmine scented), can be used as a bird deterrent. Piperine found in black pepper and Capsaicin which is found in chili – black pepper and chili flakes are cheap to buy and can be sprinkled in when planting.Ìý