how do i cope with a helleborus argutifolius

it is 4 ft high and just as wide and is outgrowing it's space

i can't transfer it as i have nowhere for it to go as i have a very small garden

what is the best action

Edna Staines

Hi

Helliborus angustifolius is the new name for H. corsicus. I have this in my garden. You need to cut down to the ground all the old stems that have flowered.

Bazza

Edna Staines

Helliborus angustifolius

Thanks Bazza for your reply, I didn't know about the new name, I will make a note of it.

Your advice is very helpful as I was beginning to despair about what to do with it.

Both red and blackcccurrant bushes had a serious pruning in Autumn 2007 because they were simply geeting too big for their fruit cage. However, they have fruited very poorly this year and I don't know if this was the result of the pruning or just a bad year for currants.

We have been very disappointed at the almost complete absence of a sloe harvest in East Yorkshire this year. Trees that usually provide an excellent crop of good sized fruit have borne nothing this year. 

Can anybody shed light on these two matters please. 

We have recently moved house and have a lovely arbour at the end of the garden which is visible from my dining room..I would like to have all year colour if possible and thought a climbing rose  and clematis would look nice.. I would be grateful for any suggestions on this and if now is a good time to plant. The garden is westerly faciing

  Also when is the best time to plant jasmine

John Barnes

Hi

Blackcurrants should be planted at least a couple of inches deeper than they were in the pot to encourage growth from just below soil level. They should be pruned in winter. Remove about one third of growth each year especially the darker old growth. They are very heavy feeders and mulching also helps.

Redcurrants should be pruned in summer by shortening the current years growth back to five leaves. In winter reduce to two buds and shorten branch leaders by a quarter. Keep the centre of the bush open.

The shortage of sloes can be put down to the weather. Lack of/too much rain at the wrong time, lack of nutrients etc. If you have sloes growing in your garden you can give them more attention. I had five bushes in my garden till they got too big for the space.

Bazza

Bridget Loveday

Hi

Rose and clematis will go well together. Now is a good time to plant one. The choice is yours really. There are a lot of places selling roses at half price at the moment to make way for things like christmas trees. There are lots of different types of clematis available and again it depends on you what type to get. Early flowering/late flowering evergreen etc. It would maybe be of more help if you saw some in flower before you buy.

Autumn and spring are the best times to plant jasmine.

Bazza

 Christobel Knight

Hi

I won a beautiful Cotton Lavender hardy plant in a raffle. it was a mass of tiny yellow daisy like flowers. - i think of the chrysanthumum family. i have repotted it and keep it indoors. now, after i month the heads are drooping.  I decided not to plant it out till spring, and have put it in a cool place with light[spare bedroom]. hope i did right.  Should i cut it back thus removing all flower heads, or leave alone till spring.? Its about 18" high and quite bush like.?  please help as i don't want to loose this lovely plant. 6/12/08 

Christobel Knight

Hi

Cotton lavender is Santolina. It is a very hardy plant and should be placed outside in a sheltered spot. Keeping it inside will do it more harm than good.

Bazza