G Denton, Newbury
The bluebell creeper is a frost-tender, evergreen climber that reaches up to 6ft in height and has clusters of nodding, sky-blue, bell-shaped flowers in summer and early autumn. These are followed by a display of rounded, blue-purple berries. This plant is best raised in a large container filled with John Innes No2 compost and given a tripod support for the stems to scramble up. The climber can then be placed on a sheltered, sunny terrace in the summer and moved into a conservatory from autumn to late spring.
During the growing season, keep the compost moist and give the plant a liquid feed once a month. Water sparingly in the winter.
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My sycamore has large, black spots on the foliage. What is wrong?
W Valon, Chepstow
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Acer tar spot is a common fungal disease that attacks sycamore trees and certain species of ornamental maple. The symptoms first appear in spring when yellow patches form on the leaves. However, it is in mid- to late summer that the black blotches emerge; these have yellow halos and are found on the upper surface of the foliage.
Fortunately, although acer tar spot is very disfiguring, it will not harm the vigour of the tree. The only suitable control measure is to pick up the fallen leaves in the autumn and dispose of them, as this prevents the fungus from overwintering and infecting the new growth the following spring.
What are the main benefits of a mulching mower, and can you recommend a supplier?
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F Miller, Portsmouth
Mulching mowers cut the lawn like ordinary machines but, instead of gathering the grass cuttings in a collection box, they shred them into very fine pieces, which are dropped directly through the grass and on to the ground. This material acts like a mulch on the soil surface and helps reduce moisture loss in dry weather to ensure the lawn stays green for as long as possible. In time, the grass pieces will decompose and return nutrients into the earth.
The lack of a collection box on these mowers means that stopping to empty out the cuttings is not necessary, and this saves time and effort. However, for a mulch mower to work effectively, the lawn must be mown on a regular basis, and the first cut of the year should always be carried out using a mower with a grass box attached. Mulching mowers are available from Viking (01276 20202, www.stihl.co.uk).
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Neil Wormald is a qualified horticulturalist. Send your questions to Garden Expert, Home, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST or e-mail: garden.expert@sunday-times.co.uk