GARDENING: Your questions answered (March 8) | Brian Kidd

Thank you for your interesting letters about amaryllis flowers. A Stamshaw reader wrote asking if her bulb with eight flowers was a record. The answer is no but the plant has done well.

Thanks to Win, eight blooms; Roger, eight, and Vivien, nine. But so far Tony’s wife is the winner with 12 blooms. Well done.

Q: My box hedge has been attacked by box blight. What can I replace it with?

A: Lonicera nitida. It is evergreen, has smaller leaves than box and is a darker green. It is important to keep it trimmed regularly. It will stay green right down to the base and will never be attacked by box blight.

Q: I’ve been given some seed pods. The seeds are black and sticky. Do you know what they are? FN, Fratton.

A: These are from an evergreen, pittosporum tenuifolium. Seeds are sown indoors in April. The tree can grow up to 20ft in 25 years but can be kept small if sheared regularly.

Q: Last year my pyracantha had a fungus disease which I was told was scab disease. You always recommend prevention so what can I do to prevent it please? DP, Eastney.

A: Starting as soon as the flowers fade, spray the shrub with copper mixture once a month. Stop in September. Use the strength recommended for copper deficiency.

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