Monthly Q&A April 2024

As part of your Premium access, you can send your gardening questions to our horticultural experts each month. They will then answer a selection of the questions they receive, and share the advice at the end of the month.

Question submissions are now open. Send us your gardening questions now and check back soon to see if yours was answered. Please note, you will not receive an individual response.

My lupins were grown from seed last year and looked healthy, but the leaves are turning red/purple, is this a disease or a deficiency? Andy, Berkshire

Matt Biggs says: This could be due to cold, or a deficiency of nitrogen or potash in the soil. Lupins need full sun and moist but well-drained soil, and dislike waterlogging or cold conditions. If planting them out in lighter or heavier soils where water either disappears quickly or drains away very slowly, first improve the soil with well-rotted organic matter. For plants already in the ground, as long as they are small, you should be able to lift them, improve the soil, and then replant. Water them well, keeping them shaded from strong sunlight if necessary until they re-establish. Feed them with high potash slow-release fertiliser until July and protect from slugs, especially in spring. Keep them well watered, especially when they are newly planted, using rainwater whenever possible. If there’s plenty of organic matter in your soil you will not have to water as often, as this helps to hold water around the roots.

I have a damp, mossy lawn with a white flaky mould on it. How can I get rid of this? Julie, Somerset

Ashley Edwards says: This sounds like snow mould or powdery mildew. Both are caused by poor drainage and shade, conditions that moss also