Ask David - Your Lockdown Gardening Questions Answered | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

Ask David - Your gardening questions answered by David Hurrion

The series has finished for the time being, but do look out for more from David Hurrion on GardenersWorld.com in 2021. In the meantime, you can still benefit from David's expertise by joining one of his online Masterclasses.

Ask David - Episode 31

In the final episode of the current season, David answers the following questions:

Any tips on buying patio fruit trees? June
How should I overwinter my perennials? Isabelle
What can I do about worm casts? June
How can I overwinter my lantana? Mahnaz
Why are my hoya leaves going yellow? Jane

Published: Monday 2 November, 2020

Ask David - Episode 30

The five questions answered by David this week are:

Any tips on pruning a large rhododendron? Joan
Can I renovate my hydrangea? Shirley
How should I overwinter aeoniums? Joanne
What's wrong with my peach tree? Brian
Can I move a gooseberry bush? Judith

Published: Monday 26 October, 2020

Ask David - Episode 29

In Episode 29 David answers five more questions from viewers:

Should I prune my salvias? Stephanie
What are these stalks - fungi? Gillian
How do I look after my cobaea vine? Francis
Any advice on pruning a grapevine? Patricia
What can I grow in a cold greenhouse over winter? Angie

Published: Monday 19 October, 2020

Ask David - Episode 28

Autumn is well under way and your questions for David are still pouring in. Here are the questions featured in this week's episode:

When should I repot my hydrangea? Annette
How can I grow wildflowers with veg? Carol
What next with my strawberry runners? Ron
Should I cut back my 'Angel Wings'? John
What should I do with my pepper plants? Jane

Published: Thursday 8 October, 2020

Ask David - Episode 27

This week, David responds to the following questions:

Should I move my magnolia? Steve
Can I make my own houseplant feed? Asia
What are the blisters on my pear tree? Cathy
How should I overwinter my dahlias? E. Turner
What is this plant? Gillian

Published: Tuesday 6 October, 2020

Ask David - Episode 26

In Episode 26 of our weekly series, David Hurrion helps out with five more questions submitted by viewers:

Can I keep my begonias after flowering? Rose
Can I plant spring bulbs in an ericaceous bed? Mick
Why are my strawberries always tiny? Karen
What is wrong with my cornus? Laura
Why are there holes in my Japanese anemone? Macfall

Published: Thursday 24 September, 2020

Ask David - Episode 25

Five more of your questions answered by the ever-obliging David Hurrion:

Why has my indoor gardenia turned brown? Abi
What can I grow under trees to suppress weeds? Jan
What is wrong with my cucumber plants? Joan
Why are there brown patches on my lawn? Tom
Should I deadhead my cannas? Patricia

Published: Thursday 17 September, 2020

Ask David - Episode 24

In the 24th episode of our weekly video series, David Hurrion answers more of your questions:

Should I remove tomato leaves to ripen fruits? Jen
Any advice on warming a greenhouse in winter? Eva
Why aren't my trees producing fruit? Stella
How do I renovate my Judas tree? Yvette
Any tips on soil preparation for wildflowers? Ben

Published: Friday 11 September, 2020

Ask David - Episode 23

Thanks to all of you who have submitted questions for David so far. Here are the questions answered this week:

What's wrong with my courgettes? Carolyn
What's happening to my roses? Laurence
Why has my lavatera stopped flowering? Thaksha
Can I re-use container compost for garlic? Chris
Why won't my spring bulbs flower? Mat

Published: Thursday 3 September, 2020

Ask David - Episode 22

Your questions are still pouring in for David Hurrion. Topics this week:

When should I plant out cuttings and plugs? Liz
How should I plant my royal fern? Campbell
Why haven't my foxgloves flowered? Toni
Why do my roses get rust and black spot? Liz
Why is my fig tree losing leaves? Stephie

Published: Thursday 27 August, 2020

Ask David - Episode 21

In Episode 21 David Hurrion answers five more of your questions:

What can I do about weed seeds in compost? Theresa
Why does my thalictrum have yellow leaves? Lindsay
When should I transplant perennials? Richard
Why do my plants have brown leaf spots? Irene
How should I prune my Chilean lantern tree? Jayne

Published: Thursday 20 August, 2020

Ask David - Episode 20

This week sees the 20th episode of our weekly video series hosted by David Hurrion, who answers the following questions:

Can my crab apple be saved? Alexander
Why won't my clematis flower? Kathleen
Can I grow peonies from seed? Fred
My hypericum won't flower - help! Kathy
What's wrong with my honeysuckle? Jill

Published: Thursday 13 August, 2020

Ask David - Episode 19

This week, David Hurrion helps viewers with following five problems:

Should I cut out straight growth on my twisted hazel? Margaret
Why are my tomatoes going black? Ro
How should I prune my lavender? Claire
Why is my photinia shedding leaves? Christine
Why are my plants not flowering? Brenda

Published: Thursday 6 August, 2020

Ask David - Episode 18

In the eighteenth episode of the series, David Hurrion answers the following five questions:

How can I revive my rose? Sara
What has happened to our shrubs? Barbara and Gemma
Should I apply liquid feed during wet weather? Rosie
Any tips on growing basil? Claire
What is wrong with our peonies? Lucy and Neil

Published: Thursday 30 July, 2020

Ask David - Episode 17

This week, David Hurrion answers another five questions sent in by viewers:

How do I get rid of fairy rings? Anne
How do I control a climbing hydrangea? Patsy
Why has my conifer gone brown? Jenny
Can I remove blanketweed without harming newts? Marian
How should I prune my 'King's Ransom' rose? Sue

Published: Thursday 23 July, 2020

Ask David - Episode 16

In episode 16, David Hurrion answers the following viewer questions:

What's wrong with my cauliflower curds? Ann
Should I prune my viburnum? Denise
Can I mix acid and lime-loving plants? Lyndsay
How do I revive my fig tree? Helen
How do I tackle vine weevil? Christine

Published: Friday 17 July, 2020

Ask David - Episode 15

This week, David Hurrion turns his attention to the following gardening dilemmas:

Should I deadhead my bottle brush plant? Leonard
What is eating my runner bean plants? Ann
What do I do with tulips after flowering? Jo
What's wrong with my rubber plant? Michelle
How can I tackle field bindweed? Sharyn

Published: Thursday 9 July, 2020

Ask David - Episode 14

Here are the questions answered by David this week, in Episode 14:

How do I deal with mare's tail? Jane
Why is my peony not flowering? Josie
What's wrong with my acer? Ann
Why are my hydrangea leaves yellow? Kim
How do I divide a bearded iris? Toria

Published: Thursday 2 July, 2019

Ask David - Episode 13

In episode 13, David answers five more questions submitted by viewers:

Why has my solanum stopped flowering? Sarah
What is the 'Chelsea chop'? Bryan
Why aren't my carrots growing? Diana
Why are my yews turning yellow? Russ
What compost should I use in a raised bed? Jordan

Published: Thursday 25 June, 2020

Ask David - Episode 12

This week, David Hurrion answers these questions submitted by viewers:

Can I grow jasmine in a pot? Sreeja
Should I collect my grass clippings? Richard
Help! My rocket has flea beetle! Sarah
Why won't my agapanthus flower? Helen
Can I plant out my pot-grown acer? Claire

Published: Thursday 18 June, 2020

Ask David - Episode 11

In the eleventh episode of the series, David Hurrion answers the following questions:

Why is my climbing hydrangea not flowering? Sandra
Why does my holly tree have yellow leaves? Rob
Should I prune my tree fern? Valandy
How can I get rid of ground elder? Dave
Why won't my rhododendron flower? Stella

Published: Thursday 11 June, 2020

Ask David - Episode 10

In Episode 10, David Hurrion turns his attention to the following questions:

Why won't my camellia flower? Jackie
What's wrong with my apple tree? Caroline
How do I combat greenfly on my pelargoniums? Richard
What is this plant? Liz
When should I move my cherry trees? Keith

Published: Thursday 4 June, 2020

Ask David - Episode 9

It's week nine of Ask David, featuring answers to these questions:

Can I leave weeds in my flower meadow? Marie
Any tips on planting olive trees? Kerrie
What is this plant? Gemma
How should I prune my camellias? Marianne
Why won't my wisteria flower? Karen

Published: Thursday 28 May, 2020

Ask David - Episode 8

In this episode, David replies to the following gardening questions:

Should we prune our pineapple broom? Phil and Sheila
Can I plant sprouting potatoes? Ann
Can a Japanese quince be hard pruned? Louisa
My roses are stunted - help! Easwary
What's wrong with my Ilex crenata? Simon

Published: Thursday 21 May, 2020

Ask David - Episode 7

This week, David Hurrion answers the following questions:

What are these plants?! Hannah
Why don't my cannas flower? Paul
Can I move alliums after flowering? Richard
When should I dig up my plants before moving house? Elaine
Is my gooseberry bush worth saving? Gordon

Published: Thursday 14 May, 2020

Ask David - Episode 6

In this episode, David answers five questions from viewers:

Should I replace my old clematis? Richard
When should I move my tomatoes and cucumbers? Angie
When should I start watering my dahlias? Christine
When will my magnolia flower? Sarah
Can camellias be pruned? Nicky

Published: Thursday 7 May, 2020

Ask David - Episode 5

In this fifth episode, David Hurrion helps viewers with the following issues:

What should I do with potted tulips after flowering? Phil
What can I plant in very damp soil? Gemma
What's attacking my viburnum shrub? Sarah
Does membrane completely kill weed seeds? Sue
What is this strange plant? Geoff

Published: Thursday 30 April, 2020

Ask David - Episode 4

This week, David answers the following questions:

Can I grow rhubarb in a tub? Irene R
Can I move my skimmia now? Josephine H
Veg crops for partial shade? Alexandra S
How do I tackle leatherjackets? Kim W
How do I prune my callicarpa? Alan

Published: Thursday 23 April, 2020

Ask David - Episode 3

In this third episode of the series, David answers the following questions:

My does my Daphne 'Jacqueline Postill' have yellow leaves? Chris
How do I stop little red insects eating my lilies? Yvonne
Why hasn't my forsythia flowered this year? Sarah
Can you divide hellebores and, if so, when? Carol
Why are my cosmos seedlings leggy? Heather

Published: Thursday 16 April, 2020

Ask David - Episode 2

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for David this week. Here are the questions he answers in episode 2:

I can't grow radish, all top and no root. Help! Kay B
Any tips on growing begonias in pots? Edith G
Can I dig excess grass clippings into flower beds? Stephen T
Could you identify this plant, please? Liz H
Any plant tips for very dry shade? Thanks. Shelagh

Published: Thursday 9 April, 2020

Ask David - Episode 1

During the coronavirus pandemic, horticultural expert David Hurrion will be on hand to answer your questions about gardening during lockdown. Each week he'll choose five questions to answer and we'll publish his responses in these regular videos.

Hundreds of you have submitted questions already - watch David's first video, above. In this episode, David answers the following questions:

Is it too late to cut back my Mexican fleabane? Julie K
Why are we told to place cuttings round the edge of pots, not the centre? Len J
My well-established olive tree has developed a 'yellow rust'. Any suggestions? Victor W
My seedlings die right at the base. What am I doing wrong? Evelyn D
Why does this tree have two branches that never flower? Lisa H

Published: Thursday 2 April, 2020

More advice on gardening

Please don't feel discouraged if your question isn't included in David's videos. We receive such a high volume that, unfortunately, he isn't able to answer all of them. Happily, there are various other ways we can help:

10 ways to garden during self-isolation

Working at home - quick gardening breaks

Can I still go to the allotment?

Gardening without a garden

Coronavirus - online plant retailers

What to do if your council waste collections have stopped

10 tips for gardening with children

No Fuss Guides - practical gardening videos

More from David Hurrion