Ask JOHN NEGUS

John is a gardening legend and is here to answer your lovely questions

Evergreen shrubs for our pots Q We have block paving to the north of our property and I’ve bought two pots, 52cm/21in in diameter, 45cm/18 tall to go on it. We would like to plant interesting, low-maintenance evergreen shrubs that will tolerate shade and not make a mess. What would you recommend?  Neil Marfitt, Poole, Dorset A Start by covering your elegant pots’ drainage holes with crocks, stones or pea shingle to ensure that surplus water freely drains away. Plant in a loam-based compost such as John Innes No3 that will provide plenty of nutrients for your new plants. The following contenders should flourish for you. Plant them in peat-free compost: Euonymus fortunei ‘Blondy’: Cheering yellow-and-green-splashed leaves. Sarcococca confusa: Bright green foliage; scented starry white blooms in winter. Camellia x…

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Amateur Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, 27-Apr-2024

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