GARDEN GURU

Q Following last year’s long, hot summer, many lawns in our area have brown patches. Will the grass grow back? Iris Jones

A Many lawns bounced back in autumn. However, if they haven’t recovered by now, then they are unlikely to improve. My suggestion would be to either reseed the dead patches in early spring or to lay fresh pieces of turf. Do this early enough and your lawn will be looking good by summer.

Q I’ve grown a ‘Black Hamburg’ grapevine undercover for 20 years. I lost the crop to powdery mildew in 2017, so disinfected the greenhouse. Alas, the plant was attacked again last year. Do I need to replace the vine? John Davies

A My advice would be to persevere with your vine. Try to limit the spread of fungal disease by clearing up and destroying any fallen debris that

might be harbouring spores. Vines that are stressed due to drought are vulnerable, so water regularly and mulch the surface. Make sure the greenhouse has adequate ventilation, especially over summer.

Q A branch on my witch hazel has flowers that are a different shade and size from those on the rest of the shrub. Is this normal? Jane Sanderson

A Witch hazels are propagated by a technique known as grafting, where a desirable variety is attached to the rootstock of a more vigorous species. The unusual shoot you’ve spotted is growing from the rootstock, so remove to prevent it from taking over.