Our experts tackle your queries, including an over-large acer, magnolias on the move and a nectarine that won’t hold its fruit
Anne Swithinbank A keen fruit, vegetable and house-plant grower, Anne was formerly the glasshouse supervisor at RHS Garden Wisley.
Matthew Pottage Matthew is curator of RHS Garden Wisley, the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Pippa Greenwood
Pippa is one of the foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods.
Q Why has my boggy lawn recently become worse?
Richard Crombie, Birmingham
A MATT SAYS Something in the area may have changed to make flooding more likely. For example, the removal of big trees (especially evergreen conifers, which take up a lot of water) could mean there is more water in the soil. Another possibility is that gardens nearby have been paved over, resulting in reduced soil area for rainwater to pass through. In such situations, this water will instead rush to the lowest point nearby, which may be this part of your garden. It could also be related to a water main, so contact your local supplier in case they are aware of a problem. Another cause could be a natural spring nearby.
There are companies that specialise in hydrogeology, so it’s worth trying one of them. Should it be a spring, they can come and go, so I wouldn’t suggest any major changes to your garden if they were to confirm it was such.
A ANNE SAYS Installing land drains is disruptive and costly, so it is a good idea to look at potential causes first. Some are sceptical of water dowsing or divining but others argue this method has been used since ancient times and is worth a try to detect any underground streams and springs nearby.
A more conventional approach when dealing with pipe leaks is to hire specialists with acoustic equipment to track the leaks down. If nothing is found within your boundaries, you could confidently approach your water company and ask them to check their pipes. Of course, you might just have a high water table, and with changing weather patterns bringing heavy rainfall, land drains might prove a good investment after all.
Planting trees for wet soils or creating a water-absorbing rain garden of moisture-loving plants might work, but you’d los
