Postbag Edition: Seaton Delaval Hall

Q1- Which roses will thrive in a west‑facing, shaded 8×3ft bed as a memorial to my late husband, who loved roses?

(2‘32”)

Matthew Wilson –

Rosa, Desdemona ('Auskindling'PBR) (HM) – rose

Bethan Collerton –

Rosa 'Rambling Rector' - rose 'Rambling Rector'

Dr Chris Thorogood -

­­­Rosa Queen of Sweden ('Austiger'PBR) (S) - rose [Queen of Sweden]

Rosa 'Florence Mary Morse'

Sarah Peilow, Head Gardener at Seaton Delaval Hall -

Rosa Tottering-by-Gently ('Auscartoon'PBR) (S) - rose [Tottering-by-Gently]

Rosa Kew Gardens ('Ausfence'PBR) (S) - rose [Kew Gardens]

Q2- After my Hermione rose was accidentally cut back to ground level, leaving only old wood, is there any hope it will recover? (6’47”)

Q3 - After finally raising a few Echium from seed, my small garden has now gone from one extreme to the other and although the bees love it, the garden is now overwhelmed by their self‑seeded offspring. What should I do, it feels wrong to remove plants that were once so hard to grow? (10’11”)

Q4 - Can I successfully grow watercress on my chalky, free‑draining, full‑sun allotment using water butts and a mains‑fed trough? (12’41”)

FEATURE - Sarah Peilow takes us on a tour of the Parterre at Seaton Delaval Hall

(15’39”)

Berberis, Barberry

Santolinachamaecyparissus, lavender cotton

Nepeta, Catmint

Q5 - Our mature wisteria on a sunny south‑southwest wall suddenly wilted and died last May. What caused this, and what could we plant in its place that grows 2m tall, spreads 3–4m, stays close to the wall, and ideally is evergreen? (18’04”)

Dr Chris Thorogood -

Ceanothus, Californian lilac

Campsisradicans,trumpet vine

Q6 – I have a Santolina with attractive aromatic foliage, but it has only flowered twice in four years. This year it has one flower. By September, it receives sun two to three hours in the morning and the same in the afternoon. Is it worth moving it to a sunnier position?

Santolinachamaecyparissus, lavender cotton

Bethan Collerton –

Ilex crenata, Japanese holly

Q7 - My white flag iris bloomed normally in early summer, but in October it produced new flower spikes that have opened mid‑to‑pale blue instead of white. Why has this happened?

Matthew Wilson –

Irissibirica, Siberian flag

Feature 2 - Sarah Peilow shows us the South East Garden at Seaton Delaval Hall

(29’47”)

Betulanigra, black birch

Q8 – I planted several hellebores last autumn, and while most are fine, one variety has suddenly dropped all its leaves right at the base. Three out of five plants of that type have done it. The leaves themselves look perfectly healthy, the nearby plants are fine, and I can’t find any pests.

What on earth has happened, and how do I stop it happening again?

Helleborus, hellebore

Q9 - My seven‑year‑old winter‑flowering cherry has developed holes in the leaves for two years running, and last spring’s blossom was sparse and disappointing. I feed it with chicken pellets and water as needed. What’s causing this, and how can I put it right?

Q10 - My cactus has finally outgrown his happy windowsill. I’ve had him since he was a tiny wee plant, and he flowers beautifully every summer. I’d like to rehome him, but also take a couple of cuttings to grow on. How should I go about it?

Schlumbergera, Christmas cactus

Q11- English gardeners often refer to grit, but here in the US we don't have that term. We have compost leaf mold and many other terms, but no grit that I've ever seen or heard of at a garden supply store. Can you tell me the closest thing to grit that sold in America?