Q I’ve lost a lot of plants to the bad weather this year and I’d like to have a clearout. I was going to dig up some shrubs, but a friend told me they could just be hibernating. How do I tell?
Tony, Kent
A It is quite difficult to tell just from looking at the shrub, because the woody parts don’t give anything away. But before you start digging, it’s really easy to check – with your thumbnail or a coin, scrape back a small piece of the bark. If what’s underneath is green and moist, the plant is still alive. If it’s dry and brown, the plant has died and needs digging up and removing.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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