Lord of the Dance
Charlie Wilkins answers your gardening questions — New lawns, geraniums, dwarfed chrysanthemums and nerines
Life & Style

Charlie Wilkins answers your gardening questions — New lawns, geraniums, dwarfed chrysanthemums and nerines

I want to sow a new lawn but I will not have the ground ready for another fortnight or so. Will this be too late? Should I wait until next year? Your advice would be appreciated.

Any period up to the middle of November will do handsomely for sowing a new lawn. I would go so far as to say that in warmer coastal counties grass seed could be sown during every week up to Christmas. For all that, sow immediately.

Should I stop feeding my geraniums? They’re growing in my porch and they are still absolutely beautiful.

Keep feeding but on a reduced diet. You couldn’t possibly compare your porch with conditions outside so as long as they look good, continue weak feeding.

Of late I bought a lovely chrysanthemum. Financially it may have been extravagance but it’s so compact and shapely, so full of tiny blooms and buds that I simply couldn’t resist. Can I plant it outside after flowering?

Yes but it will almost certainly grow tall as the effects of the dwarfing chemical will have been lost. However, it will remain the same colour.

When will the Nerines you write about be available in the shops?

Most nerines varieties will be on sale immediately after Christmas. Loose stock are usually in better condition than pre-packed so search around the outlets.