Q: I’VE heard some old remedies for pests in the garden are actually against regulations now – like stewing rhubarb leaves – is this correct and which ones are still OK?

EW, Abergavenny

A: I have heard of some crazy European directives but not a regulation against stewing rhubarb leaves! However as the leaves are poisonous it is illegal to make the stew into a home made insecticide spray. The leaves are poisonous as they contain anthraquinone glycosides and oxalic acid and should not be eaten.

Q: HOW do I create a good leaf mulch, and what’s the best time of year to use it?

MK, Newport

A: Collect your leaves, put them in black bin liners, leave them in a corner of the garden for 12 to 18 months.

Q: WHICH plants do slugs and snails not like to eat? I am overrun with slugs at the moment.

CD, Cwmbran

A: Slugs and snails like succulent leaves like dahlias, lupins and delphiniums. The dislike woody shrubs like rhododendrons, heathers and hebes.

Q: I’M thinking of planting a tree in my garden, but it’s small and I don’t want it to affect the foundations. Any suggestions?

LJ, Blackwood

A: You have plenty to choose from. Small trees should not affect your foundations. Many weeping plants are grafted on a stem to give them some height, their branches grow down to the ground. Try cotoneaster pendulus. It`s got glossy evergreen leaves, white flowers and bright red berries in the winter. Another favourite of mine is a weeping ornamental pear. ( Pyrus salicifolia pendula). It forms a dense mound of weeping branches with silvery grey foliage.

Tips for the week:

Collect seed that has ripened on the plant for next year. Store in a paper bag or envelope.

Prune out Raspberry canes that fruited this year.