Gardeners' Question Time Postbag Edition: Ninewells Community Garden
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Feb 27, 2026 Mary Colvin, Garden Facilitator at Ninewells Community Garden, leads a tour and explains how gardening aids wellbeing and recovery. Neil Porteous, Royal Parks plantsman, shares practical horticultural anecdotes. Kirsty Wilson, Balmoral’s Head of Gardens, offers pruning and design tips. Matthew Pottage, experienced plantsman, gives hands‑on planting and plant‑care guidance. They discuss composting leaves, tough tomato skins, olives, no‑mow grasses and planting daisies in old boots.
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Winter Spur Pruning To Balance Apple Tree Growth
- Prune apples in late winter (January–February) and spread sap by doing light, measured pruning across shoots.
- Prune small shoots hard to 1–2 buds and larger shoots to 5+ buds to balance growth and improve fruiting over years.
Prefer Leaving Fine Leaves But Compost Big Tough Ones
- Do leave small, fine leaves where they fall because worms and soil life will break them down naturally.
- Shred or compost large slow-to-decompose leaves like oak, plane or sycamore or mow them first so they disappear faster and enrich soil.
Panel Celebrates Worm Casts As Soil Health Sign
- The panel celebrated worm casts as a sign of healthy soil and recommended brushing them off or using a broom to tidy rather than killing worms.
- Matthew suggested collecting casts for potting mix; Kirsty and Neil recalled lawns where casts were simply left alone.