Ask the gardener

Top garden designer Charlie O’Leary of The Pavilion Garden Centre, Ballygarvan, Co Cork, answers your questions. If you have a question for Charlie, email: [e-mail] or post it on our Facebook page or The Pavilion’s Facebook page.

WHITE stemmed birch is striking at any time of year, but never more apparent than this season when its white bark lights up in the winter sun.

One of my favourite trees for the small to medium garden is the Himalayan or White Stemmed Birch — Betula utilis var. Jacquemontii. It is a graceful, elegant tree that is hardy and very easy to grow.