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You can use tanalised timber so long as it's newly tanalised. A few years ago arsenic was banned from the tanalisation process (before that time the people who did the tanalisation used to have their urine tested regularly to see whether or not arsenic had got into their bloodstreams). Today's tanalisation chemicals are mostly copper based and thought to be OK around vegetables.

How do you keep indoor cyclamen going? Particularly how can one get them to flower in a second year? Jean Teall, Wokingham

Keep feeding and watering them until they begin to die back (always water from the base, never let water get onto the corm). After flowering put them in a cold frame without watering them and then outside into the back of a bed. As soon as the first sign of growth begins start feeding and watering the plants and bring them into the house. Beware of vine weevil - they love cyclamen.

Last year I did a complete make-over in my garden. Now I am finding lots of brown patches on my lawn. How do I solve this problem? Brenda Baker, Middlesbrough, Cleveland

What a bore after all your hard work. Leatherjackets could well be the problem and the best way to deal with them is to put black polythene over the affected areas. Do this overnight and after rain a little later in the year. In the morning, kill the slimy creatures that emerge.

I was given an electric pragator for Christmas. The plants have started to grow but are getting very long (leggy). What must I do? Jim Lapthorn, Finchampstead Nr Wokingham, Berkshire

Start again. The seedlings haven't had enough light and so they will be weak and prone to pest and disease. This time, check the correct sowing month and then make sure you put the propagator in a well-lit area.

Dear Jane, I would like to buy trees (1m to 3m) for a garden south of Belfast. However I have not come across a nursery (on mainland UK) who will send them to Northern Ireland. Can you give me contact details of tree nurseries in Northern Ireland who can offer a good selection of quality trees? Michael Fitzsimons, London

I've spoken to that great nursery Hilliers, and a couple of smaller ones, and none of them export to Northern Ireland. If you can persuade a wholesaler to order them on your behalf that's one way round the problem. On the other hand, what's wrong with nurseries in Northern Ireland? I have never bought stock there so I cannot make any recommendations but if you Google 'Northern Ireland tree nursery' a stack of sites come up. By the way are you the Michael with the massive garden to restore?

e-mail Jane Owen with your gardening questions: jane.owen1@timesonline.co.uk

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