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

I have been told that there is a type of lawn that needs no mowing. Peate Siebert

Man-made lawns are one option. They have become increasingly subtle and convincing. Although they are not as environmentally-kind as real lawn they will at least allow water to soak into the ground – unlike a stone terrace which forces run-off and may cause flooding. They are a good option for a small garden peopled by active small boys. Prostrate juniper is sometimes used as a lawn. This needs no mowing but I have always found it patchy. Camomile is so difficult to grow that it is not worth considering unless you have the patience of a monk and the bank balance of a south American dictator.

Small black flies have been plaguing the plants along my window sill which faces south. They are not flying ants but similar. Are they harmful and how do I get rid of them? Cess Fenton

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These are black fungus gnats or mushroom flies and they probably aren’t doing much harm unless there are so many that your plants have started to droop. The drooping is caused by the small, worm-like larvae which live on, or just below, the soil and feed on roots and organic matter. They can and do regularly kill off seedlings.

The flies can be controlled with sticky traps, the predator Hypoaspis miles (from sites such as www.just-green.com, www.Organiccatalog.com, www.greengardener.co.uk , www.nemasysinfo.com and www.agralan.co.uk) or pyrethrin. If you want to use a stronger chemical try Imidacloprid. You can also reduce fly numbers, and prevent further infestations, by watering only when you have to, and by clearing any fallen leaves and any other organic matter.

I have a rose in flower right now. Is this global warming? Name and address withheld

Possibly, although I have always noticed the odd rose blooming through the winter in sheltered part of gardens. And there is one rose, in the Chelsea Physic Garden, which is supposed to flower almost every day of the year!

Why has one of my wormery trays got wet, smelly and browny-red? The worms are drowning. Suky Kiernan

The cause could be one or all of the following:

i) an anaerobic composting process has started

ii) too much liquid is in the mix

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