Garden Guru

QWhen we took on our new garden, we discovered a mysterious woody shrub with huge leaves. What is it – and can we safely move it? Yvonne

AThe photos you sent show Paulownia tomentosa or the foxglove tree, a treasure admired by exotic gardeners. It normally forms a single-trunked tree with small leaves, but if plants are cut back when young they form multi-branched shrubs with huge leaves. It’s fine to move it in early spring. Cut back hard, lift carefully and water well. The plant is likely to sulk for the first year but will recover in time.

QI have some pests on my raspberries that look like shield bugs. What should I do? Maggie Horne

AThere are more than 40 different types of shield bug in Britain. They are known sap- suckers but are unlikely to affect the vigour of established raspberry canes. However, the bugs can release a horrible odour when handled that can taint fruit. Spray plants before or after flowering with an organic pesticide – don’t spray when plants are in bloom as this will harm pollinating insects.

QMy Clematis ‘Princess Diana’ is covered in fluffy seed heads. Can I propagate them? Margaret Plant

AUnfortunately, clematis varieties don’t come true from seed, but it’s still fun to sow them in a greenhouse and see what appears. Be patient, though. It can take clematis up to three years to germinate.