GARDEN GURU

Q My wife has a rash on her arm after she brushed past the stem of a climber growing through a neighbour’s fence. Can you identify the plant? Charles Oglethorpe

A From your photo, it looks like the common hop is the culprit. The stems of this twining climber are armed with stiff, downward-facing bristles that can cause an itchy rash when they come into contact with skin. From personal experience, I’d advise wearing gloves and long sleeves when handling these plants.

Q I have just moved back to the family home following the death of my mother. There’s a very old rhubarb plant in the garden. However, it’s overshadowed by other plants and has not produced any usable stems. Is it possible to move this plant into a container? Sheila Johnson

A It might be difficult to transplant the entire plant to a container, but it’s possible to propagate rhubarb by division. Lift the crown from the ground in autumn and divide into smaller sections with a spade, making sure that each piece has two to three buds. Replant in a 12 in pot filled with loam-based John Innes No 3 compost with a little wellrotted manure. Stand the pot in a sunny spot and water regularly.

Move the plant into a slightly larger pot the following season.

Q The leaves of my lime tree are covered in raised red spikes. What has happened? Linden Scott

A It has been attacked by lime nail gall mites. The pest overwinters in bark and emerges in spring. Sadly, there are no cures, but the health of your tree will not be affected.