GARDEN GURU

Q

Three sturdy plants have appeared in my garden which have yellow flowers that open in the morning and close in the afternoon. What are they? Nola Rice-Wood

A

The photos you sent me show Tragopogon pratensis, a native wildflower commonly known as goat’s beard. It’s a short-lived perennial that likes a sunny spot and has large, fluffy seed heads that can measure up to 3in across. It’s closely related to salsify, a wildflower with pinkpurple flowers and edible roots that look similar to parsnips.

Q

Our fuchsia bush was covered in leaves but they turned brown and fell off in a frost in spring. Will it recover?

Lynette Bateman

A

Hardy fuchsias are pretty tough but the above-ground parts can be damaged by a cold snap. If there are no signs of fresh shoots on the old branches, cut back to allow fresh growth at the base to romp away.

Q

We have a ten-year-old standard rose in a large pot. Over the past few years we have noticed that some of the shoots have different foliage and carry dog rose-type flowers. We cut off these shoots if they occur, but they have become more numerous. What can we do to reverse the situation? Tim Yates

A

Standard roses are created by specialists, who attach the desirable flowering variety to an upright stem of a vigorous species rose, such as dog rose (Rosa canina). If you look closely at the top of the stem you should see a bulge where the two were joined together. The offending shoot on your plant will be growing beneath this point and needs removing completely, cutting back close to the stem.