Garden Guru

QA plant has appeared in my garden that I can’t remember planting. My wife thinks it might be poisonous and told me not touch it. Phil Guy

AYour photo shows a spike of berries from lords-and-ladies, a native British plant that self-seeds readily. It’s quite a useful plant in a shady woodland border, but can be invasive. If you want to get rid of it, dig up carefully, ensuring you get all of the underground rhizomes. Every part of the plant is poisonous, so wear gloves when handling.

QBadgers have reduced the diameter of the trunks of my tree ferns considerably while digging for food. Can I saw the stems above the damage and replant the undamaged section? James Stanley

AYes. In autumn snip off the fronds and then saw above the damaged area. Replant a few inches deep, supporting the trunk with stakes if necessary. Soak the trunk daily with water – you shouldn’t have to water from the crown until spring, as autumn and winter rain will suffice.

QI have a plant in a pot that received little attention. This year it has a produced a massive flower spike for the first time but now looks as if it’s going to die. I’ve been told it’s a yucca. Can you confirm its identity? John King

AIt is actually a species of furcraea, a group of architectural plants from Central and South America. Some are monocarpic (meaning they will die after flowering) but will produce tiny plants on the flowering stems that can be gathered and planted.