GARDEN GURU

Q I’m worried that a plant with purple flowers in my garden is deadly nightshade. Can you identify it for me?

David Richardson

A There’s no need to worry. The photo you emailed to me shows greater periwinkle (Vinca major), an evergreen, scrambling plant that’s native to the Mediterranean. It’s been naturalised in Britain since the late 16th Century and can often be seen in woodland, hedgerows and other shady places.

Q I have a tree that’s sending out suckers all over my lawn and flowerbeds. What’s the best way of getting rid of these suckers?

Edward Adryanski

A Some trees are naturally prone to suckering, while others send out underground shoots when roots are damaged – this might be due to digging or being scalped by a mower if they are close to the surface on a lawn. The best way of dealing with them is to dig around the sucker and trace it back to a main root, before tearing it off. Don’t cut with secateurs as they will leave buds behind for another sucker to take its place.

Q I have an old galvanised watering can that’s too heavy for watering. I recently saw a picture in one of your articles (May 17) that showed a can being used as a planter. How should I plant it up without making it too heavy to lift?

Maureen Johnson

A The watering can in the photograph was planted with temporary bedding plants that don’t need a great depth of compost to allow them to thrive. First, drill a few drainage holes in the base of the can. In order to make the can light enough to move, stuff the bottom half with pieces of polystyrene or a even few scrunched-up plastic bags. The compost can then be placed on top before planting up.