Episode 15 The Instant Gardener


Episode 15

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Beautiful gardens are one of Britain's most glorious sights.

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But if your green space is more a mess than majestic,

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making it over can be a daunting prospect,

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especially if you're short on time and money.

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Well, The Instant Gardner is here.

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Ta-dah!

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Danny Clarke is an expert at transforming gardens.

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These are really bringing a smile to my face.

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Each time, our gardening guru will be showing you how to create

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gorgeous garden makeovers.

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Doesn't that look great?

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Each transformation will be packed with brilliant ideas

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to help you get to grips with your own outdoor space.

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Just continually deadhead

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and you will keep getting that plant to flower.

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-He'll be turning garden junk...

-Oh, look at that!

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..into garden jewels.

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It's going to be used as a planter,

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and I think this is going to look absolutely terrific.

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And showing you how to spend a small budget wisely.

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-That's why Danny makes me bring a list!

-OK.

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Be it on shrubs or salvage.

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Would you like that in your garden?

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And because Danny is the Instant Gardner,

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everything you see will happen in a single day.

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Oh, thank you so much.

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Oh, wow.

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That's unbelievable!

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Today, we're in the Cumbrian hamlet of Ackenthwaite,

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just outside Kendal.

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Nestled on the edge of the Lake District,

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the undulating hills and fertile valleys here

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provide some of the best green views in the country.

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But one local resident has been

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enjoying a rather less pleasant view

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out of her back window.

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Her daughter Debbie got in touch to see if the Instant Gardener

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can help her mum quite literally out of a hole.

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Now, Debbie knows we're coming, her mum doesn't.

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Let's go and surprise them.

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-Hello!

-Hello.

-Hello, you must be Debbie.

-I am, yes.

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Nice to meet you, Debbie. Come on out.

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-So, you live here with your mum?

-That's right, yes.

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She does not know that we're coming?

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-No, she knows something's going on, but not what.

-Right.

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-Shall we go and find her?

-Yes.

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'What's going on? I'm reading this paper.'

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I'm sorry, Dorothy. I'm coming in with big muddy boots on.

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My name's Helen.

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We have come here to hopefully spring a nice surprise on you.

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Well, I knew there was something happening!

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74-year-old Dorothy is a keen gardener

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and has lived in this house for 17 years.

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After her father passed away, though,

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her health began to deteriorate, and her daughter Debbie

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and grandsons Nathan and Tim arranged to move in with her.

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However, the building work required to make the bungalow

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accessible for her and accommodate the whole family

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has left her once-immaculate garden with a rather large blemish -

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a six-metre long hole that's nearly a metre deep.

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And neither she nor her family have a clue what to do with it.

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I'm hoping maybe Danny does.

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Luckily, he came to Cumbria a week ago when Debbie invited him

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to check out what he'll be up against.

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I'm here today to have a sneaky view at a garden,

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cos it's always a good idea to have a look before we get started.

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Ooh!

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Well, it looks like a bomb's gone off, it looks like a crater.

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Which is a bit of a shame

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because the surrounding is absolutely gorgeous.

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Now, just to look at this bit.

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Whoever lives here certainly knows how to garden.

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It's absolutely beautiful.

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What a lovely view out there,

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so they've got lovely borrowed scenery.

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So, this crater has been left

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after that extension has been built to the bungalow.

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And it's quite deep.

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I mean, I would say that's a good metre deep.

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One of the things I like about this garden is its slopes,

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which makes it a very interesting.

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I kind of feel we need to run with it, work with it,

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keep the interesting theme going.

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As beautiful as this garden is, you know,

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there's no way Dorothy can enjoy it.

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Because she can't get from that hole that's down there

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up onto this bit.

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Another thing too is when they're indoors

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and they're looking out, how can they enjoy this

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if what's going down there is taking their eye?

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Do you know what?

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I think this is one of those jobs that really has got to involve AJ.

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I'm going to have to break the news to him, so wish me luck.

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Wow, I hope Danny isn't biting off more than he can chew this time.

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Still, he's had seven days to mull things over

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and today, he's come back to the Lake District to meet Dorothy.

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-Hello, Danny.

-Hello, Helen.

-Now, I know you know Debbie.

-Yes.

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-But you don't know the lady of the house.

-Hello.

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This is Dorothy, who is a keen gardener.

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-You've got a wonderful garden, good to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

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Tell me about the garden then, Dorothy. Why is it in this state?

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We wanted to make...enlarge the bungalow,

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and they started to dig the foundations.

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So, the diggers went 7ft down to put our big foundations on.

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They had to clear this soil away and start digging and that.

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And that, of course, it was in the way to go down.

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Now this garden is a bit of a hazard for anybody,

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-but your arthritis is quite intense, isn't it?

-Yes, very intense.

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It's acute.

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Some days I can do lots, some days I can't do anything,

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some days I can do little.

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So, how much of a worry is this garden?

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It frightens me to death because she's always tinkering,

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so just to get to the shed, we have to have an army...!

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An army manoeuvre to get her down here, across there and...

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But not just for your mum, for you as well.

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-You can't enjoy it, can you?

-No, I hate it because the top...

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We made some little pretend steps over there and the top one wobbles!

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So, I have to get on the top, then get hold of the bench to get up!

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SHE LAUGHS

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It's a bit of an assault course for you, Dorothy, isn't it?

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It is, yes, I won't be going to the Olympics.

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HE LAUGHS

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Can you work with this space, Danny?

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Yes, we can definitely work with this space.

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It's going to be a bit of a challenge, but I think we can do it.

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I guess the key thing is making it safe and making it usable, is it?

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Yes, please. It would be lovely to have somewhere that we could all

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-be together outside, wouldn't it?

-Yes, and sit, relax and sit.

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Listen to the birds.

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-How important is this garden to you, Dorothy?

-Very.

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-Keeps you going, doesn't it?

-Yeah.

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Besides my family and my dog, my garden and wildlife is my life.

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Even when I was working, I always looked after the garden.

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It's just everything.

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Well, at the minute, it is literally a hazard.

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A bombsite, it just looks like a bombsite, doesn't it?

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But hopefully by the end of the day,

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we will have a space that you can enjoy with your family.

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-Sound good?

-Sounds brilliant.

-Brilliant.

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-I've got a list for you.

-Right.

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We will go shopping. So, we're going for a shrub with a spring scent.

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-Mm-hm.

-Sound good?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-We shall get out of your hair.

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We'll go shopping, ladies, and let them crack on.

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I never in my wildest dreams expected anything like this.

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I now have to get my glad rags out for a day out!

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So, while I take Dorothy and Debbie off for a much-needed escape

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from their nightmare garden, let's hope Danny has a plan in mind

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for dealing with this troublesome trench.

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This garden today is all about this big crater,

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and what we're going to do here is a sunken garden.

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We're going to need to retain these sides here,

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so we're going to use sleepers.

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So, we'll put sleepers all around here with a step

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leading up to the slopey

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upper terrace over there.

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For the surface - the surface has got to be nice and safe -

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we're going to put slate down.

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I'm going to make it more interesting,

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I'm not going to have one colour.

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I'm going to have the same material but in two different colours.

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And I'm going to have one colour over here

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and I'm going to have one colour over there.

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Rather than one expanse, we're going to break it up.

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There's going to be a gap between the sleepers and this bank here.

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So, what I want to do is join this area up

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with the top of the sleepers and blend the planting in.

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So, the idea is to take some of the plants perhaps from Dorothy's garden

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and bring them down to this area here.

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So, that we kind of have a bit of unity going on.

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I thought it might be a good idea to add some plants down below,

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just to break that surface up.

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There is one existing plant that's very important to the family

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because they use it as a memorial to Dorothy's late father.

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It's a Kilmarnock willow. And I think what might be a nice idea

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to give the garden a bit of balance

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is to replicate it just over there.

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Now what we're going to do is make this area a nice, restful place

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where Dorothy can contemplate with her family.

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You know what would be a great idea?

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To bring some scented plants into this space.

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So, Danny plans to turn a horrible hole

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into a delightful sunken garden

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by shoring up the side walls with sleepers

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and creating a patio using slate in contrasting colours.

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He's going to add a new flower bed above the sleepers,

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which will be easy for Dorothy to manage

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because she won't need to bend down.

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He's going to put in a Kilmarnock willow that will match

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the one Dorothy planted in memory of her father.

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And he's going to add scented plants

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to the new lower layer of the garden.

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This is one of the biggest challenges

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I think I've ever taken on.

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We want to turn this hole,

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this crater into somewhere that's restful and peaceful.

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And it's going to be a massive challenge.

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With such a big job ahead, Danny and will need lots of help.

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As ever, handyman AJ is ready on site to tackle all those sleepers,

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along with Luke and Amyrose, who certainly won't be caught napping.

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And getting stuck in to help out their grandmother

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are Debbie's sons, Nathan and Tim.

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-It's going to be a sunken garden.

-Yep.

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-But we need to retain the walls all around.

-Right.

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-And what we're going to do is use sleepers.

-OK.

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And in the middle here, we're going to use an aggregate.

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So, Nathan, I understand you're a bit of a whiz when it comes to DIY?

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I did a little bit of here and there rendering, plastering.

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A little bit of landscaping on the outside,

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so what you see here.

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Basically, I've done the damage and you're here to fix it!

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-So, it was me, yeah, unfortunately.

-And yourself?

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-Actually, that fence was my handiwork.

-Oh, was it?

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Oh, it's brilliant. No, brilliant, sorry. Fantastic!

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Couldn't have done a better job myself.

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We need to spread all this rubble that's here.

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So, we need to level it all off.

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So, perhaps two of us could do that while one of you can help AJ.

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As you can see, it's very stony,

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so I think it's going to be quite hard digging.

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Now, the weather is going to close in on us.

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I know we've only got maybe two hours at best of decent weather.

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I think we really need to get moving.

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-Let's do it, sounds good.

-Let's go.

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With those storm clouds brewing, it's a race against time

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getting everywhere cleared,

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so AJ can fit the retaining wall of wooden sleepers.

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What we're doing here first, me and Nathan, we're digging the first

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two holes here to get the posts in and get them set in the concrete,

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so we can get the first row of sleepers up,

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and then that will make it

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easier for us to do then follow it off down both sides of here.

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It's going to be hard, this is just solid stone all the way.

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As you can see, it's just boulders.

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Going to have to go about two foot, you need as much post

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in the ground because, in theory, if you imagine my arm's the post,

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you've got the sleepers up against here,

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we've got all this soil here pushing here.

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You need as much in the ground to counterbalance, to stop it moving.

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Tim and I just spreading the rubble all around this surface,

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and we've got to try and get it as level as possible.

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It's heavy work, but the team are already making

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a major difference to this real-life blot on the landscape.

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But suddenly, the heavens open.

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It's raining.

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Ideal conditions for doing a job like this, I don't think.

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In fact, it's hailstones, the sort of weather that could sink

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Danny's sunken garden before it's even begun.

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But it won't deter the Instant Gardener team.

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We've just had a bit of a deluge.

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It's eased off a bit now, but as a security, we've put this gazebo up.

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We need to keep everything nice and dry.

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Otherwise, we're just going to have a horrible mess.

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But you know, we can't let that stop us because we want to get

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this garden done for Dorothy, that is so important.

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I really do not want to disappoint her.

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I have every faith in you, Danny.

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And I'm taking Dorothy and Debbie on an inspirational day out

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that I'm sure won't disappoint.

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Dorothy, I'm taking you to a garden that I think you're going to like,

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I hope you're going to like it.

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It's very grand.

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Very fitting for yourself.

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Oh, yes, thank you.

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-Not sure about that!

-THEY LAUGH

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Park House is a privately-owned

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romantic manor house

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that opens under the National Gardens Scheme.

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It combines formal gardens with wonderful views

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over the surrounding countryside.

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And as it includes a sunken garden, it's got plenty of ideas to offer.

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-I would love to say that this is my house. Sadly, it is not.

-Come on.

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Come in here.

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-And have a little look at this.

-Wow. Will you look at that?

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A couple of times a year, these gardens are open to the public.

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-It's just gorgeous, isn't it?

-What a beautiful situation.

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The way the garden frames the view is really cleverly done, isn't it?

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-The vista is stunning, isn't it?

-Beautiful, beautiful.

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And you see, they've incorporated

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some beautiful modern sculpture in, and it fits.

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-Yes.

-You wouldn't think it would fit, but it's...

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And it's not over manicured, is it?

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Because, you know, they've got the tulips

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and the daffodils in the lawn.

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-Could you see yourself in this garden, Dorothy?

-Oh, yes.

-Oh, yes.

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-Oh, yes!

-Could you?

-Oh, yes! SHE LAUGHS

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-I think we'd be at home here.

-Very nice!

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Not too shabby for us, Dorothy.

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Look at that!

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We could get a good view for it over here, Dorothy.

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Beautiful, beautiful.

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-Oh, no.

-Wow, look all that.

-Look at that!

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It's almost Elizabethan, isn't it? In the way it's laid out.

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That is lovely, that fountain, isn't it?

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-You've seen those two little frogs?

-Yes!

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-King with crowns on their head.

-Or princes.

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I feel like this garden offers something for everyone.

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-Formal water feature.

-That's right.

-Lovely lawn.

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-It's beautiful, isn't it?

-It is beautiful.

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It's made the most of the area

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and the natural features of the area, hasn't it?

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-Yes, it's beautiful.

-And brought it into the garden.

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But they've managed to somehow keep it formal

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and yet natural-looking and informal.

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You could sit here and have a sort of nice morning coffee.

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-You could sit down there and have an evening cocktail.

-It's very nice.

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It's a garden you can play in, relax in, entertain in.

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And the water...and the sound of the water is so relaxing, it's lovely.

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I love it.

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Is there anything here you'd like to copy for your garden?

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I like the arbour, I like the idea of having somewhere quiet to go

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and just to be on my own and read and have a cup of tea.

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-Because I guess, for you, the garden really is an extra room?

-Yes.

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Three generations living in one house,

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it's important to have that, isn't it?

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-Yeah, breakout space we call it, don't we?

-Yes, yes.

-Breakout space!

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Well, let's go meet the man who has worked tirelessly on this place.

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Because it does take a lot of work.

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-I'd like to congratulate him because it's wonderful.

-Yes, it must do.

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While we go in search of the garden's creator,

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back in Dorothy's own garden, it's still throwing it down.

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But at least AJ has dug some little holes in that big 'un.

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The post is going to go in there, going to concrete them in,

0:16:130:16:16

try and get them as level as...

0:16:160:16:17

I've asked Nathan to go and get another post,

0:16:170:16:19

and I'll put that on the ground just to try and get

0:16:190:16:22

both the flat edges together, so they're in line.

0:16:220:16:24

Which then means the sleepers will go up against them nice and flush.

0:16:240:16:27

Get them screwed in and then build it up. Easy as peasy.

0:16:270:16:30

-DRIZZLE

-Apart from this weather.

0:16:300:16:33

Because the sleepers will need to withstand

0:16:330:16:35

the pressure from that huge weight of soil on the bank,

0:16:350:16:38

AJ needs to fix the posts so they lean back at a slight angle.

0:16:380:16:42

That way, they will counteract any subsidence.

0:16:420:16:44

AJ is busy over there putting in the retaining wall.

0:16:460:16:49

Now, the reason that's going to be the first wall that goes in

0:16:490:16:52

is because we want to run everything off of that.

0:16:520:16:56

So, once AJ has done that,

0:16:560:16:58

we'll know where to put the sleepers for this retaining wall

0:16:580:17:01

and that retaining wall over there

0:17:010:17:04

and we'll know where to dig the holes.

0:17:040:17:06

Get the sleepers in then, boys. Three to start with.

0:17:060:17:09

AJ fixes each sleeper to the post with diagonally-angled screws

0:17:110:17:15

from the top, so they won't be seen from the front when he's finished.

0:17:150:17:19

Then he'll screw in the top sleeper from the back of the post

0:17:190:17:22

to give it a nice clean finish.

0:17:220:17:23

We've just come to a section now and it's stopped raining.

0:17:250:17:28

Somebody is looking down on us.

0:17:280:17:30

Well, you deserve a break, boys.

0:17:300:17:32

But not before you finish the next retaining wall.

0:17:320:17:36

There we go, four holes. Start digging.

0:17:360:17:38

I must say, I wouldn't fancy digging through all those rocks.

0:17:380:17:42

Very proud of my chain gang here. Very proud indeed.

0:17:420:17:46

While AJ and the team carry on with their mammoth task,

0:17:460:17:49

Danny wants to take a close look at Dorothy's existing garden,

0:17:490:17:52

or what's left of it.

0:17:520:17:54

Tell you what, it's nice to have a break

0:17:550:17:57

from what's going on down there.

0:17:570:17:58

I must admit, I'm at a bit of a loose end.

0:17:580:18:00

So, I thought I'd just take a little walk around Dorothy's garden.

0:18:000:18:05

And just have a look and see what style of planting

0:18:050:18:07

and what plants she's got in here.

0:18:070:18:09

I mean, at a glance,

0:18:090:18:11

I can see it's all a typically English cottage garden.

0:18:110:18:14

She's got some aquilegia here, granny's bonnet.

0:18:140:18:17

And over here, she's got some roses.

0:18:170:18:19

Cornflower there.

0:18:200:18:22

So, really what I'm looking for at the moment is anything I can split.

0:18:220:18:25

Because I want to try and blend what's up here

0:18:250:18:28

into the garden down below.

0:18:280:18:30

So, I'm going to try and harmonise this garden.

0:18:300:18:33

Bring what's here down there,

0:18:330:18:35

and what I'm going to do is do a bit of splitting.

0:18:350:18:38

So, I'm looking for plants that I can split quite comfortably.

0:18:380:18:41

An example of that will be these foxgloves.

0:18:410:18:44

I think they're a bit crowded.

0:18:440:18:45

These ones are crowding this yew here,

0:18:450:18:47

so perhaps I could dig those out.

0:18:470:18:50

What I can see, which I absolutely love,

0:18:500:18:52

is this white flower down here, which is called hesperis.

0:18:520:18:55

It's absolutely beautiful.

0:18:550:18:57

There's a bit of white going on in the garden,

0:18:570:18:59

where everything else at the moment is blue or yellow.

0:18:590:19:02

So, it's nice to have an alternative colour.

0:19:020:19:05

So, what I'm going to do, I'm going to form a bed here.

0:19:050:19:07

Just along here, form a straight line, lift this turf,

0:19:070:19:10

put some lovely soil in there, turn it over.

0:19:100:19:12

And the plants I was going to put in there are going to come down here.

0:19:120:19:17

OK, Danny, good plan.

0:19:170:19:18

Now, you better get on with it

0:19:180:19:20

because half the day has already gone.

0:19:200:19:22

Back in the gorgeous and slightly less rain-washed

0:19:240:19:27

garden at Park House, I'm taking mum Dorothy and daughter Debbie

0:19:270:19:31

to meet the man who looks after it -

0:19:310:19:33

head gardener Nick Berry.

0:19:330:19:35

We're hoping for a few tips about how to minimise

0:19:350:19:37

the maintenance of a lush floral garden like this.

0:19:370:19:41

-Nick, sorry to interrupt.

-Hello!

0:19:410:19:44

-Hello!

-Hello, you like it?

0:19:440:19:46

-Debbie, Dorothy.

-Hiya. You OK?

0:19:460:19:48

I'm a baker, so the currants, the rhubarb.

0:19:480:19:52

-Plenty of those, yes.

-Your orchards, apples, stewed pears.

0:19:520:19:57

-I would be in my element.

-Come and work with me!

0:19:570:20:00

-It feels like this garden has different sections.

-Yes.

0:20:000:20:04

Obviously, fruit and veg here, this is a bit more relaxed,

0:20:040:20:07

-then you've got the water feature, then the orchard.

-Yeah.

0:20:070:20:09

How much time does it take to look after all of this?

0:20:090:20:12

Yeah, well, it's a difficult one

0:20:120:20:14

because you could easily spend full-time here all the time.

0:20:140:20:17

So, it's prioritising, making the groundwork,

0:20:170:20:21

using the right soil, the right excavations

0:20:210:20:24

so that the plants thrive.

0:20:240:20:26

So, if you want a garden that offers a lot,

0:20:260:20:28

but you don't want to work full-time on it, what's the key?

0:20:280:20:31

Don't be afraid of putting shrubs in. OK?

0:20:310:20:34

It gives you your structure, it gives you your shape.

0:20:340:20:37

It gives different seasons of interest,

0:20:370:20:40

whereas your herbaceous borders and your flowering plants

0:20:400:20:44

look beautiful for a month and then they go over.

0:20:440:20:48

The shrubs give you your shape and your depth.

0:20:480:20:51

Can you ever stop weeds?

0:20:510:20:53

Obviously, for minimalist gardens,

0:20:530:20:55

there's always weed suppressant membrane.

0:20:550:20:58

But for things like your flowering beds and stuff,

0:20:580:21:01

you can't really stop the weeds.

0:21:010:21:03

You just need to fill it as much as you possibly can with plants

0:21:030:21:06

to limit the amount of weed growth.

0:21:060:21:09

-I can't weed any more. So, that's the bugbear in the garden.

-Yeah.

0:21:090:21:15

-Yeah, the raised beds here are marvellous.

-They're fantastic.

0:21:150:21:19

-The raised beds for anyone with mobility problems...

-Yeah.

0:21:190:21:24

That's what I would recommend.

0:21:240:21:27

Yeah, now there's so many hand tools

0:21:270:21:30

rather than the long backbreaking hoes.

0:21:300:21:33

If you've got your raised bed,

0:21:330:21:35

you can just plod along and just do it with that.

0:21:350:21:38

The main thing is don't let them flower and set seed.

0:21:380:21:40

-That's right, that's right.

-You know, that's your main thing.

0:21:400:21:44

Nick, you're doing an amazing job here, the garden is beautiful.

0:21:440:21:47

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Amazing.

0:21:470:21:49

Dorothy, I'm going to leave you here with Nick for five, ten minutes

0:21:490:21:52

because I think you could both use each other's expertise.

0:21:520:21:54

THEY LAUGH We'll go off to have a catch-up.

0:21:540:21:57

-Now, see you in a minute.

-See you.

0:21:570:21:59

-Thanks, Dorothy.

-Bye. Bye.

0:21:590:22:01

-We'll never get her back!

-No, she'll be there all afternoon.

0:22:020:22:06

If you fancy creating a cottage garden or even just a border,

0:22:060:22:10

remember these three tips from the Instant Gardener.

0:22:100:22:13

No space should go to waste in the traditional English border,

0:22:140:22:17

so you should pack your plants in.

0:22:170:22:20

That way, you'll crowd out the weeds

0:22:200:22:22

and only allow room for the cottage garden plants you want to display.

0:22:220:22:25

To get the natural look, avoid planting in rows.

0:22:260:22:29

Instead, think about grouping things together in drifts

0:22:290:22:32

to get a much more natural look to your garden.

0:22:320:22:35

And when they finish growing, let plants go to seed

0:22:350:22:38

and let those seeds grow where they fall.

0:22:380:22:40

Simply weed out the ones that don't seem to be in the right place.

0:22:400:22:44

The rain is still threatening to turn the space into a swimming pool

0:22:470:22:51

and there's only five hours left to finish the whole job.

0:22:510:22:54

But with two of the three timber walls in place,

0:22:540:22:57

the area is starting to look more like a sunken garden

0:22:570:23:00

than the perilous pit that was here earlier.

0:23:000:23:02

And now AJ wants to build some steps that will give Dorothy

0:23:020:23:05

proper access to the rest of her garden.

0:23:050:23:08

Hello, AJ. How's it going?

0:23:100:23:12

-Not bad.

-Yeah? You look worn out.

-Yeah.

-This is hard work, isn't it?

0:23:130:23:17

Yeah, we've got two sizes of sleepers in

0:23:170:23:20

and we've also cut off the posts.

0:23:200:23:22

So they're ready to be backfilled,

0:23:220:23:24

but I want to cut one of these in half to get the width of the step.

0:23:240:23:28

Do you fancy cutting some?

0:23:280:23:30

I wouldn't mind cutting one for you.

0:23:300:23:32

-OK?

-Two?

-Two, you want another two done?

-Yeah.

0:23:320:23:36

I tell you what, I'd love to do that two for you

0:23:360:23:39

-cos I've just got the tool to do it.

-Yeah.

0:23:390:23:41

If you're not experienced in using an electric chainsaw like Danny is,

0:23:410:23:45

then get your timber cut to length at the timber mill when you buy it.

0:23:450:23:49

There usually isn't an extra charge, but it does mean you have to be

0:23:490:23:52

very sure of your measurements when you put in your order.

0:23:520:23:56

Oh, steady, steady!

0:23:560:23:58

With the sleepers cut, Danny is keen to start his new bed.

0:23:580:24:02

Using a post offcut and his half-moon edger,

0:24:020:24:04

Danny can cut a clean straight line through the lawn.

0:24:040:24:08

Yeah, I'm happy with that.

0:24:080:24:09

Now, all we now need to do is dig out the turf.

0:24:110:24:14

Meanwhile, AJ is making progress on the steps.

0:24:180:24:22

Obviously, I've put this gravel down here,

0:24:220:24:24

because when you're making steps, you need to make it level.

0:24:240:24:27

So, we're starting off with three sleepers,

0:24:270:24:29

then we'll have two sleepers here

0:24:290:24:31

and one sleeper up here, and you'll walk off.

0:24:310:24:33

Then we're going to backfill all this and build it up

0:24:330:24:36

and then it should all be all nice and flush.

0:24:360:24:38

This pre-treated timber should last many years, so all AJ needs to do

0:24:390:24:44

is screw the sleepers in place so they won't slip.

0:24:440:24:47

And alongside them, Danny is digging more holes in the ground,

0:24:470:24:50

which will provide more opportunity for planting later on.

0:24:500:24:53

So, I'm digging a nice big hole,

0:24:530:24:55

going to fill it full of compost, and then I'm going to

0:24:550:24:59

put my plant in, just to give it the best possible start in life.

0:24:590:25:03

It's been raining solidly now for four hours.

0:25:030:25:08

But at least we're relatively dry.

0:25:080:25:10

And hopefully, on time to get the garden finished

0:25:120:25:17

before Dorothy gets back.

0:25:170:25:19

I love the positive attitude, Danny. You're certainly no drip.

0:25:190:25:23

Back at Park House, Debbie and I also have to take cover

0:25:250:25:28

while I take the chance to find out why she nominated her mum

0:25:280:25:31

for the Instant Gardener treatment.

0:25:310:25:33

Tell me about your wonderful mum.

0:25:340:25:36

She's just so full of energy and she's just always laughing

0:25:360:25:40

and everybody around the neighbourhood, you hear her coming

0:25:400:25:43

because you hear the stick and then you hear the laugh.

0:25:430:25:46

And then they go, "Oh, Dorothy's coming." She is just brilliant.

0:25:460:25:50

-Her mobility is not what it once was, though, is it?

-No, it's not.

0:25:500:25:53

That really... It's the thing...

0:25:530:25:55

It does get her down because it holds her back quite a lot.

0:25:550:25:57

How bad is the arthritis?

0:25:570:25:59

She's got it in all her joints now - in her neck, in her spine,

0:25:590:26:01

her hands, her feet.

0:26:010:26:03

She's just full of it, really.

0:26:030:26:04

But she had her knee replaced and that was meant to be

0:26:040:26:07

the first of a series of operations, but it didn't go to plan, did it?

0:26:070:26:10

No, and unfortunately, it didn't quite work as we wanted it to

0:26:100:26:14

and it's left her quite lame with that leg, really.

0:26:140:26:17

And that has really debilitated her.

0:26:170:26:19

But she carries on regardless.

0:26:190:26:21

It strikes me that your mum is quite a selfless woman.

0:26:210:26:24

-She brought you and your brother up.

-She's just been brilliant, really.

0:26:240:26:27

Once we were on our way and independent,

0:26:270:26:30

that's when she went off and found a career of her own.

0:26:300:26:33

And even then, she was always caring and always looking after people

0:26:330:26:37

and even though some of the things she encountered

0:26:370:26:40

were quite harrowing,

0:26:400:26:42

she always looked after the people that she was there so care for.

0:26:420:26:45

You know, they came first, always.

0:26:450:26:48

Even to her own detriment, really, but that's how she is.

0:26:480:26:52

That's how she is. And then, of course, the arthritis

0:26:520:26:54

became so bad that she had to retire.

0:26:540:26:56

Unfortunately, she was able to come up to Cumbria

0:26:560:26:59

and be with her dad for his last few years, which was lovely.

0:26:590:27:02

-And you have your two boys.

-Yes.

0:27:020:27:03

Who although they're grown up and doing their own thing,

0:27:030:27:06

you think it's very important to still provide a home for them?

0:27:060:27:09

-That's right.

-And look after your mum.

0:27:090:27:10

-And that's why you've ended up living together.

-That's right.

0:27:100:27:13

How is it going? Three generations in one house.

0:27:130:27:15

We've gelled really quite well, I think. In fact, amazingly so.

0:27:150:27:18

We're all surprised at how well it's gone.

0:27:180:27:21

-SHE GIGGLES

-Nobody's killed anybody yet!

0:27:210:27:23

Because a big change for you, you've given up your own home...

0:27:230:27:26

-That's right.

-..to come and live with your mum.

0:27:260:27:28

Which I thought I would find really hard.

0:27:280:27:30

And it's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be.

0:27:300:27:33

I'm really, really enjoying it

0:27:330:27:35

and I'm really lucky to be able to do what I'm doing.

0:27:350:27:38

-So, we need this garden to be safe, usable and multifunctional?

-Yes.

0:27:380:27:43

No pressure, Danny!

0:27:430:27:45

The biggest pressure Danny faces is time.

0:27:450:27:48

He's only got two and a half hours left to complete Dorothy's garden.

0:27:480:27:52

But with the sleepers and steps now well underway,

0:27:520:27:54

Danny wants to plant a Himalayan willow

0:27:540:27:56

in a planting pocket near the house.

0:27:560:27:59

This will complement the tree used by Dorothy and the family

0:27:590:28:02

as a memorial for her father.

0:28:020:28:04

So, this is the salix Kilmarnock.

0:28:040:28:07

It's the sister to your great-grandad's plant

0:28:070:28:10

-over there.

-Yes.

0:28:100:28:11

It will take about seven years to get like that, to about that size.

0:28:110:28:15

-Right.

-Your grandmother keeps it well and truly trimmed, doesn't she?

0:28:150:28:19

I can see that, she keeps it well and truly under control.

0:28:190:28:22

-So, she can do the same with this.

-OK.

-All right?

0:28:220:28:24

-So that eventually, it will look the same.

-Smashing.

0:28:240:28:28

Where do you think is a best place for this salix to go.

0:28:280:28:31

My nan sits on that seat right there,

0:28:310:28:34

so to be able to look out of those windows

0:28:340:28:36

and see this would be brilliant.

0:28:360:28:38

So, if we put this central to the window,

0:28:380:28:40

it would be ideal, wouldn't it?

0:28:400:28:41

Yes, she'd be able to watch that grow, then.

0:28:410:28:43

With a position marked, Danny gets Nathan and Tim

0:28:430:28:46

to dig deep into the gravel.

0:28:460:28:47

They need to remove as much of the hard soil as possible

0:28:470:28:50

if the new tree's roots are going to be able to establish themselves.

0:28:500:28:54

All you've got to do is take out the pot.

0:28:540:28:56

Just position it, like that. Just put a bit of compost in the bottom.

0:28:570:29:02

Just a couple of handfuls in the bottom.

0:29:020:29:05

And...mix it in.

0:29:070:29:10

Bearing in mind that we've got some slate coming in,

0:29:100:29:13

-we've got two to three inches of slate coming in.

-OK.

0:29:130:29:16

So, we want it to sit just slightly proud, like that.

0:29:160:29:18

So, if we just put another couple of handfuls of compost

0:29:180:29:21

in there, that would be good.

0:29:210:29:23

-And then we just pour the compost in round the side.

-Great stuff.

0:29:300:29:33

So you can do it, one of you holds that nice and upright.

0:29:330:29:36

-And then I'll leave you to it, lads.

-All right, brilliant.

-See you soon.

0:29:360:29:40

While Danny gets the other pockets planted...

0:29:430:29:46

Well done, lads, you're doing a grand job.

0:29:460:29:48

..the team at last gets a break when the rain finally stops.

0:29:480:29:52

Sunshine at last!

0:29:520:29:54

And AJ is feeling warm and bright about his steps, too.

0:29:540:29:58

After looking at the three steps here and there's still

0:29:580:30:01

a bit of a drop here, we decided... I thought I'd measure up

0:30:010:30:04

and see if another step would go in, and it is going to go in.

0:30:040:30:07

Also, not only is it going to go in there and make a fourth step,

0:30:070:30:10

I was a bit worried about the soil

0:30:100:30:12

being retained round the corner there,

0:30:120:30:14

so this is acting as two things.

0:30:140:30:15

Retaining the soil around the back of there

0:30:150:30:17

and also making it easier to step up here,

0:30:170:30:20

less for us to backfill here and everybody's got to be happy.

0:30:200:30:23

Oh, yes, we are radiantly happy,

0:30:250:30:27

especially now the sun is smiling on us.

0:30:270:30:29

With everything going well in the garden, Dorothy, Debbie and I

0:30:320:30:35

have now set off in search of more cottage garden gems.

0:30:350:30:39

Danny wants a shrub with a spring scent to excite

0:30:390:30:41

the senses in the sunken garden,

0:30:410:30:43

so we've come to a local nursery that should be able to help.

0:30:430:30:47

Luckily, Dorothy knows her plants and knows what she likes.

0:30:470:30:50

Easiest job ever. Let's hope so.

0:30:500:30:52

Right, here we are at a traditional growing nursery

0:30:520:30:56

very close to your house.

0:30:560:30:57

-I suspect you've been here before.

-Yes.

-We have.

0:30:570:30:59

-Debbie, you go and enjoy a nice cup of tea.

-Will do.

0:30:590:31:02

Dorothy, you and I are going to have a look around the garden.

0:31:020:31:05

-See you in a bit.

-See you later.

0:31:050:31:07

What would you like in your garden, in terms of plants?

0:31:070:31:10

Well, I would love some shrubs.

0:31:100:31:12

As long as they weren't always low.

0:31:120:31:16

Right, crawling around having to get in...

0:31:160:31:18

No, I can't get down, I can't bend down or get down.

0:31:180:31:21

How important is smell to you?

0:31:210:31:23

Because Danny specifically asked for a shrub with a spring scent.

0:31:230:31:26

-Beautiful.

-Yes?

-Beautiful, yes.

0:31:260:31:29

Something like a daphne?

0:31:290:31:31

-Daphne, yes, that would be beautiful.

-OK.

0:31:310:31:33

-Well, let us go in search of a daphne.

-Thank you.

0:31:330:31:35

Nurseries local to your garden will grow plants in similar soil

0:31:380:31:41

and climate conditions to your own,

0:31:410:31:43

which means they're likely to survive and thrive.

0:31:430:31:46

So, we found local nursery man Matthew Henry for more advice

0:31:460:31:50

on the right scented shrub for Dorothy's garden.

0:31:500:31:52

-Oh, it's beautiful. How lovely.

-It's Matthew.

0:31:540:31:57

-Good to see you!

-Good to see you.

-Hi, Matthew.

-This is Dorothy.

-Hi!

0:31:570:32:01

We are in search of some spring-scented shrubs.

0:32:010:32:05

-Do you have anything that fits the bill?

-We've got plenty, yes.

0:32:050:32:08

Do you want to rest here for a minute?

0:32:080:32:09

-We'll go see if we can find anything that piques your interest.

-Do, do.

0:32:090:32:13

-Yes, thank you, Matthew.

-See you in a sec.

-See ya!

0:32:130:32:15

We leave Dorothy to take the weight off her knee

0:32:150:32:18

because this place is enormous!

0:32:180:32:19

-OK, so we've got the daphnes here.

-Spring-scented shrubs.

0:32:190:32:22

-Lovely.

-All right.

0:32:220:32:24

Won't have much in scent today, but...

0:32:240:32:27

-But they will.

-They will do.

0:32:270:32:29

'When choosing new plants,

0:32:300:32:31

'especially if they're pricey larger shrubs or trees, it's always

0:32:310:32:35

'a good idea to get help from one of the nursery or garden centre team.

0:32:350:32:39

'They'll have the expertise to help you make the right choices

0:32:390:32:42

'for your soil and situation.

0:32:420:32:44

'And they might be able to suggest choices you haven't thought of,

0:32:440:32:47

'giving you fresh inspiration.'

0:32:470:32:49

And then we have this viburnum here.

0:32:490:32:52

Matthew, they look perfect. Is there anything else you'd recommend?

0:32:530:32:56

-We've got a camellia over here.

-OK, does it smell good?

0:32:560:33:00

-It does when it comes out.

-Let's get a camellia.

0:33:000:33:02

-How do you know which is a good one to pick?

-Oh, lots of buds on.

0:33:020:33:06

-Perfect. Matthew, thank you for your help.

-That's all right.

0:33:060:33:09

'Matthew and I wheel our haul off to Dorothy

0:33:090:33:12

'so she can give them the once-over

0:33:120:33:14

'and, hopefully, her seal of approval.'

0:33:140:33:16

Meanwhile back at the garden and with less than two hours to go,

0:33:180:33:22

Danny needs to get that new border behind the sleepers planted up,

0:33:220:33:25

but he seems to have that covered.

0:33:250:33:27

While they're planting those up,

0:33:290:33:30

I'm going to get the rest of the plants from Dorothy's garden.

0:33:300:33:33

So, I'm just going to dig up a few. And I thought, you know,

0:33:330:33:37

I could start with these foxgloves over here.

0:33:370:33:39

The thing with moving plants,

0:33:390:33:41

try and get the whole of the root out.

0:33:410:33:45

I'm going to lift this up and try and get most of it out.

0:33:460:33:50

And, as you can see...

0:33:530:33:55

There, I've got all of it, including the root.

0:33:580:34:01

So, get it in the ground straightaway,

0:34:010:34:03

and then that's going to give it

0:34:030:34:05

the best possible chance to start growing again.

0:34:050:34:08

I've just found these bluebells.

0:34:080:34:10

Now this is a great time to divide them

0:34:100:34:13

cos they're just going over.

0:34:130:34:15

And that way, they won't know that they're going to be moved.

0:34:150:34:18

So, all I'm going to do here is just dig up a clump, like this.

0:34:180:34:22

And there we are, we've got a clump.

0:34:250:34:27

Now out of this clump, we've now got four or five plants.

0:34:270:34:32

So, that means you've got more bang for your buck.

0:34:320:34:34

And talking of saving money, AJ has used all the offcuts

0:34:360:34:39

from the sleepers to make another set of steps.

0:34:390:34:42

Now that's what I call an added extra.

0:34:420:34:44

Here are the offcuts of the sleepers, I thought I'd just make

0:34:440:34:47

a nice little step for Dorothy to be able to get down into the garden.

0:34:470:34:50

Hope she likes it.

0:34:500:34:51

The planting is now in full swing,

0:34:540:34:56

but Danny's got a camellia he wants to pot up.

0:34:560:34:58

Luckily, I'm still at the nursery

0:34:580:35:00

with Dorothy and a trolley full of shrubs.

0:35:000:35:02

Danny! Hello.

0:35:040:35:06

Hello, Helen.

0:35:060:35:07

-I have found some plants that I think you're going to like.

-OK.

0:35:070:35:10

I found some daphne and some other bits and bobs.

0:35:100:35:12

Is there anything else you need?

0:35:120:35:14

There is something else I could do with apart from the daphne.

0:35:140:35:17

Now, I'd like a pot

0:35:170:35:19

because I've got a lovely camellia I'd like to plant up.

0:35:190:35:23

-No problem, Danny, I will get that for you.

-With some ericaceous soil.

0:35:230:35:27

OK, no worries.

0:35:270:35:28

-Speak to you soon.

-'Bye!'

0:35:280:35:29

A camellia...

0:35:290:35:31

..that is looking for a pot and some soil.

0:35:320:35:35

I can do that.

0:35:350:35:36

First though, I wanted to show Dorothy the gorgeous shrub

0:35:360:35:39

Matthew has helped me pick out for her.

0:35:390:35:41

-OK, Dorothy, cast your eye over these.

-Oh, beautiful.

0:35:410:35:45

Matthew has picked these because they all have strong scents.

0:35:450:35:48

Why do you need scented plants in your garden?

0:35:480:35:50

Well, in the winter, cos there's not a lot of insects around,

0:35:500:35:53

the fragrance of the plants brings them in,

0:35:530:35:56

-so they can help pollinate it.

-Yes, yes.

0:35:560:35:58

And then you can enjoy the scent every time you walk outside.

0:35:580:36:01

-So good for the garden, good for us?

-Yes, and good for the insects.

0:36:010:36:05

And some of these are winter flowering, aren't they?

0:36:050:36:07

Yeah, they are.

0:36:070:36:09

The daphnes, mainly. Eternal fragrance.

0:36:090:36:12

So it's very slow-growing,

0:36:120:36:14

but the scent on it is beautiful.

0:36:140:36:15

Once they get well-established,

0:36:150:36:17

you'll get loads of flowers on them, you'll have scent all winter.

0:36:170:36:20

-Beautiful.

-So, if you have flowering plants

0:36:200:36:22

in your garden in the winter,

0:36:220:36:24

you're more likely to attract wildlife in the winter?

0:36:240:36:26

-Yeah, you are.

-Is that important?

0:36:260:36:28

That's important, very important, especially the birds.

0:36:280:36:31

Well, Matthew, these are brilliant, thank you so much for your help.

0:36:310:36:33

-My pleasure.

-Let's take these to the till, then.

-All right.

0:36:330:36:36

-Thank you, Matthew. Thank you.

-Any time, my pleasure.

0:36:360:36:39

Brilliant, Matthew, thank you! Well, these look brill.

0:36:390:36:42

They do, they do.

0:36:420:36:43

While Dorothy joins Debbie for a well earned cuppa,

0:36:440:36:47

I raced back to the garden in the sweetest smelling car ever.

0:36:470:36:51

With under an hour to go and the clock ticking,

0:36:510:36:53

AJ has fitted a wooden edging to the floor of the sunken garden

0:36:530:36:57

to separate the two different coloured slates Danny's chosen.

0:36:570:37:00

Meanwhile, the man himself has a few more lovely shrubs

0:37:000:37:03

to include in the new border.

0:37:030:37:05

Now, I've chosen this lovely sarcococca.

0:37:060:37:09

It's absolutely wonderful

0:37:090:37:10

and the reason I've chosen it is because it gives you flower

0:37:100:37:13

in the winter

0:37:130:37:15

and it's also got a wonderful scent.

0:37:150:37:16

Now, there aren't many plants that flower in the winter,

0:37:160:37:19

but this is one of them.

0:37:190:37:21

So, I'm going to place this over there in a seating position,

0:37:210:37:25

and that's going to be great

0:37:250:37:26

because it's going to be at nose level for Dorothy.

0:37:260:37:29

So, when she comes out here in the winter,

0:37:290:37:31

she can smell the lovely scent.

0:37:310:37:33

Now, this camellia here, when Dorothy comes out

0:37:330:37:36

with her cup of tea,

0:37:360:37:38

she might have made it from the leaf from this plant

0:37:380:37:42

because this is also known as the tea plant.

0:37:420:37:45

This has a lovely

0:37:450:37:47

yellowy white flour.

0:37:470:37:48

This camellia is going to go in the pot

0:37:480:37:51

because it needs ericaceous soil,

0:37:510:37:53

and Helen's bringing that back for me a bit later on.

0:37:530:37:56

Now, this gorgeous, brightly coloured pittosporum,

0:37:560:38:00

it's absolutely wonderful.

0:38:000:38:01

And this has got a gorgeous honey scent.

0:38:010:38:03

And now, this can grow to be quite large,

0:38:030:38:07

but you can keep it trimmed.

0:38:070:38:08

And that's what I would do.

0:38:080:38:10

I mean, I'm looking at Dorothy's style of gardening,

0:38:100:38:13

and she tends to keep everything nice and neat and small.

0:38:130:38:17

I just cut them with a pair of secateurs like this

0:38:170:38:20

and keep it nicely trimmed and in shape.

0:38:200:38:23

Just half an hour to go now and our rain cover can come on down at last.

0:38:250:38:29

But there's still loads to do,

0:38:290:38:31

so it seems like a good moment for me to wade in and lend a hand.

0:38:310:38:34

Whoa!

0:38:380:38:39

The long-awaited daphne that Danny requires, and the pot he requested.

0:38:400:38:46

It's nearly dark, so I hope this is nearly done.

0:38:470:38:50

Oh, my goodness!

0:38:500:38:53

-Hello, Helen. All right?

-Ah, this is incredible!

-Is that my daphne?

0:38:530:38:58

Yes, here's your daphne, here's your pot.

0:38:580:39:01

-Danny, this looks amazing.

-You like it?

0:39:010:39:03

Amazing, I'm really excited, I think she's going to love this.

0:39:030:39:06

What can I do to kind of help us over the final...?

0:39:060:39:09

Well, perhaps plant that pot up for me.

0:39:090:39:11

I get stuck in with potting up that precious camellia

0:39:130:39:16

with a special acid-enriched compost Danny asked me to bring.

0:39:160:39:20

There are lots of popular garden shrubs that depend on acid,

0:39:200:39:23

also known as ericaceous, soil conditions.

0:39:230:39:26

Check the labels when you buy new shrubs.

0:39:260:39:29

They will always tell you if it's on acid lover.

0:39:290:39:31

And if it is,

0:39:310:39:32

just add a good helping of ericaceous compost to the pot

0:39:320:39:36

or dig some into the border.

0:39:360:39:37

Here's hoping this camellia will grow strong

0:39:370:39:40

and flower well for Dorothy.

0:39:400:39:41

There you go, is that all right?

0:39:430:39:44

That looks lovely, you've done a grand job.

0:39:440:39:47

With everything planted,

0:39:510:39:53

it's now a frantic dash to get all the slate down and level.

0:39:530:39:56

But wait, is that a specialist tool I see before me?

0:39:560:40:00

This rake, they call it a landscape rake.

0:40:000:40:03

If you turn it the other way round, you can use it to level off.

0:40:030:40:07

-Danny!

-Yeah?

0:40:070:40:08

That is not the two-way landscaping rake, is it?

0:40:080:40:10

That's the two-way landscaping rake.

0:40:100:40:12

-So, you can use it on one side or the other.

-You can.

-Let's have it!

0:40:120:40:15

You can!

0:40:150:40:16

I mean, AJ can't do it with his rake,

0:40:160:40:18

-but you can do it with this one.

-No!

0:40:180:40:20

'Sometimes it's like working with the Chuckle Bros.'

0:40:200:40:23

AJ, we do need to do one thing - move that seat down to here.

0:40:230:40:27

-Can you give us a hand?

-Yes.

-Come on.

0:40:270:40:29

'As a finishing touch,

0:40:290:40:31

'we're repositioning Dorothy's old stone bench.

0:40:310:40:34

'And bend your knees.'

0:40:340:40:36

Ah!

0:40:360:40:37

Think you might need to move it over a bit more. Where are you going?

0:40:370:40:40

-This one'll go here.

-Oh, over the two? OK.

-Over the two, yeah.

0:40:400:40:43

Oh, great.

0:40:430:40:44

'Oh, come on, team, make your mind up.'

0:40:440:40:47

How's your arms?

0:40:470:40:48

Bit longer now?

0:40:480:40:49

Yeah.

0:40:510:40:53

'And with the bench finally at rest in its new home, our work is done.

0:40:530:40:57

'But what will Dorothy and Debbie think?'

0:40:570:40:59

At the start of the day, Dorothy's garden was a disaster area.

0:41:020:41:06

The massive crater just outside her backdoor was as hideous

0:41:060:41:10

as it was hazardous.

0:41:100:41:12

But in a few daylight hours,

0:41:120:41:14

Danny and the team have turned it into a beautiful, tranquil

0:41:140:41:18

and relaxing sunken garden, filled with scented plants.

0:41:180:41:22

That treacherous threatening bank has been shored up

0:41:220:41:25

with sturdy sleepers to give it a natural and inviting structure.

0:41:250:41:29

The previously isolated upper area of the garden has now been linked

0:41:300:41:35

with wide wooden steps.

0:41:350:41:36

And there are new planting beds filled with highly fragrant

0:41:360:41:40

cottage garden plants, which give continuity to a much-loved space.

0:41:400:41:45

The rough uneven ground that was filled with old bricks and rubble

0:41:450:41:48

is now a level patio covered in contrasting coloured slate.

0:41:480:41:52

And Danny has added several planting pockets,

0:41:520:41:55

including one for a young

0:41:550:41:56

Kilmarnock willow,

0:41:560:41:57

that matches the one

0:41:570:41:59

Dorothy planted for her father.

0:41:590:42:01

All in all, it's one of the most amazing transformations

0:42:010:42:04

Danny's ever made.

0:42:040:42:06

But what will Dorothy make of it all?

0:42:060:42:08

Right.

0:42:090:42:10

Now, step out here.

0:42:100:42:12

Come on. Come out, come out.

0:42:140:42:16

Enjoy it. DOROTHY GASPS

0:42:170:42:19

'And it seems that for once,

0:42:210:42:23

'this normally chatty lady is lost for words.'

0:42:230:42:26

Oh, that is beautiful!

0:42:270:42:29

You star, that's beautiful.

0:42:320:42:34

Gosh, you've worked so hard!

0:42:370:42:39

You should thank your sons cos they were brilliant.

0:42:390:42:41

And they're a real credit to you. Fantastic.

0:42:410:42:44

-Thank you.

-Good, good.

0:42:440:42:46

-Very, very proud of them.

-Yeah.

-So you should be.

-Yes, lovely.

0:42:460:42:51

-I love it!

-How different is it?

0:42:510:42:53

I never thought you would do it so like this.

0:42:530:42:58

We've seen a sunken garden today and we've commented on it so much.

0:42:580:43:04

And we've cut our own sunken garden.

0:43:040:43:07

And look, raised beds for you so you can reach them.

0:43:070:43:10

Yes, I can reach all round and I can reach them as well.

0:43:100:43:13

-You wanted some raised beds.

-Yes.

0:43:130:43:14

-That's for the rest of the garden.

-Pittosporum!

0:43:140:43:16

-My favourite, I love pittosporum.

-Debbie's favourite.

0:43:160:43:19

There's three there, so there's two of one variety.

0:43:190:43:22

-And Grandad's tree still.

-And Grandad's tree's there.

0:43:220:43:25

Ah, lovely.

0:43:250:43:26

-You've seen this one here?

-Oh, look!

0:43:260:43:28

-That replicates that one over there.

-Yes!

-It's the same tree.

0:43:300:43:34

It'll probably take about six years to get it to that size.

0:43:340:43:37

-Six years.

-That's right, as that's six.

-That's six years old?

0:43:370:43:41

Well, there you go.

0:43:410:43:42

It been a wonderful day. You've treated us well.

0:43:420:43:46

And we've had some fun, even if the weather wasn't well.

0:43:460:43:49

We've worked really hard. Oh, you're making me upset now!

0:43:490:43:52

Have a look around your garden.

0:43:520:43:55

You're a joy to be around, Dorothy. Enjoy your garden.

0:43:550:43:58

-Thank you very much, pet.

-You're a total joy.

0:43:580:44:01

-Go and have a little explore.

-We will do.

0:44:010:44:03

Every now and again in this job, you meet amazing people

0:44:070:44:09

who need a little bit of a helping hand

0:44:090:44:12

and a point in the right direction.

0:44:120:44:14

It was a crater this morning.

0:44:140:44:16

Now it is a superb sunken garden for all the family to enjoy

0:44:160:44:19

for years to come.

0:44:190:44:21

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