Pennod 10 Garddio a Mwy

-*

-Welcome once again to Garddio A Mwy.

-Well, it's the middle of July.

-But the changeable weather

-we've had of late...

-..isn't making things easy

-in the garden.

-Today, I'll be doing some clearing.

-While Iwan does that,

-I'll be in Mold...

-..helping to bring colour

-into a garden before a summer party.

-I'll prepare a simple pudding

-packed with flavour from the garden.

-Hopefully!

-All this and more on Garddio A Mwy.

-Flowers in pots bring colour

-to any corner of the garden.

-Where flowers are concerned,

-everyone has their favourites.

-Usually,

-Sioned takes care of these pots...

-..and this is her favourite,

-the Agapanthus.

-Later, Meinir joins us

-here at Pont y Twr.

-But first, she's been looking

-at the various composts available...

-..and how to choose the one

-that's suitable for your pots.

-Compost, compost and more compost.

-If the choices make your head spin,

-you're not the only ones.

-I'm looking at compost

-for pots today...

-..so forget conditioners and manure,

-as they are for garden soils.

-I'll ignore ericaceous composts too.

-They're for plants

-that grow in acidic soil.

-Azaleas, rhododendrons

-and heather, for example.

-These four are typical of the types

-available at any garden centre.

-They're even sold

-at supermarkets now.

-Which is the right one for you?

-The first question to ask is...

-..do you need multipurpose compost

-that's traditionally peat-based?

-Or do you need soil-based compost,

-like this one?

-This is a mixture of humus,

-loam, grit and added nutrients.

-This is John Innes's blend,

-from the 1930s.

-The important thing

-to remember is...

-..if you're growing a plant

-that will stay in a pot for years...

-..you need John Innes compost.

-There are different types

-for plants of various ages...

-..so choose the compost

-that suits your plant.

-If they're pots and baskets

-that are outside for the summer...

-..we need a multipurpose compost.

-This one is 40-70% peat.

-As the name suggests, it'll do

-whatever you want it to do.

-You can sow seeds in it.

-It'll fill your pots

-or hanging baskets.

-It'll feed plants

-for a month to six weeks or so...

-..then that's it.

-After that, there are very little

-nutrients in it to feed plants.

-This type, among the cheapest,

-costs about 10 for three bags.

-Conversely, this one,

-one of the dearest...

-..costs almost 10 for one bag.

-The composition is similar...

-..but if you look closely..

-..you'll see

-added nutrients in this one.

-It'll feed plants

-for about six months...

-..so it lasts a lot longer.

-This one also contains crystals,

-although you can't see them...

-..crystals that retain moisture.

-You can water them less often...

-..but the plants

-still get the water they need.

-These two are peat-based,

-as I mentioned.

-But using peat in compost has

-been the subject of debate recently.

-Peat bogs are a habitat and an

-ecosystem that are becoming rarer.

-So, collecting peat and putting it

-in bags for gardeners...

-..does raise

-environmental questions.

-Consequently, many people

-recommend peat-free composts.

-This is an example.

-It's made from timber

-and paper waste...

-..as well as added nutrients.

-There are some very good ones

-on the market now.

-You can even plant seeds

-in this one, for example.

-If you care about the environment,

-choose peat-free composts.

-And there we are.

-Plenty of choice.

-But it's not as complicated

-as you first think.

-We always use peat-free compost

-here at Pont y Twr, by the way...

-..for the environmental reasons

-that Meinir mentioned.

-If you are a regular viewer...

-..you'll know that the plants and

-colours are constantly changing...

-..here in the borders

-in front of the house.

-But that takes a lot of planning.

-That's just what I've done here.

-Early in the season,

-we have tulips.

-Later, the Viburnum

-fills with white flowers.

-By now, they've given way

-to red berries.

-The Allium blooms at the same time,

-but there only a few of them left.

-But now, the roses...

-..catmint and Alchemilla mollis

-are in all their glory.

-These purple wallflowers

-have blossomed since the spring.

-They do look wonderful.

-Back in April, Mair from Mold

-got in touch seeking our help.

-She wanted her garden to be

-in full bloom and at its best...

-..for a summer party

-that she was going to hold.

-Three months ago,

-we went to see what we could do.

-Just like the forward planning I do

-for Pont y Twr's flower borders...

-..Mair also needs a plan

-to ensure floral colour...

-..for a special event in her garden.

-What is going to be happening here?

-The idea

-is to hold an afternoon tea...

-..to raise money

-for the people of the Philippines.

-The appeal is called Corwynt Cariad.

-They have suffered terribly

-with floods.

-I thought I'd organize something

-to raise money.

-I hope people will come!

-Before planting, I'll get rid

-of the old soil from the pots.

-This is last year's compost,

-and all the nutrients have gone.

-After that, I'm ready

-to fill the pots with new soil.

-I've put lots of fresh soil

-into the pots.

-Now for the planting.

-I've bought this Geranium,

-called Purple.

-It has a pinky-purplish hue...

-..with lots of flowers to come.

-That's why I chose these.

-Mair wants these

-looking perfect by June.

-The dead flowers

-will need to be cut...

-..to promote the young buds

-that are still to come.

-I've got a few of those to plant.

-Between them,

-I'm putting these small Violas.

-These are Sky Blue Martien.

-The reason I chose these...

-..is that instead

-of staying in one clump...

-..these will hang over the edge

-and spread.

-These will also flower all summer.

-All you need to do...

-..is cut off the dead flowers

-as with the Geraniums...

-..then more and more flowers

-will replace them.

-After a month in the larger pots...

-..they'll need to be fed

-with liquid fertilizer...

-..to get the best out of them.

-Finally, I'll plant the blue pots,

-which are themselves colourful.

-These pink Petunias

-will also complement the Geraniums.

-They'll grow quickly

-and flower all summer long.

-These white Marguerites

-go in the stone pots.

-They'll be like a flash of light

-as people arrive.

-When the big day dawns...

-..all the planning

-that Mair and I did pays off.

-The garden is colourful and summery,

-and everyone seems to enjoy it.

-There are lots of people here.

-I hope there's some cake left!

-I hope there's some cake left!

-

-Yes, there's a special cake!

-With a flower on it.

-No. The ones with a pansy.

-Mmm! It's lovely.

-The party was a great success,

-it seems.

-Mair's garden looked very nice,

-and very tidy as well.

-If your garden isn't as tidy,

-don't worry too much.

-If, like us, you have

-a wild part of the garden...

-..or maybe it's all wild...

-..it's not necessarily a bad thing.

-It's great for wildlife.

-But in our garden,

-here by the stream...

-..I need to control this plant.

-Wild angelica.

-This plant has already flowered.

-When these seeds

-fall to the ground...

-..it takes ten years

-for the new plants to flower.

-After they bloom,

-the flower heads are so heavy...

-..that the plants splay open,

-and they don't look very tidy.

-I don't want to get rid of it,

-because it benefits wildlife.

-The number of moths and beetles

-here in summer are quite a sight.

-I just want to control it

-to encourage a range of plants here.

-My tool of choice is the sickle.

-In the old days, people ate this.

-You can cut these, put holes in them

-and make some sort of flute.

-There is also

-a garden variety of angelica.

-It also belongs to

-the carrot family, the Umbellifers.

-It's a different colour,

-the flowers are tidier...

-..and it's not quite as much

-of a bully as its wild counterpart.

-It's not that much tidier yet,

-but it's certainly a good start.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-There you are.

-Are you OK?

-Yes, fine. You?

-Yes, fine. You?

-

-Yes.

-I can't hug you

-because I've brought plants.

-They look nice.

-They look nice.

-

-Delphiniums.

-My latest plan

-is to transform this bare patch...

-..into a colourful perennial bed,

-and Meinir has come over to help.

-For the border, Sioned has chosen

-a theme of pink, purple and blue.

-That's different to my favourite

-red, orange and yellow palette.

-I'm looking forward to helping her,

-and to getting some new ideas.

-On the pink side, we have David

-Austin's Gertrude Jekyll rose...

-..and Penstemon Hidcote Pink, with

-the Clematis and Salvia for purple.

-Blue Delphiniums and others will

-complement and emphasize colours.

-Are you happy for me to put

-this Penstemon in the middle here?

-It would be nice

-to have some height there.

-I'll put the rose on this trellis.

-These light Pinks here in the front?

-Then these two, one on either side.

-They're pretty.

-There?

-We'll separate those.

-We'll separate those.

-

-That's a good idea.

-Ooh!

-That'll be nice, Sioned.

-That'll be nice, Sioned.

-

-It will, won't it?

-This is Delphinium Summer Night.

-It's very pretty.

-There aren't many flowers

-in this shade of vivid blue.

-It's lovely.

-You could say that Delphiniums

-are fairly old-fashioned.

-It suits a cottage garden.

-It's also great to cut

-and use in floral arrangements.

-That's something I look for

-in anything I plant.

-If it's useful,

-it can go into the garden.

-Next, the Salvia.

-They're all related

-to the common sage.

-That also has lovely purple flowers.

-Salvias come

-in all sorts of colours.

-There are red ones, purple ones.

-This one is white.

-Some are tall,

-but this one is squat.

-It won't grow

-any higher than 50 centimetres.

-That hole's a bit too deep.

-It'll be very nice

-in a group of three.

-After a few years in this border...

-..they'll all resemble

-one long hedge.

-That'll work very well, I think.

-I'll now plant a climbing rose

-by the obelisk.

-How do climbers and ramblers differ?

-A rambler has smaller flowers...

-..and they can grow in clusters.

-They grow so quickly.

-You have to control a climber more.

-What I'll do with these is tie them

-so that they grow laterally.

-You have more control over them.

-You would never plant a rambler

-on an obelisk.

-You'd put it against a wall...

-..or over a pergola,

-like the one we have in the garden.

-Like that?

-That can then grow

-around the corner.

-If you plant a rose near a wall...

-..leave a gap of about a foot

-to give enough room for the roots.

-With an obelisk, the plant

-needs to be quite close...

-..so that it can attach itself

-and climb up the obelisk.

-Exactly.

-This will be lovely, Sioned.

-Thanks for coming to help.

-Thanks for coming to help.

-

-I'm delighted to, Sioned.

-It's nice to see

-how much the garden has changed.

-It's lovely here,

-but you've worked hard.

-It is hard work,

-but I enjoy every minute of it.

-Let's see how the border looks.

-That's pretty, isn't it?

-Do you know, it really is.

-Do you know, it really is.

-

-It does look nice.

-Tips From The Nursery

-Roses are a great buy

-at this time of year.

-They flower for months and months.

-The only drawback

-is that diseases do strike them.

-Rust is one, mildew is another.

-Even worse is black spot.

-Apart from that,

-it's a very robust plant.

-They'll grow up to about six feet.

-They also have a lovely scent

-and they'll flower all summer long.

-This is Begonia Dragon Wing...

-..and this

-is Begonia Million Kisses.

-This is only for the summer.

-Once autumn comes,

-and frost threatens, it dies off.

-Once it had died off, take up the

-bulbs and keep them until next year.

-Replant the tub with daffodils

-or tulips for the winter.

-The day dawns for every gardener...

-..when the garden

-truly starts to produce crops.

-After that wet end to June...

-..there has been

-an explosion of growth.

-The courgettes were nothing

-a few weeks ago...

-..but I'm now harvesting them

-every other day.

-This lovely yellow one is ready.

-I'm also really happy

-with the quality of the crop.

-You'd buy similar ones in the shop,

-but they taste so much better.

-These are the Brassicas

-that I put under the net last week.

-They're doing quite well.

-There are no signs of any

-cabbage white butterfly eggs...

-..so I'm happy with that.

-Over here are the runner beans.

-Don't they look wonderful?

-They're at the top of the frame,

-and they've started to flower.

-I've experimented this year

-with two different varieties.

-The white flower

-is a new variety called Moonlight.

-It doesn't need bees

-to pollinate it.

-It's self-pollinating.

-This one is Scarlet Emperor,

-with the traditional red flower.

-This does need bees to pollinate it.

-It'll be interesting to see

-the difference between them.

-Over here, I have the kohlrabi.

-Earlier in the series, I told you

-it was my first time growing it.

-That's looking very good.

-Another new crop at Pont y Twr...

-..is komatsuna, or Japanese spinach.

-It has a strong spinach flavour.

-But at this time of year,

-I really like doing one thing.

-Picking fruit from the bushes.

-I must say, I've had

-an excellent crop this year.

-But the summer raspberries

-are coming to an end now.

-The children have been busy

-picking them, and they enjoy it.

-Once these have finished...

-..I'll prune the branches

-that bore fruit this year...

-..then tie the new growth

-to the frame...

-..because they will be flowering

-and bearing fruit next year.

-I'll make the best use

-of these raspberries...

-..in one of my favourite treats

-at this time of year.

-I'm going to make a coulis...

-..a fruit sauce, at least...

-..to go with this basil ice cream.

-I understand

-that Meinir likes it.

-As she has come here,

-I thought I'd make some.

-It's so easy to make at home.

-All you need

-is some basil from the garden...

-..mixed with some sugar,

-mascarpone and natural yoghurt.

-Put in the freezer and turn it

-with a fork every two hours.

-But for me, the sauce

-is the true taste of summer.

-It's very simple to make.

-Wash the raspberries,

-then put them in a pan...

-..with a little water and

-just enough sugar to cover them.

-Simmer for a few minutes

-until the sugar has dissolved.

-Once it starts to boil,

-it smells absolutely wonderful.

-That looks ready now.

-All I need to do now is to mash it.

-I'm mashing it because I don't want

-to get rid of the seeds.

-I want it to look like real fruit.

-A food processor

-would blend it too finely.

-Wow!

-Look at that.

-Here we are, here we are.

-What are we having?

-Basil ice cream.

-Oh, my favourite!

-Just for you, Meinir!

-With raspberry sauce.

-Straight from the garden, of course.

-Try it,

-but you must say it's lovely!

-I'm sure it will be.

-Mmm!

-It is nice.

-It's wonderful.

-I know summer's here when you've

-made the first coulis of the year.

-Hooray!

-Hooray!

-

-And very nice it is too.

-I hope you have a good summer.

-This is the last in the series.

-We will be back in September.

-I hope you'll join us then.

-In the meantime,

-enjoy the gardening.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.