0:00:02 > 0:00:04Do you have a small garden but a big idea?
0:00:04 > 0:00:07Do you know what you'd like it to look like
0:00:07 > 0:00:09but no idea really of where to begin?
0:00:10 > 0:00:11Well, you're not alone.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Over the last year, I've been working with people right across
0:00:14 > 0:00:19the country, helping them to make their garden dreams become reality.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Monty Don has listened to their hopes and plans.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28It's absolutely a crazy idea - and I love it.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30He's given advice...
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Don't be frightened to push plants into crevices.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35..and he's rolled up his sleeves.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37- Let's not talk about it, let's just do it.- Do it.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Talk about a lean, mean, gardening machine.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Things haven't always gone to plan...
0:00:42 > 0:00:45I thought we were going to make four raised beds?
0:00:45 > 0:00:48I'm a bit worried that we might have killed it.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50..but it's been worth it.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- What a beautiful garden. - I'm so happy.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- Thank you, Monty. - ALL: Cheers!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I do believe that however small your garden is,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02everybody can cultivate a big dream.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14I love the way that we British are so passionate about our gardens,
0:01:14 > 0:01:20and that even the smallest space can have creativity poured into it,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24and this passion leads us to spend £5 billion
0:01:24 > 0:01:28every year on gardening. But in this series, I want to show that
0:01:28 > 0:01:31money isn't everything, and size really doesn't matter.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36This week, Monty will be meeting two sets of gardeners battling
0:01:36 > 0:01:38with extreme conditions.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40From Welsh rock face...
0:01:40 > 0:01:42I could hold your ankle.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44..to a garden ravaged by salty winds...
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I'm just battling the elements all the time.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49..Monty will need both his brains...
0:01:49 > 0:01:51- A little bit of homework... - Yeah.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54- ..would have sorted this out. - Yeah, we've learnt that lesson now.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56..and his brawn...
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Very impressed with Monty's strength and skills.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03..to help make some dreams come true.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05- Cheers, everybody. - ALL: Cheers.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Our first garden is just a stone's throw
0:02:21 > 0:02:24from Hayling Island Beach in Hampshire.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27It belongs to Sharon, Marcus and their two daughters,
0:02:27 > 0:02:28Holly and Grace.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Come on.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34The beach is really the big attraction for us.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38We're not alone, a lot of people like living by the sea
0:02:38 > 0:02:40and the water certainly has a great appeal.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47So much so, they've spent the last six years
0:02:47 > 0:02:51filling their New England style home with nautical notes.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Now their dream is to give their small front garden
0:02:55 > 0:02:57the same American seaside look.
0:02:59 > 0:03:05Just very square and uninspiring, and nothing really works together.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09The lawn has just sort of become worse and worse,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12it's very uneven, it doesn't grow very well.
0:03:12 > 0:03:13It's just dead!
0:03:13 > 0:03:16And the trampoline has become a bit of an eyesore.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18And when it comes to the plants,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Sharon is ready to throw in the trowel.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Most disappointing, I think, is this yew tree.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27I really love this yew tree, so the top half is thriving and is
0:03:27 > 0:03:31doing really nicely, but the bottom half for some reason has just died.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Er, the only thing that does make sense in the garden, to me,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37is the Christmas tree,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40but it's probably the only thing that I want to save in the garden.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Our second garden is in the dramatic mountains of North Wales.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52After falling in love with the beautiful landscape,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Adam and his partner Andy made a snap decision to up sticks from
0:03:55 > 0:03:59their city centre home and move to the picturesque village of Corris.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03We were right in the centre of Bournemouth,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and towards the end of being there I just felt really hemmed in.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09I wanted that feeling of space, and we've certainly got that here.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10THEY LAUGH
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Hello, pigs.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18In search of self-sufficiency, they decided to start a smallholding.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22The key thing for us was, when we moved here,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24to make a living from our home.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26I love going round in the morning and feeding the chickens,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28the pigs, the ducks.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Hello, duckies.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Keeping them is really lovely and then we get the bonus
0:04:33 > 0:04:35of the eggs and the meat.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Look, one of them is growing a lot faster than the other one.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Oi, stop it.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44After two years of digging deep to establish the smallholding,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47they now want to focus on creating a space
0:04:47 > 0:04:49to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52The garden at the moment isn't so much a garden,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55it's more a space that's kind of been neglected, because we've
0:04:55 > 0:04:59been working on the animals and the produce and everything like that.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Their dream is to take their tiny garden,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05level it off and make a place to entertain and relax.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08The only thing standing in their way is a towering rock face,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11the wet weather and their complete lack of plant knowledge.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18We need plants that can withstand that and thrive
0:05:18 > 0:05:21out there, we don't really know much about what to choose.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40It's late autumn on Hayling Island.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Sharon and Marcus have the daunting task of showing the
0:05:43 > 0:05:47country's top gardener around their rather dishevelled front garden.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51So this is the area, is it?
0:05:51 > 0:05:56Yes, as you can see, the grass is a bit threadbare in parts,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59and the planting doesn't look very great,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01but it's just very square.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Let me just be quite clear.
0:06:03 > 0:06:09- The sea is, what, 300 yards away? - Yeah, about that, yeah.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11So do you get really strong winds coming in?
0:06:11 > 0:06:15Very strong winds, often for days at a time, erm,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and a lot of salt actually, that's probably the bigger problem.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Right, so whatever you plant must be adapted to salt.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Absolutely, and we've realised there's no point fighting that.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28OK, what's the grand plan?
0:06:28 > 0:06:31The grand plan is a Cape Cod, beachy style garden.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Crikey! SHARON AND MARCUS LAUGH
0:06:34 > 0:06:38As we stand on grass with... with four borders.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40It's probably hard to imagine now.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43I think to take up all this turf,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46put some new turf down, and as part of that process,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50maybe a wooden boardwalk from that gate, going towards this gate.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55And then try and dig a big hole and sink the trampoline down.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Do you have to have the trampoline?
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Yes, we do, our 13-year-old daughter, she competes regionally
0:07:01 > 0:07:05at trampolining, and so she does need it for her practice.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Since they must keep the trampoline, Sharon and Marcus have
0:07:10 > 0:07:13come up with the sensible idea of sinking it into the ground.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15They also plan to re-turf the lawn
0:07:15 > 0:07:19and add a wooden boardwalk to give the garden a seaside look.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23So far, so good, but Monty is about to give them
0:07:23 > 0:07:25a reality check on their beach dream.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30I mean, when you talked about keeping some grass,
0:07:30 > 0:07:33I personally would say it's a VERY bad idea.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35It just won't look good. BOTH: No.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38No, I have thought about that, and I have thought about, you know,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41stones, again the very beachy feel to it,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44but the girls do like to sit out here.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48And it's not just the lawn that Monty wants to do away with.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Your Christmas tree, is that essential?
0:07:51 > 0:07:52We do like the Christmas tree.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54LAUGHTER
0:07:54 > 0:07:55Must it REALLY stay?
0:07:56 > 0:08:00We both really love pine trees and, erm...
0:08:00 > 0:08:02We would like to keep it somewhere.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05As it is, looking like a Christmas tree, it doesn't
0:08:05 > 0:08:10fit with my concept of a Cape Cod sort of beach garden going down.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15It would move very easily. The next obvious question is,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18you want to rip everything out, move things around,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20you're digging holes, you're making decking - what's your budget?
0:08:20 > 0:08:24It's a very small budget, we only have £1,000.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28I mean, £1,000 is... really tricky.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31If you sort of squeeze an extra 500...
0:08:31 > 0:08:34- Yes, yeah.- ..that would transform the planting, say.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38If we have to find a couple more hundred for the plants,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41I would like to get it right first time, because I think over
0:08:41 > 0:08:45the six years we've lived here, I've probably wasted between
0:08:45 > 0:08:50£700 and £800 on things that haven't survived.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Right, so that's a really good point, is that if you don't
0:08:54 > 0:08:58plan it and you don't spend your money wisely, it's real loss.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01- Yeah.- I mean, you waste it. - Yes, definitely.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03My suggestions for Sharon and Marcus' beach garden
0:09:03 > 0:09:05are a little more radical.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I'd like to take up the turf and cover their garden in pebbles
0:09:09 > 0:09:13and plants that can resist this very salty environment.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16And although their Christmas tree is the one plant that is
0:09:16 > 0:09:19flourishing, in my opinion, it has to go.
0:09:21 > 0:09:27I think the crucial thing is that they remain true to the basic idea.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31And this is the inspiration, here is the sea, here are the plants.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Yeah, I think there were things which you automatically
0:09:34 > 0:09:36assume need to be part of a garden, like a lawn.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I think it's very engrained that, you know,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41a lawn has to stay as part of a garden.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45As long as they don't lose their nerve,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I think it will be really, really good.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Obviously Monty had other ideas to what Marcus and I
0:09:52 > 0:09:56had initially thought about. I think he's made me
0:09:56 > 0:09:58realise that we can't do a half-hearted job -
0:09:58 > 0:10:00if you're going to have a beachy theme,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02it needs to be properly beachy.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08It's been a few weeks since Monty left,
0:10:08 > 0:10:12and Sharon and Marcus have had to make some difficult decisions.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14But Marcus is a man with a plan,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17or is it more of a case of a boy with a new toy?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Well, the plan for the day is to get as much of the heavy digging
0:10:22 > 0:10:25done as possible. I have only got the digger
0:10:25 > 0:10:28for the day, and it is the first time I've driven a digger,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31so it's all going to be a bit of a learning curve.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33HE STARTS DIGGER ENGINE
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Hey!
0:10:34 > 0:10:37We've, er, we've taken on board some of Monty's suggestions,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39and in fact, taking the Christmas tree out is one of
0:10:39 > 0:10:42the things that he said, because it wouldn't grow on a beach.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47This could take a while.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Monty might approve of the plan, but not the way it's being executed.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Trees should be moved with as much earth
0:10:55 > 0:10:56as possible around their roots.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Just as well spruces like this are particularly resilient.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04MARCUS CHUCKLES
0:11:04 > 0:11:05It's not the most delicate way to do it!
0:11:10 > 0:11:13At least he has the support of his wife.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Bit shocked by the, er, hole.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The Christmas tree's gone and I think I've mentioned previously,
0:11:18 > 0:11:20the Christmas tree was very important to me.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23I think what we've decided is, we will probably try
0:11:23 > 0:11:26and keep it alive and use it as our Christmas tree this year.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28If Marcus doesn't kill it in the meantime.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Needing a helping hand to remove the old fence panels...
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Watch out for the nails.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40..Sharon has enlisted help from their neighbours
0:11:40 > 0:11:43and Marcus' parents.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46It's gone really well actually, I think, considering
0:11:46 > 0:11:49we've had to battle the elements a little bit.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51I'm going to move that panel.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Yeah, it's coming, it's coming.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Digging out the fence posts is proving to be much harder
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- than they expected. - Do you want me to try
0:12:04 > 0:12:06and dig it out a bit so you can see?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Even the digger won't move the roots, so I don't think you're going
0:12:08 > 0:12:11to be able to do very much, you can try, but...
0:12:11 > 0:12:12I don't understand how big
0:12:12 > 0:12:15that lump of concrete is, it seems massive.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18No wonder we can't do that one, look at the size of this one.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20While Marcus is overcoming obstacles,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23Sharon has also realised she has hit a major snag.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Thinking through our budget of the initial £1,000,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29it's not going to be enough.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Er, we've already used a huge chunk of that
0:12:31 > 0:12:35on fencing and, you know, I hadn't factored in things like concrete
0:12:35 > 0:12:39and the shingle that needs to go in the posts and things like that.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Monty suggested that we'd probably have to spend about
0:12:41 > 0:12:43£500 on planting.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Well, I haven't got £500 left at this stage, so yes,
0:12:46 > 0:12:50the budget will be revised because the planting will need to be right.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Despite several setbacks,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55work presses on with their ambitious plan.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01The garden's a little bit destroyed!
0:13:01 > 0:13:04I'm not sure how we're going to feel about that tomorrow morning
0:13:04 > 0:13:07when I open up the curtains and look at the pile of earth that is
0:13:07 > 0:13:10now my front garden, but Monty persuaded us there was no
0:13:10 > 0:13:12halfway measures with a beachy garden,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16you do it or you don't, and as he rightly pointed out,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18you don't often see lawns on the beach.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Today in North Wales, it's Adam and Andy's turn
0:13:28 > 0:13:30to share their dream plans with Monty.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34Until now they've been concentrating on their smallholding,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36but they have ambitious plans for their plot,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40which is all of three metres by three metres square.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42We need a space that is a garden,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45that is effectively somewhere where we can have a drink, chill out
0:13:45 > 0:13:48when we're not doing all of the jobs that we're doing.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- This is the garden, huh?- Ta-dah.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- This is it.- Erm... yeah, it's not massive.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05And how do you feel about the way that this looks now?
0:14:07 > 0:14:12I love the ruggedness of it, erm, obviously it's a bit of a mess
0:14:12 > 0:14:15at the moment but I think there's real potential in there.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18I love the stone wall. I think we could do something interesting...
0:14:18 > 0:14:20To incorporate it into something with plants.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24My impression, for what it's worth, I like the way it looks now.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Tell me as clearly as you can how you imagine this when it's finished.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32In terms of the space, we've got the area, the chance to change the roof
0:14:32 > 0:14:37of this shed here into a flat deck to stand on, so the idea is
0:14:37 > 0:14:41we can get a bigger space than we have now, so that we can...
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- Double, it would double your space, wouldn't it?- Yeah, yeah.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46- And a defined area for eating, and a table.- Yeah.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Adam and Andy dream of having space to relax,
0:14:52 > 0:14:54and have come up with an ingenious solution.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56By levelling off the shed roof and adding wooden decking,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59they would double the size of their new garden.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05It's a practical solution, but not necessarily the prettiest.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09I mean, one of the problems I have about this...
0:15:10 > 0:15:14..is the conjunction between a deck and all the associations of the
0:15:14 > 0:15:19materials and the way it looks... with the naturalistic hillside.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21- Yeah.- So how are you going to marry those two?
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Because, quite frankly, decking can look naff.
0:15:25 > 0:15:26Yeah, I mean, we...
0:15:26 > 0:15:30I guess that's where we're hoping for some advice and...
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Could you have stone edging?
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Could you make the whole thing stone? It's a stone place.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38- Possibly.- Yeah, yeah.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41- You use the materials of the place. - Yeah, yeah.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- I mean, this is about slate and stone.- Yeah.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Are there any particular plants that you love or want to include?
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Er, that might be more of your domain.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53Erm, herbs.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57We'd like, I like the idea of being able to...
0:15:57 > 0:16:00walk out of the door to pick some herbs.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01And then of course that bank
0:16:01 > 0:16:05- which, as a gardener, is the thing that excites me most.- Yeah.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06I love it!
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Look, you've got the little foxgloves growing in here.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14- Hmm.- Little sort of spurge and I don't even mind the grasses
0:16:14 > 0:16:16seeding themselves. When it gets coarse...
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- Yeah. - ..I think you then have to weed.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21But you can plant in here, these are all little planting pockets.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25- Yeah.- A lot of Alpine plants would LOVE that.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- Definitely, I think that would be lovely.- Mmm.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31My interpretation of Adam and Andy's dream
0:16:31 > 0:16:35is based on their need to work WITH their environment.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39I think the new flat area should be replaced with local stone.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42They should add more pots, bursting with flowers and herbs,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45and add Alpine plants to the rocky bank.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49The idea of doing it now is a reality, isn't it?
0:16:49 > 0:16:51And although we always were going to do it, now we've got a
0:16:51 > 0:16:56time scale and we've got expectations on us, so it's great.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58- And slightly scary.- Yeah!
0:16:58 > 0:17:03The really exciting thing for me is that bank, and if I can persuade
0:17:03 > 0:17:09them there is a world of plants that is fascinating, that also relates
0:17:09 > 0:17:12to their love of the place, then that will be a real development.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16WIND HOWLS
0:17:22 > 0:17:24As winter sets in, so does the rain.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Bye-bye, fella.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29Adam and Andy's dream is to create a relaxing space
0:17:29 > 0:17:30where they can entertain.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34At the end of his last visit, Monty left them clear instructions
0:17:34 > 0:17:38to clear up the mess, including the death trap paving slabs.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Well, from the house there's a few that are OK,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and then as you come out to here, erm, they get really wobbly,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50so we're going to take them all out and then we'll level the ground...
0:17:50 > 0:17:54so that it's usable, because at the moment, when we had a
0:17:54 > 0:17:57party before, you've got people stood around, and they're kind of
0:17:57 > 0:17:59stepping off the step or the slate's moving,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01and they're all wobbling around, and once you've had
0:18:01 > 0:18:03a few drinks it's kind of like, "Uh-oh."
0:18:06 > 0:18:09While Adam continues with the hard landscaping,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Andy has taken charge of weeding the rocky bank.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18I think for us it's just making sure we're taking
0:18:18 > 0:18:21the right things out and leaving the right things in.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28It's better for wildlife to hand-pull weeds rather than
0:18:28 > 0:18:31use pesticides, but that's not easy on a rock face.
0:18:35 > 0:18:40I'm trying to take out this dead bramble here, but by doing that,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42I may join the dead bramble.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- LAUGHING:- I could hold your ankle.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49I think the way to do it will be to get a ladder...from that way.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Adam and Andy couldn't be more enthusiastic,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57but even they admit they don't have much of a clue.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59'Gardening is something new to us, you know,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02'it's not something we've done a lot of in the past.'
0:19:02 > 0:19:05'I think the bit we don't know a lot about is the actual,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07'the right kind of plants to choose,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09'and the maintenance of those plants.'
0:19:09 > 0:19:12We're certainly planting and gardening novices, definitely.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Taking self-sufficiency to the limit,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21they've decided to spend as little as possible on their dream.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Only time will tell if their plan will work.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Cup of tea.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33I think considering it has been pelting down all afternoon,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35when you see what we've managed to do despite that,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- it's really encouraging, isn't it? - Yeah.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40- Hot bath and a glass of wine? - THEY LAUGH
0:19:40 > 0:19:43While Corris has been suffering rains, back in Hayling,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45winter was about to do its worst.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50NEWS BULLETIN JINGLE
0:19:50 > 0:19:52- RADIO NEWSREADER:- It's eight o'clock.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55A huge clean-up operation is under way this morning on Hayling Island.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Winds of up to 80mph have battered the south coast overnight.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03In Hampshire, Sharon and Marcus' beach-front garden is bearing
0:20:03 > 0:20:05the brunt of some of the worst storms in decades.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08It's been a very unusual winter, actually,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12it's been extremely stormy.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14We've seen the tide and the waves
0:20:14 > 0:20:16come higher than I can ever remember.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Yeah, it was far from ideal gardening weather, that's for sure.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24As the winds subside, the shoreline is left scattered with driftwood.
0:20:24 > 0:20:25With the budget spent,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Marcus quickly snaps up the free building material.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Er, Marcus is great, because he can basically build anything I want.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38He's got a nice workshop here, so he can do all the work himself
0:20:38 > 0:20:41and he really enjoys it, I mean, he makes garden furniture as
0:20:41 > 0:20:43a bit of a hobby, a sideline.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48What I'm starting to do is just make up the...
0:20:48 > 0:20:50the framework for the boardwalk path.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51Until this actually goes together,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54I'm not sure it's definitely going to work, but the idea is there,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and in principle it's going to work.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Marcus and Sharon are racing ahead to achieve their dream beach garden.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07The next task is to lift the turf,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11lay a weed-suppressing membrane and pour on seven tons of pebbles.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17It's quick to do, but even so,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Sharon can't resist taking a short cut.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24We made the decision not to take up the turf because that was
0:21:24 > 0:21:27an expense that we didn't really need, given our tight budget.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30We don't feel we're going to have any real issues with that.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35Taking the easy option could be a decision they regret,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37especially with a gardening guru on his way.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42So Monty might be a little bit surprised or disappointed
0:21:42 > 0:21:44that we've perhaps compromised
0:21:44 > 0:21:46on some of the things that he suggested.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Hopefully, you know, when he comes next week, he's going to see
0:21:49 > 0:21:51a good blank canvas to be working with
0:21:51 > 0:21:53and he can then give us advice on the area that he
0:21:53 > 0:21:56specialises in, which is the planting side of things.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Back in Wales, a break in the weather has given
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Adam and Andy an opportunity to don their protective outfits
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and remove the shed roof in little under three hours.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- Got it?- Yeah.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Now the heavy landscaping can continue.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Their plan is to infill the shed with stone
0:22:21 > 0:22:23so they can level it off and create more space.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Have you got, erm, any big stuff over there that we can chuck in yet?
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Er, no, not yet, but I will.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33- Shall I save that?- Yeah.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38As usual, the pair are doing all the work themselves in order
0:22:38 > 0:22:40to be as cost-effective as possible.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Well, so far the budget is pretty minimal. I think we've pretty
0:22:47 > 0:22:51much traded and bartered everything so far, we've...
0:22:51 > 0:22:54The railway sleepers are from my dad's farm,
0:22:54 > 0:22:58and these old water boilers, I think they are...
0:22:58 > 0:23:03but all of those we've traded for a weekend helping at the farm.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06I think so far we've probably bought...
0:23:06 > 0:23:08maybe a bag of cement and a bag of sand
0:23:08 > 0:23:10to put the sleepers in, but that's it,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13so hopefully we can kind of carry on along that vein.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31To save money, the boys have come up with a penny-pinching idea.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35They're swapping eggs for plants, and anything is welcome.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- Hello!- Hiya, I've brought you some plants.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Oh, wow, thank you very much.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41Oh, wow.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42Better late than never!
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- Oh, awesome. - There we go - eggs.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Thank you very much.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49- Wild garlic?- Taste it. - It's lovely.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- That's great.- It's all yours. - Thank you very much.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- Do you want some eggs?- No. - I owe you an egg.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00They haven't fully laid today, so next time you're passing.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03You're not working them overtime, are you?
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Well, people keep giving us plants, so we're trying to squeeze
0:24:05 > 0:24:07the eggs out of them as fast as we can!
0:24:11 > 0:24:15Having a smallholding, it's a real connection for everybody,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17you know, the village, the people in the village are amazing.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20They love what we're doing and it's a really nice talking point.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23- Hello, you all right? - Hello, you all right?
0:24:23 > 0:24:24ADAM LAUGHS
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Everyone talks about the boys,
0:24:26 > 0:24:28it's the boys with the pigs, the boys with the hens.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31We just thought they'd be here a couple of months and then gone,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35and they hadn't got beards so I thought they'd definitely go.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37My God, these are so beautiful!
0:24:37 > 0:24:38LAUGHTER
0:24:39 > 0:24:42So all in all, good chaps I think, you know.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47There's basically two types of townies,
0:24:47 > 0:24:51those who come with no idea what the countryside is, with their dreams,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55and it takes them years to sort out their problems and they make a mess
0:24:55 > 0:24:57of it and learn the hard way.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59And then there's the naturals, and the lads here
0:24:59 > 0:25:03I would say are two of the naturals, they just know what to do.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09It's been a long day moving literally a shed-load of stone,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11but Adam and Andy are proud of their achievement.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16- I think it feels bigger than I thought it would.- Yeah.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Which is nice, because there's always
0:25:18 > 0:25:19that danger it's going to be...
0:25:19 > 0:25:22a bit of a disappointment, but I think being this far forward...
0:25:22 > 0:25:25- Looks like it's always been here, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Despite their laid-back attitude, the boys are anxious about
0:25:28 > 0:25:29Monty's next visit.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34I think the aim is, before Monty's visit,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36is to have a real blank canvas,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40because we really need his help with the planting side of things
0:25:40 > 0:25:43and we really could do with a bit of a hand with that, couldn't we?
0:26:04 > 0:26:08It's over six months since I was last here,
0:26:08 > 0:26:12and they've had lots of time to prepare the ground.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15I'm hoping that by now they've removed that ugly roof
0:26:15 > 0:26:18and given the rocky bank a good weed.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23But the crucial thing I'm hoping that Adam and Andy will
0:26:23 > 0:26:27have done is to do their homework on the kind of plants they want.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36- Hello. - Morning! You all right?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- I'm very well, nice to see you again. - Hello.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Nice to see you. How are things?
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Clearly, you've been doing things.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Things are happening, yeah, that's for sure!
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Talk me through what you've done.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Well, we've sort of been focusing on the, erm,
0:26:49 > 0:26:54hard landscaping and we've taken the roof off the shed
0:26:54 > 0:26:57and built this wall across to tie in with what was there.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00- It looks like it's always been like that.- Yeah, yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02The slate, isn't it?
0:27:02 > 0:27:05- It just looks like it's always been a walled garden.- Yeah, yeah.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08And pots, I see you're beginning to collect some plants.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10- Yeah.- Yeah, yeah. We've been very lucky.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15And how have you got the plants? Because I saw the sign on the road.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19What slightly worried me was "herbs and Alpines preferred,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21"but any are welcome, all are welcome."
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Well, we thought the herbs and the Alpines,
0:27:24 > 0:27:25we know where they're going to go
0:27:25 > 0:27:28and that they're going to work here. But I mean, there's so many
0:27:28 > 0:27:31great things that people are growing in their gardens round here,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33we've got the containers that we can
0:27:33 > 0:27:34use to sort of keep those things going.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38OK, and the bank, what have you done to the bank?
0:27:38 > 0:27:40We, er, we weeded it.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43So do I take it from that that it is now
0:27:43 > 0:27:45as weeded as you would like it to be?
0:27:45 > 0:27:48I think we wanted... This was the area where we need help,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51so I think we were very cautious to take anything out.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53OK, that makes sense.
0:27:53 > 0:27:58So you take any tree roots out, grass out, leave the foxgloves
0:27:58 > 0:28:00and then I'll come in and help you with the planting.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02- Brilliant.- Great.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06While Andy follows Monty's instructions
0:28:06 > 0:28:09and tackles the rock bank,
0:28:09 > 0:28:13Adam's keen to show off the wall he's already started to plant up.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Yeah, this is, this is a bit chaotic, isn't it?
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Erm...
0:28:19 > 0:28:22When you're planting in a situation like this,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26the plants really have adapted to this environment,
0:28:26 > 0:28:30- so they need very, very little soil, whereas this is too much.- Yeah.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Too much in there.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37OK, I happen to have in my pocket... a suitable trowel.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41- Let's get rid of all this excess. - Yeah.- We don't need it.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45It doesn't look nice. I think with planting,
0:28:45 > 0:28:48- you need to fill the available space. - OK.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52- Don't plant a small plant into an area like that.- Yeah.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54- Put a big plant in there. - Yeah, yeah.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56And you need to cram.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02'The quickest way to kill Alpines is keeping them in wet conditions,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05'so a mix of 50% compost with 50% grit
0:29:05 > 0:29:07'will give them the drainage they need.'
0:29:09 > 0:29:12So that what you've got... is a mixture like that.
0:29:12 > 0:29:18So if you are putting... say we want a plant in there,
0:29:18 > 0:29:23push in a little bit...and it's difficult, but just push that in
0:29:23 > 0:29:27and there'll be enough nutrition and enough drainage in there that
0:29:27 > 0:29:30when we push the roots in, they'll have something to stick onto.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32You know, if we push that in...
0:29:35 > 0:29:40- ..like that, I would expect that to live and grow.- Yeah.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42And obviously it's got to... There's a slight...
0:29:42 > 0:29:44You've got to get it well in, if it falls out,
0:29:44 > 0:29:48- but there's no reason why that wouldn't work.- Yeah.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52- And what's that? - Erm, good question.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57- Right, OK, no good bringing plants you don't know what they are.- Yeah.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59- Because they've got to be right for here.- Yeah.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02If you don't know what that is, how can you research it?
0:30:02 > 0:30:04- Uh-huh.- And know it will be happy? - Yeah.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07Taking plants in from people, saying thank you very much
0:30:07 > 0:30:09- and giving them eggs in return... - Yeah.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13- ..is nice, but it may not serve you very well.- Yeah.
0:30:13 > 0:30:14That's Adam told off.
0:30:16 > 0:30:19At the back of the garden, Andy is busy cleaning the rock bank to
0:30:19 > 0:30:23reveal tiny cracks and crevices that will make perfect planting pockets.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31You see, I like this little cliff face...
0:30:31 > 0:30:36that you're exposing. When you're planting what is a rock face...
0:30:36 > 0:30:40like this, clean it back, get rid of all the rubbish
0:30:40 > 0:30:43which has accumulated over the years,
0:30:43 > 0:30:46don't be frightened to add stone in, you know,
0:30:46 > 0:30:47it's not an archaeological dig,
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- you are allowed to change it as much as you like.- Yeah.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Create a few planting pockets, but they
0:30:53 > 0:30:56don't need to be too deep. Don't be frightened to
0:30:56 > 0:30:59push plants into crevices and gradually build it up.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02- Just take time. - Take time and care.- Yeah.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04- I think that's the thing.- Yeah.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09'When planting a rockery, choose plants that can survive and thrive
0:31:09 > 0:31:11'in little or no soil.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14'Try Alpines or succulents like sempervivum.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19'Mediterranean herbs like rosemary can also thrive in these conditions,
0:31:19 > 0:31:21'as long as they have good drainage.'
0:31:24 > 0:31:27- You're having fun, aren't you? - I am really enjoying it.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30I've got to go soon, I just want to pick out one point -
0:31:30 > 0:31:33you can take your time over that, I just want to talk about these herbs.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36- OK.- I like the idea of growing herbs on the wall,
0:31:36 > 0:31:40that's great, but you've got a funny mixture.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43What we've got going on here are different herbs...
0:31:43 > 0:31:45- Uh-huh.- ..that need different growing conditions,
0:31:45 > 0:31:47cheek by jowl in the same place.
0:31:47 > 0:31:52Right, Mediterranean herbs here in wet Wales will only grow well
0:31:52 > 0:31:55- with really good drainage.- Yeah.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58- And poor soil.- Yeah.- The poorer soil, the better.- Right.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Whereas parsley likes richer soil.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04The mint will grow better in richer soil,
0:32:04 > 0:32:06so I think we need to rationalise this.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Take these out, replant some of them.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Take out much of that soil, a little bit of soil and grit...
0:32:13 > 0:32:16- Yeah.- ..then replant the Mediterranean.- Great.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26Why did you choose this type of soil for these particular herbs?
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- Er, lack of knowledge, I think. - Right, you just bunged them in?
0:32:29 > 0:32:33- Yeah.- A little bit of homework would have sorted this out.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Yeah, we've learnt that lesson today.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42Today has been quite an education for Adam and Andy,
0:32:42 > 0:32:46but there's one subject they can get full marks on.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49How much do you think you've spent so far? Give me a ballpark figure,
0:32:49 > 0:32:52what do you think so far, in cash, you've spent?
0:32:52 > 0:32:54- Fifty quid. - About fifty quid.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58That is a-stonishing. Astonishing!
0:32:58 > 0:33:00I think we kind of picked that up from doing
0:33:00 > 0:33:02the smallholding as well, you know, keeping things
0:33:02 > 0:33:05as tight as possible because, you know, everything that you do
0:33:05 > 0:33:09that costs money is something else that you can't do elsewhere.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13What would really transform this garden before I come back is,
0:33:13 > 0:33:15if you could bear it,
0:33:15 > 0:33:21to invest double that amount to spend on plants that you research...
0:33:21 > 0:33:23- Yeah. - ..and know you really want,
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- and that would grow really well here. - Yeah.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Because I think that would transform it.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Brilliant, thank you very much.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49On Hayling Island, reluctant gardener Sharon has yet to embrace
0:33:49 > 0:33:51the prospect of a pebble-covered garden
0:33:51 > 0:33:55and the challenge of researching salt-resistant plants.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01Erm, I have to confess, I'm a bit of an instant gardener.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05I do like to go to the nursery and find things that have already
0:34:05 > 0:34:10got flowers on them! I like that sort of initial wow factor,
0:34:10 > 0:34:14I don't really have the patience for things to...to grow.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Over the last few years, Sharon has wasted nearly £700
0:34:19 > 0:34:23on plants that haven't survived.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25So to nip her spending in the bud, Monty is sending her,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29with Marcus, to Camber Sands in Sussex to learn about
0:34:29 > 0:34:30seaside planting from
0:34:30 > 0:34:33an award-winning garden designer, Jo Thompson.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Marcus sees potential for planting among pebbles,
0:34:46 > 0:34:48but Sharon is still hanging on to her lawn.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55What I'm very keen to avoid is it just looking like a pile of stones,
0:34:55 > 0:34:59and I think the planting is going to be so important to get right.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Things like the thrift is really good, it forms that low mat.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07The convolvulus is fantastic with its white flowers and
0:35:07 > 0:35:12the rock rose is wonderful.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17And the plant that's behind you that seems to be spreading quite nicely.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21Now, I didn't plant this plant, it's lampranthrus, that's a free plant.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24So that's just come in here from the beach, from the natural environment?
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Yeah, and that's the great thing about this location,
0:35:27 > 0:35:32is the winds bringing seeds in, the birds are bringing seeds in,
0:35:32 > 0:35:34so even if you think something is a weed, I'd say
0:35:34 > 0:35:37- give it a chance. - Give it a chance.- Definitely.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41A potential free supply of seeds, courtesy of the wind,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44is a great way for Sharon to save money on plants,
0:35:44 > 0:35:47even if the results aren't as instant as she would like.
0:35:59 > 0:36:03Last autumn, I came to Hayling Island on the Hampshire coast
0:36:03 > 0:36:06to help Sharon and Marcus create their dream beach garden.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10Because of the very particular conditions by the sea,
0:36:10 > 0:36:13I suggested that they get rid of their turf and replace it
0:36:13 > 0:36:18with pebbles, and also carefully look out salt-resistant plants.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21They wanted to keep the trampoline, but have decided to bury it
0:36:21 > 0:36:23so it's less of an eyesore.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Now, I've come back to see how they're getting on,
0:36:25 > 0:36:28but there's one big question I want to resolve first -
0:36:28 > 0:36:30have they got rid of that Christmas tree?
0:36:36 > 0:36:38- Do you want to see what we've done so far?- Uh-huh.
0:36:41 > 0:36:42So we got rid of the lawn.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44You got rid of the lawn. SHARON LAUGHS
0:36:44 > 0:36:48- You've got a little bit of stone in. LAUGHING:- A little bit of stone!
0:36:48 > 0:36:53To see just a mass of stones down when you're used to a lawn
0:36:53 > 0:36:56- is quite a different look. - Personally, I...
0:36:56 > 0:36:59It's sufficiently unusual in a garden to be
0:36:59 > 0:37:01- stimulating and interesting.- Right.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04- You know, whereas lawn, you do see everywhere.- Yes.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07And it's not only the lawn that's gone.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10You've got rid of the Christmas tree, ah.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12- LAUGHING:- Yes.- I was so worried you were going to keep that.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15But we did re-purpose it, it's moved to Marcus's parents.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18So it still lives, it lives on and it's growing really well.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21I think if you and I go through the plants you've got,
0:37:21 > 0:37:24sort out the ones that you know you want in that section there...
0:37:24 > 0:37:26- Right. - ..look in the back garden,
0:37:26 > 0:37:30- see if there's anything there we can move, divide and add to it...- OK.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32..and then we've got planting.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34The first task of the day is to uproot
0:37:34 > 0:37:36a large phormium from the back garden,
0:37:36 > 0:37:41a job Sharon is very happy to stand back and allow Monty to manhandle.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46Very impressed with Monty's, er, strength and skills.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52Cos it's a very tight place and it's a big plant.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55It's heavy, be careful.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58With the phormium uprooted, the next step is to clear the stones
0:37:58 > 0:38:00and cut a hole in the polypropylene fabric.
0:38:02 > 0:38:08A landscaping fabric like this is designed to block all light
0:38:08 > 0:38:10- but let water through.- OK.
0:38:10 > 0:38:11- So it's porous, essentially. - Yeah.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14Er, the water goes between the weave.
0:38:14 > 0:38:18It should stop most weeds and you can plant through it,
0:38:18 > 0:38:20it's very simple. What you do,
0:38:20 > 0:38:23you don't cut a hole, you cut across, so you
0:38:23 > 0:38:27just cut it and it cuts very easily, like that.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30And then across, like that,
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Then you just fold back the quarters...
0:38:33 > 0:38:37and like that...and like that...
0:38:37 > 0:38:41plant into that space, then fold that back down around the plant.
0:38:42 > 0:38:43So...
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Right, let's put this into position.
0:38:52 > 0:38:57So what we will do is back-fill very firmly.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- Right.- You've got a lot of weight on the top.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02- Yes, yeah. - And not a lot on the bottom.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04That should be, if you let go...
0:39:04 > 0:39:07that should feel reasonably solid. It's not too bad, is it?
0:39:07 > 0:39:09That's pretty good.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11- Right, what we'll do is water that well.- Yeah.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Real soak, tidy up and then push the stones...
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- Put everything back in.- ..when the water has soaked in.- OK.
0:39:19 > 0:39:25As we are watering, much better to give it a really good soak once
0:39:25 > 0:39:28a week, than a seventh of the same amount every day.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33You want the water to soak in and the roots to reach down and find it.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36- Whereas if you just water lightly, the water stays on the surface.- Yes.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39So all the roots have to go to the surface,
0:39:39 > 0:39:42- so then, when it's dry, they dry out much quicker.- Right.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48Monty's advice seems to be sinking in, but just as Sharon was going
0:39:48 > 0:39:52to the top of the class, Monty spots that the turf hasn't been lifted.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55It's a lazy decision that could cause trouble later,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57and it's time for a telling off.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03So the turf hasn't been lifted?
0:40:03 > 0:40:09No, we just decided that it was a big expense, er, you know,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12to get the rest of the turf up, time-wise as well
0:40:12 > 0:40:16and that putting the membrane down would kill it off anyway.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21But it does make digging a little bit difficult.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Well, it was an interesting decision to make, or it was a bad decision.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30- OK.- Em, because you're planting through turf.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32In time, you will kill it off
0:40:32 > 0:40:35- but you're going to double your planting time.- Right.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37If you had lifted the turf,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40- even if you had then inverted it, it would have been a good idea.- OK.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- See, now, that ground is compacted and not dug.- Yeah.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45If you'd have dug it all over, lifted the turf,
0:40:45 > 0:40:47dug it over, everything would grow much better
0:40:47 > 0:40:49- and it would be much easier planting. - Right.
0:40:49 > 0:40:50But it's not a disaster.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Not a complete disaster, anyway.
0:40:52 > 0:40:57Well, it's a good example of how people who are inexperienced
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- at this sort of thing think they can get away with things.- Yes.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04No chance of that on Monty's watch.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08Once you get to the planting of a border, that's the good bit,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10that's the easy bit.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Although I have to say if I'd been organising this,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15I would have delayed putting the stone down
0:41:15 > 0:41:16until all the planting was done.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20Now, this is your plant selection.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Why have you chosen these plants?
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- They're all coastal plants.- Right. - That's one of the reasons.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Tell me what you mean by coastal plants.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31- They will tolerate the wind and the salt...- Right.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33- ..and also the soil conditions that we've got here.- Right.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35They're very hardy.
0:41:35 > 0:41:40You've got Angelica, you've got thymes, you've got...
0:41:40 > 0:41:43I see you've got Allium, what is it, Christophii?
0:41:43 > 0:41:45- Yes.- Over there.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48So, a good selection of plants that will cope
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- with your very specific conditions. - Yes.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55Sharon hasn't cut corners with her research,
0:41:55 > 0:41:57so they can get straight down to work.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15Marcus, cast your expert eye.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17My expert eye, OK.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19- If I perhaps put it into context. - OK.
0:42:19 > 0:42:24What I've tried to do, following Sharon's guidance,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28is get drifts of white and purple with the silver foliage
0:42:28 > 0:42:30so the colours are weaving through.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33I guess my question would be how big are those going to get
0:42:33 > 0:42:36because I think if I was laying out plants like that,
0:42:36 > 0:42:38I'd be thinking that in a year's time or two years' time,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40you're not going to see any of the stones,
0:42:40 > 0:42:42it's just going to be solid plants.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44If you feel it's too many for the effect you want,
0:42:44 > 0:42:45we can just take some out.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48No, I think it looks good now,
0:42:48 > 0:42:51but the easy mistake to make for an amateur gardener like me
0:42:51 > 0:42:53is to put too much in.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55- Actually, the exact opposite is true. - Really?
0:42:55 > 0:42:58- The biggest mistake the amateur has got is putting too few.- Oh, is it?
0:42:58 > 0:42:59Cram.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02- Always cram. - Oh, OK.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05- Put too many plants in and then take them out.- OK.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Is that because you expect the worst, that some won't survive.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10- No, it just looks better. - Because it looks better.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14- Too few plants just doesn't feel adequate.- No.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16Pile them in.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20I think the whole process has been about learning for us
0:43:20 > 0:43:24because we knew nothing really about plants.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28I'm impressed that after years of killing plants,
0:43:28 > 0:43:31Sharon is now doing her research carefully.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33It's been great having Monty here today
0:43:33 > 0:43:37because he's done some of the most amazing digging-out work
0:43:37 > 0:43:39that we wouldn't have wanted to do ourselves.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43But I'm a little less impressed about the impatience
0:43:43 > 0:43:45when it comes to the actual gardening and I do hope
0:43:45 > 0:43:50they're not tempted to cut too many corners before I come back again.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52- Quick cup of tea? - Cup of tea?
0:43:52 > 0:43:55- Quick cup of tea before I go. - I think you've earned one, Monty.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06Back in Wales, Adam and Andy have had no problems
0:44:06 > 0:44:08tackling the hard landscaping
0:44:08 > 0:44:11but their plant knowledge could do with a helping hand.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14Monty has suggested they visit Bodnant Gardens in Snowdonia
0:44:14 > 0:44:19to see if head gardener, Bill Warrell, can inspire them.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22OK, so here we are next to one of Bodnant's granite walls,
0:44:22 > 0:44:25- you can see it's got some nice planting pockets.- Yeah.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27Er, and you can also see lots have self-seeded, now one of the
0:44:27 > 0:44:30nicest things we've got in here is the Welsh Poppy,
0:44:30 > 0:44:32the Meconopsis cambrica, lovely open flowers
0:44:32 > 0:44:34that the bees and other insects love.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36- Yes, they're good for wildlife. - Yeah, great for wildlife.
0:44:36 > 0:44:39But next to it we've got Fuchsia, one of the Fuchsias,
0:44:39 > 0:44:42Fuchsia magellanica, you see it in hedgerows all over the place.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44- These are grown from seeds themselves.- Yeah.
0:44:44 > 0:44:48- None of these are planted in. - No, you can see the Campanulas.- Yeah.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50The bellflowers and of course another lovely native here
0:44:50 > 0:44:51which is the toadflax.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53Right, so if we plug in some plants,
0:44:53 > 0:44:56how long is it going to take for that to not look...?
0:44:56 > 0:44:58It depends, really.
0:44:58 > 0:45:00The quickest way to do that really is to choose
0:45:00 > 0:45:03- voracious self-seeders, they'll find where they're happy.- Yeah.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06And then you'll get that natural look.
0:45:06 > 0:45:09It's a big learning curve but Adam and Andy are doing
0:45:09 > 0:45:13their homework and investing in some well-researched plants.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19The last time Monty came was really helpful
0:45:19 > 0:45:22because I think we just needed, we needed his expertise
0:45:22 > 0:45:25and his advice and that's, you know, why we wanted to do this.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28- I think that's more than one plant. We could spread that...- Yeah.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31- We could spread that on the wall, on the slate wall.- Yeah.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34On Monty's last visit, he gave the boys strict instructions to
0:45:34 > 0:45:38learn about plants and not to just bung them into any soil.
0:45:38 > 0:45:41No, I didn't see it really as a telling-off,
0:45:41 > 0:45:42it was more a...
0:45:42 > 0:45:44It was just really constructive and really helpful, he was,
0:45:44 > 0:45:47you know, making us think about what we were putting where,
0:45:47 > 0:45:50why we were putting it and I think since then, we've been a lot
0:45:50 > 0:45:53- more focused on what we're doing really, haven't we?- Yeah.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57These will look really good against the rock.
0:45:57 > 0:46:00Finally, Adam and Andy have caught the gardening bug.
0:46:00 > 0:46:03It's starting to become more than a hobby, it's getting a bit
0:46:03 > 0:46:07passionate about it and about learning as much as we can.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13In less than 24 hours,
0:46:13 > 0:46:16Monty will be back for his final visit and if that wasn't
0:46:16 > 0:46:22pressure enough, Adam and Andy are also inviting the entire village.
0:46:22 > 0:46:25When they first said they were doing it, I couldn't think
0:46:25 > 0:46:31how they could possibly think of making anything of what seemed to be
0:46:31 > 0:46:36just a junk hole, really, so I'm still waiting to be convinced.
0:46:36 > 0:46:37We'll wait and see.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48On Hayling Island,
0:46:48 > 0:46:52the construction of Marcus' handmade wooden boardwalk is under way.
0:46:53 > 0:46:58It's the perfect accompaniment to their beach-themed garden.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02Boardwalk complete, and that's not all that's changed in the garden.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06I'll go get my watering can and give this a good water.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09Nine months ago, Sharon was an instant gardener,
0:47:09 > 0:47:11but after a little mentoring from Monty,
0:47:11 > 0:47:13she's found new patience for planting.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17I feel a lot more confident than I ever did before.
0:47:17 > 0:47:21Because of some of the grasses that I want that haven't been easy to get
0:47:21 > 0:47:28this year, I'm going to get seeds and grow my own grasses from seed.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36After months of hard work,
0:47:36 > 0:47:40it's Adam and Andy's garden that's the first to be revealed.
0:47:40 > 0:47:41The heavens have opened
0:47:41 > 0:47:46but Adam is far more concerned about Monty's impending visit.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49Knowing that somebody is coming to see what you're doing
0:47:49 > 0:47:52when you're doing it is a real driving force.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55Monty's like an exponential version of that,
0:47:55 > 0:47:56it's like he's coming
0:47:56 > 0:47:59and he's actually told us and advised us on things
0:47:59 > 0:48:03so it's like we want to show that we are listening and we are learning.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05A year ago when I came, there was nothing.
0:48:05 > 0:48:09There was just a hillside, some rocks, a few plants,
0:48:09 > 0:48:11hardly a yard and an old building.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13But they did have a dream
0:48:13 > 0:48:17and whether that dream has been realised and the garden made
0:48:17 > 0:48:20and they have become gardeners,
0:48:20 > 0:48:22will now be put to the test.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32Last summer, Adam and Andy's garden was a neglected space.
0:48:32 > 0:48:37Hemmed in by an overgrown rock face and ugly shed roof,
0:48:37 > 0:48:41it was a million miles from the relaxing place they dreamed of
0:48:41 > 0:48:45and now it is transformed, but what will Monty think?
0:48:45 > 0:48:49- Hello.- Wind, rain, bluster, how lovely to see you.
0:48:49 > 0:48:51Good to see you.
0:48:51 > 0:48:56And good to see this. I think that looks lovely.
0:49:02 > 0:49:05The old shed roof has been removed and levelled off,
0:49:05 > 0:49:09providing extra room for a dining area.
0:49:09 > 0:49:12The rock bank has been cleared back and planted with Alpines
0:49:12 > 0:49:16and succulents which, over time, will spread among the existing ferns
0:49:16 > 0:49:19and moss to create a natural-looking rockery.
0:49:22 > 0:49:26And plants in containers give a pleasant pop of colour
0:49:26 > 0:49:29and the floor has been covered in slate from the local quarry
0:49:29 > 0:49:34so that the garden as a whole blends with the Welsh landscape.
0:49:37 > 0:49:42- I always felt that was potentially a really interesting feature.- Yeah.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45And you've made the most of it, you've taken the ferns
0:49:45 > 0:49:48and the moss and the stone of a Welsh hillside
0:49:48 > 0:49:51and you've introduced Alpine, you know,
0:49:51 > 0:49:55some that come from Middle East, and brought them in without ruining
0:49:55 > 0:49:59what's there, that's a sophisticated and subtle game to play.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02Yeah, it's just been a balancing act of just making sure we didn't
0:50:02 > 0:50:07overpower the rock with plants and just paying attention to the
0:50:07 > 0:50:11colour and shape of the delicate flowers against the solid rock.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15You're talking like gardeners, you know. That's what you do.
0:50:15 > 0:50:16That's the way it's done.
0:50:16 > 0:50:20- So that's a 100% success, I think, fantastic.- Thank you.
0:50:20 > 0:50:23Now, I can see you've got many more pots than we had.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26My own feeling, looking at them,
0:50:26 > 0:50:30- is it's so far not working quite as well as the bank.- Mm-hm.
0:50:30 > 0:50:32It looks like you're being a bit more timid about the planting
0:50:32 > 0:50:34than you need be,
0:50:34 > 0:50:37cos with pots, there are two things to bear in mind -
0:50:37 > 0:50:39the first is if you're having one plant,
0:50:39 > 0:50:41- it needs to be really spectacular. - Yeah.
0:50:41 > 0:50:43If you're having more than one plant,
0:50:43 > 0:50:46- then you need to pack them in. - Yeah.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49- And think that from day one, they've got to look good.- Yeah.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53I do remember last time asking you why you had chosen certain plants
0:50:53 > 0:50:58and you saying, "I don't know, they were just there, you know."
0:50:58 > 0:51:03- Have you done your homework as I suggested...- Yeah.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05..and tried to find out about plants?
0:51:05 > 0:51:08- Yeah, we've put a folder together. - So you've got...
0:51:08 > 0:51:11So we've got a plan basically of the garden and then
0:51:11 > 0:51:13we've labelled out, say, for example, this is the rock,
0:51:13 > 0:51:16so we've labelled what we've planted.
0:51:16 > 0:51:21Our interest, everything, has just been sparked by it, so I think...
0:51:21 > 0:51:24- That's the best result possible. BOTH:- Yeah.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34Now we've finished, how much has all this cost?
0:51:34 > 0:51:35Just shy of £200.
0:51:35 > 0:51:38We went out, we went out and did...
0:51:38 > 0:51:39Most of the budget went on plants
0:51:39 > 0:51:41because from what you were saying last time.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44- So, was that money well spent? - Absolutely, yeah, absolutely.
0:51:44 > 0:51:45I do think, you know,
0:51:45 > 0:51:49for 200 quid, you've got yourself a complete transformation.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Absolutely, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53So, how long before everyone arrives?
0:51:53 > 0:51:55I think we've got about half an hour or so.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59- Half an hour? - We've got plenty to do.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01- I'll give you a hand, come on. - Great, thank you.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08- Are the cooks allowed to have a glass of wine while they prepare?- Yes.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11- Really, seriously, congratulations. - Thank you very much.
0:52:11 > 0:52:14- I think it's great, so to you both. - Cheers.- Yeah, cheers, thank you.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Outside, it's not only the plants that are hardy
0:52:17 > 0:52:18in these extreme conditions.
0:52:18 > 0:52:19This is it,
0:52:19 > 0:52:22this is what we've been talking about all this time.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24The heavens have opened but, you know,
0:52:24 > 0:52:25it doesn't stop a Corris party.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28It's made a big difference, just opened it all up.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31You guys were sceptical, I could tell, when you were last here.
0:52:31 > 0:52:34I wasn't sure there was enough space to do anything.
0:52:34 > 0:52:37Wow! Wow, you guys have done so much.
0:52:39 > 0:52:41I am impressed by what they've done here
0:52:41 > 0:52:44though because it's opened it up, that's the thing I can't believe.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46I mean, it was a quarter of this size,
0:52:46 > 0:52:48it felt quarter of this size
0:52:48 > 0:52:51and it's given me some really good ideas.
0:52:51 > 0:52:55Working with Monty has been really good fun and educational.
0:52:55 > 0:52:58He's given us the confidence to get stuck in and have a go.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02It's a really nice start to our gardening life.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09Andy and Adam dreamt of a space where
0:53:09 > 0:53:13they could entertain their friends and they've made it,
0:53:13 > 0:53:19but what's really exciting for me is they've also made a garden and
0:53:19 > 0:53:24they've discovered, I think to their surprise, that they're gardeners.
0:53:38 > 0:53:42Back down south on Hayling Island, it's Marcus and Sharon's turn
0:53:42 > 0:53:45to feel the nerves about Monty's final visit.
0:53:47 > 0:53:50I think when Monty made the suggestion that we should
0:53:50 > 0:53:53go full-on with the beach theme, I was definitely more
0:53:53 > 0:53:55convinced from the beginning than Sharon was.
0:53:55 > 0:53:59I hope Monty likes it because I think we've compromised
0:53:59 > 0:54:02quite a lot from what we initially thought we were going to do
0:54:02 > 0:54:06and it is very, very different to what it was before.
0:54:18 > 0:54:22Nearly a year ago, Monty suggested Sharon and Marcus
0:54:22 > 0:54:25really commit to their dream of a beach garden.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28Today, he'll find out if they succeeded.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34Last autumn, Marcus and Sharon's garden was an uninspiring
0:54:34 > 0:54:37rectangle of battered lawn and dying plants.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40Now, they've brought the beach to their home.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42- After you, Monty. - OK, here we go.
0:54:42 > 0:54:43Come and have a look.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48A beachy garden.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51Well, well, well.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54It's fantastic, that's worked really well, are you happy?
0:54:54 > 0:54:57- Very pleased.- Really pleased, yeah, love it, absolutely love it.
0:55:00 > 0:55:06The tatty lawn has now been replaced with over seven tons of stones.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09Marcus has constructed a sweeping wooden boardwalk
0:55:09 > 0:55:12and Sharon has added salt-resistant plants.
0:55:13 > 0:55:16Finally, the unsightly trampoline has been sunk where the
0:55:16 > 0:55:18Christmas tree once stood.
0:55:20 > 0:55:25- You two have always had a clear idea of what you want, or what you like. - Yes.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29And my only worry was that...
0:55:29 > 0:55:31you would compromise it in some way.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33Yeah, that's what you said right at the beginning, wasn't it?
0:55:33 > 0:55:36Yeah, and you haven't, you haven't, here it is.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Well, your advice, not to compromise, really inspired us,
0:55:39 > 0:55:42certainly inspired me right from the beginning.
0:55:42 > 0:55:44I think that was the key to making it work actually,
0:55:44 > 0:55:47was not trying to create a little bit of beach in a garden,
0:55:47 > 0:55:49it was just to do the whole thing and...
0:55:49 > 0:55:52It just looks so much better.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55And obviously all the plants have got to grow
0:55:55 > 0:55:58and establish themselves and...
0:55:58 > 0:56:03I'm glad to see that the things we put in a few weeks ago are settling.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05The Alliums are starting to come out,
0:56:05 > 0:56:08there doesn't seem to be any major casualties.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10What have you spent?
0:56:10 > 0:56:12- I think it's about 1,600. - Is it?- Yeah.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14- You think it's as much as that? - I do.
0:56:14 > 0:56:16You've transformed your living space.
0:56:16 > 0:56:20How important is gardening to you?
0:56:20 > 0:56:22Er, well, it never was important to me.
0:56:22 > 0:56:26I used to be very much what I would call an instant gardener
0:56:26 > 0:56:31and now I would have said 95% more thought into
0:56:31 > 0:56:34what's gone into this garden than I've ever given to plants before.
0:56:34 > 0:56:39I think that's where gardening starts to kick in.
0:56:39 > 0:56:42Where you're thinking about the plants and the future
0:56:42 > 0:56:46of the plants rather than the present impact of what you've done.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49I think it's great, it's absolutely great
0:56:49 > 0:56:52and I think you should both be very pleased and proud.
0:56:52 > 0:56:55Now, it's the turn of friends and family to get their first
0:56:55 > 0:56:58glimpse of Marcus and Sharon's dream beach garden.
0:56:58 > 0:57:00There you go, this is it.
0:57:07 > 0:57:09This is the first time I've seen it.
0:57:09 > 0:57:14I'm really, really impressed, and a credit to Marcus and Sharon
0:57:14 > 0:57:17for all the hard work they've done, it's amazing.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19Monty said we should have taken all the turf up really
0:57:19 > 0:57:21but it lets the water go through.
0:57:21 > 0:57:23The garden looks fantastic when it's rained.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26I was expecting more sparseness.
0:57:26 > 0:57:30- It's a lot greener than I thought. - That's what I thought as well.
0:57:32 > 0:57:36I absolutely love it now, how it's done, but it was a lot of hard
0:57:36 > 0:57:40work for both of them, they really worked hard at it.
0:57:40 > 0:57:44And thank you, Monty. Thank you, honey.
0:57:44 > 0:57:45Cheers, everybody.
0:57:45 > 0:57:47ALL: Cheers.
0:57:50 > 0:57:54This is a good job, well done.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56Once the idea was conceived,
0:57:56 > 0:58:00Marcus and Sharon have executed it with remarkable lack of fuss
0:58:00 > 0:58:05and what it proves to me is that a simple idea done well
0:58:05 > 0:58:12always works and small gardens can take big ideas.