0:00:02 > 0:00:04Do you dream of having your own special outdoor space?
0:00:04 > 0:00:09A small garden that you can admire, enjoy and call your own?
0:00:09 > 0:00:14And then you stop and think, "I have no idea how to make it."
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Well, you're not alone.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Monty Don has travelled up and down the country
0:00:19 > 0:00:22visiting amateur gardeners with bold ambitions.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26He's scrutinised their plans,
0:00:26 > 0:00:28and pushed them out of their comfort zones.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Going out into deeper, darkest unknown territory, isn't it?
0:00:32 > 0:00:33It's not been easy...
0:00:33 > 0:00:36THUNDER RUMBLES
0:00:36 > 0:00:37I hate it.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Argh!
0:00:39 > 0:00:42..but everyone's worked incredibly hard.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Both of us want to sleep for a week, pretty much!
0:00:44 > 0:00:46You've had your tea break. Come on.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And the transformations have been extraordinary.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51It's just incredible. It really is.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I declare this garden open!
0:00:56 > 0:01:00I do believe that everybody, however small their garden,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02can cultivate a big dream.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11This time, Monty meets two sets of new homeowners
0:01:11 > 0:01:14with different approaches to their garden dreams.
0:01:15 > 0:01:16From can't garden...
0:01:16 > 0:01:19You could kill a plastic flower, I think I used to say.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Yeah. I probably would, actually.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22..to won't garden...
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Do you want to give us a little hand?
0:01:25 > 0:01:27You're doing all right. I think you're doing all right.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30..they're going to need some expert guidance.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32If in a week's time we get a phone call saying,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35- "It's dropped half an inch..." - Then we have a problem.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39To have Monty Don help us with the garden is a real privilege.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42I'm shovelling composted horse manure.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Smells pretty bad.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47What have we got ourselves into?
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Our first garden is in Leyton, East London.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Bankers Tariq and Sira would like a cottage-style garden
0:01:58 > 0:02:00in which they can entertain guests.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03They're also taking on the challenging task
0:02:03 > 0:02:06of remodelling their Victorian terrace at the same time.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10This is our first house that we've actually bought together.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13We wanted to buy a property we could put our own stamp on.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16We've been project managing it ourselves,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18- which has been difficult and... - And stressful.- Yeah.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Fortunately for Sira, the couple have clearly defined roles
0:02:22 > 0:02:25when it comes to their 50-metre-square backyard.
0:02:25 > 0:02:2995% of the graft will come from me, and 1% from Sira,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32and probably another 4% from tradesmen!
0:02:32 > 0:02:37I want to sit back, relax and enjoy the fruits of his labour!
0:02:37 > 0:02:40But he's not just the work horse.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Tariq has a perfectionist streak, too.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- I do a lot of research.- Yeah. - Like, a lot of research.- Research.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50I'm an analyst by trade, so I put together, like,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52- a list and tick it all off. - A spreadsheet.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Spreadsheet, make sure that everything's done to...
0:02:54 > 0:02:55- Meticulous.- Yeah.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00And he's also hoping to impress his horticultural hero.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04To have Monty Don help us with our garden is a real privilege.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07I mean, he is Britain's favourite gardener,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and to have him come to our house and help us,
0:03:10 > 0:03:11we're so, so lucky to have him.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14And we're going to take absolutely everything that he says on board
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and try our absolute best for him, but also for us as well.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Our next set of first-time gardeners live in Bath.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Ant is a creative professional,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30and Jake is the owner of a marketing business.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35With demanding jobs, the pair are looking for a little bit
0:03:35 > 0:03:36of tranquillity in their lives.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41We both have really busy lifestyles, so coming home to a really nice,
0:03:41 > 0:03:45calm, peaceful garden is very important to us.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47They have a very specific style in mind
0:03:47 > 0:03:49for their 100-square-metre plot.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54We have been to the Japanese gardens in Monte Carlo, in San Francisco.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- Where else?- Brooklyn, that was the last one.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Brooklyn, the last one was the Brooklyn botanical garden.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02So we always visit different type of Japanese gardens,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04just to get inspiration. We just thought,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06"That's it, we're going to do a Japanese garden
0:04:06 > 0:04:09"and bring a bit of a memory of our travel to our backyard."
0:04:10 > 0:04:14The couple live next door to Jake's identical twin brother Shane
0:04:14 > 0:04:16and his husband Peter.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19And what's more, they also have an identical garden,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21that they too are renovating.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23There's a lot of sibling rivalry.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26No doubt there'll be lots of looking over the fence to see
0:04:26 > 0:04:29what our house is like and what their garden's going to be like.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Yeah. That's definitely unavoidable.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34The difference is that Ant and Jake have decided
0:04:34 > 0:04:37to do the work themselves, with some special help.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Personally, I'm not a huge gardener myself.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43So we have ideas of what we want to do, but actually implementing it...
0:04:43 > 0:04:45We desperately need help from Monty.
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Desperate is a strong word.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50- Desperate.- Actually, we are desperate, yes.- Desperate.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58It's May in Leyton,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01and Tariq is unashamedly ambitious about his dream project.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03I want a garden that could be award-winning.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06A beautiful garden, I really want. That's what I really want.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08And I'm willing to put in all the graft and hard work
0:05:08 > 0:05:10to get to that stage.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12But the novices don't know where to start,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and are eager to get some advice.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18It can be overwhelming, so I think that having somebody
0:05:18 > 0:05:19kind of guide you through the process,
0:05:19 > 0:05:24and maybe support you through the process, would be great, I think.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- Hello.- Hi, Monty, nice to meet you. Come in.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36So, here we are.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- This is the garden. - Yup, this is the garden.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45All right. Tell me what your plans are for this garden.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47We quite like entertaining, having friends round,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49so it'd be great to have a space to allow us to do that.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- I wanted a cottage kind of feel of a garden...- OK.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- ..rather than a formal or a contemporary.- Right, right.
0:05:55 > 0:05:56Because it's quite a narrow garden,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59and I wanted a deep border to create a bit more impact
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and big, beautiful flowering plants.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So, we've got a border with lots of colour.
0:06:04 > 0:06:05- Yeah.- Lots of impact.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- A lawn.- Yeah. - And why do you want a lawn?
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I think a garden without a lawn doesn't quite look right to me,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12but also when we've got people round,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15you can spread out onto the lawn, sit on the lawn, eat on the lawn.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16What's your budget?
0:06:16 > 0:06:18£7,000, I think is what we agreed.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19Yeah.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22I mean, £7,000 is a perfectly doable budget.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26- It's not as extravagant as you might think.- Yeah.- You will spend that.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28But on the other hand, you should have something very nice
0:06:28 > 0:06:30at the end of it.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31So, that's worth it.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35How much of this can you do yourselves?
0:06:37 > 0:06:38Tariq's the grafter.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42I'm a grafter, so I think we're going to do 95% of it myself.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45And I'm going to do the project management, so...
0:06:45 > 0:06:51What I'd love to do at this stage is see anything you've got on paper.
0:06:51 > 0:06:52OK.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Tariq and Sira would like an elegant garden
0:06:56 > 0:06:58in which they can entertain friends and family.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03It will feature a patio area, with built-in seating,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05barbecue and herb garden.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Beyond this, a curved lawn will lead to the back of the garden,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15with a border filled with country-style planting on one side.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Sira would like a rose arch and a bench.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23And Tariq has his heart set on a topiary chicken.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Topiary chicken, perfect.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Everybody's got to have a topiary chicken.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32You said you're going to have a big border.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34But it's a small border and a big lawn.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39What we have is a very conventional idea
0:07:39 > 0:07:41of just almost full of grass with a little ribbon border
0:07:41 > 0:07:45- around the outside.- No!- I don't think that's what we want.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I would like a big-impact, deep border.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53To get the impact you want, you need volume of plants.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Now, if you want big flowers, big plants,
0:07:56 > 0:07:57you will not fit them in there.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59- Right.- OK.- OK?
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Monty also has a suggestion
0:08:01 > 0:08:04for making the most of their small space.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07One of the things that makes a garden look bigger
0:08:07 > 0:08:08- is subdividing it.- Yeah.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Funnily enough, if you've got a long, thin garden,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- it always pays to break it up. - Mm-hm.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15And Tariq is quick to take his lead.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Maybe just have another border coming out.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Bring this a lot deeper, having another border come out like that
0:08:22 > 0:08:25and having a small path leading from this garden to that garden.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27And, ideally, I wanted to have a rose arch,
0:08:27 > 0:08:28so would it be ideal to have a rose arch...?
0:08:28 > 0:08:30There you are, you're getting there.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32You could have a rose arch here dividing the two.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- I like that.- Wow!- How about that? - OK, yeah.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40Monty suggests breaking up the garden into distinct sections,
0:08:40 > 0:08:41to make it feel bigger.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45He feels the lawn should be reduced considerably.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48He suggests that they should increase the width of their border,
0:08:48 > 0:08:51and have one on either side.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53The third section of garden should be mainly
0:08:53 > 0:08:56a flower border with a path running through.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59The bench should be moved to the left-hand side
0:08:59 > 0:09:01to catch the evening sun.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05The rose arch should act as a doorway,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07separating the border area from the lawn.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12- Does that make sense? - Yeah, it does, it does, yeah.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15- Can you do it for us?- No. I'm not going to do anything for you.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17This is going to be your gig.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20- Yeah.- And I tell you what, it's your money, your time, your effort.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24You're young, you're enthusiastic, you've got lots of ideas.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26If you want to be proud of yourselves,
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- you've got to walk the walk. You've got to do it.- Definitely.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31- And you will.- OK.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33You will. And I'll help you and I'll guide you.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Do as much as you can yourselves.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40What they described to me with such passion
0:09:40 > 0:09:43simply wasn't reflected by the plan on paper,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46which I thought was a bit boring and bit safe.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50He's given us an idea of how to get everything we want in there,
0:09:50 > 0:09:52but just go about it a different way.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55So I think they've got to start again, get stuck in,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59do the work and make sure that all that initial energy and enthusiasm
0:09:59 > 0:10:02ends up on the ground.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06I think I might do a bit more than project managing though!
0:10:10 > 0:10:13In Bath, the boys are looking forward
0:10:13 > 0:10:15to meeting Monty for the first time.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18We've just been planning for so long for this garden.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20We just can't wait to get cracking.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22I think it's going to be weird having Monty here,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25cos Monty's been here before, but only ever on the telly.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26So he's always been about this big.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29So to see him full-size will be quite fun.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- Ah, welcome. I'm Ant. - Ant, hello.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40- This is Jake.- Jake. - Pleasure to meet you, Monty.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42- Nice to meet you.- Come on in. - Thank you.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45And this is it.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47It's a good it.
0:10:49 > 0:10:50Oh, it goes round the corner.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- Yes.- It's got a little bit to the side.- And a lot.- Yeah.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55How long have you been here?
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- Since October, since November? - Yeah. October, November time.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01- Effectively, in horticultural terms, this is the first season.- Yes.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04So what type of garden are you thinking of?
0:11:04 > 0:11:05We want a Japanese garden.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- Right.- We really want a Japanese garden.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09We're thinking of splitting it into two bits,
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- because we've got the bit down the side.- Yeah.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14So the main bit would be more like a tea garden
0:11:14 > 0:11:15and kind of a strolling garden.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17And then down the side, where it's shady,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20we're thinking woodland streams, dark areas,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22kind of green and lush and cool.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26To what extent... do you want to take the influence
0:11:26 > 0:11:28and make a garden of your own,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31or do you want to make a "Japanese garden"?
0:11:31 > 0:11:35We want to make a Japanese-influenced garden, I guess.
0:11:35 > 0:11:36- OK.- One of my main concerns is
0:11:36 > 0:11:39that we don't want it to look like a halfway garden.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41We still want it to look authentic enough,
0:11:41 > 0:11:44and still staying true to the ethos and everything else.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47And at the same time, because we have seen so many Japanese gardens,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50there's so much in our head and it's very dangerous to put all of them
0:11:50 > 0:11:51into our small garden.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54I'm glad you're saying it, not me. Because I would say it.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58The biggest mistake would be to try and cram every idea you've ever had,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00every garden you've ever seen, into your back garden.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01But the good thing is
0:12:01 > 0:12:05there are a lot of temple gardens that are precisely this size.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Have you any idea what it's going to cost?
0:12:07 > 0:12:09At the moment, it stands at £5,000.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Your original figure was £2,000.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Yeah, mine was very much a finger in the air,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16not knowing what I was talking about, £2,000,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- until we looked into it. - £5,000 is a really healthy budget.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23£2,000 is possible, but you would be making compromises quite early on.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26I don't think we want to make any compromises.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29I'm quite impatient, and I envisage this garden when it's done,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33it's going to look mature and look like an authentic Japanese garden.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35But deep down, I know that Japanese gardens takes years,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- if not hundreds of years to mature. - Can I tell you something?- Please.
0:12:38 > 0:12:39Forget the deep down.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42You've got to know, right on the surface,
0:12:42 > 0:12:44that this is going to take years.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48OK? What you do this year is the beginning.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51- OK.- The psychology you need
0:12:51 > 0:12:53is that you're not looking at that end product,
0:12:53 > 0:12:57- you're just looking at today.- Yeah. - That's the gardener's mentality.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00And, actually, there's something quite nice about growing
0:13:00 > 0:13:02- with your garden. - Absolutely. That's it.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05You and the garden grow together. The garden grows you.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07- Yeah.- Think Zen.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Great. Please, yeah.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13Ant and Jake's ambitious plan is for a Japanese-inspired garden,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16divided into two sections.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18The woodland area at the side of the house
0:13:18 > 0:13:20will feature a miniature stream,
0:13:20 > 0:13:24surrounded by shade-loving plants such as ferns and hostas.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29A gate opens into a space as yet undefined.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Beyond that, the formal tea garden,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35featuring a variety of Japanese-style planting
0:13:35 > 0:13:39and stepping stones, creating a path leading to the left-hand corner.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43In the centre of the garden, an acer will rest on a mound,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46half surrounded by an intricate concrete patio.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Monty is concerned about certain aspects of their plans.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53I am worried
0:13:53 > 0:13:56by how much of that area this hard landscaping is taking.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59- Right.- OK. - It's a relatively small space.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04I would consider making it smaller, and having a journey round,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06rather than just to one place.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10Monty zeroes in on a vague bit of the plan.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14And then as we come round here, into what is alarmingly called
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- "No-man's-land"... - Yes, we were hoping you'd spot that.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19We have no idea what to do about that area.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20You can tell where the ideas ran out.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22No-man's-land is always a disaster.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26You know, incoherent, unresolved areas
0:14:26 > 0:14:28remain incoherent and unresolved.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30- Right.- You have to resolve it.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Monty suggests they reduce the size of the patio
0:14:35 > 0:14:38to accommodate more planting on the right-hand side of the garden.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41He also thinks they should bring
0:14:41 > 0:14:44the different sections of the garden together,
0:14:44 > 0:14:45by extending the path throughout.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Rather than having no clear purpose,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53no-man's-land would become a third, separate section of the garden.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58The path should then continue through the woodland,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02and lead to a small teahouse that would serve as a bike shed.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05That probably would be the only bike shed
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- that looks like a Japanese teahouse in this country.- Well...
0:15:08 > 0:15:11And I think it would both be funny...
0:15:11 > 0:15:13- Yeah.- Yeah.- ..and practical. - Practical.- Yeah.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19But Ant and Jake are worried that their soil is very waterlogged,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22so Monty suggests a way to find out how big a problem they're facing.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27I would expect, in a new build like this,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30for there to be the thinnest layer of topsoil.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- Right.- Just enough to support grass.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34And all kinds of rubbish underneath.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38- OK.- So we take out a square of turf.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42- However wide it is, it must be at least as deep.- Right.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45- So, if it's two foot wide, it should be two foot deep.- OK.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48- Fill it full of water.- Yeah.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50And leave it, ideally, overnight.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Let it soak away at its own pace.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53Whatever that takes.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57As much as drain away, it will be absorbed by the soil.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Then you fill it again...
0:15:59 > 0:16:01knowing that the soil is saturated.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05So what goes then is proper drainage, as opposed to absorption.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08And depending on the rate of that fall,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10will give you a pretty good indication
0:16:10 > 0:16:11of the drainage of the soil.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Monty says that anything more than ten hours is very slow drainage.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Ideally, he'd want the water to drain within four to five hours.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23What we hope...
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- ..is that tomorrow morning it's gone!- We do hope, yeah.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30If in a week's time we get a phone call saying
0:16:30 > 0:16:32it's dropped half an inch...
0:16:32 > 0:16:34- Then we have a problem.- And I'm off.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35I'll be seeing you.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39For all the knowledge and enthusiasm for a Japanese garden -
0:16:39 > 0:16:40and I love that -
0:16:40 > 0:16:45it pales into insignificance until they tackle the problem of the soil.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47We knew the drainage was an issue to tackle,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50but we just didn't realise the scale of it.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52This is a classic new-build problem.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Horrible soil which has been compacted
0:16:56 > 0:16:59and really is unsuitable for planting.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04So until they sort that out, they really can't progress at all.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07What have we got ourselves into?
0:17:12 > 0:17:17Our supercompetitive dreamer, Tariq, wants an award-winning garden,
0:17:17 > 0:17:19but Monty didn't award him any gold stars
0:17:19 > 0:17:21when it came to his original plan.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24So, to help him and Sira get a clearer vision,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Monty has invited them to the biggest gardening event
0:17:27 > 0:17:30of the year - the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32After all, it's where the top names in the gardening world
0:17:32 > 0:17:36compete for the title "Best In Show".
0:17:36 > 0:17:39And Tariq has already found something he has his eye on.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Definitely need one of these in our garden.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44- Oh, what, instead of the topiary chicken?- No, as well as.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48I think we should have a steel chicken, a topiary chicken,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51maybe a wood one, and have a flock of chickens in my garden.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Oh, I don't know. I'm not really sure if I like it!
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Much to Sira's relief,
0:17:56 > 0:18:01Monty guides the pair away from poultry and to the LG Smart Garden -
0:18:01 > 0:18:04a contemporary take on the outdoor room.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06He really wants them to up their game
0:18:06 > 0:18:09to find their own style and colour scheme.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12I've brought you here because it's very hi-tech, very modern.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Unashamedly so.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17But it does use the vernacular of conventional gardening.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20You know, the plants are plants that could be in any garden.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22The way you grow them is exactly the same way
0:18:22 > 0:18:24as you would grow them in any garden.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26So, have you any immediate feedback?
0:18:26 > 0:18:30As soon as I walk into this garden, it feels really serene and calm,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33modern. What's really incredible about it is the planting scheme,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36and they've really thought about the thickness, the depth of the borders,
0:18:36 > 0:18:38the height of the plants, how full it looks,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41the colour scheme. Everything is just...
0:18:41 > 0:18:43Looks really spectacular, so it's really blown me away.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46And this is from someone who said that you weren't going to be
0:18:46 > 0:18:48- involved in the garden itself. - No, I know!
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- What are you thinking? - I think it's fantastic.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53I love it. Bringing the inside out,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56- and also the outside coming into the house as well.- Yes.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59This is a space to live in as much as to garden.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01It is an outdoor room.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06And that is something that more and more people are using and doing.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09If you look at the planting, the colour scheme is actually very soft.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11- Yeah.- It's very pretty.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16The colour palette is actually quite modest and pared down.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18But that's always a good thing.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Originally, I was thinking I just wanted lots of bright colour
0:19:21 > 0:19:23- in one place.- Yeah, I know. - And which I've said.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26The one thing I've noticed that all the gardens we've seen at Chelsea,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29is the palette, like how amazing just a palette can look
0:19:29 > 0:19:32with a few colours, rather than throw too much in there.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- Some of the gardens are very, very subtle indeed.- Yeah.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39How many plants do you have to get to make a garden?
0:19:39 > 0:19:42It has often been said, the fewer the better.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45But, at the moment, just think of colours and shapes,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47and how you want to use the space.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Monty also wants to show them another garden,
0:19:52 > 0:19:54designed by Charlie Albone.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56It's a relaxing space
0:19:56 > 0:19:59that provides a retreat from the speed of modern living.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01What I thought might interest you is, one -
0:20:01 > 0:20:04- it's very different to the other garden.- Yeah.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07- And, two - it's got much more structure.- Yeah.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09You know, ranging from the fact that he's dug down
0:20:09 > 0:20:11to have a lawn down that you have steps down into,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15the stepped box hedging that makes it create the structure,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17and then, of course, the colour scheme -
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- totally different... - Yeah.- ..but just as controlled.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- Yeah.- If you look at it, it's within a very defined palette
0:20:23 > 0:20:25of rich plums and purples,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29and these silvery colours with touches of white.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31- I love this garden.- Yeah. - Absolutely love it.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34I like the small lawn area which we could incorporate into our garden.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37- The height is really interesting. - The height's important, yes.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Really interesting. They've got these amazing hedges on stilts,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43then you've got the amazing colour palette, and it...
0:20:43 > 0:20:44It's very striking.
0:20:44 > 0:20:50Both these gardens, in their very different ways, have taken a theme.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52They're both about people relaxing.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54They're both modern.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57They both have a limited colour palette.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59And they do it in a very different way.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03- Yeah.- They're coming at the same problem from different angles...
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- Yeah, yeah.- ..to make a relaxing urban space.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11The key thing is to try and sort of find out what, really, you want...
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- Yeah.- ..and then make it happen. Rather than what you ought to want,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- or what other people want, or what...- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19It's got to come from inside you.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- Yeah.- Or else it won't work.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Today's been fantastic.
0:21:25 > 0:21:26It's been really great to come to Chelsea.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30I think one of the main things I've taken away is the interest
0:21:30 > 0:21:33and depth you can create with height and having a colour palette,
0:21:33 > 0:21:35and not confusing the colour palette,
0:21:35 > 0:21:38keeping it quite clean and thinking about the feel of the garden,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40like how we want the colours to make us feel.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44I think they're beginning to see what they like
0:21:44 > 0:21:47without necessarily knowing why they like it,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49or how to achieve it in their own garden.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51And that's a really important step.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53So hopefully, they will leave here
0:21:53 > 0:21:57not trying to emulate the professionalism of Chelsea...
0:21:58 > 0:22:01..but having found a place in their hearts
0:22:01 > 0:22:05that they can then follow wherever it takes them.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15In Bath, the plan for a Japanese garden has been stalled
0:22:15 > 0:22:17by the drainage issue.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Monty was here a week ago and he gave us some homework to do.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21We did some digging of holes.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Yeah. And he left us with a hole full of water.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26And by the looks of it, it's still there.
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Has it gone up?
0:22:27 > 0:22:29No. But it doesn't look like...
0:22:29 > 0:22:32That's seven centimetres it's gone down in a week.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35So if that was in an hour, that would have been perfect.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37- Yeah.- But this is in a week. - This is a week.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40The boys have dug several holes around the garden,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42to see how widespread the problem is.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Gosh, this one is too fast!
0:22:46 > 0:22:50It's only been an hour, and all the water's gone.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53So we've got one hole on this side that's actually too fast.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57There's another hole on the other side that's just standing still.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59Right.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02This is going to call for an extreme solution,
0:23:02 > 0:23:07especially if they are to keep up with the now-not-so-identical garden
0:23:07 > 0:23:09fast taking shape next door.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13So they call on some heavy-duty machinery
0:23:13 > 0:23:17to remove most of the garden, and start again from scratch.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Plan for this, tomorrow, is to put in the drain,
0:23:22 > 0:23:26take the water out of it so it doesn't become a big sump.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27And then gravel.
0:23:28 > 0:23:318 tonnes of gravel and 18 tonnes of soil on top.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35And then we can do some landscaping and gardening.
0:23:35 > 0:23:36So, you know, it's...
0:23:38 > 0:23:39Mammoth task.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46It's June in Leyton,
0:23:46 > 0:23:50and hard-working Tariq has been busy clearing out the garden.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53We've taken out two skips' worth of rubble.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55We've dug out concrete blocks.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59So that is a huge amount of work that we did.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01I haven't really done anything, in fairness.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Tariq's been doing all of the hard graft.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07This runs all the way to here.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10Yeah, but you haven't measured it.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12How are you going to fill that out with plants?
0:24:12 > 0:24:15You haven't measured it, so I don't know how you know that.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18The idea is that we get the path shape of our garden,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21so we're just trying to peg out and map the flow,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23and how the path meanders along.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25You need to measure these bits, don't you,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27so that it's brought in enough?
0:24:27 > 0:24:30We need to do this, actually, and get it right.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Seems like Tariq isn't the only perfectionist in this relationship.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37And we need to measure those bits, actually.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39Shall we start measuring those as well?
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- And then we can get this bit right. - All right.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45And that through that one.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Yeah, it looks better now.
0:24:51 > 0:24:52What do you think?
0:24:54 > 0:24:57With the path laid out and the project manager appeased,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00it's time to move on to the rose arch.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02I'm going to be in charge of the instructions,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04and Tariq's going to be in charge of the labour.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08This is the way that we work best together -
0:25:08 > 0:25:10with me directing and him doing.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14Sira isn't the only one keeping Tariq in line.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Their neighbour, Leon, is watching closely as well.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Can't wait to see the finish, you know, getting so excited.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26I just hope that Tariq does it good and proper,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28otherwise I'm going to tell him off!
0:25:30 > 0:25:34I think before today, to me, it just looked like a big pile of muck.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36I could probably just see all the negatives,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39rather than see it as a space where you can actually do something.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42And now we've started to map it out, I can kind of see Tariq's idea,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44I can kind of see it coming to life a bit more.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47Yeah.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53In Bath, with the drainage issue sorted,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56the boys are taking delivery of their brand-new,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and - fingers crossed - problem-free soil.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03It's like we're starting afresh.
0:26:03 > 0:26:04We had a hole that you could have
0:26:04 > 0:26:08actually buried two elephants in there, no problem. For sure.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10We've got a lot of soil in.
0:26:10 > 0:26:11I think we've got...
0:26:11 > 0:26:13- 29 tonnes.- 29 tonnes. There we go.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16But the hard work hasn't even started yet!
0:26:16 > 0:26:18They're now running a month behind,
0:26:18 > 0:26:21so the boys have called on their friends and family to make a start,
0:26:21 > 0:26:23finally, on their garden.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29To add salt to the wound, their competitive neighbours,
0:26:29 > 0:26:30Jake's twin and his husband,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33have already completed the work on their garden.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Our garden's fabulous, yes.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37It couldn't be more different.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39We paid someone to just do it.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42It's, in comparison, a lot easier.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47It's certainly not the relaxing experience our dreamers had in mind.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50But they're trying to stay positive.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Many hands make light work,
0:26:52 > 0:26:57and it's been so good to have so many friends frantically digging
0:26:57 > 0:26:59and helping our dreams become reality.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Overall, really good day.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03At least you can actually see the shape of it now...
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- Yeah.- ..which is really exciting.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12After some extensive research,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Tariq and Sira have come to Provender Nursery
0:27:15 > 0:27:16to pick up some plants.
0:27:18 > 0:27:19That's pretty. I really like that one.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- It's got some nice red foliage on it as well.- And some pink as well.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25And grab that other one at the back there. That's quite nice, too.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- What ones do you want? - I want the pink ones.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Sira is in charge of the list, but, true to form,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35she's letting Tariq do all the heavy lifting.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Want to give us a hand?
0:27:39 > 0:27:41You're doing all right. I think you're doing all right.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42All right.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45At least marketing manager Liz offers to help
0:27:45 > 0:27:47with some horticultural advice.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49- Foxgloves.- Yeah.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Otherwise known as digitalis.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55Well, the most common foxglove is Digitalis purpurea alba,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59which gets white flowers with little dots of pink and purple in it.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02- Flower spikes will get to this high. - Yeah.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Great plant for structure. Will self seed.
0:28:04 > 0:28:05How many is good to get,
0:28:05 > 0:28:07if you don't want them to overpower the whole garden?
0:28:07 > 0:28:10With something like a digitalis, because it's a woodland plant,
0:28:10 > 0:28:12you never see just one in the wild,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15you always see, sort of, like a little grove.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17It's best to try and emulate what you see in the wild,
0:28:17 > 0:28:18so at least three.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Sira and Tariq are keen cooks,
0:28:21 > 0:28:25so, next on the list, they're looking to fill up their herb bed.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Sage on your list.
0:28:28 > 0:28:29- That's a good one.- OK.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33It's got a nice big leaf. It's a good, earthy plant.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35- How big does it grow? - If you're picking it,
0:28:35 > 0:28:37to continually cook from it,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40always take the younger leaves, rather than the older leaves,
0:28:40 > 0:28:41- they can be a bit tough.- OK.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44As you can see, if you nip out the top...
0:28:44 > 0:28:46it'll regrow from here.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49If you're continually picking it, it'd probably get about this size,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52- all in all.- OK.- And a nice, decent bush about that sort of size across.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56Sage crossed off, it's time to move on to the next item on the list.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59There are lots of various different types of thymes,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02but one the best ones for cooking is actually this one.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06That's got a really good, tough little smell to it.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08The thing to do with thyme is, once it's flowered,
0:29:08 > 0:29:09treat it a bit like a lavender
0:29:09 > 0:29:11- and just cut it back to past the flowering.- OK.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14And, again, you'll get all this lovely, fresh, new foliage,
0:29:14 > 0:29:16- perfect for cooking. - Nice.- Yeah, that's lovely.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18I'll tell you what I've got at home, which is a great plant,
0:29:18 > 0:29:20is parsley.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22And the only thing with parsley is not to let it flower.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24It does go a bit bitter if it flowers.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26- But that overwinters really nicely. - Oh, right.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Everything we've looked at is perennial,
0:29:29 > 0:29:31so it will die down each year and come back.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Things like the rosemarys and the lavenders, obviously, are evergreen,
0:29:34 > 0:29:36but there are a few things to consider, like basil.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39- Yeah.- Great in a salad, but that is an annual
0:29:39 > 0:29:41so it won't overwinter.
0:29:41 > 0:29:42Having selected their plants,
0:29:42 > 0:29:45Liz helps the novices work out whether they have bought
0:29:45 > 0:29:48the right ones to create their dream garden.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51You've got a lot of lovely, strappy foliage,
0:29:51 > 0:29:52so you've got some good structure.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55You've got the flowering height with the verbenas,
0:29:55 > 0:29:57and also you'll have the digitalis.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01You've got the erysimums, the evergreen wallflower.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03You have everything here, really,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05herbaceous-wise, that you could possibly need.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07So it's a really, really good selection.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15In Bath, the Japanese-garden lovers had a complex plan for a tea garden
0:30:15 > 0:30:17and a woodland glade.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21And, to add to the challenge,
0:30:21 > 0:30:24they now want to build a Zen garden on their no-man's-land.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29Monty has sent them to the Japanese Garden in Cornwall to meet owner
0:30:29 > 0:30:34Robert Hore, who began developing his meditative garden in 1991.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41Robert shares his experience of how to achieve
0:30:41 > 0:30:44the elegance and deceptive simplicity of a Zen garden.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48They were first built by Zen Buddhists,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51and it was part of their sort of meditation process -
0:30:51 > 0:30:53the raking, the cleaning.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55It is a spiritual experience, if you like.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58There is an energy that people pick up on.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00This is very calming.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02We've had virtually every reaction you can imagine from this.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- Yeah?- Some people have cried.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08What was the theory behind the rocks,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10in terms of the position of them?
0:31:10 > 0:31:12And do they symbolise anything for you?
0:31:12 > 0:31:18If you saw it, sort of, man is the smallest part to the earth,
0:31:18 > 0:31:23to the universe, it does put it all in perspective.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Wow.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Robert explains that stones have played an important role
0:31:28 > 0:31:30in Japanese culture since ancient times.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36In Zen gardens, larger stones can symbolise mountains,
0:31:36 > 0:31:38islands or waterfalls...
0:31:39 > 0:31:42..while gravel and sand replace water.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46It took ages to get the rocks here.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50But it took a lot longer to actually get them to sit together.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53- Right.- And there's nothing really tangible you can say,
0:31:53 > 0:31:55- until it's right.- Yeah.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58- That's interesting, cos it looks right.- Yeah.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01- I can't describe why it looks right. - Yes.- It just looks right.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05I would love to know how you create the lines in the gravel.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07Well, would you like me to show you how to rake it?
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- I'd love to see that.- Fine.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13So, it's a relatively simple dowelled wooden rake.
0:32:13 > 0:32:18And I use a wavy line around the stones,
0:32:18 > 0:32:21to almost symbolise waves around islands.
0:32:21 > 0:32:22Yeah.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29- This gravel does show the lines really well.- Yeah.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34- Are you putting much weight on it, or are you just dragging it?- No.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37Literally, you're just dragging it through.
0:32:42 > 0:32:43When you first started,
0:32:43 > 0:32:47how did you know where to rake and what lines you're going to make?
0:32:47 > 0:32:50- I played with lots of different designs.- Yeah.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52But this is the one I've actually used now
0:32:52 > 0:32:55- for about the last 20 years-ish. - Wow.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00And it's a new day again.
0:33:14 > 0:33:15Great.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17The only thing I would say is,
0:33:17 > 0:33:18see here, where you've come
0:33:18 > 0:33:20to meet the other one?
0:33:20 > 0:33:21- Yeah.- If you just
0:33:21 > 0:33:24blend it in, it becomes complete,
0:33:24 > 0:33:26and you can't see
0:33:26 > 0:33:27where you've stopped and started.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32Today was brilliant.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34I loved it. I learned quite a lot.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36Yeah. It's really impressive.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40We were actually blown away, just how authentic it looked,
0:33:40 > 0:33:43and how much attention he put into every detail in this garden.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46And how much work that he actually put into this place!
0:33:46 > 0:33:48- Yes!- So much commitment. - Years and years of work.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02In Leyton, the hard landscaping for their dream award-winning,
0:34:02 > 0:34:05cottage-style garden has been completed.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10And while Sira has been busy ordering even more plants,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13Tariq has a characteristically organised plan
0:34:13 > 0:34:14for looking after them.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19I think we bought so many plants that it's going to be difficult
0:34:19 > 0:34:20to keep track of it all.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23So we're going to have to create some sort of spreadsheet,
0:34:23 > 0:34:27or like a booklet of plants and how to look after them.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30The plants haven't arrived yet,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33but what has arrived is a whole lot of manure -
0:34:33 > 0:34:34two tonnes of it.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39Monty had told Tariq he needed to do something about the bad soil.
0:34:39 > 0:34:40I'm shovelling...
0:34:41 > 0:34:47..composted horse manure in preparation for hundreds of plants
0:34:47 > 0:34:49that are going to arrive next week.
0:34:51 > 0:34:52Smells pretty bad.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56It's got to be done, cos our soil's not very good.
0:34:56 > 0:34:57I need to enrich it.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02And as ever, neighbour Leon is keeping an eye on his handiwork.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04I know, I know it smells.
0:35:04 > 0:35:05Sorry, Leon.
0:35:06 > 0:35:09- Is that all you're digging in? - Yeah.
0:35:09 > 0:35:10That's not enough, is it?
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Well, two, nearly two tonnes.
0:35:13 > 0:35:14- Oh, over there, yeah.- Yeah.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27In Bath, following their inspirational trip,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30Jake and Ant have been working hard to get things to the next stage
0:35:30 > 0:35:32before their mentor's visit.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36Monty's curious to see how the boys have been getting on.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38I've been thinking about this garden quite a lot.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40Japanese gardens are not easy,
0:35:40 > 0:35:45and especially ones as complex and as ambitious as they've done.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49So I do hope that they've got the soil sorted
0:35:49 > 0:35:50and they've made a bit of a start,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53because otherwise they're going to be cutting it fine.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57MONTY WHISTLES
0:35:57 > 0:35:59Hello!
0:35:59 > 0:36:01- Hello.- Hi, Monty.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03And I thought perhaps you wouldn't have done much.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07- Good to see you again. - Nice to see you, nice to see you.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11- Welcome.- I'm really, really impressed.- Welcome back.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14OK. I left you...
0:36:15 > 0:36:18..walking away thinking, "Ooh, they've got a problem."
0:36:18 > 0:36:20- Yeah.- How big a problem was it?
0:36:20 > 0:36:23In the end, we had to... get the whole garden dug out.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26And then put in two gigantic soakaway boxes,
0:36:26 > 0:36:30and then 21 more tonnes of soil on top of that. Yeah.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32- Whole new garden!- Yup.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35When I said you need to get the soil sorted out,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38I certainly didn't think that would mean
0:36:38 > 0:36:42essentially carving out the hillside and replacing it.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46It's quite rare for people to go to such lengths to make a garden.
0:36:48 > 0:36:53And you have got going in a way that I hadn't begun to anticipate.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57We took on your suggestions.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00And we changed a bit of it. Most notably, I think, the paving.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02- Right.- You called it crazed paving.
0:37:02 > 0:37:03It was slightly crazed,
0:37:03 > 0:37:06and we reduced it down to the minimum size we could.
0:37:06 > 0:37:07- Right.- And a table and chairs.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10And you've been aggressively planting.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Well, what you're looking at is the 1,560 camomile,
0:37:13 > 0:37:16- individually planted. - Yes. We've done the camomile.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18You have done the camomile.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21You've really done the camomile!
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Time for Monty to get to work.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25And tell me what your volcano is doing.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28That is where the acer is going to live.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30And that's something we need help with.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Normally, with an acer,
0:37:32 > 0:37:36you'd say plant, ideally, between October and March.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39The reason for that, even if it's in a pot,
0:37:39 > 0:37:42is that the roots will grow to a certain extent,
0:37:42 > 0:37:43but the leaves won't,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46so therefore not making demands upon the roots.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Planting now, especially if it's hot and dry,
0:37:49 > 0:37:51- quite a lot of demands on the roots. - Yeah.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55So you may well have to water much more than you otherwise would.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58- OK, right. - But let's get it in the ground.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Yeah, that's good.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05- Yeah, I've got...- OK.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07That's too low in the hole.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09OK, so the top, that point, I want to be
0:38:09 > 0:38:12about an inch above the soil level.
0:38:12 > 0:38:13So about like that. OK?
0:38:13 > 0:38:14So if I lift this out,
0:38:14 > 0:38:18can one of you two get enough soil to put underneath it, OK?
0:38:20 > 0:38:22Because they are moving the acer
0:38:22 > 0:38:24outside of the normal planting season,
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Monty advises using mycorrhizal fungus,
0:38:28 > 0:38:31which he says should help to extend the root system
0:38:31 > 0:38:33and increase absorption.
0:38:34 > 0:38:39Now, what you have to do with this is put it onto the roots,
0:38:39 > 0:38:42and also put it on the soil. So...
0:38:42 > 0:38:43Turn it a bit again. One more.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45That is pretty much...
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Right. Next step is for you to stand back and tell me
0:38:50 > 0:38:53- where to position it so you're happy.- OK.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57- OK.- What I'd like is the longest arch to come over here.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- Yeah.- Come about 90 degrees around.
0:39:00 > 0:39:01- Like that?- Little bit more.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06- Perfect.- So, we'll water that thoroughly.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08You want to get right down to the roots at the bottom.
0:39:10 > 0:39:11That should do it. That should do it.
0:39:13 > 0:39:14Finish all watering before you mulch,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17because otherwise the mulch acts as a blotting paper
0:39:17 > 0:39:20and soaks up moisture, and you want the water to go down to the roots
0:39:20 > 0:39:22and then the mulch keeps it in.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Let's stand back and look at the handiwork.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31- I think that's pretty good, don't you?- It's perfect.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35- It transforms the garden, I think. - Yeah.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37Although the tea garden is nearly complete,
0:39:37 > 0:39:40the pair still have two more sections to tackle.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44When I said that it's all about the soil, it's going to be a big job,
0:39:44 > 0:39:47I didn't realise it was going to be as big as it turned out.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51And they've created a completely new garden.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53It amasses, and it looks good.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55They've got to do this side section.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59And there's a lot to do, but all the evidence is that they'll do it...
0:40:00 > 0:40:01..and they'll do it well.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03We've planted a load of stuff together.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06You quite like doing a bit of gardening now.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08- I like parts of it.- Parts of it.
0:40:08 > 0:40:09- Yeah.- But that's better than none.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12I wouldn't do...I wouldn't do this hard work for other people,
0:40:12 > 0:40:16but for your own garden, it's worth the hard work, definitely.
0:40:16 > 0:40:17Yeah, for sure.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25In Leyton, Tariq and Sira are looking forward to moving on
0:40:25 > 0:40:27to the next stage of the garden.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29I feel like all the hard work has been done.
0:40:29 > 0:40:33All the digging, the patio laying, putting up the fence and the shed.
0:40:33 > 0:40:34This has been a really hard work,
0:40:34 > 0:40:37- like, for Tariq.- Yeah.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41But Sira has been thinking hard about their colour scheme,
0:40:41 > 0:40:45taking inspiration from the gardens Monty showed them at Chelsea.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47We tried to, like, have some more confidence
0:40:47 > 0:40:51in putting the garden together and, like, choosing the plants.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54- And I hope that he can see that we've tried to do that.- Yeah.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Topiary chicken, we haven't got that yet.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00Any sort of chickens or goats, we don't have in our garden yet.
0:41:00 > 0:41:01We wanted them, but...
0:41:01 > 0:41:06This is a garden where I really don't have to worry
0:41:06 > 0:41:08how much work they've done since my last visit.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12I know they will have been at it like a bull at the gate.
0:41:12 > 0:41:17Tariq and Sira are desperate to show how well they're doing
0:41:17 > 0:41:20and get approval. And whilst that's completely admirable,
0:41:20 > 0:41:23I do hope that they're learning to enjoy the process.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27And, both figuratively and literally,
0:41:27 > 0:41:32learning how important it is to stop and smell the roses.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Wow. Wow, wow, wow. You've been busy, Tariq.
0:41:36 > 0:41:37So you have done a huge amount.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40Have you done it all, or have you got people in to help?
0:41:40 > 0:41:41Probably about 90% of it I've done.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45You have come on leaps and bounds. I mean, this is really a lot.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47We're pleased with it, yeah.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50There's one big question that I'm burning to know is -
0:41:50 > 0:41:52have you enjoyed it?
0:41:52 > 0:41:55It's been a really good experience and process
0:41:55 > 0:41:58and I've enjoyed it, like, so much.
0:41:58 > 0:41:59Going to the garden centre...
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Because both of you are very outcome-orientated, aren't you?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06- It's all about achieving goals. - Yeah.- Hitting marks.
0:42:06 > 0:42:11- Yeah, exactly!- Winning, being best, coming top, all that sort of stuff.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15Seeing the progress, from seeing it look like an absolute derelict,
0:42:15 > 0:42:18horrible garden, to seeing it start to take some shape
0:42:18 > 0:42:22and start to look pleasant, I think has been an achievement.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- Yeah.- So we've kind of got the satisfaction from that,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26and now the rest of it is learning.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28I see you've been buying plants...
0:42:29 > 0:42:32- ..in a biggish way.- Oh! - Sira's been buying plants.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Yeah, I enjoyed doing the plant shopping.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37So we took, like, lots of inspiration from
0:42:37 > 0:42:41- what we saw at Chelsea. - We went for a purple and white...
0:42:41 > 0:42:42- And pink.- ..kind of hue.- Right.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45- Yeah.- There is a distinct colour theme emerging in that.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- What would you like me to help you with?- We've got lots of jobs,
0:42:48 > 0:42:50but I think one of the biggest ones
0:42:50 > 0:42:53is getting those plants in our big border.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55So we want to be able to dot them around.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59So Monty and Tariq's mum, Sheda, get straight to work.
0:42:59 > 0:43:04You can control him, because you're probably the only person who can!
0:43:04 > 0:43:06So if we start, say, with the box.
0:43:06 > 0:43:07How do you see that shaping up?
0:43:07 > 0:43:09Where had you thought of these?
0:43:09 > 0:43:11We were thinking along here.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13- OK.- Three boxes along here.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16- One...- To try and draw your eye into...
0:43:16 > 0:43:19Two... And what about the cones?
0:43:19 > 0:43:22The cones, we were thinking to have one here.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24- Yeah.- One here, and one here.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26- OK.- Yeah, to create a kind of gateway
0:43:26 > 0:43:29- as you're going through here. - So, start over this side.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31- So you think one there?- Yeah.
0:43:34 > 0:43:38So, we have structure either side of the path, there...
0:43:38 > 0:43:40- Yeah.- ..structure either side of the path, there...
0:43:40 > 0:43:42- Yes.- ..and line it up.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44Fine. Good. That makes sense.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47So now, thinking of more structure, the biggest plants...
0:43:47 > 0:43:49Let's get these agapanthus out.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51- Yeah.- How had you thought of them working?
0:43:51 > 0:43:54We wanted to have the height kind of maybe in the centre,
0:43:54 > 0:43:57and then we were kind of thinking of having grasses around,
0:43:57 > 0:43:58so you could look through.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00Seems to be going well.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03But perhaps Sira hasn't done quite as much research as she thought.
0:44:03 > 0:44:04See here?
0:44:04 > 0:44:09Agapanthus flowers best when it's crammed into a container.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11- Right.- Put this into this nice, rich soil -
0:44:11 > 0:44:13you'll have lots of leaves and no flowers.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15Oh, right, OK. We don't want that.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19So, either they've got to go somewhere with poor soil,
0:44:19 > 0:44:24- and preferably a bit stony, or in a pot.- Right.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27Having worked so hard up to this point,
0:44:27 > 0:44:29Tariq is not going to be deterred.
0:44:29 > 0:44:31Can we plant them in a pot in the ground?
0:44:31 > 0:44:33You could. You could do that.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36We've got six of them. Do we stick them all together in one big pot?
0:44:36 > 0:44:38Yeah, because these are quite small. I mean...
0:44:38 > 0:44:41Because they like to be crowded, you can cram them into a pot.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44Probably what you'd do is have two pots and have three in each pot.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47- Yeah, that's what we'd want to do. - And you would pack them tight.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49Don't give them too much room.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52They need only about an inch round the outside of soil.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54And that would work.
0:44:54 > 0:44:55Alongside the agapanthus,
0:44:55 > 0:45:00Sira has chosen verbena and echinacea to add height...
0:45:02 > 0:45:06..while fountain grass and Mexican feather grass
0:45:06 > 0:45:08soften the overall look.
0:45:09 > 0:45:13This is a plant which you grow, as much as anything else,
0:45:13 > 0:45:15- for its texture. - Yeah.- You know, it's...
0:45:15 > 0:45:20- And the one thing they need and they like is good drainage.- Right.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23So this is... You know when we saw the garden in Chelsea?
0:45:23 > 0:45:26- Yeah.- And it had the silver bits that were in with the purple.
0:45:26 > 0:45:28- That's where I got the inspiration for these ones.- So many plants.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30Here's a thought.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35- You could do that. - That's nice, actually.
0:45:35 > 0:45:40What we're trying to do is build up a rhythm, of colour and texture
0:45:40 > 0:45:43and shape, that feels natural
0:45:43 > 0:45:46but has actually got a very distinct colour palette...
0:45:47 > 0:45:50..and texture. This is all quite light.
0:45:50 > 0:45:53And soft. Both in colour and shape.
0:45:53 > 0:45:54There are no spiky plants.
0:45:54 > 0:45:57- No.- There's nothing too rigid or hard,
0:45:57 > 0:45:59and the grasses make it softer like that.
0:45:59 > 0:46:01I think this is progress.
0:46:01 > 0:46:04The progress to me is that you're thinking about how plants work.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06There is no right and wrong way about this,
0:46:06 > 0:46:09it's what you want and what works well.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14Well, initially Monty's approval was the only thing we ever wanted.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18And his blessing, and him saying how great we were doing.
0:46:18 > 0:46:22What I think is beginning to happen,
0:46:22 > 0:46:26is they are learning to exercise their own judgment,
0:46:26 > 0:46:29and not see the garden through the eyes of other people,
0:46:29 > 0:46:31and looking for their approval.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34And that is a huge step.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36I think we've got the confidence now
0:46:36 > 0:46:38to just get on with it and do it ourselves.
0:46:43 > 0:46:47In Bath, Jake is relishing his new-found love of gardening.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50Before this garden, cactus died in my office.
0:46:50 > 0:46:52I was that bad with plants.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55You could kill a plastic plant, I think I used to say.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57Yeah. I probably would, actually.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59But it gives you confidence to think, actually,
0:46:59 > 0:47:01the camomile that I planted,
0:47:01 > 0:47:04they're thriving and they're growing into a lawn, so that's quite nice.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07That's a nice feeling, something I didn't anticipate.
0:47:09 > 0:47:13Today, they're starting on the shaded woodland area of the garden.
0:47:13 > 0:47:16They're making interconnected ponds,
0:47:16 > 0:47:19which will be surrounded by a variety of ferns and hostas.
0:47:22 > 0:47:24Things that I dreaded
0:47:24 > 0:47:27actually now doesn't seem that big of a deal any more.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31When we talked about moving tonnes of soil, or rocks,
0:47:31 > 0:47:35or aggregate from the front of the house to the back of the garden,
0:47:35 > 0:47:38I was like, "Oh, my God, how are you ever supposed to do that?"
0:47:38 > 0:47:41I mean, that's not something for a human, it's for machinery.
0:47:41 > 0:47:43But now, like the other day, we're like,
0:47:43 > 0:47:45OK, let's get two tonnes of rocks.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47We're just going to place them around the pond.
0:47:47 > 0:47:50I was like, "OK, we'll just do it one at a time."
0:47:50 > 0:47:53And things don't seem that big a deal for me any more.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55We've still got quite a lot of work to do.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58- Yeah.- Behind us.- Oh, I'm confident that it's going to be done.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01And I'm quite excited about seeing the whole...
0:48:01 > 0:48:04whole three gardens together, really, when everything's done.
0:48:12 > 0:48:16It's September in Leyton, and the big day has arrived.
0:48:16 > 0:48:17Monty is on his way to see
0:48:17 > 0:48:22if all of Tariq and Sira's hard work and ambition has paid off.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24We're not looking for grades.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27We're not people who look for grades any more.
0:48:27 > 0:48:28We used to want a grade.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31We wanted to be A star students.
0:48:31 > 0:48:37Despite their energy, enthusiasm and willingness to work really hard,
0:48:37 > 0:48:39all the way along they wanted my approval.
0:48:40 > 0:48:44So above all, I hope that THEY like it,
0:48:44 > 0:48:49THEY approve of what they've done and don't really care what I think.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52It'd be great if he - as, like, the top gardener in the country -
0:48:52 > 0:48:54thought that it was a nice garden.
0:48:54 > 0:48:56I'm extremely proud of what we've done,
0:48:56 > 0:48:59but mainly extremely proud of what Tariq's done.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01He's just been relentless with his, kind of,
0:49:01 > 0:49:04being motivated to do the project.
0:49:05 > 0:49:06- Hi.- Hi, Tariq.
0:49:08 > 0:49:09Just four months ago,
0:49:09 > 0:49:12this shabby back yard was nothing but a dumping ground.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24But now, it is a charming and welcoming space
0:49:24 > 0:49:26in which to entertain guests.
0:49:31 > 0:49:34A well-stocked herb garden will keep the cooks busy.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39And a pastel colour palette and soft grasses
0:49:39 > 0:49:42provide a warm and relaxing atmosphere...
0:49:46 > 0:49:50..while striking topiary and bold paving add structure.
0:49:53 > 0:49:57And Tariq has even managed to include an iron chicken.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07- Grasses are looking great, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:50:07 > 0:50:08They're coming into their own.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11They'll look better and better over the next few weeks.
0:50:11 > 0:50:12- Yeah.- The topiary looks nice and crisp
0:50:12 > 0:50:16and the verbena is still holding up right and good. That's fantastic.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19And your herb garden, which is bathed in sunshine.
0:50:19 > 0:50:22- It's baking hot.- Yeah.- It's the Mediterranean section of...
0:50:22 > 0:50:25- Yeah, that's good.- Yeah. - No problems there at all.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28Let's talk about money. What was the notional budget?
0:50:28 > 0:50:30- I think we said seven.- I think we said seven.- Yeah.- Right.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33We just said £7,000 was a reasonable amount to spend.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35And what did you base that on?
0:50:35 > 0:50:36Percentage of what we spent on the house.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38OK, well, that's not a stupid idea.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40- Yeah.- So, what did you spend?
0:50:40 > 0:50:42- About ten, I think.- Right.
0:50:42 > 0:50:45I'd say probably just like, maybe close to nine, actually, but...
0:50:45 > 0:50:48OK, so it was a bit over the notional budget.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50- Yeah, but not...- But not massively.
0:50:50 > 0:50:51- No.- No.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53And what ate up most of the money?
0:50:53 > 0:50:54The fence cost a lot of money.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57The patio paving cost a lot.
0:50:57 > 0:50:58And the plants cost a lot.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00- Yeah.- Could have cost twice,
0:51:00 > 0:51:02- three times as much if we didn't do it ourselves.- Yeah.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05I was very impressed by the way that you did get stuck in
0:51:05 > 0:51:08- and you did it. Did you enjoy that? - I thought it was great.- Good.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11It's brilliant. It's our garden and it's a place for us to enjoy.
0:51:11 > 0:51:13- Yeah.- We've got everything that we want in it,
0:51:13 > 0:51:15and we can enjoy every single aspect of it.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18So it doesn't really matter if you don't like it or others don't.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21- Music to my ears.- We're enjoying it. It's fantastic for us.
0:51:21 > 0:51:22That's what I want to hear.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26This garden was built for entertaining,
0:51:26 > 0:51:29so it's time to get the tea party started.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33Tariq and Sira,
0:51:33 > 0:51:35you've achieved a huge amount,
0:51:35 > 0:51:38and the real success, the biggest reward,
0:51:38 > 0:51:43the biggest thing you can ever win is a little bit of quiet pleasure.
0:51:43 > 0:51:48So, to a garden with a long life of quiet pleasure.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51- I wish you every success.- Thank you.
0:51:51 > 0:51:52- ALL:- Cheers!
0:51:55 > 0:51:59Oh, I think the garden was in a terrible state.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03Considering it was growing brickwork before, now they're growing flowers.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06Everything's come together really well.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09You've got a lovely variety of plants here, and colours.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12You know, it's looking a really lovely place to sit out and relax.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15After all the hard work, it looks stunning.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17It's perfect, really, for them. You know?
0:52:17 > 0:52:19I think all the hard work's paid off.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22I love the garden. I think it's just...
0:52:22 > 0:52:25I can't stop looking at it. I'm like, "Wow, we did this."
0:52:25 > 0:52:27- Yeah.- It's amazing.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29It's lovely. It's lovely. I love my garden.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33The garden is a success on many, many levels.
0:52:33 > 0:52:37It looks great, it completes the house.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40Tariq and Sira are winners.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42But they haven't defeated anybody.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45They're winning because they've made something lovely.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47And that's real success.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57In Bath, the boys are nervously awaiting Monty's final visit.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59It feels like exam day,
0:52:59 > 0:53:01so I'm a little anxious.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04I think the biggest transformation is standing next to me,
0:53:04 > 0:53:06in terms of gardening.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09I don't know what I'm going to do with myself on a Saturday,
0:53:09 > 0:53:11not going to the garden centre any more.
0:53:11 > 0:53:13I think he will like it.
0:53:13 > 0:53:14I hope.
0:53:16 > 0:53:22I'm really looking forward to seeing how this garden has ended up.
0:53:22 > 0:53:26And I know that these guys will have researched it very thoroughly,
0:53:26 > 0:53:29and put a huge amount of work in.
0:53:29 > 0:53:33To take this brilliantly executed concept,
0:53:33 > 0:53:38and then make it alive and live for the future is the real challenge.
0:53:41 > 0:53:42Four months ago,
0:53:42 > 0:53:47this dull and uninspiring back garden was riddled with problems.
0:53:49 > 0:53:50Mmm...
0:53:56 > 0:53:59But now, it has a brand-new lease of life.
0:54:01 > 0:54:06The iconic Zen garden provides a serene area for contemplation.
0:54:09 > 0:54:12In time, the woodland pond will be covered
0:54:12 > 0:54:14in a canopy of lush, green foliage.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24The Japanese tea garden, swathed in a camomile carpet...
0:54:27 > 0:54:30..with a glorious acer centrepiece -
0:54:30 > 0:54:34the perfect place to reflect on many fond memories of far-away travels.
0:54:39 > 0:54:41That has really grown.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44It's matured surprisingly.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48- The acer that we moved.- Yes. - I like the way that it's looking.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50- It's looking very healthy. - I'm really happy.- Yeah.
0:54:50 > 0:54:52It seems to have settled down.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55And I like the screen that the bamboo is forming.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57- Yeah.- And that will grow and spread.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59- Yeah.- And your cherry is flowering.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01- Yes.- Hey, you've got your Japanese cherry flowering.
0:55:01 > 0:55:02It came out for you!
0:55:02 > 0:55:05Let's go through the trials and tribulations.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08- Oh, God.- How long have we got?
0:55:08 > 0:55:11Was that catastrophically expensive?
0:55:11 > 0:55:12It was very expensive,
0:55:12 > 0:55:15even though the developer very kindly picked up the bill
0:55:15 > 0:55:19- for a large part of the work.- Yeah. - We had to bring in a lot of soil.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21- So it was very expensive. - So it did blow the budget.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23- Yeah.- I mean, that alone...
0:55:23 > 0:55:25is beyond most people's lifetime experience
0:55:25 > 0:55:28- of dealing with problems like this. - Probably.
0:55:28 > 0:55:30To dig out to a seven-foot depth
0:55:30 > 0:55:32across the whole garden and replace it.
0:55:32 > 0:55:34- I'd never come across that before. - Oh, really?
0:55:34 > 0:55:37No, I mean, that is really extreme.
0:55:37 > 0:55:41So you began... in the most dramatic way possible.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44Actually, it was stressful at the time, for sure.
0:55:44 > 0:55:48But now, it actually gives us comfort and confidence knowing
0:55:48 > 0:55:51exactly what's underneath there. We know the soakaway's working,
0:55:51 > 0:55:53we know the topsoil is good quality.
0:55:53 > 0:55:54That actually is quite nice to know.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57How much over budget are you? Now that you've finished.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59The original was £5,000, wasn't it?
0:55:59 > 0:56:01- Yeah.- Altogether, it was 14.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03- Ooh!- Yes.
0:56:04 > 0:56:07Gosh, I wasn't expecting that. It's a lot of money, isn't it?
0:56:08 > 0:56:11We looked at how much we spent on holidays to Japan...
0:56:11 > 0:56:14- Yeah.- ..for one thing. How much time we'd spend in the garden,
0:56:14 > 0:56:17how much time we'd spend enjoying it with friends.
0:56:17 > 0:56:19What you get back is bigger than the cost of it.
0:56:19 > 0:56:23I think you can't possibly spend money better, in a better way.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25So, you know, I'm with you.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28- Now, I want to go and have a good look at the gravel garden.- Please.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31And I want to see around the side, which I haven't seen yet.
0:56:31 > 0:56:35- So the path comes up here, and leads us through.- Yeah.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37It's very pure. Very pure.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39- And I like the gravel very much. - Thank you.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45And into the shade garden.
0:56:46 > 0:56:48And it's cool. Really cool.
0:56:48 > 0:56:51I think the sort of monochromatic effect works.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54- It could be lusher.- Yes.
0:56:54 > 0:56:55- Yeah, yeah.- But that'll come.
0:56:55 > 0:57:01Well, I think you should feel very, very pleased with yourselves,
0:57:01 > 0:57:03because you've made a great garden. You've made a lovely garden.
0:57:03 > 0:57:05- Thank you.- Thank you so much.
0:57:05 > 0:57:07Hi, guys!
0:57:07 > 0:57:09And with the Monty's seal of approval,
0:57:09 > 0:57:13it's time to welcome friends and family into their dream garden.
0:57:13 > 0:57:14It looks amazing!
0:57:16 > 0:57:17I've seen lots of gardens in my life,
0:57:17 > 0:57:19all over the world.
0:57:19 > 0:57:23But I've never seen a garden rebuilt from seven feet down.
0:57:23 > 0:57:29I completely admire the combination of hard work, but also artistry.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32So, raise your glass and let's celebrate it.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35- And well done to both of you. - Thank you so much! Thank you.
0:57:35 > 0:57:36- Thank you!- Cheers.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40Very, very proud.
0:57:40 > 0:57:42When you see it all together, yeah, extremely proud.
0:57:42 > 0:57:44And you see their faces as well. They're so happy.
0:57:44 > 0:57:47I'm very proud of Ant for having that vision
0:57:47 > 0:57:48and actually realising it.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50I came here and was absolutely gobsmacked.
0:57:50 > 0:57:54I think the work they've done here has turned the house into a home.
0:57:57 > 0:57:58Bye-bye.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00I'm really pleased how it turned out.
0:58:00 > 0:58:02It's amazing.
0:58:02 > 0:58:05I can't believe it, at times, when I look at it.
0:58:06 > 0:58:09I think I'm beyond pleased, actually.
0:58:09 > 0:58:13I'm kind of amazed that we did actually manage to do it!
0:58:13 > 0:58:15To me, that is a dream garden.
0:58:15 > 0:58:18- To me, that is... - It's our dream garden.
0:58:18 > 0:58:19Yeah, it's our dream garden.
0:58:21 > 0:58:25This is a garden that will go on to give them pleasure
0:58:25 > 0:58:27and will get better and better.
0:58:27 > 0:58:31It's a garden that, like a fine wine, is going to age well.