0:00:09 > 0:00:13This week, I'm veering between two extremes.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17As well as beginning to repair the ravages of winter in my dry garden,
0:00:17 > 0:00:19I shall also be adding moisture-loving plants
0:00:19 > 0:00:21to the damp garden.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Carol is swapping tips
0:00:24 > 0:00:27with someone who's turned her garden into a wildlife haven.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33Oh, this is great! It's like being a kid again, isn't it?
0:00:33 > 0:00:35There he is!
0:00:35 > 0:00:40And Rachel visits a beautiful Northamptonshire garden
0:00:40 > 0:00:42full of design inspiration
0:00:42 > 0:00:44for gardens of any size.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Hello, welcome to Gardeners' World
0:00:55 > 0:00:57and to Longmeadow.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59And in the last two weeks,
0:00:59 > 0:01:00the garden has moved on,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02it's become another season.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05After the blistering heat and bone-dryness of April,
0:01:05 > 0:01:07now we're in May it's a bit cooler,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09we've had some rain,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12and the garden has shifted, it's moved up a gear.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14And this piece of the garden
0:01:14 > 0:01:16has become dominated, quite frankly, by weeds.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20But I try and nourish at least some of my weeds
0:01:20 > 0:01:21because I think they're beautiful.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26The cow parsley, for example, is one of the loveliest plants on the whole of these islands.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31And the combination of cow parsley and the hawthorn blossom
0:01:31 > 0:01:35is to my mind as good as anything any gardener has ever devised.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37But there is goosegrass coming through
0:01:37 > 0:01:39which is a bit of a thug.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41It's pretty, but I weed it out as I pass.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And one of the things that I find most interesting about weeds,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47is that they will always adapt to where they are.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50It doesn't matter if it's dry soil, damp soil,
0:01:50 > 0:01:51if it's a windy site, exposed -
0:01:51 > 0:01:55you will find weeds perfectly suited to that environment.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57And of course, you can learn from that,
0:01:57 > 0:01:58in deciding what you plant.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01And also, there's a whole ecosystem
0:02:01 > 0:02:03because they're such an important part
0:02:03 > 0:02:05of the biodiversity of the garden.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09They're a really good source of food for insects and mammals
0:02:09 > 0:02:11that depend upon those weeds.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14So, they're interesting, they're useful,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16and at times, a bloody nuisance!
0:02:18 > 0:02:21This is the damp garden,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25it leads off the spring garden.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28We haven't been in here yet
0:02:28 > 0:02:32but it's one of those areas that floods.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34And what makes it damp -
0:02:34 > 0:02:36the reason why we call it a damp garden -
0:02:36 > 0:02:38is it really gets drenched,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42probably two, three, even four times a year.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44So the plants that we put in here
0:02:44 > 0:02:49are those that love a really long, good soak.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Of course, one of the real disadvantages of flooding
0:02:53 > 0:02:56is that a whole mass of weed seeds come in
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and in this part of the garden,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00the real danger are nettles.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04And so, we've taken everything out and dug the nettles' roots out.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06The good thing is it's created spaces
0:03:06 > 0:03:08so I can do some more planting,
0:03:08 > 0:03:09and that's what I intend to do now.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Now, one of the main sources of colour
0:03:12 > 0:03:14are ligularias.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Now, I've got three ligularias here
0:03:16 > 0:03:18which are self-seeded.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20This is Ligularia 'The Rocket'.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24But they're too close to the hedge, they're too close to the front,
0:03:24 > 0:03:25so I want to move those.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28And if I just get in there, underneath...
0:03:28 > 0:03:32They come up fairly easily, they've got quite a good root system.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33You can see...
0:03:33 > 0:03:35I've got... In fact, you can see
0:03:35 > 0:03:37one, two, three, four plants in there.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40These stems aren't particularly dark,
0:03:40 > 0:03:41but they will get much darker.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44They get to the point where they're absolutely black
0:03:44 > 0:03:47and you have the black stems, the green leaves,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50and these yellow cones or spires of flower.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Dramatic, lovely plant.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55It'll perform best in quite moist soil -
0:03:55 > 0:03:57certainly heavy soil.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59And in some shade too,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02it doesn't like sunshine all day.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I'm not going to plant this immediately
0:04:04 > 0:04:06because of the ferns.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10These shuttlecock ferns love it in here,
0:04:10 > 0:04:11but they are thugs.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16And it's this idea of when a plant that you've deliberately put in place takes over,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18does it become a weed?
0:04:18 > 0:04:20In the case of these, I think they are,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22I think they're a lovely, lovely weed.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26So, I want to move some of these
0:04:26 > 0:04:28to make room for ligularias.
0:04:28 > 0:04:29I'm going to move them further back
0:04:29 > 0:04:31because the point of the damp garden
0:04:31 > 0:04:34is to let it merge out into the countryside
0:04:34 > 0:04:37so it becomes wilder and wilder.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41And then weeds, happily, are allowed to dominate.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I'm just going to pop that in the ground, like that.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47And it's as easy as that.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Now, let's get on with these ligularias.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54This is a mouthful to pronounce,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56but lovely to look at.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Ligularia przewalskii.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00It's got these cut leaves,
0:05:00 > 0:05:01the stems aren't so dark.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04It has fairly similar flowers to The Rocket,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06yellow, tall spires,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and it's a graceful, tall plant.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13And the third ligularia I'm growing here
0:05:13 > 0:05:15is Desdemona.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20And Desdemona has these pinky-purple stems
0:05:20 > 0:05:22and undersides to her leaves.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23Green on top.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27The flowers are like great big egg-yolk yellow daisies.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31A very dramatic, startling plant.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34I'll put a few in here.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39They're slightly less vigorous than the other two.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41I'll put one there...
0:05:41 > 0:05:43I've got those group there and there,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45so I think I'd like one up here.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48# Doo-doo-doo-doo sh-boom
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- # Life could be a dream - Sh-boom
0:05:50 > 0:05:52# If I could take you up
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- # In paradise up above - Sh-boom...- #
0:05:54 > 0:05:58And because I want to create a lush, exuberant feeling in this garden,
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Hostas are an obvious choice.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03The first one is this,
0:06:03 > 0:06:05which is called Sum and Substance
0:06:05 > 0:06:07and if you plant it in the sun,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10it turns almost yellow.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12It's a very yellowy green
0:06:12 > 0:06:14which, of course, picks up with the ligularia theme
0:06:14 > 0:06:17and also the bright, shining green of the ferns.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Put it in full shade and it'll stay greener,
0:06:21 > 0:06:22but I like the yellow
0:06:22 > 0:06:25and hostas will grow perfectly happily in sunshine
0:06:25 > 0:06:27if they've got enough moisture.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30They're not actually completely happy in full shade,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32dapple shade is best.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34This is sieboldiana,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36which is another large hosta
0:06:36 > 0:06:39with a nice glaucous blue colour.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43It will grow, and keep on growing, for about 10 to 15 years,
0:06:43 > 0:06:44getting bigger and bigger
0:06:44 > 0:06:47and the leaves get very cupped.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Now, obviously, the first question you get asked about with hostas
0:06:51 > 0:06:52is how do you defend them
0:06:52 > 0:06:55against the attacks of slugs or snails.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59You can put grit round them,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01that deters slugs and snails.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06If you're growing them in pots, as I did in London, 20 years ago,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09we used to put copper round the pots, or Vaseline.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14You're making life more difficult for a snail to get at.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18I've also tried - and with some success - using comfrey.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20We've got, over here, Comfrey leaves.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25And if you just pick leaves, like that,
0:07:25 > 0:07:29and lay them around a hosta
0:07:29 > 0:07:31or any other plant that you're worried about -
0:07:31 > 0:07:34and I've used this on lettuce seedlings -
0:07:34 > 0:07:36the slugs and snails will eat the comfrey first.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40As it breaks down, it's much more attractive
0:07:40 > 0:07:43to your average slug than the hosta leaf.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Now, that will want feeding,
0:07:50 > 0:07:55and one of the issues with hostas is getting the balance of feed right
0:07:55 > 0:07:58because they love nitrogen, especially in spring.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01But if you give them too much nitrogen,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03you get lush growth
0:08:03 > 0:08:06and then the slugs and snails go for it.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10So either give them a balanced fertiliser,
0:08:10 > 0:08:14or - and I always come back to this - good old garden compost,
0:08:14 > 0:08:15which is not too rich in nitrogen,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19but just releases its nutrients nice and slowly
0:08:19 > 0:08:21and in a balanced way.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24And I will mulch these nice and thickly with compost.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26# ..Life could be a dream, sweetheart
0:08:26 > 0:08:27# Hello, hello again
0:08:27 > 0:08:29- # Sh-boom and hope we meet again - Boom-be-boom
0:08:29 > 0:08:31# De-dong de-ding-dong
0:08:31 > 0:08:33# A-linga-la linga-la Linga-la linga-la oh
0:08:33 > 0:08:35# Oh bip
0:08:35 > 0:08:36# A-be-ba-doh ba-din whoa
0:08:36 > 0:08:38# Life could be a dream
0:08:38 > 0:08:40# Life could be a dream
0:08:40 > 0:08:46# Doo-doo-doo-doo sh-boom. #
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Now, the reason why the soil here is so rich
0:08:49 > 0:08:51is because it's silt from flooding
0:08:51 > 0:08:53that's built up over thousands of years.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56The reason why it floods is because it's dead flat -
0:08:56 > 0:08:59this garden is flat and it's surrounded by a flood plain.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01But Rachel's been to Coton Manor
0:09:01 > 0:09:04which is built on a slope
0:09:04 > 0:09:05and over the last 20 years,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09the garden has been planted and maintained and designed
0:09:09 > 0:09:12to make the very most of that particular feature.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26Coton Manor is packed with inspirational planting so I've brought my camera.
0:09:33 > 0:09:39Beyond the 17th-century manor are ten acres of fabulous gardens shelving away down the hill.
0:09:46 > 0:09:52In fact, these slopes form a series of beguiling mini-gardens.
0:09:56 > 0:10:02Be it shaded or a sun-trap, skilful planting makes the most of the conditions.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06Each separate part of the garden has a different feel.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11It's all the vision of Susie Pasley-Tylor.
0:10:13 > 0:10:1920 years ago, Susie was a hobby gardener. Then, when her husband inherited the family home,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22she found herself with an enormous garden to manage.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25It took a couple of years
0:10:25 > 0:10:29and then I was completely hooked. I've been learning ever since.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I'm out here every minute I can be, really.
0:10:32 > 0:10:37Anything that interferes with this is sort of set back.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- You're not a fair-weather gardener? - No, I'm out in all weathers.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45You're on quite a steep slope. How have you managed to deal with that?
0:10:45 > 0:10:49People who have got very flat gardens
0:10:49 > 0:10:54feel they have got to create a structure, the slope does it for us.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00Pushing a barrow uphill is hard work. But from every other point of view, it's fine.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Oh, this is quite a different feel.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08It is. It's a different mood here altogether.
0:11:08 > 0:11:15This corner of the garden gets heavily shaded by a canopy of mature, deciduous trees.
0:11:15 > 0:11:21It's the perfect place for plants that flower before the trees come into full leaf.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27It just goes to show. People think of dry shade as a terrible problem,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- but look at this - it's absolutely heaving with plants.- In spring,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35you can grow these things while they've still got light.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38I particularly love the erythroniums.
0:11:38 > 0:11:44They're just so stunning and only here for a short time.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47This one, Pagoda, is the most lovely soft yellow.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52And we've got Californicum White Beauty with its mottled leaves,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54which are spectacular.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58So you get double interest, once the flowers have faded.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03You've got an epimedium with equally lovely foliage. Completely different.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08Epimediums are wonderful. They flourish and thrive in dry shade
0:12:08 > 0:12:10and don't give us any trouble.
0:12:10 > 0:12:18What are the tricks that you use in order to keep this amount of flower going under this dry shade?
0:12:18 > 0:12:22We put a lot of leaf mould in every year. That does help
0:12:22 > 0:12:27because it's moist and helps retain the moisture already in the ground.
0:12:27 > 0:12:33We have to keep right on top of the weeding and the plants that want to invade the others.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36It seems to be working a treat.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- It is absolutely beautiful. - Thank you.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48At Coton Manor, plants create the atmosphere in each area
0:12:48 > 0:12:53and coherence comes from a restricted colour palette and carefully chosen leaf texture.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58Further down, Susie has taken advantage of the slope to create
0:12:58 > 0:13:01naturalistic planting round the stream.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05We've come from dry shade, but in this area, you make use of the water
0:13:05 > 0:13:11- to make a damp, shaded area. - It's a wonderful opportunity for all these plants
0:13:11 > 0:13:14to show their contrasting foliage.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18We've got ferns, matteuccias, masses of different euphorbias.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23This one is Euphorbia palustris. It's stunning at this time of year.
0:13:23 > 0:13:29Do you have a particular favourite combination of plants in this area?
0:13:29 > 0:13:33I think these plants here are as good as they get in this area.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36We've got the marsh marigold
0:13:36 > 0:13:40with its yellow flowers picking up the Euphorbia palustris
0:13:40 > 0:13:42and the foliage of the lysichiton,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46the skunk cabbage, with the contrasting foliage of the acer,
0:13:46 > 0:13:52and I think that does compose a lovely picture at the moment.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It's ephemeral. It's not going to last all summer.
0:13:55 > 0:14:01You've got these rounded mounds of colour building up as you go up the slope. It's quite brilliant.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08Everything I've seen at Coton Manor would work in a garden of any size.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13This is a particularly beautiful combination -
0:14:13 > 0:14:17Euphorbia griffithii Fireglow, and it really lives up to its name,
0:14:17 > 0:14:23and right next to it the tulip Orange Emperor. A sensational combination.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25To make it even better,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Susie's added that bright blue Himalayan poppy.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31The colour just pops!
0:14:31 > 0:14:33It really is very effective.
0:14:34 > 0:14:40Coton Manor is open until the end of September, but if you can't get to Northamptonshire,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43there are lots of other outstanding gardens to visit now.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48Aberglasney Gardens is fantastic for damp shade.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52As is Beth Chatto Gardens near Colchester.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57And for a stunning woodland garden, you can't beat Castle Howard.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01For even more suggestions, go to our website.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13I've got some e-mails here in response to our gardening dilemmas.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15A number of them cover the same topic.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20This one from Lorraine Fountain is representative of all of them.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Lorraine, you say your bay tree - and you've sent a picture -
0:15:24 > 0:15:30has been hit by something that has browned the leaves and you've got black stains underneath.
0:15:30 > 0:15:36Well, you're not alone. I bet there are tens, if not hundreds of thousands of you,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40who have had bay trees turn to shrivelled brown. That's the cold.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44The good news is it is amazing how they will regrow.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47So wait till you see active signs of new growth,
0:15:47 > 0:15:52then cut out all the dead, reshape it - that's the tough bit -
0:15:52 > 0:15:57give it a bit of TLC and it should come back. Now, I've got...
0:15:57 > 0:16:00a rosemary, also a Mediterranean plant,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03that has had exactly the same harsh response
0:16:03 > 0:16:08to a harsh winter. I've pulled out six in the last month or so.
0:16:08 > 0:16:13I thought this one would be OK, but I don't think it's worth keeping.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18So I think this had better go. I'll plant another rosemary in its place.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21First, I'll cut it back and then dig it out.
0:16:21 > 0:16:27If you've got a shrub like this rosemary, the new growth is all at the ends
0:16:27 > 0:16:32and it will never make an attractive, well-foliaged shrub.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36It will always be straggly and struggling.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40By the way, we keep any rosemary we cut
0:16:40 > 0:16:46and put it on the sitting room fire because it burns really well
0:16:46 > 0:16:49and smells delicious.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00There's something about rosemary stems when you hold it.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04They feel particularly dry and scaly.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10They've got all that parched quality
0:17:10 > 0:17:13of a Mediterranean hillside.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17In fact, there are two bushes in here.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22There we go.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26I don't know if you can here, but I am on solid, solid rock there.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Actually, because of that, I'll add some horticultural grit.
0:17:31 > 0:17:37There's nothing that rosemary hates more than its roots sitting in wet,
0:17:37 > 0:17:41particularly in winter when it's cold. So that goes in.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44It doesn't matter that it's poor soil.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Rosemary is tough when it comes to conditions.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52I've had this plant in a pot all winter. Pretty pot bound.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57What I like to do if things are pot bound is just loosen it slightly.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01You damage some roots, and I don't want to break them open completely,
0:18:01 > 0:18:05but just tease them a little bit and they will respond
0:18:05 > 0:18:09as though they have been pruned and grow out. OK, that can go in.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17I think that'll be fine.
0:18:17 > 0:18:23Fundamentally, rosemary will be at home in these conditions and that is the secret of happy plants
0:18:23 > 0:18:28and, therefore, a good garden, which is to go with nature.
0:18:28 > 0:18:34Now, Carol has been to visit a garden which started just going with nature like this
0:18:34 > 0:18:39but, as it went along, has taken things much further.
0:18:42 > 0:18:48Sue Camm loves gardening but, for her, it's not just for the plants.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51It's for the wildlife those plants attract.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11I've never seen so many different bird feeders!
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Aren't they wonderful!
0:19:13 > 0:19:15They're all for different birds.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17That one's for robins and sparrows.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20These are for the tits and the finches.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24- So they've got their own special... - Yes.- ..restaurant, haven't they?
0:19:24 > 0:19:28- There's one to suit every bird that comes into the garden.- What's this?
0:19:28 > 0:19:31It's the dog hair! THEY LAUGH
0:19:31 > 0:19:33I collect it up in a carrier bag
0:19:33 > 0:19:36and in the spring, put it in there for the birds for nesting material.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Must be very popular right now!
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- I can fill that up a couple of times a day.- Cor.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45This is a much more traditional sort of bird table, isn't it?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Not only the birds use that one, the little voles come to that one too.
0:19:48 > 0:19:54Which is probably why we get through about six kilos of bird food a week.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- What?! - I think they eat better than us.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02'Now wildlife, being wild, is quite shy
0:20:02 > 0:20:05'and my visit's a bit of a disturbance,
0:20:05 > 0:20:08'so we organised a specialist wildlife cameraman
0:20:08 > 0:20:15'to stake out Sue's garden and film the creatures that visit in a single typical day.'
0:20:15 > 0:20:21- Oh, a chaffinch!- You can hear them already all around the garden, can't you?
0:20:21 > 0:20:23BOTH: The woodpecker!
0:20:24 > 0:20:26He's hidden again!
0:20:26 > 0:20:31That's the Great Spotted Woodpecker, and that's a female.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- She's got...- How do you tell?
0:20:33 > 0:20:36She's got no red on the back of her neck.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38The male has a red stripe on the back of his neck.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41You must get masses of other creatures in here.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46We've got newts in the pond, frogs and toads,
0:20:46 > 0:20:50and grass snakes. Buzzards, we see a lot of those.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53There's a pair of them which nest not far from here.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Did you originally imagine that it was going to be a wildlife garden?
0:20:57 > 0:21:00No. No, not at all. It didn't even cross my mind.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04It was just a case of dig beds, put flowers in,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07and gradually they arrived.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11And the more wildlife arrived, the more interesting I found them,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14and the more I tried to encourage more to come.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Fascinating pictures, but I want to see the real thing.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Can we go and explore?- Yes! Come and see what I grow.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23BIRD CHIRPS
0:21:24 > 0:21:26This is my favourite part of the garden.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29I've always loved the woodlands around here
0:21:29 > 0:21:33with all the bluebells and wildflowers, and I wanted one of my own.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35And very beautiful it is, too.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39It's amazing what you can do in such a small space, really, isn't it?
0:21:42 > 0:21:46'An important part of Sue's success in attracting wildlife
0:21:46 > 0:21:50'comes from creating different habitats.'
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- What's this contraption? - Oh, this is for the toads.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56- LAUGHTER - Toad Hall, is it?
0:21:56 > 0:21:59The bottom of it is filled with wet sand.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03And I found that when I've been doing building work,
0:22:03 > 0:22:06I find toads hibernating in my building sand,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09so I filled this with wet sand and that's where the toads are.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- Is he in there, then?- I don't know.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15It's probably warm enough for him to have woken up now,
0:22:15 > 0:22:17and gone finding food.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22- Yeah, he's out eating all your slugs.- Excellent, yes.- With luck.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29'Ponds attract masses of wildlife,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33'and I want to see what Sue's got in hers.'
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Oh, this is great! It's like being a kid again, isn't it?
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I didn't go out with a goldfish bowl, though.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- Ooh, huge, huge.- What can you see?
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Just have a...
0:22:46 > 0:22:49There he is!
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Look at that.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Oh! It's beautiful!
0:22:56 > 0:23:01- How brilliant. He's a great diving beetle.- How wonderful.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04It's one of the biggest predators in the pond.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09Having water in your garden, however big or small it is,
0:23:09 > 0:23:13it's the sort of hub, isn't it, it's the centre for wildlife.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15It's fantastic for everything.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18So many insects use it, so it's good for the birds,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22it's good for the bats, good for frogs, good for snakes, good for toads.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24It's just... It's good for everything.
0:23:24 > 0:23:29'In Sue's garden, the door's always open for wildlife.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34'And whilst I'm here, she's keen to find out how to attract even more.'
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Just looking a mite sparse around the edges.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39Last year I re-lined it,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41so it needs more plants,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44but I'm not sure what to plant in here
0:23:44 > 0:23:48that's not going to be incredibly invasive but is good for wildlife.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52You could think about bogbean, lovely native plant.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Menyanthes trifoliata, cos it's got three leaves.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00Trifoliata. And it's got such pretty little flowers,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- so that will also attract insects. - Does that float?
0:24:03 > 0:24:04Yes, yeah.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07It's a half and half. You can plant it as a marginal
0:24:07 > 0:24:11and it'll spread its leaves out beautifully.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13But it's not invasive.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16And then you could think about introducing more things
0:24:16 > 0:24:20that have got straight leaves, for all those dragonflies to climb.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22You've already got lovely irises,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26that gorgeous carex, but how about butomus?
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- Do you know that?- No.- It's called Butomus umbellatus,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33it's flowering rush. It's got pretty pink flowers,
0:24:33 > 0:24:35but it still does the job of all these other things
0:24:35 > 0:24:38because it's got straight linear leaves
0:24:38 > 0:24:42so it will act as a wonderful resource for those dragonflies.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58I certainly share Sue's pleasure that she gets from her birds.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01This garden is full of birds, and, I've just noticed it actually,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03this is last year's nest.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06In here, I didn't see it at all last year. Pruned this back,
0:25:06 > 0:25:09this is a thrush or a blackbird.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13If it was this year's there'd be young in it and I wouldn't disturb it.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16But because we have so many hedges and allow them to grow,
0:25:16 > 0:25:22it's full of birds, particularly songbirds, which is a delight.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26It's very good for the garden too, because they eat slugs and snails,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30they eat they insects. They add to that sustainable balance
0:25:30 > 0:25:33which is what we're trying to get in a healthy garden.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35If you want to encourage birds,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37as well as feeding them, as good a way as any
0:25:37 > 0:25:39is to have lots of hedges.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43We don't cut our hedges at all between the beginning of March
0:25:43 > 0:25:48and August, so that gives them time to nest and rear young without disturbing them.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52And also the other great secret for attracting birds, is don't be too tidy.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Leave some leaves, leave dead wood. Leave piles of bits and pieces.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59The birds will love it.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07'Although I won't be cutting my hedges,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10'there are plenty of other things to get on with this weekend.'
0:26:13 > 0:26:18'Now that they've finished flowering this is the best time to prune early-flowering clematis.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20'You can cut back as hard as you like,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23'as long as you do it now.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25'I'm cutting this clematis macropetala
0:26:25 > 0:26:27'right back to the ground,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30'because it's become an unruly tangle
0:26:30 > 0:26:33'and I want the new growth to be trained in as it grows.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35'Next year, it'll be full of flower again.'
0:26:41 > 0:26:44'The lily beetle is spreading fast across the country,
0:26:44 > 0:26:46'causing havoc in its wake
0:26:46 > 0:26:49'as it feasts on the leaves of all plants in the lily family.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54'However, it is bright red, so very easy to spot.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57'If you move gently, you can catch it before it falls to the ground,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00'and then destroy it in whatever way you feel fit.'
0:27:04 > 0:27:06'Even though we've had such a hot past month,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08'we could still get some frost yet,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11'so it's worth earthing up your potatoes now.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14'Pull the soil up the ridges to cover the foliage.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16'This won't only protect them from the cold
0:27:16 > 0:27:19'but also cover any tubers that are appearing
0:27:19 > 0:27:21'and stop them going green,
0:27:21 > 0:27:23'and provide an extra layer of protection
0:27:23 > 0:27:26'against possible blight spores later in the summer.'
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Everything has been tremendously early this spring,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40even in this garden, which normally lags behind most.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45These alliums, for example, are a good two or three weeks ahead of normal.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47But they're fantastic.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51And what I love about seeing plants as they come back every year
0:27:51 > 0:27:53is you greet them as old friends
0:27:53 > 0:27:56but they always exceed memory and expectation.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59They're always better than you possibly could imagine.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02And that's one of the great joys of gardening.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Next week I'll be seeing old friends,
0:28:04 > 0:28:10as myself, Carol, Rachel and Joe are all visiting the Malvern Show.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14And that'll be on at eight o'clock, half an hour earlier than normal.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19I suspect to see a lot of plants because it's such an early season,
0:28:19 > 0:28:21that I wouldn't normally get there.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23Maybe plants that you would expect to see at Chelsea.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Anyway, I'm looking forward to it, I hope you join us all then.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Till then, bye-bye.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:46 > 0:28:50E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk