0:00:04 > 0:00:07Nigel! Nige!
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Hello, welcome to Gardeners' World.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Now this weekend, everything changes
0:00:16 > 0:00:18because on Sunday morning the clocks go forward.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21And for me that's the best and biggest weekend
0:00:21 > 0:00:24of the entire calendar
0:00:24 > 0:00:29because that extra hour of daylight in the evening changes everything.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Go on. And don't smash the prim... Oh!
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Come on.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42This week Carol is taking her inspiration from the countryside
0:00:42 > 0:00:46to show us all how we can make the most of a shady bank.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50There are things like primroses, a total delight.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54And if you're looking for the perfect evergreen
0:00:54 > 0:00:57spring flowering shrub then Rachel may have the answer
0:00:57 > 0:01:01because she's visiting a collection of some of the world's oldest and rarest camellias.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04It's these japonicas that provide
0:01:04 > 0:01:06a touch of glamour on the gloomiest day.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Joe is continuing his series of design masterclasses,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13looking this week at paths and patios.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16First, he's joining me here at Long Meadow
0:01:16 > 0:01:18to give me a hand with my new pond.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26- Here we are, Joe. What do you think?- Oh! Yeah!
0:01:26 > 0:01:30It holds the space beautifully, doesn't it? So it's a perfect circle?
0:01:30 > 0:01:35It's an absolute circle based upon the line of that path through
0:01:35 > 0:01:38there, which is the old path and where we're standing was a border.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42I didn't want to the lose the essence of the damp garden,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45so the idea is is the pond becomes part of the existing character
0:01:45 > 0:01:48of the garden, rather than changing it completely.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51'The different levels will provide the conditions for a wide range
0:01:51 > 0:01:55'of plants, with the deepest part ideal for waterlilies.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59'And the clear water will be spangled with sunlight
0:01:59 > 0:02:01'and reflections of the braches.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05'The marginal areas will include plants like the bright yellow
0:02:05 > 0:02:07'splash of Marsh marigold,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10'and the delicacy of flowering rush.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12'Both of which will blend well
0:02:12 > 0:02:15'with the original planting of the damp garden,
0:02:15 > 0:02:20'the whole thing will provide the perfect environment for wildlife.'
0:02:20 > 0:02:23What I see in my head is the damp garden
0:02:23 > 0:02:28given this extra element of life - reflection and light coming into it.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32And formalising it to a degree, the perfect circle formalises
0:02:32 > 0:02:36this whole area and adds an element of strong design in there.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38That's easy, admiration's easy!
0:02:38 > 0:02:43- Now we've got the hard stuff. - OK, OK. I'm excited about this.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- Can you manage that?- Yes.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49- I'll tell you what, this is heavy. - Oh, this isn't too bad(!)
0:02:51 > 0:02:54'First of all we must put down an underlay which will protect
0:02:54 > 0:02:59'the waterproof membrane from being pierced by trees or stones.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03'You can use any soft material for this, from sand to old carpet.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05'But this manmade textile is very strong, easy to use
0:03:05 > 0:03:07'and will last a long time.'
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I have a nasty feeling that what we're making
0:03:12 > 0:03:15is a glorified swimming pool for Nigel!
0:03:15 > 0:03:16THEY LAUGH
0:03:18 > 0:03:22'Although they'll be covered smoothing folds in the underlay
0:03:22 > 0:03:25'will help to avoid wrinkles in the waterproof liner.'
0:03:25 > 0:03:29You're enjoying yourself, aren't you? You just want to roll around in it.
0:03:29 > 0:03:35You want to have a nice... loll around, in a comfy way.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Why do you want to fill this with water?
0:03:39 > 0:03:41This is a great little suntrap.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43- It's a complete suntrap. - I think I'm getting a tan.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47I think it's going to fit this space well, don't you?
0:03:47 > 0:03:49You're going to be landscaping around it, aren't you?
0:03:49 > 0:03:54Yes, we've got a path to put in and we're got to set it in context,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56but I'm enjoying your masterclass.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- Thank you.- It's good, I like it.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- This week it all about landscaping material.- That's convenient.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Great garden design is about combining aesthetics
0:04:09 > 0:04:12with practical solutions,
0:04:12 > 0:04:17Over five weeks I'm taking a close look at six very different real
0:04:17 > 0:04:22gardens that beautifully illustrate the principles of good garden design.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24And with the help of my sketch book and some of my own ideas,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26I'm attempting to explain these principles
0:04:26 > 0:04:31and show you how to make your garden a success.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34So far I've looked at boundaries and layouts, but choosing the right
0:04:34 > 0:04:39surfaces can go a long way to help you achieve the look you're after.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41So this week, I'm looking at landscaping.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47When it comes to hard surfaces in the garden don't use too many
0:04:47 > 0:04:51different materials because it will look cluttered and confused.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54I always stick to a maximum of two materials
0:04:54 > 0:04:56and try and get them complementary.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01So this lovely sandstone terrace here works beautifully,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05then the stepping stones through the lawn are the same material as the terrace,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08but they're a regular unit adding definition to the lawn
0:05:08 > 0:05:10but also very practical.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13And then towards the back of the garden, we've got a gravel surface.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16It's very economic to put down but it's absolutely
0:05:16 > 0:05:21the right choice of material because it complements the stone.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24It also bounces the light around in this shady area,
0:05:24 > 0:05:26and adds a nice texture too.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30Towards the back of the garden we've got the stone again repeated.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33So we've got stone, stepping stones and then gravel and then stone,
0:05:33 > 0:05:38creating a lovely harmony through the hard surfacing.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45'Two different materials used together will create interest.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48'I tend to pair up either natural materials or manmade materials.
0:05:48 > 0:05:54'Or laying one material in different ways is also a great approach,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57'and light coloured surfaces will really lift a dark space.'
0:06:01 > 0:06:04There are some simple design techniques which can help
0:06:04 > 0:06:06break up a rectangular space.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10This path is laid on a slight diagonal,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13which creates a dynamic line through the garden and the overall effect
0:06:13 > 0:06:17is that it increases the feeling of width in the garden.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20But also this path has been cleverly laid,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23it's used regular strips of granite,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26but they're laid horizontally across the garden so they slow the eye down,
0:06:26 > 0:06:31so you can enjoy the planting on either side as you move through it.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36'I've got some tips for the size of material to use, for paving stones or slabs,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39'and the area into which it will fit nicely.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44'Large paving stones can work in both large and small spaces,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46''but I tend to only use small units
0:06:46 > 0:06:50if they're being used in a smaller space.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54'Small tiles are great for fanning out curves and circles.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57'And I really like the elegant, sinuous curves
0:06:57 > 0:07:00'these long thin tiles give to this path.'
0:07:04 > 0:07:07If I'm incorporating a lawn into a garden,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11I'll always use a strong geometric shape.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13It will look good throughout the year,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16help hold the planting around it together,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19and also be much easier to maintain - it's more practical.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22In this part of the garden there's a rounded lawn
0:07:22 > 0:07:24which has got brick edging all the way around it.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Now the brick edging is important because it stops the lawn
0:07:27 > 0:07:31changing shape over time, it's a permanent circle.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34At the same time, it acts as a mowing edge, you can get the mower out,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36mow all the way around it,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39nice and clean, no edging, job done.
0:07:41 > 0:07:46'Using water as a surface adds a different dimension to a garden.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50'There are practical issues and maintenance to consider
0:07:50 > 0:07:53'before you introduce it, but I love the versatility of water features.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58'You could go for moving water to provide dynamics and flow to the garden.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01'Or a different feature could add and air of serenity.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05'How it sounds is also really important.'
0:08:05 > 0:08:08This pond and fountain work really well.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13From the terrace near the house you can hear it, but you can't see it,
0:08:13 > 0:08:18so you're intrigued and drawn to this area at the back of the garden,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and when you get here you find this lovely shaded, tranquil space.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Now we've set the ground plan
0:08:27 > 0:08:30we need to think of the garden as a three-dimensional space.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33So next time we're going to be looking at all the vertical elements.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Now this is a manmade artificial rubberised lining.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49The key thing about it, apart from the fact that it will hold water,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51is that it is stretchy.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53The idea is that as the water goes in,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56the material will stretch and smooth out
0:08:56 > 0:08:59and we'll get rid of all the wrinkles and pleats and rucks that
0:08:59 > 0:09:00we don't want to see,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03because once they're there and the water's in,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05we can't get rid of them.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Ideally, you do this on a warm day - it's quite mild today -
0:09:08 > 0:09:10because it will stretch even more.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14And if it's frosty or raining, forget about it, don't do it.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16So this is a pretty good day for it.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18'Waterproof liners are not cheap
0:09:18 > 0:09:20'and often the most expensive part of the pond.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24'This one cost £5.50 per square metre, but it is guaranteed
0:09:24 > 0:09:28'for 30 years, and it makes sense to invest
0:09:28 > 0:09:30'in the best liner you can afford.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33'The better it is, the longer it will last.'
0:09:33 > 0:09:37And this liner is much bigger than the hole itself,
0:09:37 > 0:09:38which is really important.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42You have to be as generous as possible.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46- We need to have more this way I think, Joe.- Yes.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51- I think it's time to start putting some water in.- Right.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58Now, this is where I'm getting the water for the pond.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02It's an enormous rainwater tank that was here when we moved 20 years ago.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Now, I know a lot of people,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07especially in the southeast and the east of the country
0:10:07 > 0:10:09are in the middle of a drought
0:10:09 > 0:10:12and in a couple of weeks' time there's a hosepipe ban.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14But if you can collect what rainwater you do have,
0:10:14 > 0:10:18you'll be amazed at how much gathers and how quickly,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21and you can use that to feed a pond.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- You sure it's on the other end, yeah? - Yep.- It's come out now.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30But it should be...
0:10:30 > 0:10:32When I drop it down there
0:10:32 > 0:10:36I suppose it will be a lower level and it will come out.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40- OK, I'll feed you in. - Well!- Right, how long you got?!
0:10:40 > 0:10:42- Have you got a spare bed made up, Monty?- That should be...
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I wasn't planning on being here all week(!)
0:10:45 > 0:10:47It's going in with a lot more pressure than that.
0:10:47 > 0:10:48- Is it?- Yeah.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- There might be a kink in it. - There might be.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54- Ah!- Ah-ha! - Ah, kink.- There's a knot.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Oh, here we go! I'll make sure it doesn't overflow(!)
0:10:57 > 0:11:00- OK. Good... - MONTY LAUGHS
0:11:00 > 0:11:02A big advantage of using rainwater
0:11:02 > 0:11:07is it doesn't contain the high levels of nutrients
0:11:07 > 0:11:09found in tap water which cause algal bloom.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13As a basic rule, if you're filling a pond with tap water,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16leave it for two weeks, don't plant it or put any fish in
0:11:16 > 0:11:18and just let it settle down.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21The wildlife it brings to a small garden - fantastic.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24One of the things I love is when the swallows arrive.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27They swoop down on the water and just pluck a little bit of water.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30It's magical, water is magical in a garden.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- I'm going to let you... It doesn't take two of us!- I'll manage this.
0:11:33 > 0:11:34Leave it to me, Monty.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37I've got a few other little things to do.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41- I'll come back and see you.- OK, I'll make sure the liner doesn't kink up.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Now, the Spring Garden is gradually filling up,
0:11:46 > 0:11:47BUT there's still a hole
0:11:47 > 0:11:51from when the last time Joe was in the garden,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54and he helped me take out a holly.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Now, I haven't filled it yet because I've been mulling over the options.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01I'd like to have another evergreen, preferably a flowering one
0:12:01 > 0:12:03and ideally one that flowers now
0:12:03 > 0:12:06so it's in with the rhythm and the flow of the Spring Garden
0:12:06 > 0:12:08and all the plants around it.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Now, by far the most obvious option would be a camellia,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13the problem is... I don't really get camellias.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15They don't strike a chord within me.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17I can see objectively they're nice
0:12:17 > 0:12:20and I know lots of people like them but they don't quite do it for me.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22If you're struggling with a plant,
0:12:22 > 0:12:26one of the best things to do is go along and see them at their best,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29see a wide range of them in full bloom.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31And at Chiswick House, in west London,
0:12:31 > 0:12:35they've got a fabulous collection grown under glass.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38That's where Rachel has gone this week.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Chiswick House Conservatory, built in 1813,
0:12:41 > 0:12:46is home to one of the oldest collections of camellias in the world.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54At the time, this was the longest conservatory ever built
0:12:54 > 0:12:59and it was used to house fruit - peaches, figs and pineapples,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02but once camellias started to flood into Britain from China,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04well then it was devoted
0:13:04 > 0:13:08to these exquisite and doubtless very expensive plants.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15The camellias in the conservatory are very rare and very old.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19They're all japonicas that descended from some of the earliest specimens
0:13:19 > 0:13:23that came to Britain nearly 200 years ago.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34These beautiful camellias here at Chiswick House were nearly lost
0:13:34 > 0:13:37when after centuries of neglect and two world wars,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40the conservatory was really badly damaged
0:13:40 > 0:13:42and some of the plants within it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48Four years ago with lottery funding, the camellias were rejuvenated
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and their home carefully restored around them.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Head Gardener Fiona Crumley
0:13:53 > 0:13:57was responsible for nursing the plants back to health.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Fiona, how do we know that these camellias are so old?
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Because unfortunately, a number of years ago three died,
0:14:06 > 0:14:07down at the far end
0:14:07 > 0:14:11and the people at the time had the wit to take a section of the trunk
0:14:11 > 0:14:13and were able to count the rings
0:14:13 > 0:14:17and positively identify exactly how old they are.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21So we now know that roughly speaking a trunk size of about this diameter
0:14:21 > 0:14:25is somewhere around about 1830.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27So these might be some of the original plants
0:14:27 > 0:14:29that came in at that time?
0:14:29 > 0:14:31Yes, they were coming in with sea captains
0:14:31 > 0:14:34and there were lovely, romantic stories of them
0:14:34 > 0:14:36arriving here in the UK
0:14:36 > 0:14:40and then being distributed to nurserymen for large sums of money.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45There was a particularly famous nurseryman at Vauxhall Cross
0:14:45 > 0:14:46called Chandler,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and he produced this wonderful catalogue
0:14:49 > 0:14:52of the varieties available in 1831.
0:14:52 > 0:14:58Elegans is here as are 15 other varieties of that particular period.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Why is this particular collection here at Chiswick so important?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04For two reasons.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07One - because it represents a collection that is still under glass.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10On the whole, once it was discovered that they were hardy,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14most people took them out of their glass houses and grew them outside.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Secondly - because it's a lovely demonstration
0:15:17 > 0:15:20of varieties of a particular period
0:15:20 > 0:15:25in that we know these were planted sort of 1830 to 1850 here,
0:15:25 > 0:15:26but for some reason
0:15:26 > 0:15:29these have never been adulterated by more modern varieties.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33What are the really special plants that you have here?
0:15:33 > 0:15:36One of the really special ones is this one, Middlemist's Red
0:15:36 > 0:15:41and this was introduced into this country early in the 1800s
0:15:41 > 0:15:43and went to a local nurseryman called John Middlemist
0:15:43 > 0:15:47who was based at Shepherd's Bush, so not very far from Chiswick at all.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51The interesting thing about this one is as far as we know at the moment,
0:15:51 > 0:15:53there are only two in the world -
0:15:53 > 0:15:57this one here and one in North Island, New Zealand.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Why so few of them?
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Well, that's the mystery we've yet to unravel.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04It could be cos they're difficult to propagate
0:16:04 > 0:16:06but that might have been a key feature
0:16:06 > 0:16:07of why it is so rare at the moment.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15These stunning cherry-red flowers flecked with white,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19belong to Camellia japonica 'Chandleri',
0:16:19 > 0:16:22named for the owner of the Vauxhall nursery where it was bred.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26Back in 1825 it sold for £5 - that may not sound impressive
0:16:26 > 0:16:31but actually it's about £600 in today's money, so an awful lot.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Although many of these camellias date back to the 1830s,
0:16:38 > 0:16:41today we have literally hundreds of varieties to choose from.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47There are camellias of course that flower at different times of year,
0:16:47 > 0:16:49the tea camellia - Sinensis
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and the sasanquas which flower from autumn into winter,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55but it's these japonicas for me
0:16:55 > 0:16:58that flower in January and then through to March
0:16:58 > 0:17:00that provide a real hit of colour
0:17:00 > 0:17:03and a touch of glamour on the gloomiest day.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13Actually, I realise it's the pink that I don't like about camellias,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16that combination of glossy green and pink.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20However, I do like the white flowers of this one.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23This is called Cornish Snow
0:17:23 > 0:17:27and it has an elegance and a kind of open, easy charm
0:17:27 > 0:17:28that is very attractive.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33As I say, it's open - it grows in quite a loose fashion.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37It gets quite big, about 15 foot with these small flowers
0:17:37 > 0:17:39and in particular, these small leaves,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and therefore it keeps a balance,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44and I think it will fit in this spot really well.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Like all camellias, it prefers an acidic soil.
0:17:47 > 0:17:52If you're not sure if your garden is suitable, have a look around.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57If in your street or your area even there are rhododendrons growing,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01pine trees, other camellias, then it will definitely grow.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Just make a simple hole...
0:18:04 > 0:18:07and then gently take it out of the pot...
0:18:08 > 0:18:09..and pop it in.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Now, when you're choosing a position for a camellia,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15it needs a bit of shelter from wind
0:18:15 > 0:18:18and above all, does not want to face east.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21The problem with that is cos it flowers at this time of year
0:18:21 > 0:18:23and if you have an icy night,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26bright sunshine in the morning will hit the frozen petals
0:18:26 > 0:18:27and burn them off
0:18:27 > 0:18:30and then they'll turn a horrible brown and drop off.
0:18:30 > 0:18:36So this is facing southwest, which is ideal.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41It's protected by these trees from the morning sun
0:18:41 > 0:18:43and also from the cold, east wind.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47This is hardy to about minus ten...
0:18:47 > 0:18:50which means if we get a winter like the last couple,
0:18:50 > 0:18:51it won't like it at all.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Let's keep our fingers crossed on that.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57Right, let's give this a drink.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Now, I've watered that in well
0:19:02 > 0:19:06and it's worth remembering with camellias that they like moist air
0:19:06 > 0:19:09and particularly need water in late summer.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12A lot of camellias drop their buds, sometimes the following spring
0:19:12 > 0:19:16because they were too dry when the buds were forming at the end of summer.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19So I'll remember to give this a really good soak in August
0:19:19 > 0:19:22and then keep it well watered throughout August, September
0:19:22 > 0:19:23and into October.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28Now, the final thing to do is to mulch it.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31And I'm using bracken, which is ericaceous,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33and will help it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35And if you can't get bracken,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38use any mulch except for mushroom compost,
0:19:38 > 0:19:39which is alkaline.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43Never use mushroom compost for ericaceous plants,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45like camellias, rhododendrons, or anything like that.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47Bracken will do very well,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50pine bark is great if you can get that,
0:19:50 > 0:19:55but otherwise garden compost or well-rotted manure will do the job.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Perfect, really. A lovely plant.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08The predominant feature of Long Meadow is that it's dead flat.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Which makes life easy,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12but perhaps not as interesting as it might be.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15But I do know that some people find gardening on a steep slope
0:20:15 > 0:20:17a bit daunting.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Luckily, Carol is here to tackle that specific problem.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33I've had a query, from Ralph and Dorothy Shaw,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37who live in the Vale of Clwyd, in Wales.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39It's about a steep,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42shady slope on the way up to their house.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45They want a few interesting solutions,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48including some low maintenance plants
0:20:48 > 0:20:50that are going to cope with the situation.
0:20:50 > 0:20:56Well, here in Devon we're surrounded by inspirational ideas
0:20:56 > 0:20:59of just how nature copes with slopes.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Devon is famous for its miles and miles of hedgerows.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09And here, where there's a hedge, there's always a great bank.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Just look at this.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19All our hedgerows in Devon are built on steep banks.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22And although there is stone underneath
0:21:22 > 0:21:24there is enough soil here to support all manner
0:21:24 > 0:21:28of beautiful shrubs and trees, which actually form the hedges.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33And it's composed of so many different plants
0:21:33 > 0:21:36that go on right the way through the year.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40There are things like primroses, a total delight.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43And the closer you look, the more you see.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46There are bluebells here that are going to be at their best
0:21:46 > 0:21:47in May and June.
0:21:47 > 0:21:53Red campion. Celandines which are already beginning to put on a show.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55But the whole thing is bound together
0:21:55 > 0:21:58by this glorious polypody.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01This is one of my favourite ferns.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05It runs around and binds all the soil together.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10It provides the backbone for this wonderful community of plants.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16There is so much inspiration we can take from natural banks
0:22:16 > 0:22:18and use in our own gardens.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Back at Glebe I've got my own shaded slope in need of some sprucing up.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27So this bank is really quite bare.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Nothing's established here yet.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33And it's this that I want to tackle, and fill it with all sorts.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35I've got a load of plants here.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38I think all these are going to do well.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41They're perfectly suited to this sort of situation.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44I've got periwinkle.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47This one is Vinca minor 'Gertrude Jekyll'.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48It's my favourite.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52With these dainty white flowers, it will cover that bank.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54I've got polypody.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57They're going to get established really quick. Straight out of pots.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59And there are other ferns, too.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Asplenium, Hart's tongue fern.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07With these tall slender leaves, with a slight undulation.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09That will adore this sort of place
0:23:09 > 0:23:11because it will cope with dry shade,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14which is just what it's going to experience on that bank.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17But you don't have to buy everything.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19There are all sorts of things from the garden
0:23:19 > 0:23:22that you can move around and put into there.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27Here is a Pulmonaria that has seeded itself in the wrong place.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31I think this is just the right place for it.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36'One problem with planting on slopes can be subsidence and loose soil.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39'But ferns like polypody, with its wide-spreading roots,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42'are perfect for binding soil together,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46'the same way they do in the wild banks that line the Devon lanes.'
0:23:46 > 0:23:51Next, I want to use this lovely little periwinkle.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Now, it's got several sort of crowns on it,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58and if you have a look in here
0:23:58 > 0:24:01you can see all these places where
0:24:01 > 0:24:03individual bits are rooted.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06And each of those will make a separate plant.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09'This may look brutal,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13'but by dividing it up I'm going to get plenty of clumps of periwinkle,
0:24:13 > 0:24:17'which, as they creep along the soil, will cover large areas of this bank.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19'And just like the primrose we saw in the wild,
0:24:19 > 0:24:24'it'll give this slope a splash of colour when it flowers.'
0:24:24 > 0:24:28I want plants that are either native or close to native.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32This is a purple-y leafed version of wood spurge.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Euphorbia amygdaloides.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39And I know for a fact that once it has settled in here
0:24:39 > 0:24:44it will not only enjoy living here, but it will seed itself around.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48So we should get it actually moving in every direction.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50And that's what I'm after.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53This nice mingling and mixing.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56When you've got a great big bank
0:24:56 > 0:25:02and it's grassy and weedy or full of wild flowers,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04it's just not a good idea
0:25:04 > 0:25:08to try to turn it into something terribly civilised
0:25:08 > 0:25:11and that looks very, very cultivated.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15A much better solution is probably just to add to it,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18to get plugs of wild flowers,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21the sort of things that are going to love living in a hedgerow.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24'Colonies of snowdrops
0:25:24 > 0:25:27'are just coming to the end of their flowering period.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30'Now is a great time to lift and divide them.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34'They'll be very happy on this slope and flower next winter.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38'But you could scatter other wild seed here, such as Welsh poppies,
0:25:38 > 0:25:42'that'll add colour and thrive under this canopy.'
0:25:44 > 0:25:47I think that's going to work really well.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51The thing to remember when you've got a sloping site is,
0:25:51 > 0:25:52first of all, choose plants
0:25:52 > 0:25:56that are really going to enjoy that sort of situation.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01So whether it's sun or shade, choose plants that are appropriate.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04And then don't go for things that like to stay in one place,
0:26:04 > 0:26:06all those sedentary plants.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Look for things that love to roam around a bit.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Cos they are the plants that will spread their roots, colonise,
0:26:14 > 0:26:19and soon turn your bare bank into a tapestry of colour and beauty.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Ralph and Dorothy, I hope that sets things straight.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32They are lovely plants, those. I'll tell you a tip,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34because I once made a terrible mistake of planting on a bank,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36I didn't really have enough plants,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38so I put the majority of them at the bottom.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Of course, I should have put them at the top,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43because the seed falls downhill,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45and spreads much faster.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47It's coming on, isn't it?
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Yeah, it's filling up, isn't it?
0:26:49 > 0:26:50As the pond fills up
0:26:50 > 0:26:54we need to fill out as many wrinkles as we can.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56But if you're not making a pond this weekend,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58here's some other jobs to be getting on with.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Now is the time to prune gooseberries,
0:27:05 > 0:27:07redcurrants, and whitecurrants.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10But leave blackcurrants till after they've fruited.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14The important thing is to create an open goblet of a shape.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Remove any crossing or damaged branches,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and any stems growing inwards.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24When you're satisfied you've got a good, strong framework,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26reduce new growth by about a third.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33Now is a good time to take daily cuttings from the new shoots
0:27:33 > 0:27:34from last year's plants.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39Use a sharp knife and cut below the surface of the compost.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43Doesn't matter if you take a piece of tuber. Strip off the lower leaves
0:27:43 > 0:27:46and insert them into a very well-drained potting mix.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Water them and put them in a warm place.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52They need to be kept moist and the simplest way to do this
0:27:52 > 0:27:56is simply spray them two or three times a day with a mister.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00They should root fast and provide you with new plants
0:28:00 > 0:28:02that will flower in late summer.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Here you go, Joe, this will keep you going.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Sustain your labours.- Lovely. It's a tough job, this, Monty.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16- Sitting here! - Thank goodness you were here today!
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Now, that'll fill gradually.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20- It will.- It'll fill!
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Certainly be filled by the time we're back next week.
0:28:23 > 0:28:24But, see you then,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28and enjoy the extra hour of daylight in the garden.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31- Bye.- Bye.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd