0:00:02 > 0:00:04ROBIN TRILLS
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Hello. Welcome to Gardeners' World.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20I've got some bare root roses here
0:00:20 > 0:00:23and as with all bare root trees and shrubs,
0:00:23 > 0:00:24first thing to do is get them
0:00:24 > 0:00:27into some water and give them a drink
0:00:27 > 0:00:29and not let them dry out for a second.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Now, I'm planning to plant these into the Jewel Garden
0:00:32 > 0:00:34if the rain holds off long enough.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36And also in tonight's programme,
0:00:36 > 0:00:41we'll be paying a visit to Hever Castle in Kent to get inspiration
0:00:41 > 0:00:44from their EXTRAORDINARY display of hybrid tea roses.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49Once you get your nose in that rose
0:00:49 > 0:00:50and smell the wonderful scent,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53you really will be absolutely bowled over.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58And Joe continues his series of masterclasses on planting design.
0:00:58 > 0:01:04This week, he's sharing ideas on how to create a contemporary garden.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06And Carol is in her own garden at Glebe
0:01:06 > 0:01:09celebrating an often overlooked and undervalued plant,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12the wonderfully fragrant mahonia.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18There's the most lovely, delicious perfume of lily of the valley
0:01:18 > 0:01:20as you come around this corner,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23and it's all emanating from this magnificent shrub.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Now, before I can plant those roses,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30I need to create space in the border
0:01:30 > 0:01:33and now is the PERFECT moment
0:01:33 > 0:01:36to rearrange the borders and get them exactly as you want them.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00It's just at this moment,
0:02:00 > 0:02:06where spring is just starting to muscle its way in,
0:02:06 > 0:02:09that you can catch your mixed borders
0:02:09 > 0:02:11and really reorganise them
0:02:11 > 0:02:13and get to work with them.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16And it's because the plants are starting to grow,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18so that when and if you move them,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21they'll adapt to their new homes very quickly.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24This is particularly true of herbaceous perennials.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25Don't do it when they're dormant
0:02:25 > 0:02:28but, actually, when you can see the growth coming through,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31then you can lift them, divide them, reshape them,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33do whatever it is you want.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Now, over here there's a really good example
0:02:36 > 0:02:39of how herbaceous perennials tend to grow.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42This is a monkshood, aconitum,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45and you can see that it's created a kind of doughnut effect.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49You've got this circle of fresh new growth coming up
0:02:49 > 0:02:52but in the middle, it's very sparse, almost died back,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55and that's the old part of the plant
0:02:55 > 0:02:57and the new part grows outwards.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00If we left it, it would just keep on spreading
0:03:00 > 0:03:02and you'd just have a complete hollow area.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Now, that's no good in a border. You want solid blocks of colour
0:03:05 > 0:03:09and by the way, the aconitum, which is kind of a poor man's delphinium
0:03:09 > 0:03:10because the blue is a bit muddy,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13actually, I think, is a really useful plant
0:03:13 > 0:03:15because it gives you blue,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18which is one of the rarest colours you'll ever find in any plant,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20later on in summer
0:03:20 > 0:03:21and on into autumn.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I hardly ever wear gloves in the garden
0:03:30 > 0:03:34but I'm going to put some on for handling this monkshood
0:03:34 > 0:03:35because it is poisonous.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37There we are, protected.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46See, that in itself is a decent-sized clump.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48I'll pop that in the barrow for the moment.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00When you're lifting and dividing a herbaceous perennial
0:04:00 > 0:04:03that's doughnutted, that is to say, the centre has got hollow,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06you can discard all the growth in the centre,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09put that on the compost heap, because all the energy,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13all the vitality is coming from the outside of that doughnut.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Now, if this feels scarily radical,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21digging up your lovely garden,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24don't worry, this is the perfect time to do it.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26And actually, you can see by looking at it,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29because what you have is a good root system.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Those roots have started to grow
0:04:32 > 0:04:35but the top growth is only just coming out,
0:04:35 > 0:04:40so the ratio of roots to foliage is very beneficial to the plant,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44so not only can I improve the way this clump works by replanting it,
0:04:44 > 0:04:49but I'll get...oh, enough plants for two or even three more clumps,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51so new plants for free
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and the old plant working better than ever.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56Now, in these borders,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00it's all about using the flexibility of herbaceous perennials
0:05:00 > 0:05:03to adapt and change the borders,
0:05:03 > 0:05:07but down at Glebe Cottage, Carol is celebrating a shrub
0:05:07 > 0:05:12that stays true and always looks majestic at this time of year.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24It's been such a long, wet winter
0:05:24 > 0:05:28but today, it's sparkling and bright!
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Every day, you're aware that winter is receding
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and spring is on its way.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38And it's not just your visual senses that are stimulated
0:05:38 > 0:05:42by all these lovely, green shoots and fat buds.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46The air is full of the most exquisite scent.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54There's the most lovely, delicious perfume of lily of the valley
0:05:54 > 0:05:56as you come around this corner
0:05:56 > 0:06:00and it's all emanating from this magnificent shrub.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03This is Mahonia japonica.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06It sounds as though it's from Japan. In actual fact,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09it's from China, in the Himalayas,
0:06:09 > 0:06:14and it was from China that Robert Fortune, the great plant hunter,
0:06:14 > 0:06:18introduced it and brought it to our shores
0:06:18 > 0:06:20but it was quite a journey!
0:06:20 > 0:06:25He faced death, disease, and even pirates to get it here
0:06:25 > 0:06:27but I'm so glad he did.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29I adore this shrub
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and at every time of the year, it's got something to offer
0:06:33 > 0:06:35but of course, above all...
0:06:37 > 0:06:40..it's the perfume that you adore.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44This was the very first plant I ever bought for this garden
0:06:44 > 0:06:49but when I planted it, it was planted much further back
0:06:49 > 0:06:53and the original died but meanwhile, it had layered itself.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56It's a really good way of propagating mahonias
0:06:56 > 0:06:59but the other way is to take cuttings.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28I'm using individual pots for these cuttings
0:07:28 > 0:07:30because they're pretty chunky.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31Now, from a piece like this,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I should be able to get two decent cuttings
0:07:34 > 0:07:38but what I want to do is to cut just above the leaf
0:07:38 > 0:07:40because in there is a small bud
0:07:40 > 0:07:43which is going to grow into the new shoot,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46so straight across.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Now, if I put it into the pot like that,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55chances are that the whole thing is going to fall over. It's top-heavy.
0:07:55 > 0:08:01I'm going to employ a little-known horticultural technique here.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03I want to keep this leaf
0:08:03 > 0:08:07because it's going to feed the cutting whilst it's taking root,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09so I'm just rolling it up.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12And then I'm going to get a rubber band...
0:08:14 > 0:08:17..just to secure that and keep it in place.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Yeah, I think that's good enough.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24And then I want to lower this cutting into the compost
0:08:24 > 0:08:27and push it right down
0:08:27 > 0:08:31until that junction of the leaf and the stem
0:08:31 > 0:08:33is flush with the top of the compost.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35And that's it.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46There are many beautiful Asiatic mahonias
0:08:46 > 0:08:49but there are also another group of mahonias
0:08:49 > 0:08:51that come from the United States of America.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54This is one of them.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56This is Mahonia aquifolium,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58otherwise known as the Oregon grape.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02It was first collected by explorers
0:09:02 > 0:09:05searching for a route to the Pacific.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09I've chosen a dwarf variety to brighten up one of my woodland beds.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13It's called Cosmo Crawl
0:09:13 > 0:09:15because that's exactly what it does.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18It sends suckers out here, there and everywhere
0:09:18 > 0:09:22and at the end of those suckers pop up new shoots
0:09:22 > 0:09:26full of flower and these beautiful rubescent sort of leaves.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31I think this will be ideal because once these flower spikes come up,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34they'll provide marvellous nectar treats
0:09:34 > 0:09:38for any pollinating insects that are about. Isn't that gorgeous?
0:09:38 > 0:09:39So I think that's ready to go.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43It looks sort of as though it's longing to live in this hole.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47I really hope it enjoys living here.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49I'm sure it will.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52I'll just firmly plant it.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Within a year, it should be popping up here, there and everywhere.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03WOODPECKER TAPS
0:10:03 > 0:10:09We gardeners owe a huge debt of gratitude to plant hunters -
0:10:09 > 0:10:12not just those we read about in the history books
0:10:12 > 0:10:15but the people who discover and bring back plants
0:10:15 > 0:10:17right to this very day.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21And once these new plants come into cultivation,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23then hybridders have a field day.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27There are all sorts of new cultivars that are coming onto the market.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31This one's called Soft Caress
0:10:31 > 0:10:32and no wonder
0:10:32 > 0:10:34because it's so soft,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36and it's completely different
0:10:36 > 0:10:39from all the other mahonias that I've ever known.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42I'm not quite sure where I'm going to plant this
0:10:42 > 0:10:45but I'll tell you what - wherever it goes,
0:10:45 > 0:10:49it's a wonderful addition to my collection of mahonias.
0:10:50 > 0:10:51WOODPECKER TAPPING
0:10:58 > 0:11:00I like that leaf-rolling technique.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02I've not tried it, but I certainly will.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06My single Mahonia media 'Charity' is nothing like
0:11:06 > 0:11:10as big as Carol's but it does produce flowers with
0:11:10 > 0:11:14the most astonishing fragrance and one little bloom put in a vase,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18put in the kitchen, just fills the room with its scent.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21And talking of scent, it's time to sow sweet peas.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Last year, we did a sweet pea trial here at Longmeadow.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31I wanted to find out the best time to sow them
0:11:31 > 0:11:35in terms of getting maximum flower for your time and energy.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Now, traditionally, sweet peas are sown in October
0:11:38 > 0:11:40and planted out in spring.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42You can sow them in early spring
0:11:42 > 0:11:47or you can even sow them direct round about May, so I did all three.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49I came to the conclusion that sowing them in spring
0:11:49 > 0:11:51gave you just as many flowers,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53they extended the season, and it was a lot less trouble
0:11:53 > 0:11:56because you had less plants to look after
0:11:56 > 0:11:58so that's what I'm doing this year.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01It doesn't matter what varieties you sow, the technique is identical.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04I've got a whole mixed lot of varieties there.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10And I've got some seeds here, Painted Lady, that I collected
0:12:10 > 0:12:12from plants that we grew last year,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15so these are the ones I'll sow. I like to use
0:12:15 > 0:12:18three-inch pots, partly because I've got lots of them
0:12:18 > 0:12:21but also a pot allows decent root development,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23whereas if you sow in a seed tray,
0:12:23 > 0:12:25by the time they're big enough to prick out,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28the roots are getting rather crammed on the bottom of the tray.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29This is actually a seed mix
0:12:29 > 0:12:33but a normal potting mix will do the job perfectly well.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Fill the pot, and then...
0:12:36 > 0:12:38just take the seeds.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41All the varieties tend to be the same.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44They range in colour from very pale brown to dark brown.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47You don't need to soak them, you don't need to nick them,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50they'll all germinate perfectly well.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52And I've put three seeds in a pot.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Just push them in like that.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58Now, there's one thing I would say,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01and this is learned from bitter experience,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04is label every single container,
0:13:04 > 0:13:06so it's "Painted Lady".
0:13:09 > 0:13:11I just can't imagine a garden without sweet peas.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14It's to do with June and July
0:13:14 > 0:13:16and the fragrance and all the range of colours,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19which tend to be incredibly fresh and bright.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23They really are one of the first flowers that I'd want in any garden.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Now, you may not be planning to sow sweet peas this weekend
0:13:44 > 0:13:47but here are some things that you can be doing.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52It's time now to get your dahlias out of store and check through them.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54If they've dried up, they'll have to be discarded
0:13:54 > 0:13:58and if the mice have got to them, that won't do them any good either
0:13:58 > 0:14:00but if they're nice, plump tubers,
0:14:00 > 0:14:04pot them up and put them in a warm, light place
0:14:04 > 0:14:05so they can start to grow
0:14:05 > 0:14:08and then they can be planted up after the last frost.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Rhubarb, is now starting to grow strongly.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19If you have any plants that are just appearing above the ground,
0:14:19 > 0:14:21you could force them.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Cover them up with a bucket, an old chimney pot,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28anything that will completely exclude the light.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32The stems then grow long, pale pink with hardly any foliage.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36And, importantly, they're deliciously sweet.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41One of the first vegetable seeds to sow are leeks.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44They're slow to develop and have a long growing season.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48I like to use pots so that the roots aren't disturbed.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Fill the pot with general purpose compost
0:14:51 > 0:14:53and sprinkle the seeds thinly on the surface.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Cover them lightly and put them in a sheltered place.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57It doesn't need any heat.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00There they will geminate and grow steadily
0:15:00 > 0:15:04until they're ready to plant out in a couple of months' time.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Now, these hybrid tea roses have had a good drink,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15so they're ready to plant.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17I'm going to put them in the Jewel Garden.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19I would say that that any bare root plant you get,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21first thing you go is give it a drink.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Hybrid teas aren't very fashionable at the moment,
0:15:24 > 0:15:26but they've got fantastic colours
0:15:26 > 0:15:29and they can be exactly the right plant for the right place.
0:15:29 > 0:15:34And to get inspiration, last summer we went to Hever Castle in Kent
0:15:34 > 0:15:37to see the huge collection of hybrid teas.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44CHIMING PIANO MUSIC
0:15:53 > 0:15:56My name is Neil. I'm the head gardener of Hever Castle
0:15:56 > 0:16:00and I'm really responsible for about 68 acres of formal gardens.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08The main heart of the gardens here at Hever Castle is the Italian Gardens.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11For many years, William Waldorf Astor was the United States
0:16:11 > 0:16:13ambassador to Rome,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16so the influence he had in Italy whilst he was out there,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19he wanted to bring back to his English country garden.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27The Rose Garden's probably been here about 40-50 years.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30And it's home to over 4,000 mainly hybrid tea
0:16:30 > 0:16:34with a few floribundas and climbers and ramblers.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36It's actually in a walled garden,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38so ideal location for the warmth for the roses.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43And we feel it's part of the quintessential English garden.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51A lot of people find hybrid tea roses maybe a bit blowsy,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55a bit in your face and a bit kind of old-fashioned,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58but once you get your nose in that rose,
0:16:58 > 0:17:03and smell the wonderful scent, you really will be bowled over.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07A hybrid tea rose is famous for the large, blowsy,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10one big bloom on the stem.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Beautiful colour. You've got every colour under the sun.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16And really the other thing that makes a hybrid tea rose
0:17:16 > 0:17:20good quality is the disease resistance.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29This is Buxom Beauty,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32one of the largest hybrid teas you're ever going to find.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33You just think of the name,
0:17:33 > 0:17:37look how flirty and brazen this particular bloom is.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39The bloom will cover the palm of your hand
0:17:39 > 0:17:42and the scent is absolutely knockout.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50This is another one of my favourite hybrid teas. Just look at that.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Scent-sation.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54A wonderful, buttery, gold centre
0:17:54 > 0:17:58and as it matures, the petals fade to
0:17:58 > 0:17:59an almost whitish pink.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Not only does this rose look wonderful,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04but the scent is a kind of a very
0:18:04 > 0:18:07mellow Turkish Delight fragrance.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08Absolutely stunning.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23As with all hybrid tea roses, regular dead-heading is absolutely essential
0:18:23 > 0:18:26to guarantee blooms right through to the end of November.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29They will continue really up until first frosts
0:18:29 > 0:18:33and, as you can see, loads of these green buds now.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36They will guarantee colour right through for the next few months.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41If you have any diseased leaves, pick them up and burn them.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45And probably the third real tip is really enjoy them.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48The roses are there to be enjoyed.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Come on.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59JAZZ MUSIC
0:19:01 > 0:19:04In here. Up you get.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08Go on. Get up. There's a good boy. Up. Good boy.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12On a grey day like this,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16to see those THOUSANDS of roses looking so good
0:19:16 > 0:19:20is the inspiration you need. It just lifts everything and gives hope.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25And hybrid tea roses on that scale are stunning. Really stunning.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27They're not stuffy, they're not old-fashioned,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29they're just bright and vibrant.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32And I've used them here in the Jewel Garden before
0:19:32 > 0:19:33and I want to add some more.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35And that's because I can select a colour,
0:19:35 > 0:19:39in this case it's going to be really strong, rich red,
0:19:39 > 0:19:40and know that it will perform from June
0:19:40 > 0:19:43right through to the first frosts if I keep dead-heading.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Now, it doesn't matter what type of rose you're planting
0:19:46 > 0:19:49the method is the same. This is Crimson Glory,
0:19:49 > 0:19:53incredible rich, globular blooms,
0:19:53 > 0:19:54slightly spindly stems
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and not a particularly vigorous plant, but that doesn't matter,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00because it'll do its job through its flowers
0:20:00 > 0:20:01rather than the shape of the shrub.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05But you can see from this that there is a graft here
0:20:05 > 0:20:11and the top growth is coming from a root stock.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I was taught how to plant roses by Peter Beales,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15who sadly died earlier this year.
0:20:15 > 0:20:16He was a great rosarian
0:20:16 > 0:20:20and what he said is you should bury the root stock.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23So plant it so you've just got some sticks sticking out the ground.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25So I'm going to need to dig a hole
0:20:25 > 0:20:27that is big enough to accommodate those roots.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29While I'm digging a hole,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31it's important to put it back in the water.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34You mustn't let bare root plants dry out even for a minute.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38So that goes back in the drink. Then move that out the way.
0:20:48 > 0:20:54Now, micorrhizal fungi helps the take up of nutrients and water,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57it acts as a conduit between the root of the plant and soil.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04And hold it over the hole and just sprinkle it on like that,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07so that there is real contact.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Place the plant in like that.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12And I want it to be about that sort of depth.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15And backfill gently around it.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Now that will get a good soak,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23which will work the soil round in amongst the roots.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25And then a nice thick mulch.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27It looks pretty insignificant now,
0:21:27 > 0:21:32but I know that that is a bomb waiting to explode into colour.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38And it doesn't matter whether you're planting a climber,
0:21:38 > 0:21:39a shrub, a hybrid tea,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43whatever type of rose it's the same principle.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50Now, last week, Joe started his new masterclass in planting design
0:21:50 > 0:21:54and we saw how cottage gardens can be planted up.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59This week, he's having a look at how to plant up a contemporary garden.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07A contemporary garden is a modern space where the plants have been used
0:22:07 > 0:22:10in a really graphic way to make a bold design
0:22:10 > 0:22:12that complements strong, hard landscaping.
0:22:12 > 0:22:18This week, I'm looking at the key design elements of structure,
0:22:18 > 0:22:23texture, colour and seasonal interest
0:22:23 > 0:22:26to help show you how to plant a contemporary garden.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Structural planting in a contemporary garden is very important
0:22:38 > 0:22:41in holding the garden together all year round.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Now, in this small city garden designed by Declan Buckley,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46he's used evergreen plants for hedging
0:22:46 > 0:22:50and evergreen climbers as well to cover the boundaries.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54In this central bed, he's used three different plants, the olive tree,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57the three box balls and the lollipop bay in the corner.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Now, these add a lot of punctuation to the space and a lovely rhythm too.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05They play on heights but there's a connection between them,
0:23:05 > 0:23:07because they've got these lovely rounded heads.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10All of them playing on scale and dimension too.
0:23:10 > 0:23:11So they're there permanently,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14whereas the grasses and the perennials plants,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17they come and go seasonally and play off them.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26When it comes to texture, it's best to plant in bold blocks
0:23:26 > 0:23:30and hold back on the number of plants you choose.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32At the front here, we've got the lavender hedge
0:23:32 > 0:23:35running all the way through on this raised bed,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37making a very graphic statement.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40And the miscanthus grasses behind create real drama.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45It's about being graphic, bold and a bit daring.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55When it comes to colour when planting a contemporary garden,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58you can do whatever you want to personalise it.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01But I think the way to go is to be restrained, keep it simple.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Pare it down to some simple combinations.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07In this garden he's gone for blues, whites and pinks
0:24:07 > 0:24:09from the cool colour spectrum
0:24:09 > 0:24:12and they work beautifully together, they're not fighting each other.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Because of the limited palette of plants in a planting style like this,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29every plant here has to really earn its keep,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32but if you have all evergreens it looks a bit static
0:24:32 > 0:24:34and it doesn't really reflect the seasons.
0:24:34 > 0:24:39What you want are key plants that are going to do that job for you.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41At the moment we've got the wonderful miscanthus grasses,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43the Verbena bonariensis
0:24:43 > 0:24:46and the seedheads of the eryngiums and the alliums,
0:24:46 > 0:24:51reflecting the late summer into early autumn season.
0:24:55 > 0:24:56Here's my plan for a garden
0:24:56 > 0:24:59with a really contemporary planting scheme:
0:24:59 > 0:25:02I've got two beds slightly offset with a path between them.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06The first thing I'm going to do is put in a really nice big
0:25:06 > 0:25:10multi-stemmed shrub/small tree.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15I think something like a cornus would be fantastic.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Next I'm going to put in a really graphic feature using a hedge
0:25:19 > 0:25:23clipped in a wave that's starting on one side of the planting
0:25:23 > 0:25:26and then coming through to the other side of the path as well
0:25:26 > 0:25:28so it has a lovely continuity right across there.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32Ilex crenata's a really good hedge. And then...
0:25:32 > 0:25:34I've got some good structure coming in already
0:25:34 > 0:25:35and I think just to counterbalance it
0:25:35 > 0:25:37I need something on this corner here,
0:25:37 > 0:25:41a nice soft, rounded low-growing shrub.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Box would be pretty classic, but I also like Pittosporum tobira.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49So I now need to plant the boundaries either side and I think this garden's
0:25:49 > 0:25:53fantastic with its trachelospermums all the way around the boundaries,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56so some of those would be great and I could train those
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and fan them out nice and neatly on wires.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Now to soften it all up, get some texture in there.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Anemanthele lessoniana...
0:26:06 > 0:26:11Maybe rows of two each side, planted on both sides of the path
0:26:11 > 0:26:15so it carries on through and you feel as you walk through
0:26:15 > 0:26:17that you're in amongst them.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21And then, I think something planted within this deeper,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24something like alliums would be perfect.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26White alliums with their pompom flowers
0:26:26 > 0:26:28floating above the grasses would look fantastic.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32But now I'm going to plant a groundcover geranium
0:26:32 > 0:26:36and then at the front of the border, something really low-growing
0:26:36 > 0:26:41and textural, and thyme - lovely purple flowers in the summer.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45And then on the other side, Japanese anemones are absolutely perfect.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47A huge block of them in the back there,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50so they make a real impact when they flower together.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52So there you go.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54I'm pretty pleased with that, I used a total of nine plants
0:26:54 > 0:26:57but it's the way I've used them - I've controlled them very much.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01So that's my recipe for a contemporary planting scheme.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Now, if you go to our website you can see a list of plants
0:27:26 > 0:27:29that Joe used this week and next week he's showing us
0:27:29 > 0:27:32the planting design for an exotic garden.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Right, I'll give these roses... a nice drink.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Let that settle. And as well as watering them,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55that'll push the soil around all the roots.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56And then mulch them.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00And that will stop the weeds coming round.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Now, I've still got some moving around to do,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07lifting of plants, dividing them... Get them exactly where I want them.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Get the jigsaw looking as I hope it will pan out in the summer
0:28:11 > 0:28:13and then I can finish the mulching.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Hopefully, I'll have all that done by next week
0:28:16 > 0:28:19when I'll see you back here at Longmeadow.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20Until then, bye-bye.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd