0:00:09 > 0:00:15Hello. Welcome to Gardeners' World on a bright, glorious spring day
0:00:15 > 0:00:16here at Longmeadow.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20There's just so much light, and now that we've had the spring solstice,
0:00:20 > 0:00:21the days are getting longer.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Next week the clocks are going forward
0:00:23 > 0:00:26and everything is getting better and better.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32This week, Carol is in her own garden in Devon,
0:00:32 > 0:00:36planting a shrub that doesn't just give us colour at this time of year,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39but also has a delicious fragrance.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43I just can't wait for these leaves to unfurl
0:00:43 > 0:00:47and those beautiful buds to open into pure white flowers.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49It's gorgeous.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Joe continues his series of masterclasses on planting design.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54And this week,
0:00:54 > 0:00:58he's sharing tips on how to create an exotic tropical garden.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03And we visit a couple in Cornwall who have created a garden
0:01:03 > 0:01:06devoted to powerful colour combinations.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09It doesn't matter if you make mistakes.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12You don't know how it's going to work until you've tried it.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27One of the disadvantages of making such narrow paths
0:01:27 > 0:01:31is that it's very difficult to get stuff in and out.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34One of the great advantages of having a path like this is
0:01:34 > 0:01:36that there's more room for plants.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41At this time of year, the plant that is completely dominating
0:01:41 > 0:01:43the spring garden is the hellebore.
0:01:43 > 0:01:49They have an intensity of colour, a richness, a generosity
0:01:49 > 0:01:53that few other flowers have at any time of year, let alone in spring.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57The range that is possible is really wide
0:01:57 > 0:01:59and if you go to any garden centre or shop,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02there are loads of different types of hellebore for sale
0:02:02 > 0:02:05and it's a good time to buy them, because you can see them in flower.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09And I've got some here. These beauties.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11They're Credale strains.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15And you can see that fantastic plum colour.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20It does look as though it should be hanging,
0:02:20 > 0:02:21like fruit from a tree.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27And then this one, this black, smoky colour.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Really, really special.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35Now, when you plant any hellebore, but particularly these
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Oriental hybrids, you do need to have good soil.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Do you see this here?
0:02:41 > 0:02:44That is an old leaf that's left over
0:02:44 > 0:02:47and that has got hellebore black spot.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53And all the old leaves actually were cut off before Christmas to stop
0:02:53 > 0:02:57exactly this, to stop the fungus of the black spot spreading
0:02:57 > 0:02:58to new growth.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03So if you see any leaves with these chocolate black stains on them,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05and they will extend to the flowers too if you're not careful,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07cut them off and burn them.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Now, hellebores have deep roots,
0:03:13 > 0:03:18so give them plenty of room down as well as out.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Now, if you've got well-rotted leaf mould, it's ideal.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28I have actually got some mushroom compost too,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31which I've used a lot on the hellebores, and that works well.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36But just plenty of leaf mould underneath the plant...
0:03:38 > 0:03:40..will give it a nice,
0:03:40 > 0:03:45easy root run and also be nutritious without overwhelming it.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50What you're looking for is that this soil level,
0:03:50 > 0:03:52not the top of the pot but the soil level,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54wants to be flush with the soil.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02The roots are quite tight in here, it's not pot-bound,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06but it's not a bad idea just to tease roots out, and don't worry
0:04:06 > 0:04:10if you break the odd one because that will stimulate new growth.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Now, let's get the height right.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15That's pretty good.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Let's put a bit of soil back in there.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Look at the way that instantly it adds depth of colour and texture
0:04:32 > 0:04:36to the border, and what I'm hoping is, not only will that perform,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38but also it'll go forth and multiply,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42find another wonderful hellebore, cross-fertilise
0:04:42 > 0:04:47and produce offspring that exceed the virtues of both their parents.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50And that way, the stock will gradually be enriched.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Now, hellebores, for all their virtues, don't have scent,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56or at least none I've been able to recognise.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00But Carol is in her garden in Devon planting a shrub that not only
0:05:00 > 0:05:05has really beautiful flowers, but also a delicious fragrance.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19One of the most important groups of shrubs in my garden
0:05:19 > 0:05:23are the viburnums. They're marvellous.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26I've got a native one, Viburnum opulus,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29in the hedge that runs right down the side of my garden,
0:05:29 > 0:05:33and it gives you gorgeous big white flowers and lovely red berries.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35So it's a superb wildlife plant.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Viburnums have something to offer right the way through the year.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44A lot of them have gorgeous autumn colour too,
0:05:44 > 0:05:46but this one is an evergreen.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48This is Viburnum tinus.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51It's a well-known, well-loved shrub
0:05:51 > 0:05:56and it has these big corms of beautiful white flowers.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01This one has been knocking around in our garden since the 17th century.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04But there are other, new viburnums that are being brought
0:06:04 > 0:06:10into the country by intrepid plant hunters, and I'm lucky enough
0:06:10 > 0:06:12to have the privilege of planting one in my garden.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Viburnum carlesii, discovered by a bloke called Carles,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29who was an English diplomat, and he found it in Korea
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and thought it would be a brilliant platform for our gardens.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35It's more than 100 years ago
0:06:35 > 0:06:39since Mr Carles first introduced his viburnum.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44But this particular plant, this was brought into cultivation by
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51modern-day plant hunters and very intrepid too.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56They found it up on top of a cliff, growing in very sandy soil.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00It was really, really exposed and windy.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05And the whole plant - the buds, the leaves, the stems,
0:07:05 > 0:07:09everything is covered with this fine, furry substance
0:07:09 > 0:07:11that actually protects the cuticle
0:07:11 > 0:07:16of the leaves and the stems from the hot sun and the drying winds.
0:07:16 > 0:07:22It's perfectly evolved to live in that sort of exposed site.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27I haven't got a cliff top, but this is my most exposed site
0:07:27 > 0:07:30and I think it's going to adore living here.
0:07:30 > 0:07:36Now, it's a big specimen, this, and they've sent it to me bare-rooted.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40Normally we are used to getting our shrubs in containers,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43but this has been dug from the field by Bleddyn himself,
0:07:43 > 0:07:48so I need to get it into this hole as fast as I possibly can.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52That looks good. We'll need something to steady it.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58And this might keep it in one place
0:07:58 > 0:08:01so it's got something to lean on.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04And then back in with its compost.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10I've added to this soil lots of sand,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13to try and make it feel completely at home.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16And you can hear, it's very gritty too.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19You've got to get them into the ground quickly,
0:08:19 > 0:08:24and we've been spraying the roots of this right the way through
0:08:24 > 0:08:28to make sure that it doesn't dry out,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31and providing it can get those roots down...
0:08:33 > 0:08:37..then it really isn't going to suffer at all.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40As I go, I just give it a little...
0:08:42 > 0:08:44..a little shake.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48So you force that soil in amongst the roots.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55The whole object of the exercise is to try and ensure
0:08:55 > 0:08:58that it's at exactly the same planting depth as it was
0:08:58 > 0:09:00in Bleddyn's field.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06I think that's probably enough for it firming.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11It's going to be a bit of a shock for it, first of all,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14but because these leaves aren't out yet,
0:09:14 > 0:09:18the roots should get a chance to establish themselves properly.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24And it's particularly important with bare-root shrubs to make sure
0:09:24 > 0:09:28that you really give them a good drenching and that you continue
0:09:28 > 0:09:33to do it over the following weeks, just to help them settle down.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Well, I think this looks really happy
0:09:36 > 0:09:40and I just can't wait for these leaves to unfurl
0:09:40 > 0:09:45and those beautiful buds to open into pure white flowers.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46It's gorgeous.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59It's time that I was pruning my soft fruit. In fact, it's a job
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I would normally do by the beginning of March.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06But this year I have delayed, for a very good reason.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Which is this, my brand-new greenhouse.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18You can see that it's really tall
0:10:18 > 0:10:22and this means there are lots of opportunities for growing vines,
0:10:22 > 0:10:27for having tomatoes trained up on strings, cucumbers.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31But it doesn't matter what kind of greenhouse you're going to get -
0:10:31 > 0:10:33certain principles apply to all of them
0:10:33 > 0:10:35and that's the same for a little plastic job on the side
0:10:35 > 0:10:38of the house, which you raise seeds in, to a cathedral of glass.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40First thing is construction.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43You can have the framework going down to the ground,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45but it must be on a fairly firm surface.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48A really good idea to make a brick base, if you can.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51It will hold the heat much better for insulation
0:10:51 > 0:10:53and also hold some moisture a bit.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Because greenhouses do tend to get a little bit too dry.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58And then think about the orientation.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00South over there,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03so it means it's going to get sun pretty much all day long.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07The sun rises over there and sets over there, so plenty of light.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11It's no good getting light only in the evening or in the mornings,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13so bear that in mind.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16So work out where you want it, work out what you want from it
0:11:16 > 0:11:18and then go for it,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22because I've never met anyone who regretted getting a greenhouse.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Anyway, we'll come back to this lots of times later on.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35And this is the new home for soft fruit.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38We've got a row of blackcurrants, a row of gooseberries,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41a row of red and white currants, a row of autumn raspberries -
0:11:41 > 0:11:44you can't see them, they've been pruned down.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47And a row of summer raspberries.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Now that they're in their new home and bedded in,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53I just need to make sure that they grow as well as possible
0:11:53 > 0:11:56and that we get as much fruit as possible this year.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Red and white currants and the gooseberries have the same regime.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03They fruit on spurs produced on old wood.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05And what really matters, to get the best from them,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08is to make sure there's masses of ventilation.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10You can see here, we've a redcurrant.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12It's a pretty good example
0:12:12 > 0:12:15of a general goblet shape that I'm after.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18The easiest way to think of it is that the branches
0:12:18 > 0:12:22are a support structure for a bowl that has been popped in there.
0:12:22 > 0:12:27The reason that you do that is partly because soil fly
0:12:27 > 0:12:29in particular, but also you have mildew problems,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33love congested bases. The soil fly will lay its eggs in here
0:12:33 > 0:12:36and then they'll hatch out and slowly eat their way through.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38So make it awkward for them.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Now, having got a pretty good shape in there,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45I'm now going to reduce it back.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49You can see here very clearly, these are fruiting spurs
0:12:49 > 0:12:52coming off the older wood,
0:12:52 > 0:12:58and all these should have nice bunches of fruit coming off them.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Last year's growth, this new wood, will not bear any fruit.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05If I left it, it would mature and in time it will,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07but I don't want them to be great big branches.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I just want them to keep no bigger than this, ideally,
0:13:10 > 0:13:11so we need to take it back a bit.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Last week I was working here in the Jewel Garden, in much worse weather.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Moving plants, splitting, dividing, planting,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30getting it to the point where I could mulch.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Well, that mulching's all been done, so now it is just poised
0:13:33 > 0:13:35and ready to grow.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38What of course we're trying to achieve is this mixture
0:13:38 > 0:13:42of real energy of growth with energy of colour -
0:13:42 > 0:13:45jewel colours are rich, strong and voluptuous.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49It gets changed and added to and discussed at huge lengths.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Sarah and I talk around every single planting, we both have a veto -
0:13:53 > 0:13:57that means that ultimately, we always agree on what's in here.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01But when you're trying to make a garden with a partner,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04it's not always a smooth process.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11I love pastels, pinks, lilacs, blues, whites, mauves.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15But then again, totally the opposite, bright oranges
0:14:15 > 0:14:19and purples and yellows and blues.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21I like to have lots of colour and, to me,
0:14:21 > 0:14:25colours don't particularly clash, but I'm told regularly,
0:14:25 > 0:14:30"You can't put that with that." I tend to bow to her better judgement.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Red, to me, is red.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34And I come home with a plant and she says, "What colour is it?"
0:14:34 > 0:14:38I say, "Red." And come spring, when it flowers, she says, "Why have
0:14:38 > 0:14:41"you put an orange plant there?" I say, "It's not, it's red!"
0:14:41 > 0:14:44And we will argue about colour, but that's all.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46THEY LAUGH
0:14:51 > 0:14:53This is one of my favourite beds.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56We call it the pink, black and silver bed.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I just love playing around with colour combinations.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It's not just the colour of the plants, you know, the forms
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and structures are very important.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07We've got the fine-cut leaf of the black elder,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10the great, big, bold leaves of the Ricinus
0:15:10 > 0:15:12and then filled in with things like
0:15:12 > 0:15:15sea holly, for the bright silver.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Also the black leaf dahlia, which gives us the lovely pink flower,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21that's Dahlia 'Fascination'.
0:15:21 > 0:15:26You don't tend to think of black plants, really, and silver plants,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30so we put the pink combinations in with them to fetch the colours out.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33They also look lovely in certain lights,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36and the silver plants just lift it when the sun's on.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47If you've got a small garden and you can only maybe use tubs,
0:15:47 > 0:15:51it's nice to have something like this lovely Hakonechloa grass.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54It does have lots of different shades in it.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57If you look at these, it's got like a purple streak in with
0:15:57 > 0:16:01the green and yellow, which this Eupatorium 'Chocolate'
0:16:01 > 0:16:06or this Lobelia 'Tanya' just picks out that different colouring.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10And as the season goes on, it then changes coming up to autumn,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14and it goes fiery orange and red and yellow and it gets
0:16:14 > 0:16:18little, black, fluffy seed heads, which also looks superb with these.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21If you had the eupatorium, the black seed heads would pick out
0:16:21 > 0:16:23the black foliage and also the colour
0:16:23 > 0:16:25of the sedum would be very good.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36We love this garden because it's in total contrast to the cool garden.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39It's what we call our tropical garden.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44We have lots of oranges and reds and yellows and purples,
0:16:44 > 0:16:49with a little hint of white mixed in just to cool the hot colours down.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52My favourite plants in here are the dahlias.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56We've got Helga, Bishop of York and Bishop of Llandaff,
0:16:56 > 0:17:00and the colours and size and shape of the flowers are all so different.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03My favourites have got to be the lobelias.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07I absolutely adore the lobelias. They give you a very bright,
0:17:07 > 0:17:09vibrant colour for a very long time.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13This time of year there's a lot of daisy flowered plants,
0:17:13 > 0:17:17so that big, long, bright spike makes a beautiful combination with
0:17:17 > 0:17:19all the daisy type flowers.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32It doesn't matter if you make mistakes.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33You always learn by your mistakes.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36But if you're not adventurous to start with,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39then you don't know how it's going to work until you've tried it.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44Take it home, put other plants with it and try the combinations.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47- I love the smell of that. - I'm not going to trust him yet.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51He is getting there on his colours and he is getting a lot better,
0:17:51 > 0:17:52but not quite yet, no.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54I think that's my department.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Well, it's very nice to have somebody to work with,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10especially when you're planning a border and all of its complexities,
0:18:10 > 0:18:12but inevitably there are going to be disagreements.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16But when you do agree, it's usually better for it.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Now, you may not be planting this weekend for colour
0:18:18 > 0:18:22in the borders, but here are some jobs that you can be doing.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Now is the perfect time to pot on fuchsias,
0:18:29 > 0:18:30as they're starting to grow.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Get a larger pot, but not too much larger.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40Put a little bit of compost in the bottom, then put the fuchsia,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43still in its container, on top of that.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47Back-fill around it, and then carefully lift the pot out
0:18:47 > 0:18:51and you should be left with a space exactly that size.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Take the fuchsia out of the pot
0:18:53 > 0:18:56and slip it back in so it will fit neatly.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Then water it in and it will grow away strongly.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12As the bullet-like buds of hostas start to appear,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16it's the perfect moment to divide them.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21Lift the entire plant and chop it in two with a sharp spade.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Make sure that each segment has at least one healthy bud.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Then re-plant all the segments and they will grow with renewed vigour,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32as well as giving you lots of spare plants.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40It's important to move seedlings on out of the seed tray as soon as
0:19:40 > 0:19:43they develop a true leaf, because this means they've got roots.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Hold each plant by the leaf, not a stem,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49and gently lever it out with as much root as possible.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54And then pot it on, so it's got plenty of room to develop.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Put it in a sheltered place
0:19:59 > 0:20:01to develop into nice, strong, young plants
0:20:01 > 0:20:05that can be hardened off before planting outside.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15All these jobs are part of the rhythms
0:20:15 > 0:20:18of the British gardening year.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21But this week, in Joe's masterclass,
0:20:21 > 0:20:25he's looking at a style of planting and design that is much more exotic.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30A tropical garden is a tranquil oasis
0:20:30 > 0:20:32reminiscent of warmer climes.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37It's particularly well suited to sheltered courtyards
0:20:37 > 0:20:38and small gardens.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43I'm looking at the key plant design elements -
0:20:43 > 0:20:45structure,
0:20:45 > 0:20:46texture,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49seasonal interest
0:20:49 > 0:20:51and colour -
0:20:51 > 0:20:55that are really important for making your own green oasis a success.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00You want to create an exotic feel in a garden like this,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03so go for some big specimens.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07This is a great composition, an enormous phormium,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11its large, strappy leaves contrasting with the cordyline.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13Then there is a Magnolia grandiflora
0:21:13 > 0:21:16and a tall bamboo at the back adding plenty of height.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Whilst combinations of plants are really good,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23sometimes you want to have a plant all by itself,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26especially if it's got really good architectural, sculptural qualities
0:21:26 > 0:21:29like this Cordyline australis.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33It means you can walk around it and it holds the space around it,
0:21:33 > 0:21:34it doesn't get too cluttered.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37And you can see the wonderful trunk that it's got too.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39It looks just right there.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47With this style of planting, we're looking for plenty of volume,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49but we don't want it all to turn into a green mush.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51We need definition between the plants.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55And here, the composition works beautifully.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56The upper storey is created
0:21:56 > 0:22:00with the fatsia and this tetrapanax's deeply lobed, cut leaves.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Underneath, we've got this tree fern with more filigree foliage.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08This astelia has got lovely, silvery, sword-like, strappy leaves,
0:22:08 > 0:22:09a vertical accent.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12It looks great next to this canna here
0:22:12 > 0:22:15and there's a purple cordyline over there.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Together, there is volume there, but there is also drama.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27When it comes to colour, this garden is predominately green.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29It has a very soothing effect.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31But there's lots of different sorts of green in here,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33all contrasting subtly together.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36For example, we've got the euphorbia here with its glaucous foliage,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38plenty of blue in there.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Behind me, we've got an aspidistra, planted in the border,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43it's a more limey yellow.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47If you want to add in some depth of colour, start with the foliage.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Purples, reds, maroons,
0:22:49 > 0:22:53and even blacks work and contrast beautifully alongside the green.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56And then think about adding in colour through flowers.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59If you want to go with that exotic theme, think about yellows
0:22:59 > 0:23:04and fiery reds and oranges. This crocosmia is just the perfect choice.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07Over there, we have got the cannas towering above my head.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Even down at ground level, a really fiery little nasturtium.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Works a treat.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18The beauty of a garden like this is that it has year-round interest,
0:23:18 > 0:23:22as it contains mostly evergreen plants.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26You can achieve the tropical look without having to use tender plants
0:23:26 > 0:23:28that might suffer in the winter.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Whilst the tone has been set by the larger specimens,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33many of which are hardy anyway,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35other plants have been added in,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38really tough, readily available plants, things like bergenias,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41heucheras, and the cotinus over there.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44But they sit so comfortably in this garden
0:23:44 > 0:23:48because their foliage mimics the more exotic look.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51They knit together beautifully and create the whole.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57How do I go about creating a green oasis?
0:23:57 > 0:24:00I've got a very simple layout here. The first thing I'd look to do
0:24:00 > 0:24:03is to try to get some height and some structure.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07I'm thinking some tree ferns would be really good.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08One either side of me.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Then I'd like to balance one out on the other side.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14The next thing I'd do is I'd put some bamboos in there,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16again looking for structure.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19So I'll put three of those, and I think I will balance them out
0:24:19 > 0:24:22with another three over there.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24I love hardy bananas.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Again, towards the front of the border.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30The next thing I want to do is green up the boundaries.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31Loads and loads of climbers.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Ivy works really well in this garden.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38Trachelospermum jasminoides and even Virginia creeper,
0:24:38 > 0:24:42which introduces a little autumn colour.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45In this area here, I'm thinking something quite large.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49I think something like a fatsia would work really well.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53And then we are working on adding more texture and colour.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Cotinus.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Means that I'm introducing some purple foliage in there.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Then I'm thinking phormiums as well.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04There's a beautiful phormium here, it's got a purple tinge to it.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Cordyline australis is another really good plant.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12I don't want to see bare earth at all,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14so I'm going to put bergenias
0:25:14 > 0:25:18and I like the idea of these heucheras here.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23And I'm thinking of using some pots through here.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Echeveria work really nicely,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28sempervivums or even something a little bit bigger.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32And there you go.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36That design, that choice of plant is the essence of a lovely green oasis.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52If you want to see details of the plants that Joe has used
0:25:52 > 0:25:55or any other details of today's programme,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57you can go to our website and it's all there.
0:25:59 > 0:26:05I'm mulching the meconopsis that has, as yet, not appeared.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09The nature of any mulch is pretty much the same,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12whatever you use, although there is a choice.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14It's doing three things -
0:26:14 > 0:26:18it's keeping moisture in the soil by stopping it evaporating,
0:26:18 > 0:26:22it's also suppressing weeds by blocking out light
0:26:22 > 0:26:26and, if it's made out of other organic material, it's going to
0:26:26 > 0:26:30rot down and incorporate with the soil and improve the soil structure.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32So I'd say it's almost the single best thing
0:26:32 > 0:26:34that you could ever do to your garden.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40Now, around these meconopsis, I'm using spent bracken...
0:26:42 > 0:26:44..which has the virtue of being ericaceous,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48which is great for plants that are acid loving.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50You know, azaleas, rhododendrons.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54But there are other materials that will do the job just as well,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56like pine bark or pine needles.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00If you go to your garden centre and ask for an ericaceous mulch,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03that will be perfect for those kind of plants.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06But if in doubt,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09you'll never go wrong with garden compost or leaf mould.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23Now, over here, I'm using a completely different kind of mulch,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27but it's actually the kind that I use on most of the garden,
0:27:27 > 0:27:28which is mushroom compost.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31That's because I've got different plants.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36Nearly all plants that are not ericaceous respond well to it.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40And this garden has improved hugely
0:27:40 > 0:27:44because it does break down heavy soil to a certain extent.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Mushroom compost, by the way, is not made out of mushrooms.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50It's manure that is composted with lime added,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53and that breaks it down and then mushrooms are grown in it.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02The key thing that I would say is don't be coy about the thickness.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Really put it on generously.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Of course, making sure that you clear away from any leaves.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Far better to do a small area really well
0:28:11 > 0:28:14than spread it thinly over a larger area.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16That really is the key to successful mulching.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Well, there is a lot more to do, but I will push on with this
0:28:22 > 0:28:24and I would say that mulching is something that should be done
0:28:24 > 0:28:26sooner rather than later.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Try and get it on this week if you possibly can.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32I'll be back here next Friday as normal.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36And as it's Easter weekend, I've got lots of things to keep you busy.
0:28:36 > 0:28:37See you then, bye-bye.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd