0:00:05 > 0:00:08TRAIN RUMBLES IN DISTANCE
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Hello. Welcome to Gardeners' World.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Now, there's only one word to describe the garden
0:00:16 > 0:00:18at this time of year, and that's lush.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21With all the rain we've had and the mildness,
0:00:21 > 0:00:23and even the occasional sunshine,
0:00:23 > 0:00:27everything has grown hugely, and that lushness is lovely.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30But...it's swamping a lot of things
0:00:30 > 0:00:33and now it's time to start cutting back.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40This weekend it's also Gardeners' World Live in Birmingham, and that's
0:00:40 > 0:00:45a great opportunity to get ideas and find some wonderful plants.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48In answer to some of your e-mails, Carol is looking for good
0:00:48 > 0:00:53plant combinations that will work in difficult areas of the garden.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Eryngiums will cope with mountainside and seaside alike.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59They've got spectacular flowers
0:00:59 > 0:01:04and they really give a bit of drama to your dry, sunny situation.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Joe is looking at how different designers have taken the same brief
0:01:08 > 0:01:10to produce very different show gardens.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15It's about retailing and design, and it can make or break your garden.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18And I've decided to abandon my asparagus
0:01:18 > 0:01:21and replace it with brassica.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23And as well as that bombshell,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25I shall be planting up some large pots
0:01:25 > 0:01:28to give me colour right through into winter.
0:01:39 > 0:01:44First I need to thin out and cut back these Jewel Garden borders.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47We want to keep the display going from April
0:01:47 > 0:01:50right through into November, if it's a good autumn,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54and that will involve introducing new plants.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56And you've got to make space for that.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00And also we've got a bit of a strange weed problem here.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04This Allium 'Purple Sensation' has taken over
0:02:04 > 0:02:05and is growing everywhere.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10And I very often pull up about half of them to stop them seeding,
0:02:10 > 0:02:15which is a kind of shame, because the seed heads can look lovely,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17and alliums will seed prolifically.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Which, of course, for the first few years is fantastic,
0:02:21 > 0:02:24because you're getting more plants, but you've got to be
0:02:24 > 0:02:28very careful for what you wish, because it can become a problem.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32And this year I'm actually going to dig out a lot of the bulbs.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Because they're just getting too dominant.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Can you see that?
0:02:39 > 0:02:41You've got this orange stain
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and it's terrible for staining your clothes.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48So be careful. Really difficult to wash out.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53And also I shall be cutting back this geranium.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58The ratio of flowers to growth is diminishing
0:02:58 > 0:03:00and not giving enough return.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02So we get in there...
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Cut that off.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11When you're cutting back geraniums in particular,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14but any herbaceous plant you want to regrow, and this
0:03:14 > 0:03:18applies to the Oriental poppies in particular, cut back hard.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Go right to the ground.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22That will let light and air in
0:03:22 > 0:03:24and the regrowth will be nice and vigorous
0:03:24 > 0:03:27and will come back surprisingly fast.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Now, if I get a fork...
0:03:37 > 0:03:39..and gently tease into the ground -
0:03:39 > 0:03:42not too vigorously, I'm not double digging it,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I'm just seeing if I can get some of the allium bulbs out.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52These can dry and sit and be planted in September or even October
0:03:52 > 0:03:55without any problem at all, in another part of the garden.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01We cleared the other side of the path a day or two ago,
0:04:01 > 0:04:05so that is now ready for planting.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12When you're topping up a border,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14you need to start with the big plants first.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17So this is a Gladioli 'Plum Tart'
0:04:17 > 0:04:21and the bulbs have been planted in a deep-water aquatic basket,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25and the beauty of that is the roots can grow through the holes
0:04:25 > 0:04:29into the ground and then, when winter comes, the whole thing
0:04:29 > 0:04:33can be lifted and put into storage so that they won't get frosted.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38Gladiola is relatively tender and I'm going to put that there,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42because the flowers, which have got a lovely plum,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44burgundy sort of colour,
0:04:44 > 0:04:45will rise about that height,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48so above the hedge, and they need to be fairly near the front.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50This is Zinnia 'Scarlet Red'.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Zinnias will go on flowering
0:04:53 > 0:04:57from July right into autumn, if you
0:04:57 > 0:05:02keep deadheading them, and they like heat and plenty of sunshine.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07So that can go in there. We can put them in groups.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Maybe groups of three.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16You notice I'm not planting any.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19I'm not going to plant anything until I'm certain that
0:05:19 > 0:05:23it's in the right place in relationship to everything else.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27This cosmos is 'Orange Cosmea'.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32Lovely rich colour, a real essential Jewel Garden plant.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Now, there's no point in putting a plant like this,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38which will only grow about two foot tall,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41in the middle of the border. So the taller stuff in the middle
0:05:41 > 0:05:44and then you add the smaller annuals in amongst them.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Now, this is all familiar stuff in the sense that these are plants
0:05:48 > 0:05:52I've grown in these borders for years and years and I love them.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54And I like just tweaking them
0:05:54 > 0:05:57and altering them slightly with a few additions, but basically
0:05:57 > 0:06:01it's the same idea every year, and none the worse for that.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04However at Gardeners' World Live this year,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Joe is looking at the show gardens,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10particularly at the hard landscaping,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13to get fresh ideas and new inspiration.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Gardeners' World Live is a showcase for up-and-coming designers,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29and from what I've seen so far they've certainly not let us down.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31From the outlandish to the conventional,
0:06:31 > 0:06:34there are design elements here for everyone,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37and this year there's a particular group of gardens
0:06:37 > 0:06:38that have really caught my eye.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43These gardens form part of an ambitious project called
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Metamorphosis - A Design Journey,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50headed up by the highly acclaimed garden designer Roger Platts.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Roger often sits on the judging panel at Gardeners' World Live
0:06:54 > 0:06:58but this year has set four emerging designers a unique challenge.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Roger, how does this competition work?
0:07:03 > 0:07:06It's all about creating a show garden, for the first time
0:07:06 > 0:07:08for these designers,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10and with a limited range of materials.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13They've all been given the same materials to work with.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17So how did you choose which materials you were going to give them?
0:07:17 > 0:07:20There's quite a lot of grey paving and grey walling here.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23There is, and interestingly I suppose I'm a little bit known for
0:07:23 > 0:07:25doing a more traditional style of gardens.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29I wanted to give them materials which they could do something,
0:07:29 > 0:07:30perhaps, a little more contemporary.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The interesting thing is, they've all done different things.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36They've used the materials but used them in all different ways.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39And every garden's got to have a water feature designed into it.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41That's a bit mean, isn't it?
0:07:41 > 0:07:44They're the hardest part of the garden to get right.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Maybe that's why I put it in. It was a bit mean of me.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48And I think they've learnt a lot from that
0:07:48 > 0:07:51and now in the wider world
0:07:51 > 0:07:54they should we creating much better-quality water features.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58So, it's a great opportunity for these designers, then?
0:07:58 > 0:08:01It's been a wonderful opportunity to create a garden for show
0:08:01 > 0:08:03and they've just thrown their heart and soul into it.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05I think it's been a wonderful success.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07MUSIC WITH A LATIN`AMERICAN FEEL
0:08:13 > 0:08:16It's really interesting to see how designers have used pretty much
0:08:16 > 0:08:19the same materials to create very different gardens.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22This is a very formal space, drawing the eye right through the middle
0:08:22 > 0:08:24towards the large water feature at the back, and I like
0:08:24 > 0:08:28the sense of humour that the water's pouring into the buckets there.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31As far as the paving material is concerned,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34I'd like to see a little bit more contrast, maybe chop it all up,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38create more interest, but I do like the vibrancy of the planting here.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42RESTFUL ACOUSTIC GUITAR MUSIC
0:08:47 > 0:08:51This garden has a very strong rectilinear design.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54You can see the rectangles all interlocking in planned form,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58but also I like the way that actually it steps up towards the back,
0:08:58 > 0:09:02good use of levels, and that boundary really does enclose the space.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06But one thing I just wish it had was more height in the planting
0:09:06 > 0:09:08here in the foreground, because that would give a nice
0:09:08 > 0:09:12sense of enclosure to the garden as a whole and from here increase
0:09:12 > 0:09:16the depth of field and actually make it feel bigger than it really is.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19MUSIC WITH WARMER POP TONE
0:09:23 > 0:09:24Out of all the four gardens,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27this one has put the whole garden on the diagonal,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30drawing the eye over into the far corner,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34and it gives a very different dynamic feel to the space as a whole.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37And I also like the sempervivums planted in lines.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40What they've done here is cut the clay pipes,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43which are an ingredient which they have to use,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45sunk them into the gravel and planted in there,
0:09:45 > 0:09:49and that breaks up the line between the paving and the gravel itself,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52and gets some plants into the middle of the space, too.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55But I wish this garden had one more thing -
0:09:55 > 0:09:57another purple hazel planted right here.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00At the moment, there's two of them, the eye bounces between them.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03With three, it'll create a lovely flow as it goes round and round.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08PACIER SPANISH STYLE ROCK GUITAR
0:10:14 > 0:10:16This is the garden that won the competition.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20It's designed by Jo Jemmison, and she's done a fantastic job
0:10:20 > 0:10:23for this design of this tiny 6m by 6m garden.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26These spaces really are very small.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28It starts off with this pathway which
0:10:28 > 0:10:31already shows ingenuity and innovation to me,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34because she just laid the paving slightly apart,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37put a bit of gravel between the two. It's great for drainage
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and also starts a lovely rhythm that runs through the garden,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43all the way through this paving and then up through the wall.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Just by raking out the grout on a horizontal axis,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49it gives a nice visual flow to the garden.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Then when you think about putting a wall in,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54think about the height of them as well.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55Here she's done a great job.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57She's brought it up to perfect seating height
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and it's got this really nice timber coping on the top
0:11:00 > 0:11:03and I can't see how it's been fixed. No signs of any screws or anything.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Really nice attention to detail.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07From here, I'm right next to the water feature,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11which has been brought right up to eye level on the boundary.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13I'm not just seeing a blank wall there.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17What I really like about this is this garden feels as if it's in 3-D,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21so she's created lots of different levels right up to the back here,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24it tiers up, a real sense of volume as well,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26and that's why this garden won it.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32It just goes to show that hard landscaping isn't just about
0:11:32 > 0:11:36paving, walling and boundaries. There's so much more to it than that,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38and it's about detailing and design,
0:11:38 > 0:11:39and it can make or break your garden.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46BIRDSONG
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Well, that is the last asparagus I shall cut from this bed.
0:11:55 > 0:12:02I planted it April 2011, but then we had a horrible summer that year,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04the asparagus didn't grow very well.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06We've had the coldest spring last year,
0:12:06 > 0:12:10and it just hasn't taken off and because asparagus lasts so long,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13if it starts badly, it's unlikely to get better.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17So I'm cutting my losses - I'm digging it up.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19And next spring I'll make a new asparagus bed
0:12:19 > 0:12:22in one of the raised beds, and the virtue of that is,
0:12:22 > 0:12:23it'll have extra-good drainage.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34I feel really bad about this.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39I feel like I'm destroying something that might come good
0:12:39 > 0:12:41but I know it's the right decision.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44See, look - do you see how those roots are rotten?
0:12:44 > 0:12:48They're all shredded. They look like they've been crushed.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51And that's because they're too wet.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02I think this is the right thing to do.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04And next year, in a raised bed,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07I'll really make sure the drainage is good
0:13:07 > 0:13:09and it's not shaded at all.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13But the ground is perfectly good for lots of other vegetables
0:13:13 > 0:13:16and for the moment, I've got some brassicas
0:13:16 > 0:13:18that will love this rich soil.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Root rock and a large cabbage
0:13:27 > 0:13:31or purple sprouting broccoli can cause a lot of damage
0:13:31 > 0:13:35so you want really firm roots and if the soil is firm,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39they have to work their way in and it anchors them.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43So always treat a brassica bed as though it was a lawn
0:13:43 > 0:13:46and tread it over, like this, and then rake it lightly.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50It's a little bit wet and sticky for this at the moment,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52but we'll get away with it, I think.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Right, let's get them in the ground.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05This is romanesco,
0:14:05 > 0:14:10which I always think of as somewhere between broccoli and cauliflower,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12with usually the pointed head,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and they can be bigger than purple sprouting broccoli
0:14:15 > 0:14:18but smaller than a cauliflower
0:14:18 > 0:14:20and the best way to eat them, I think,
0:14:20 > 0:14:24is very similar to broccoli - I would lightly boil them,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27heat up some garlic and some chilli in a pan with oil
0:14:27 > 0:14:31and then toss the romanesco in that, and they're very good.
0:14:32 > 0:14:38Dig a deep hole. Plant them nice and deep with some of the stem buried,
0:14:38 > 0:14:43like that, and then really aggressively firm them in.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46This is important. You won't damage the roots at all
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and if they start life firm,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53they will grow good and straight and they won't be damaged by wind.
0:14:55 > 0:15:00Spacing wants to be about 18 inches.
0:15:00 > 0:15:06I nowadays tend to plant closer than the books will tell you to do.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11That's because I'd rather have more repeat pickings of smaller plants.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15If you want a show plant or you've got masses of people to feed,
0:15:15 > 0:15:18space it further apart - you'll get bigger plants.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28In an effort to make the asparagus grow better,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30I've been mulching this for the last few years
0:15:30 > 0:15:33with an enormous amount of compost,
0:15:33 > 0:15:34and brassicas love that.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36So give them plenty of food.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39This is the perfect moment to be planting out
0:15:39 > 0:15:41all your winter brassica,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44but even if you don't grow cabbages or romanesco,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48here are some other jobs you can be getting on with this weekend.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55At this time of year,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58lily beetles are indulging their voracious appetites,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01munching through your favourite lilies
0:16:01 > 0:16:04and any members of the fritillary family.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06They're bright-red, so easy to see,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10but at the slightest sense of movement they drop off the plant
0:16:10 > 0:16:14and lie on their backs and are almost impossible to find
0:16:14 > 0:16:17on the ground. So creep up on them whilst they're otherwise engaged
0:16:17 > 0:16:22and grab them and then dispose of them as you feel fit.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26To keep your roses flowering as long possible,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29it's important to deadhead them regularly.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Don't just pull the spent flowers off
0:16:32 > 0:16:36but cut back to a side shoot, and this will promote fresh growth
0:16:36 > 0:16:38with more flowers.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40In a rainy year like this one,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42it's quite common for roses to ball,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45which means that the outer petals get wet
0:16:45 > 0:16:49and then dry out slightly and trap the flower and stop it opening.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53Gently tease it apart with your fingers
0:16:53 > 0:16:55and often you can rescue the flower
0:16:55 > 0:16:59and it will open in front of your eyes.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05BLACKBIRD SINGS
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Blackbirds have a habit of eating strawberries before they're ripe
0:17:08 > 0:17:12and the only way to stop them is to put some netting up
0:17:12 > 0:17:14so they can't get at through it.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16It doesn't have to be a permanent structure -
0:17:16 > 0:17:20some posts or canes with the netting stretched over it
0:17:20 > 0:17:21will do the job properly,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24but do make sure that the netting is stretched taught
0:17:24 > 0:17:27otherwise the birds can get wrapped up
0:17:27 > 0:17:31and tangled in loose shrouds.
0:17:39 > 0:17:44Now, this is a group of plants that I never thought that I would grow,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48and I set off to the Malvern Spring Festival
0:17:48 > 0:17:51with no intention of buying carnivorous plants,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55but saw them growing there and sort of fell in love with them.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58I thought they were incredibly interesting and very practical
0:17:58 > 0:18:01because they need no looking after at all.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04All you have to do is stand them in some rainwater,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and they catch insects for me in the greenhouse,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10so they're beautiful, they're fascinating and they're useful
0:18:10 > 0:18:14and I never would have got them if I hadn't been to Malvern this spring.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18And that, I think, is one of the delights of going to flower shows.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22You set out with a shopping list of what you're likely to buy
0:18:22 > 0:18:26and suddenly, you're hit over the head with something new,
0:18:26 > 0:18:28something you'd never thought of.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Carol has gone to Gardeners' World Live
0:18:35 > 0:18:39looking for planting combinations that would look great
0:18:39 > 0:18:42in otherwise tricky areas of the garden.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51Every week we get loads of letters and e-mails from people
0:18:51 > 0:18:55who've got particularly problematic patches in their gardens.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59Well, I want to find solutions to some of those problems
0:18:59 > 0:19:03and where better to do it than at Gardeners' World Live?
0:19:13 > 0:19:16The question we're asked more than any other is,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18what can I grow in shade?
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Now, Emma Truman's letter is typical.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24She's got one border that's in dense shade.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26What can she grow there?
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Well, most of us have got shade in our gardens,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30for at least part of the time.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31Think of your own borders.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35For part of the day they are plunged into shade.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39Foxgloves are the archetypal solution for just that sort of a place.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43That's where they put themselves in nature - they love to grow
0:19:43 > 0:19:47in hedgerows on the edge of woodland so they are just ideal.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51In spring, shade is never a problem, there are so many
0:19:51 > 0:19:54springtime plants that love shady places.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56But come the summer it's a bit more difficult.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Well, how about this for a solution?
0:19:59 > 0:20:00This handsome...
0:20:02 > 0:20:04..is perfect in a shady spot.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08And if you want something even more exotic why not go for this...
0:20:11 > 0:20:13But, if like Emma, you've got somewhere that's shady
0:20:13 > 0:20:15all the day through then there are
0:20:15 > 0:20:17still loads of solutions.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20On the stand there's this glorious new...
0:20:22 > 0:20:25..and it's ideal for anybody's shady spot.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Sometimes it's the soil itself that's seen as the problem.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43And I suppose the most problematic kind of soil is seen as being
0:20:43 > 0:20:45heavy clay.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49I garden on clay myself and so does one of our viewers,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53John Dickson, who's written to tell us about his new garden -
0:20:53 > 0:20:54full of heavy clay.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Well, one famous garden that had heavy clay was Barnsdale,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00home to Gardeners' World for many years and home of
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Geoff Hamilton.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06He had a marvellous success story there and his son,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Nick Hamilton, continues his legacy with spectacular results.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12I reckon he's the bloke to talk to!
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Nick, roses feature largely on your stand and they love clay,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24don't they?
0:21:24 > 0:21:27They do absolutely love it and certainly at Barnsdale on heavy clay
0:21:27 > 0:21:29they do fantastically well there.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32And when you see wild roses, invariably they are growing
0:21:32 > 0:21:35in amongst grasses and other herbaceous plants so that's
0:21:35 > 0:21:39ideal in the garden. Absolutely. They can grow all these
0:21:39 > 0:21:43fantastic plants. Things like the achillea that we've got over there.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46They flower all summer long and the potentilla just keeps going
0:21:46 > 0:21:48and going and going, you can't ask for better than that.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51They do, potentilla is the same family as roses, isn't it?
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Exactly. It's lovely. Do you love clay? Given the choice
0:21:54 > 0:21:56I would pick clay every day of the week.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Yeah, me too, thanks ever so much.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12Sometimes a beautiful view comes with its own problems.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Gillian Edwards lives in Snowdonia and she's written to us
0:22:16 > 0:22:21to ask what on earth she can grow in her windswept, exposed site,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23very close to the sea.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Well, there's so many things, as long as you bear in mind that
0:22:26 > 0:22:30you want plants that are specially adapted to that sort of situation.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33On this stand there are loads of examples.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35There's a little spurge here.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37This is Euphorbia cyparissias.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42Right now it makes this lovely sort of swinging thread right
0:22:42 > 0:22:45through the stand. Later it will have bright, lime green flowers
0:22:45 > 0:22:48that will bring in the insects from far and wide.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Marry it with something like this little white daisy...
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Providing it's not soaking wet during the winter
0:22:56 > 0:22:57then it will survive happily
0:22:57 > 0:23:00and flower for months on end.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04Something really spectacular, eryngiums will cope with
0:23:04 > 0:23:06mountainside and seaside alike.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09They've got spectacular flowers and they really give
0:23:09 > 0:23:12a bit of drama to your dry, sunny situation.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Aren't we lucky in Britain? We garden in all sorts of conditions,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30all sorts of different situations but providing we always
0:23:30 > 0:23:34bear in mind one principle - choosing plants that are going
0:23:34 > 0:23:37to love the sort of conditions that we can offer them,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40we really can't go wrong. The moral of the story is -
0:23:40 > 0:23:44go with the flow, choose the right plant for the right place.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54BEES BUZZ
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Now, the show goes on till Sunday night. In fact,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I'll be there all day Sunday, so you can come and see me,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06and if you want any details about times and how to get there,
0:24:06 > 0:24:10then you can go to our website and find all the information there.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14Now, the big pots that I put in the four centres
0:24:14 > 0:24:17of the Jewel Garden have done their stuff for this year.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20They serve very well through winter and into spring,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23and now they're dying back. I need to revamp them.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26This is a good time to refresh all containers
0:24:26 > 0:24:28to take you for the rest of the summer.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30And big pots are quite tricky to plant up,
0:24:30 > 0:24:34and the secret is to make a statement.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Really go for it, and to do that,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40you need to choose plants that have the panache
0:24:40 > 0:24:42to not only make one statement,
0:24:42 > 0:24:47but to go on making it right through into autumn.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50I do think that if you're using a large pot,
0:24:50 > 0:24:52it should be based around a centrepiece
0:24:52 > 0:24:54that is big and dramatic. It needs height,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57ideally at least as high as the pot itself.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01I'm using a canna called Wyoming.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04And this has got really nice, chocolate-coloured
0:25:04 > 0:25:10veined foliage, which will mix in with the background and also,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13superb bright orange flowers.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Of course, I haven't bought this.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20I've had this plant for years, kept it over winter,
0:25:20 > 0:25:24and just grown it on in the greenhouse for the last month or so
0:25:24 > 0:25:28and hardened it off, so it's ready to go outside.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32And the idea is to recycle as much as possible.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35So there is the centrepiece like that.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39Cannas are hungry, thirsty plants -
0:25:39 > 0:25:42you can't really overwater or overfeed them.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44The biggest mistake is to let them get too dry.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Now, around the outside, I want to have some dahlias.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53This is an orange dahlia called 'David Howard'.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58It has a really lovely orange flower with just a touch of apricot to it.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02There were go. Three 'David Howard'.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07See, I already think that's starting to look good,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10and of course, they're crammed in far too tight
0:26:10 > 0:26:13in conventional spacing teams. But that doesn't matter.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17We want to maximise the effect from this one pot.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21If I'm happy with that, I'll take these out of the pot.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25And these are plants that I've had for a number of years,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27and there's no reason why I can't have them for quite a few more
0:26:27 > 0:26:31years yet, and take cuttings from them to make new plants.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40It's absolutely essential if you want a big, dramatic display
0:26:40 > 0:26:43from a big container, to give it the nourishment it needs.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Lots of goodness.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Next step is to have something that will trail a little bit,
0:26:50 > 0:26:55and I've got nasturtiums, and this is a trailing mix, grown from seed.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Now, the only thing that one has to worry about with nasturtiums
0:26:59 > 0:27:02is that they get a little bit vigorous at the expense of flowers.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Traditionally, if you wanted nasturtiums to flower really well,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11you potted them up into the sweepings of the potting shed floor,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14i.e., practically dust.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15This is going into a strong compost,
0:27:15 > 0:27:20but because it's being shared by other, more vigorous plants,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23it should restrict the growth of the nasturtium
0:27:23 > 0:27:25enough to promote flowering.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35And then there, right against the edge.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40And the final element of the mix, which is a rich, red flower,
0:27:40 > 0:27:47a dianthus, and this particular one is an unnamed variety,
0:27:47 > 0:27:49bought from a petrol station.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53And that red will add a little bit of richness to the base
0:27:53 > 0:27:56to stop it getting too orange and chocolate.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12And the last piece of advice I think I'd give is,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14when you're planting up a big container,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17it can feel like the choices are limitless.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Work out what you want and stick to it.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Don't try and chuck a bit of everything in,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24and if it doesn't work, it doesn't matter.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Next time, you've learned something.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Now, talking of next time, that's it for this week,
0:28:28 > 0:28:31but I'll see you back here at Longmeadow
0:28:31 > 0:28:33at the same time next Friday. Till then, bye-bye.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37BIRDSONG
0:29:07 > 0:29:08What's the hardest thing about being a foster parent?
0:29:08 > 0:29:11You're constantly trying to build the elusive trust.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14It's like a big old question mark in your heart.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17I just try and do the best I can for them while they're with me.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Join Lorraine Pascale as she looks at stories of fostering...
0:29:20 > 0:29:23I wasn't happy at all, but now I am. ..including her own.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26Nice to know finally where I came to the world.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30To know that you've grown up and had such a successful life is lovely.