0:00:17 > 0:00:21Well, hello there. Welcome to Beechgrove.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23This is the time of year when we start preparing
0:00:23 > 0:00:27the lawn for winter by putting on a specially formulated fertiliser.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29I was going to do it last week,
0:00:29 > 0:00:30and it was chucking it down with rain,
0:00:30 > 0:00:32so it had to be moved forward a bit.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34No harm done, there's still plenty of time to do it.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38You see, Maddy there is putting on fertiliser with her distributor,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41which is an off-the-shelf standard product.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45It's got no weedkiller and no moss killer in it,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47it's just straight fertiliser.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50I'm trying out a new one here, which is an organic material.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53It's from the same stable as the moss killer that we used earlier.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56And I'll tell you a little bit more about it.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00It has eight parts nitrogen, five parts phosphate,
0:01:00 > 0:01:0513 parts potage and three parts magnesium.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07A wee bonus there at the end,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09and it's all to build up the strength of the lawn
0:01:09 > 0:01:11and improve it for the winter.
0:01:11 > 0:01:16It's in a carrier which is made of fulvic acid and humic acid,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18but forget about that.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20It's humus, it's well-rotted organic material, which actually
0:01:20 > 0:01:24is also adding to the fertility of the soil itself,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26improving the structure,
0:01:26 > 0:01:28which is gey important going through the winter.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33That amount goes on one square metre.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36And I actually apply by hand, and I put it on like so.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39The important thing is to try and get it even.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42It seems a lot when you see it like that, doesn't it?
0:01:42 > 0:01:44And when I've finished doing it that way,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I then turn round and do it this way,
0:01:47 > 0:01:50and by so doing, it means that you don't miss any bits.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54It's slow-acting, it's organic, so I don't worry about standing on it,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57sometimes if you stand on these things, you can damage them.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02Right. Now, then, it's the big job.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05So, what we've done is we've put the quantity measured out
0:02:05 > 0:02:10for this whole area, and I've put it in two lots,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13so that I can do one this way and one that way. OK?
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Here we go. Round the edges, and then back this way.
0:02:19 > 0:02:25And I am mindful that I've got to get to the end before I run out.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28How's that? That's not bad.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Put the other half on. Going the other way.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Now you know what's supposed to be done.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42This is what's on the rest of the programme.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48I really love my job.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51This week, Beechgrove have splashed out and sent me on a cruise!
0:02:54 > 0:02:57And I'm in Gartcosh to show you what you can do
0:02:57 > 0:03:00with two manhole covers in your front garden.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Well, you know, I'm absolutely delighted
0:03:04 > 0:03:07with the growth on these Jerusalem artichokes.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09And indeed, if you just want a temporary wind barrier,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13then this is a plant that you can grow, but I'll take you back,
0:03:13 > 0:03:14these plants, or the tubers,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17were actually planted back in the springtime.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21I've got two varieties, the common Jerusalem artichoke
0:03:21 > 0:03:24and a named variety called Fuseau.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Some are grown in tubs, or containers,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and then the others in the border.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Now, we won't be cropping these until September time,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33and then I want to compare them, you know,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36do we get as good a crop in the container as in the border?
0:03:36 > 0:03:41They belong to the sunflower family, and if they do start to set bud,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43and we haven't got any sign of that at the moment,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47I would suggest you take those off, because if you let them flower,
0:03:47 > 0:03:50that can give a bit of a check to the crop down below.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Just like potatoes, they've been earthed up.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56I'm also growing, for the first time, Chinese artichokes.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00Same comparison, in containers and in the border.
0:04:00 > 0:04:01They belong to the mint family,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and just like the Jerusalem artichokes,
0:04:04 > 0:04:08we will not be cropping those until September-October time.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09But, you know, at the moment,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11they're looking really healthy plants.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15And speaking about healthy plants, just look at this asparagus.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Wonderful news, because we had problems a couple of years ago
0:04:18 > 0:04:22trying to grow asparagus here, but fresh soil was put in,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26Jim planted these crowns back in April time,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28and now we've got wonderful growth.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32No cropping, though, because the first year
0:04:32 > 0:04:35when you buy these plants in, you need to build up the crowns,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37and that's why you let these fronds grow up.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Now, you treat them like a herbaceous perennial.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42In other words, these fronds will eventually start to go yellow
0:04:42 > 0:04:46in the autumn time, then you can cut them right down to the base.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49And then, fingers crossed, next year,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52we are going to have some lovely asparagus to taste,
0:04:52 > 0:04:54and there's actually four varieties in there.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Now, this is another trial. This is all about sweetcorn.
0:04:58 > 0:05:04Two supersweet varieties, and we are growing some plants from seed
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and some plants were plants that were brought in.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10So this is the block that was grown from seed,
0:05:10 > 0:05:11and they're quite cheap,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14because it's only cost us about 6p-7p per plant.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16And then these were the plants that were brought in,
0:05:16 > 0:05:18working out at about 35p a plant.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22And, you know, at the moment, these ones are further ahead.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25They're also at the moment being pollinated.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28It's all about these flowers that are forming here, or the tassles,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32and with the wind, that's why you plant them in a block,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35the pollen drops down onto the female silks,
0:05:35 > 0:05:39and each of these silks is connected to one of the cobs.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Today, I'm on the outskirts of Glasgow,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48and I'm here to help a young couple
0:05:48 > 0:05:52with what is a common cosmetic problem in a new-built home.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- Susan and Roddy, how are you? - Good, thanks.- Nice. Good to see you.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- Hi, there.- This is the problem, isn't it?
0:06:08 > 0:06:12- It is.- Two manhole covers in a perfect lawn. Have you tried to disguise these at all?
0:06:12 > 0:06:16I've come out under the cover of darkness with a can of spray paint
0:06:16 > 0:06:20and tried to match up with the grass, but it didn't really work.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23There's various things we can do to try and disguise them.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25We could put pots on top, we can plant round about,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28but, you know, it's part of a service strip that occurs in many gardens
0:06:28 > 0:06:30in these new housing estates,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and we've got to be careful
0:06:32 > 0:06:34that we don't stop the local authorities getting access to it,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37so the people who want in there need to get in.
0:06:37 > 0:06:38So, what we have to put here
0:06:38 > 0:06:41is something which is maybe ephemeral planting,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43it's not going to be big trees or shrubs
0:06:43 > 0:06:46that are going to take up a lot of space and take time to develop
0:06:46 > 0:06:48and fill the space too much.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52So, it'll be some gentler planting, but it will disguise it,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55- because they look terrible from the house, don't they?- Yeah.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57And it's spoiling your lawn.
0:06:57 > 0:07:02Well, you put a lot of effort into it, you know, autumn feed,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05your spring feed and weed down, and it's just an eyesore.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07So, we'll do the planting around the manhole,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10but then there's this other bit at the side, the hedge.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13That's there because you want to define the outside space
0:07:13 > 0:07:15of your garden space, don't you?
0:07:15 > 0:07:19The reason was to just create a barrier between the communal grass
0:07:19 > 0:07:22and our own grass, there wasn't a clear definition between the two.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25What we'll do is, we'll take out a strip and we'll bulk it up
0:07:25 > 0:07:29by putting in the same sorts of plants, some more boxwood.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31We're going to take out this strip,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33dig it over and put the hedge in there.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Of course, this clean edge...
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Roddy will be able to cut the grass in a straight line!
0:07:38 > 0:07:42This lawn's becoming obsessive, it is!
0:07:50 > 0:07:56This is quite a useful tip when we're actually looking to make a bed
0:07:56 > 0:08:01or something like that where you can just feed the hose round.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Do you want to bring it round there to see where you would maybe like it?
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Now, is that the shape you want?
0:08:06 > 0:08:09That's kind of kidney-shaped, isn't it? Would that do?
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Yeah, that looks good.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13So that gives us a line that we can cut round,
0:08:13 > 0:08:14and that's the shape of the bed.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21We're going to lift the turf,
0:08:21 > 0:08:25but we want to retain as much soil as possible,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27because we want to be planting straight into the soil,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29there's no membrane going down here,
0:08:29 > 0:08:31we're just putting gravel straight onto the top.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Sssh, sssh, sssh!
0:08:50 > 0:08:52BABY BEGINS TO CRY
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Because we want something to detract from the manholes,
0:09:00 > 0:09:04I thought we would get things that would be giving you constant movement,
0:09:04 > 0:09:06little bits of colour within them as well.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10This plant here, this is a thing called chionochloa.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14It's a New Zealand grass, and we can actually put three of those
0:09:14 > 0:09:19in that pot, and that will then arch out over the top.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21We've got this, which we'll put underneath it,
0:09:21 > 0:09:24that's called prairie fire, and it's got this wonderful bronze on it,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27and in between it we'll put the eryngium
0:09:27 > 0:09:30and we'll also put the lavender so you get a wee bit of scent.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Then, we've got some rosemary, which if you sniff it,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35it smells like ginger beer.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38- OK, right. - You can prove it later on!
0:09:38 > 0:09:41And then, for round the edges and places, I've got this one.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43This is a black grass, that's what we call it,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47but it's not really a grass, it's got long, thin leaves,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49but it's got flowers and when you look at the flowers,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52it's actually the same family as the onion.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54So, we'll plant this, and that is one where
0:09:54 > 0:09:58when you put it at the edge, it kind of camouflages the edge of a bed.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02And then for the hedge behind us, we've got these.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07Now, this is ordinary boxwood, it's the same as you've got at the back.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09OK. Looks a bit...better.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11THEY LAUGH
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- The nurseryman fed this, and you didn't feed yours!- OK.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18So, we'll just make sure, we'll put these in between, bulk up the hedge,
0:10:18 > 0:10:20and then it'll grow away, and you'll need to feed that as well.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Let's go for it.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29The eryngiums in the middle, see these flower heads?
0:10:29 > 0:10:31All you need to do then, once they're finished,
0:10:31 > 0:10:33is clip them right back to ground level.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35That will die right back in the winter
0:10:35 > 0:10:37and it will come away again in the spring.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41The lavender, just shear the top once it's finished flowering.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42OK. On with the planting.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Ooh! Can I do it? No!
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- OK, gloves off time!- OK.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14We've planted this here, Mike's just finished off the hedge there.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- This looks super, doesn't it?- It looks lovely. Really nice.- OK?- Yeah.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- You're not just saying that because I'm standing here?- No, no!
0:11:21 > 0:11:25That should give you colour for, I would say, 52 weeks of the year.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- And not a stank in sight! - We've done what we set out to do.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- Thank goodness.- That's it, yeah. We've also done the hedge.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33We've got the dark green and we've got the light green,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35but they'll soon all come back.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Make sure you give that a water. OK?
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Make sure you soak it, because these newly planted ones
0:11:40 > 0:11:42will just need a good drink to get them started.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Give those a water as well.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01You might remember that I grew a range of house plants from seed
0:12:01 > 0:12:03back in July, that's when the greenhouse is pretty empty
0:12:03 > 0:12:04from the bedding plants.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Looking gorgeous, and these are coleus,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09which are grown for their leaves. That's beautiful!
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Yeah, that's a variety called Pallisandra, and it's like velvet, isn't it?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15I know I always go for purple,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18but there's another one here with that pink down the centre.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Black Dragon, that one. But, you know, you've got such a range.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Look at that one with the lovely green edge there.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- That one is part of the wizard series.- Wizard Scarlet.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- And if they put any flowers up, you just nip those off.- Yes, you do.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33Easy to take cuttings as well, and if you want to bring them
0:12:33 > 0:12:35through the winter, you need to give them a bit of heat.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39I think we need to mention this plant, and I think we planted this up together.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41We did. It's got basil in it, it's not been very happy.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Well, you've got to water from the top,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46so it gets really wet, and it's rather wobbly, isn't it?
0:12:46 > 0:12:49But, you know, I like the idea of vertical planting, don't you?
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Yes, of course, cos if you've only got a small amount of space,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54you get a lot of plants in, so in principle, it's good.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57But the basil here is really quite happy in pots,
0:12:57 > 0:12:59this is the second sowing, because the first sowing,
0:12:59 > 0:13:02with the cold weather, it didn't like it, but try that.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07There's a lovely, lovely basily smell anyway coming out, and then...
0:13:07 > 0:13:08Oh, that's gorgeous.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- That's lemony.- Lemon sherbet. - Really citrusy and sharp.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14That is Mrs Burns' lemon, which I think is gorgeous.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- I'm sure you're like the purple one. - Of course, of course.- Purple ruffles.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- That's really nice.- And then I think this is slightly unusual.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- A lovely dark stem. - Oh, that's lovely.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26- That's really interesting. - Cinnamon.- It's pretty.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- And it's got those purple stems. - Wonderful.- That's a nice one.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- However, the aubergines are a bit disappointing.- I know.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Pretty flowers on them, I mean, they look very healthy.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Yeah, they're very, very healthy, but we can't get them to set
0:13:37 > 0:13:41and I think this is the same problem that Jim was speaking about
0:13:41 > 0:13:43a few weeks ago with the tomatoes not setting.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45You know, the light levels, the temperature -
0:13:45 > 0:13:48it's nothing to do with what the gardeners have been doing,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- I just think it is... - Just the season.- ..this year.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53And I don't think we're going to enjoy aubergines and basil together.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57- No, well...- Anyway, I'm going to go and have a look at the tomatoes.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Well, I want to have a look at our trial here
0:14:02 > 0:14:05with our grafted and non-grafted tomatoes
0:14:05 > 0:14:07of the variety called Shirley
0:14:07 > 0:14:11and basically the way we've set it up is at the top there
0:14:11 > 0:14:15we've got a bag there which is the non-grafted variety of Shirley,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18then this is grafted, then we go non-grafted and grafted.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21And, of course, what they speak about with the grafted plants
0:14:21 > 0:14:23is they are meant to be far more vigorous,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25they're meant to crop earlier,
0:14:25 > 0:14:27they're meant to be more disease resistant
0:14:27 > 0:14:29and we're meant to get more tomatoes.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Well, we're at the stage now where we can really compare them
0:14:32 > 0:14:34because we've started cropping.
0:14:34 > 0:14:40We started cropping on 15 August and that was with the grafted tomatoes.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43However, it wasn't two to three weeks later
0:14:43 > 0:14:46that we started cropping on the non-grafted ones -
0:14:46 > 0:14:48it was only a day later.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52We've also had a chance to assess the number of trusses
0:14:52 > 0:14:54and what we've found an average
0:14:54 > 0:14:58is the grafted ones has one more truss than the non-grafted ones,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00so obviously that's good news -
0:15:00 > 0:15:03in other words, hopefully we are going to get more tomatoes.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08As for the actual cropping we've had, we've had 2kg from the grafted
0:15:08 > 0:15:11and 1.4 from the non-grafted,
0:15:11 > 0:15:16so again that's good news because the grafted plants are far more expensive.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20You're speaking about £3.30 on average for a grafted plant
0:15:20 > 0:15:22and only a pound for the non-grafted.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25What about healthiness as well?
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Well, have a look down in this box here.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31We've had quite a few of the tomatoes on the non-grafted
0:15:31 > 0:15:35have suffered with botrytis, whereas I would say the grafted...
0:15:35 > 0:15:37They are far healthier.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40So, again, that's good news for the grafted ones.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Obviously we'll have to come back in a few weeks' time
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and have another assessment.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Last autumn I saved a lot of seed from annual plants
0:15:50 > 0:15:54and then we've sown it out this spring to see what we're going to get.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57Now, with something like limnanthes or the poached egg plant,
0:15:57 > 0:16:00it's come absolutely true to seed.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04In other words, all these flowers match the parent plants from last year
0:16:04 > 0:16:07and hoverflies love this plant. We've got some cornflowers -
0:16:07 > 0:16:09that's a species as well - so it's come true to seed.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12We've only got one of those. Not exactly sure why.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Three different poppies have given us a really lovely display.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19The Shirley poppy here with soft pinks and reds,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22the middle one is the opium poppy with this purple -
0:16:22 > 0:16:25normally I'd expect that to be a bit taller, but that's maybe the season -
0:16:25 > 0:16:29and this lovely fringed red one. They've all worked so, so well.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31And then there's a bit of an experiment -
0:16:31 > 0:16:35I actually saved some seed from the sunflower that I grew last year.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Now, that was cold Little Dorrit. It's very dwarf and it's an F1.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Now, to show you what it looked like last year
0:16:42 > 0:16:44we've sown a fresh row of it this year
0:16:44 > 0:16:48and you can see it's really uniform, nice and compact.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52That's because F1s are very, very carefully controlled in their production.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Their parents aren't pollinated by anybody
0:16:55 > 0:16:58so you can really keep your eye on what traits they have.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01They usually are very uniform and very floriferous.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05We saved seed from this and then we sowed it out this year.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09And I wanted to see what I'd got and obviously they're all sunflowers,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12but they don't look anything like the parent and that's because
0:17:12 > 0:17:15they've been pollinated by bees and other insects in the garden
0:17:15 > 0:17:19so we've got some tall ones, we've got some short ones, large flowers,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23small flowers and one that's got a real, sort of, jagged leaf to it.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25I think it's a very pretty mix.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28It's a really good way of getting a lot of flowers cheaply.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31You never know - you might get an unusual colour break
0:17:31 > 0:17:33or a really different plant.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36The other annuals we were having a look at were climbers
0:17:36 > 0:17:40and I wanted to see how much growth we could get in three or four months,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42particularly if you've got a new garden
0:17:42 > 0:17:45and you want to screen something or instantly get some height.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48We're growing them up wigwams which we painted nice colours
0:17:48 > 0:17:49so it would contrast with the flowers.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53The first one is canary creeper - bright yellow flowers,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56it's reached the top of the wigwam
0:17:56 > 0:17:58and now it's gone venturing into the hedge.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01That's done really well. Next one, eccremocarpus.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Now, it's called tresco mixed
0:18:03 > 0:18:05and I think it would like to be on the Scilly Isles.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09It's obviously not hot enough here, it's only about six inches.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Two morning glories or ipomoeas.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15This one is Spanish flag and it's going to be yellow and red.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Hopefully we'll see some flowers this year, but not yet.
0:18:18 > 0:18:24And Hazelwood blues, and these are contrasting blues with the bar inside
0:18:24 > 0:18:27the flower and that looks really pretty with this purple wigwam.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30And you can tell it's me - another purple one. This is rhodochiton.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33It looks like a purple fuchsia.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Now, this started off slowly, but, do you know,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38it's now two-thirds of the way up so it's doing pretty well.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42I reckon this is the runner-up, but the winner is canary creeper.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50'The gardens at Westfield Estate just outside Aberdeen
0:18:50 > 0:18:53'have only been in existence for 20 years,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56'but it has undergone a major transformation
0:18:56 > 0:18:59'in the last four years since head gardener James Fraser took it over -
0:18:59 > 0:19:03'especially its four-acre walled garden.'
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Now this is a lovely feature to come into.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Yeah, this one we wanted to create something exciting
0:19:14 > 0:19:18when they came through into the garden to go, "Wow, look at this."
0:19:18 > 0:19:20And I think water's so important, too.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Yeah, it brings this garden to life, really.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26A brilliant part of the "wow" factor as you come through the gate.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- And movement of the water, isn't it?- Indeed.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32What I like as well, James, is you've kind of created a room,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- haven't you, with the copper beech? - It creates a great bit of shelter,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38a good backdrop for all the herbaceous stuff.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- It's worked well for us.- How long has that been in, the beech?
0:19:41 > 0:19:46Just a year. Just a year, so it's had its first clip just a week ago.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49So that has come through the season and quite enjoyed it then?
0:19:49 > 0:19:51- It has, yeah. - And so much herbaceous planting.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55If I was to pick just one, maybe the anthemis there.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Yeah, Mrs Buxton, she's a really good "lifting up" kind of plant
0:19:59 > 0:20:01cos she's lovely and bright and yellow.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Yeah, yellow does it, doesn't it?
0:20:03 > 0:20:08- Whether it's grey or whether it's sunny.- Indeed.- Perfect.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- Another water feature here. - Indeed, another project
0:20:21 > 0:20:24that we brought back from the brink, so to speak.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27An area that was surrounded by conifers
0:20:27 > 0:20:30and planted up with conifers and a few penstemons.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Well, this maybe gives me an opportunity to speak a little bit
0:20:33 > 0:20:36about your background, because its garden design, isn't it?
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I went to college and did horticulture and then went on
0:20:39 > 0:20:43to university to do garden design and that was really where
0:20:43 > 0:20:47I found myself just being completely taken away with garden design.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50It's just an amazing opportunity to do that, really.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52So it's something that you've always wanted to do?
0:20:52 > 0:20:56From a young age I've always been interested in horticulture
0:20:56 > 0:20:58and how gardens come together.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Now, this garden is massive so obviously it's giving you
0:21:01 > 0:21:03an opportunity to practice your garden design.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05The family have been great to trust
0:21:05 > 0:21:09the design work that I've come up with and the planting,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12and without them this garden wouldn't have been able
0:21:12 > 0:21:15to come to what it has now, so I have a lot to thank them for.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19I like the fact you've got them labelled, which is wonderful.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22None of the herbaceous are staked at all, which is great.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25We have to rely on the plants to keep everything up
0:21:25 > 0:21:30cos if we had to stake everything here it would just be a never-ending task.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Plus I really don't like seeing bamboo canes here.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Neither do I, but, I mean, it works, doesn't it?
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Cos the plants are holding one another up. For example, the angel's fishing rod.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Yeah, a real favourite of mine.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45I remember my uncle planting it when I was quite young
0:21:45 > 0:21:47and just being wowed by it, really.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Just the way it just arches over and comes into flower.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53And then look at the red-hot pokers there. Beautiful.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56They're one thing that've really enjoyed this weather this year.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58And the minarda as well.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00The minarda's looking absolutely brilliant at the moment.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18I find it hard to believe that we're still in the walled garden
0:22:18 > 0:22:20because this is a completely different environment.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Yes, it's fantastic, isn't it? I mean, we've got these wonderful acers
0:22:23 > 0:22:27that would otherwise struggle if they weren't sheltered by the rocks.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30I mean, it's quite important to have that shelter, isn't it?
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Because there's not a mark on them. Do you do any work at all?
0:22:33 > 0:22:36We just cut back anything that's... Any stems that have died
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- and really that's about it.- Gorgeous.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41A lovely area to be
0:22:41 > 0:22:44when the herbaceous stuff's died down for the autumn.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55So this is the golden pathway
0:22:55 > 0:22:58that we're coming up now, another redesign.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01We ripped everything out. It was roses and brambles before.
0:23:01 > 0:23:07We just kept in these beech trees as nice vista plants.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09It works really well, I think.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12The whole line of alchemilla, but how do you maintain this?
0:23:12 > 0:23:15We let it all go to flower and then we cut it back
0:23:15 > 0:23:18and dig it all up as well, give it a good weed
0:23:18 > 0:23:21cos it self seeds fairly prolifically and then plant it
0:23:21 > 0:23:26as quite small clumps again and then it comes back in as it does.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- Keeps it fresh then?- Indeed.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Well, it's good to see that the walled garden is slightly productive as well.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Yeah, well when we redeveloped the vegetable garden, which is now
0:23:47 > 0:23:51the water feature that we started with at the beginning,
0:23:51 > 0:23:55we tried to move all the espalier fruits over to the wall here.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Just thought it would be the best place for it with all the sun.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Well, absolutely. It's getting the sun
0:24:00 > 0:24:02so it's going to get the warmth, isn't it, off the wall?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05And the shelter, although I have to say this year,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07with the late frost, fruits haven't done particularly well.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Not well at all, but there's one last thing
0:24:10 > 0:24:12I'd like to show you that we've redeveloped.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- So not just the walled garden then? - No, not just the walled garden.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Well, James, I'm glad you brought me down here. This is just amazing.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34- It's pretty special, isn't it?- Now how did you go about designing this?
0:24:34 > 0:24:38I just tried to take the pond and tried to work in proportions
0:24:38 > 0:24:40with the size of the pond, really,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and the deck and posts and the building itself.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Just trying to bring it all together as one.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47So you say you like the size, I mean, obviously, you designed
0:24:47 > 0:24:50the building and things have got to be quite chunky and large.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Yeah, the landscape out there
0:24:52 > 0:24:56just deserves to make it what size it is really.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59So you designed the building as well as the decking and all the planting.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03And that slate is a beautiful colour to set off the plants.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05It just helps highlight things really well.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08I mean, that ligularia, the rocket, is just thriving, isn't it?
0:25:08 > 0:25:10The bees, they love it, too,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12and, yeah, it's a great plant for down here.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Well, I'm so impressed with what you've done in four years
0:25:15 > 0:25:17and no doubt, ever the designer,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20- I'm sure you've got other projects you'd like to do.- Indeed.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38Here in the garden for life,
0:25:38 > 0:25:42the monoblock path has got nicely furnished with plants.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46There's thyme growing through the cracks, two sorts of sedum,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50a little bit of self-heal and even the dwarf alchemilla,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52but we do need to manage the situation
0:25:52 > 0:25:54and there are weeds coming in.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57Things like dandelions here, plantain,
0:25:57 > 0:26:00and also there's campanula, which will get too tall
0:26:00 > 0:26:03so I need keep my eye on this and remove them where necessary.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Well, it's cabbage harvesting time
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and I'm about to take the top out of there, like so.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Nice, fresh, young cabbage.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Absolutely super.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18But don't go away and take the plant out the ground
0:26:18 > 0:26:21because if you take the top out you can get the side shoots to grow,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24so here's one that was done last week.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29Take a knife, just split the top one way, split it the other like so...
0:26:30 > 0:26:32..and there's one that was done a fortnight ago
0:26:32 > 0:26:35and just look at the little buds beginning to grow,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37so you get four mini cabbages later on in the season.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41Well, I have to say this has not been the year for roses
0:26:41 > 0:26:45with all this rain, but a constant job is dead-heading them
0:26:45 > 0:26:47not only to tidy up the plant,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50but that puts the energy back into the plant itself
0:26:50 > 0:26:52rather than setting seed and then hopefully
0:26:52 > 0:26:55what you'll get is a second flush of flowers.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00You know, I think it's a long time since we've grown
0:27:00 > 0:27:04a collection of gladioli and they can make wonderful cut flowers.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08- Splendid colours.- Yes.- But they are past their best just within a week.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10It's a shame, the weather's affected them.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12It really has hammered them and that's the sad thing about it.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16I've got to point this one out because it's bi-coloured purple.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19It's beautiful. That's large, and also in bud.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- It's almost architectural. It's beautiful.- It is very attractive.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25We've got a couple of mixes behind me and I must admit
0:27:25 > 0:27:28I would rather go for the single colours, then you know what you're going to get.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32You've got different classifications cos there's one which must be much later flowering.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36- The buds are there, but... - Whereas this one's meant to be single colour,
0:27:36 > 0:27:41- it's meant to be white and we've got some pinks coming in. - Quite a pretty pink though, isn't it?
0:27:41 > 0:27:44- I prefer it to the white, to be honest.- This is the one I like -
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Mexico. I mean, is that not a beautiful deep, rich red?
0:27:47 > 0:27:48Good texture to that one.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52And that's really large flowering and these are great for exhibition.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Peter Pears there, absolutely gorgeous colour and spoiled.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59That discolouration there is weather spotting. It's just a shame.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03And then you get the bi-colours, which I think can be nice.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06I'm not quite so sure about that combination.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08- That one is definitely a bit mad for me.- Puke. No.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11But I mean, if you get good corms to start off with
0:28:11 > 0:28:15then you will get good flowering and I think that's quite important.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17If you'd like any more information,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20maybe about the gladioli or perhaps about the lawn fertilisers,
0:28:20 > 0:28:24it's all in the fact sheet and the easiest way to access that is online
0:28:24 > 0:28:28and don't forget as well more information about us on Twitter and Facebook.
0:28:28 > 0:28:29She's still mentioning Twitter.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Now, next week none of us are going to be here in the garden.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34It's going to be our second community garden of the series
0:28:34 > 0:28:36and we are going to be in Kilmarnock.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40- My hometown. Until then, goodbye. - Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd