0:00:13 > 0:00:18What a difference a week makes! Welcome to Beechgrove in Lapland.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Last week, we were in the Riviera.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Don't let them ever tell you that Scottish weather's predictable.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28On my schedule, I'm meant to be in the fruit cage.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Just have a look at this. What a state!
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Now, I'm actually meant to be planting a hardy fig
0:00:34 > 0:00:37up in that corner, and over in that far corner, there,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41cutting back the raspberries, the autumn fruiting raspberries.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42Not today. Look at this.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46And we lost a net last winter because of the weight of snow,
0:00:46 > 0:00:47so this has got to come off.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51You know, and this is going to be a big job. Call for the troops.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55I tell you what, I'm also supposed to be on the lawn with my plugger,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58doing spiking and putting on a top dressing.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Nae chance! I'm going to get a job in the greenhouse.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Well, I did say there's always plenty to do in the greenhouse,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10and so we take a moment when the weather's not so good to get on with it,
0:01:10 > 0:01:14and as I say that, the sun's just come out, so I'll be sweltering.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17What I've chosen to do is to start pricking out our early brassicas.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Now, they were sown in these little trays,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22and they were in a case, a propagating case, here,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25with a little bit of bottom heat to get them up.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Now, in advance of moving them
0:01:27 > 0:01:30and giving them a bit of disturbing, you've got to cool them off.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33So here they are, they're all sat out there, cooling off,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36hardening off, if you like, from the frame out on to the open bench.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Because when they're potted up, when they're moved,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41they will go back on the bench.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44In other words, you don't give a plant two shocks at the same time,
0:01:44 > 0:01:46if you want to be kind to them.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50Here we go. We're going to plant them out in, what, the middle of May?
0:01:50 > 0:01:53So they'll have about a month to six weeks to live in a pot,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57so I reckon this size of pot is quite big enough for the job.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02And it's a multi-purpose compost I'm using. So, very carefully,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06from the kitchen drawer, dig these seedlings out, like so.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10Handle them...
0:02:12 > 0:02:13..the seed leaf, like that.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Don't handle them by the stem,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18because it's readily bruised,
0:02:18 > 0:02:23and could be damaged, so, paintbrush one day, dibber the next.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Right down, to open up the hole. Down it goes.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30And...gently...
0:02:30 > 0:02:31There you go.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35You want to finish up with these cotyledons on the surface,
0:02:35 > 0:02:39and by so doing, you'll get the plant growing nice and sturdy.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Doesn't need much of a firming at all.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Quite a quick job, this.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49They go back on the bench, and they need immediately watered in
0:02:49 > 0:02:51with a rose on the end of the watering can,
0:02:51 > 0:02:56with water which is slightly tepid. It's had the chill taken off it.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Here we go.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Meanwhile, in the rest of the programme...
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Well, it's lovely to spend time in a gorgeous back garden like this,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13but, you know, it is worth putting a little bit of time and effort
0:03:13 > 0:03:14into the front garden as well.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23I'm in a west coast garden, a plantsman's garden,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25where plants from all over the world have been collected together,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27and by Jove, are they thriving!
0:03:42 > 0:03:43- SHE WHISPERS:- Top secret!
0:03:43 > 0:03:44SHE KNOCKS
0:03:44 > 0:03:47- Yes?- Can I come in?
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Yeah, I suppose so. But you've got to be very quiet and tell nobody.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56- Oh! What are you doing?- Isn't this good? Look at this.- Very exciting.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- Look at it.- Yeah, so you've got huge air pots.- Right.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01We thought we would try them in air pots this year,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04because we can open the air pots at the end of the season,
0:04:04 > 0:04:06and we don't destroy them. Easier than a barrel
0:04:06 > 0:04:08and the things we used last year.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10- These are your veg for show. - This is it.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- This is the long veg in those ones. - So you've got sand in there.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Yes, but we make spile holes, or holes with a pinch bar,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21and then we fill them with a secret compost. Have you got some compost?
0:04:21 > 0:04:22- WHISPERS:- This is top secret.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- Yes, that's what's in it. - Is it really top secret?
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- Yeah. You'll need to hand me the funnel.- Oh, yes, so I do.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31- Hang on, that's got stuff in it. - You're all of a doo-dah.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33You see, you've got over-excited.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Now, top secret. Hmm.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Feels quite heavy.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41- Yes, well, just you give me it. - It's got perlite in it.- Has it?- Yes. - Is that what that white stuff is?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44You know, I always think gardeners are really generous, George,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46- and they share all their hints and tips.- Yeah.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Do you think if you're doing it for show, you're not so prepared to?
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Well, it's like these secret recipes that we have when we're cooking.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Some people tell you the whole set of ingredients, and others don't.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00No, OK. So, they're just going to grow in that.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Are you going to feed them with anything?
0:05:02 > 0:05:06No, I think there'll be enough feeding in this. I think there'll be enough feeding.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11- You're going to plant them in there. - That's it.- Yeah, OK.- Seeds get sown on the top of that,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14then they'll grow right down through, the roots'll never come to the outside.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18They'll just be in the good compost. We've done the same with that.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20That's the Sweet Candle that we're putting in there.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- Smaller versions.- It's a good, long carrot, it's a nice stump-rooted one.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Then in these ones, "Purple Haze," which is a wonderful purple carrot,
0:05:27 > 0:05:31just for show, really, just for colour, and then beetroot.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34- But you haven't got sand in here? This is just the compost? - That's right.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38These ones, cos it doesn't matter about those, they need a lot of nutrient,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- that's what's important about it. - OK. Now, when you're doing your narcissi,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44you were doing it for a very special date.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48- Are you doing this for a very special date?- Yes.- What is it? You can tell me that!
0:05:48 > 0:05:49SHE LAUGHS
0:05:49 > 0:05:51All right, we'll tell you that.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It's the 17th of September. Now, that's Dalkeith Show.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55So we've given away something.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59So there'll be guys out there saying, "We'll beat him at Dalkeith,"
0:05:59 > 0:06:03- so that'll be exciting.- We'll just see, won't we?- We will indeed.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Front gardens come in all shapes and sizes,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17and yet it's probably our least loved area of our property.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19It's seen by everyone.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21It's the first impression when you come to your home.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25So what does your front garden say about you?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28The disadvantage is, with our front garden, that we can't just
0:06:28 > 0:06:31use the space as we wish, because there are lots of activities
0:06:31 > 0:06:35which have to happen there - car parking, bin store,
0:06:35 > 0:06:40access to the front door for visitors, newspapers and the post,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42and these are non-negotiable.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46So what I'm going to do today is show you some design ideas and tips,
0:06:46 > 0:06:50which will help make your front garden practical and pretty.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59We've borrowed a colleague's house and garden for the day,
0:06:59 > 0:07:00so we can be really rude!
0:07:00 > 0:07:04But what we're going to do, we're going to show you, in the front garden here,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07some common problems and easy solutions
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- There is a lot of gravel in this garden, Mike.- There is.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19I mean, it's a good solution, because it's a busy road,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22so we need to get the car off quickly and park it,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- and it does let the water soak through.- Good for drainage.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Now, we come to the front door, it's not very welcoming. - It's not, really.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31We've got little steps that we go up, and people are maybe here
0:07:31 > 0:07:33with bags of wine, and presents,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36there's not very much space, it's not very welcoming.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38So I want to change this,
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and I have actually sort of sketched it out.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41Ah, we like a plan.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Yeah, to make it a sort of level landing here,
0:07:44 > 0:07:46and then steps round the edge.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- That's quite a lot of work, though. - It would be, if we were doing it properly,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52but we're just going to mock it up for the day, to give the idea.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56- The other thing is, how many plants can you see in this garden?- None.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Nope. So, we really do need to get some planting,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00because it's really important for the environment
0:08:00 > 0:08:04that there are some plants here, otherwise it's just an absolute desert.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- Brighten it up, as well. - Come on, so let's crack on.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19But it does say, "This is the front door." Is it standable on?
0:08:19 > 0:08:20Of course it is!
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- You see? And then you can all hang around here.- With your bags of wine.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27With your bags of wine, waiting for them to answer the door.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Well, this is to illustrate the first point,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37which is, we want to make the front door as welcoming as possible.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39So previously, there was just a set of steps.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44We've widened the whole waiting area out the front.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45If you were doing this for real,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48you would make sure the risers match the stone of the building.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- Of course, yeah.- I know all that, but it's a much more generous waiting area.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56And then we've embellished it with pots, which just looks really, really welcoming.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- A huge difference.- A lantern which you could light before your visitors arrive.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02So, that's our first task completed.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- What's next?- Phase two.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Now, one of the things that a lot of front gardens have to accommodate
0:09:19 > 0:09:22are wheelie bins. Sometimes two, sometimes three.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Particularly awkward if you're in a flat.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It's quite an easy way just to disguise them
0:09:27 > 0:09:30by putting some nice trellis round it, then growing some plants up it.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32We also have the issue of,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36we now have the view from the window, which is looking out here.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38You don't want to be looking at the cars the whole time,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41so what I'm going to do is strategically put a tree here.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Now, it's got a clear stem, and then it's got the branches at the top.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48That will fill out and disguise this view.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50What we're also doing is putting in some climbers
0:09:50 > 0:09:52against the house to soften it.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55We've got ivy, cos this is north facing,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58and a Garrya elliptica here with all the tassels, which is lovely.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02And that will green up this, and stays evergreen.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06I think in a front garden, it's quite important to be quite formal,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08so we're going to do some repeat planting.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10We've got a bed here by the front door,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12and a bed here by the bin store.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14And I'm putting a skimmia.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Now, these are fragrant, so they're gorgeous to have by the doors.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19This one is "Obsession",
0:10:19 > 0:10:22and I've put one this side and then one the other.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25I'm also going to keep going with evergreens.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27I've put a Cryptomeria japonica "Elegans" in here.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29That's gorgeous and green now,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and it gets that bronze colour in the winter.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33And this will absolutely fill the bed.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35And, again, climbers are quite important.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38We would need to wire the wall first so they could climb up it,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41but I've put a honeysuckle here. This is "Halls Prolific."
0:10:41 > 0:10:43It will cope with the shade,
0:10:43 > 0:10:46but when you're waiting at that front door for your doorbell to be answered,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48you will get a wonderful fragrance.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00While we do need to maximise the amount of space for the cars,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04there still is a planting opportunity the other side of the garden.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06What we need to do is not have anything
0:11:06 > 0:11:10too high as you are exiting the garden, because you mustn't
0:11:10 > 0:11:14block the sightlines for cars and also for pedestrians on the path.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17And then going down here, we've created our border
0:11:17 > 0:11:18and we're alternating conifers.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21So this one is a juniper, and it's "Blue Arrow."
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Very pencil thin, and then this is thuja, and it's "Smaragd."
0:11:25 > 0:11:27Now, this isn't going to be a hedge.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Each of these conifers will be trimmed up to keep their shape.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33And we're going to mimic that right the way down here,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36so we're nicely delineating the border of the house.
0:11:36 > 0:11:37And then we jump to the other side,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40and underneath the window here there is also room
0:11:40 > 0:11:43to have some planting, and we've mirrored the thuja,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45so we have two "Smaragds"
0:11:45 > 0:11:48as sentinels either side of the path which leads into the back garden.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52We've got a little euphorbia here. This is called "Baby Charm."
0:11:52 > 0:11:54On the corner, euonymus "Emerald Gaiety."
0:11:54 > 0:11:57This is an absolute star at the moment.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00This is a winter flowering heather, and it's called "Winter Sun."
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Covered in pink flowers from November right through
0:12:03 > 0:12:05to the end of March, April.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Now, this is a really good palette of plants,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12and what I would then do is mimic this between all the conifers as we go up the side,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15and then we'll get a really good rhythm of planting.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19It's quite a limited palette, quite restricted, it'll look very stylish.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29When we started in this garden this morning, it was just
0:12:29 > 0:12:33a sea of gravel, and it just shows what a difference plants can make.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36We've put some climbers against the house,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38which is really going to soften the look.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Screened the bins with trellis, and planted in front of that.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44I think probably one of the biggest changes
0:12:44 > 0:12:46is the welcome at the front door.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Previously, it was a very steep set of steps.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52We've enlarged that, and embellished it with pots.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54And there's still room for more planting,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57because although the cars have to come in, there's space here,
0:12:57 > 0:13:01and we've got a really good palette of evergreens
0:13:01 > 0:13:03and ground cover that's going to give us year-round colour.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05And our final planting is very formal,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10and it's a set of conifers running down here on the boundary.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Well, I hope we've given you some ideas to try out in your own front garden.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Grand opportunity to get back into the fruit house on a day like this.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30If you remember, last year we fed the cherry and the other fruit,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and it's time to do it again.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35There's what happens when you put down the fabric
0:13:35 > 0:13:37and you feed them - the roots come right to the surface.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Wonderful feeding roots.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41So if I can do that again, by making some holes,
0:13:41 > 0:13:45and either filling them with compost - I'll show you in a minute -
0:13:45 > 0:13:48or... I'll have to get up to pull this up.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Look at that. There's a hole, that's grand.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Now, what we can do with that is, either fill it with compost
0:13:56 > 0:13:59which has been augmented with some fish blood and bone,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03or really a simpler way is to use some of these pellets,
0:14:03 > 0:14:07cos they just fit the hole, and we can poke them down into there,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09two per hole.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Top it up with a little bit of compost.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Put the surface back over the top, the fabric and then the gravel.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Bob's your uncle.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Make sure you water it, because that is essential.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22This is demanding a lot of feeding and a lot of water at the moment, now that it's just into growth.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Those who are regular viewers will remember
0:14:26 > 0:14:29that I grafted apples last year.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31There is what we did.
0:14:31 > 0:14:38There is an apple there, with the young bud just starting to come away.
0:14:38 > 0:14:45Now, if you remember back, we took one bud off a stick like this,
0:14:45 > 0:14:47and put it onto there.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50What we want to get from this is a new apple tree,
0:14:50 > 0:14:54which is a dwarfing root stock, so it's going to be a dwarfing apple.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58And eventually, what I'll do is, I'll cut that off there,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00so that that young shoot grows away.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02It'll grow for a year,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06and there's what it'll produce - that one's a year old.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10So we've got two shoots, and again it'll need some formative pruning
0:15:10 > 0:15:12to get it into the form that I want.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Wait a further year, and then you have this.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19That's three years old. Now look at the growth that's on that.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23And we've got some fruit buds, so this year, we'll have some fruit.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Three years from budding? That's not bad at all.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30And eventually, it will turn into an apple tree like this.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34Now, this one has been in this pot for some time.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38And what I'm going to have to do again is just scrape off the surface.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41I'm going to take off all the old compost off the top, there,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44and feed it with some new compost.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46That way, the roots'll come out, get into it,
0:15:46 > 0:15:50and we'll really get some good growth onto the tree again.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Because when they're in pots, there's a tendency to forget them
0:15:53 > 0:15:55and ignore them, and that's really the worst thing you can do.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57You've got to keep an eye on them.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Now, the peach is in full bloom.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05This is the time, in a warm part of the day, to come in here.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06Take your blusher brush,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09everybody should carry a blusher brush in their pocket.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Come on, get in amongst there and start fertilising
0:16:12 > 0:16:14and pollinating as much as you possibly can.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Do it on the peach, do it on the cherry as well, do it on the apples.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21When the things are in full flower,
0:16:21 > 0:16:23that's when you've got to be in amongst them.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26There's potential of a lot of fruit,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29cos we've got plenty of flowers, but eventually, we're going to have to
0:16:29 > 0:16:32thin the flowers out to about a hand span apart.
0:16:32 > 0:16:38Fewer fruits, that way we'll have far bigger fruits, juicier fruits.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Now, this is a busy time of year
0:16:43 > 0:16:46when it comes to looking after your house plants.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48This clivia looks lovely at the moment in flower,
0:16:48 > 0:16:53but the foliage is looking a little bit yellow, and I think some of the older leaves.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57It'll tidy it up and look much fresher if we cut off some of these.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01So there's one or two round here I can just cut back.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04At the same time, it's rather pot-bound.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06I want to leave it alone at the moment.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09It does thrive when it's pot-bound, it does help it to go into flower.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13But I would also do a bit of feeding. And that goes for a lot of your houseplants at the moment.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16From April right through to September,
0:17:16 > 0:17:19start feeding those plants every ten to 14 days.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Now, that is quite heavy.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Right, what else can we do with our houseplants?
0:17:25 > 0:17:30The streptocarpus, here. They are looking a little bit sad.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31Just have a look at the growth.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34We've got lots of moss, and what I would like to do,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38rather than pot them on, because they're quite small plants,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41there's not a huge root system, I will just take away
0:17:41 > 0:17:44some of the old compost,
0:17:44 > 0:17:47put it back into the pot,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49and really, it's just a little bit of top dressing.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52And that's going to give it a little bit of a boost.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Now, also, plants can be potted on at this time of year.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00This is a cordyline, I don't know the variety, it's called "Kiwi."
0:18:00 > 0:18:02Now, that is rather pot-bound.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05It's spiralling around and I would pot that up,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08say a couple of sizes bigger, into that.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12But at the same time, you know me, I like a little bit of propagation.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14And I'm going to leave those two, cos I think it'd be quite nice
0:18:14 > 0:18:16to have a multi-stem plant.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18But this one here at the side,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21I reckon if I just pull that off,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24a little bit of a root, and I've got another plant.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Now, the other plant that's one of my favourite houseplants,
0:18:29 > 0:18:30is the oxalis.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32OK, they look very sad at the moment.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35These are mine that I've brought in from home.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I put them on the top of my kitchen cupboards,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and dry them off from October right through till now,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44and then I want to start them off again.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Now, you should find... Yes, this is what I'm looking for.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51These tiny little tubercles.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I only started off with about three in the pot,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56but you'll see how it's multiplied.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58I've got several, here.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03Years and years ago, we started at Beechgrove with three tubercles,
0:19:03 > 0:19:04and look what we've got now.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Then what I do is, put them into fresh compost,
0:19:07 > 0:19:11and I'll just lay them on the surface, here.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14That should be plenty.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17A little bit of compost on the top,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19and then start watering that.
0:19:19 > 0:19:20It'll come into growth.
0:19:20 > 0:19:25And what it produces is these amazing purple foliage plants,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28and they're like butterflies - they're open during the day,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30and they close at night.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46I'm on the Rosneath peninsula, near Cove on the West coast.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51I've come to visit Jamie Taggart at Linn Botanic Garden.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53He's got about three acres of land,
0:19:53 > 0:19:59and in it, he grows over 6,000 different types of plant.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12Cove is at the foot of the Rosneath peninsula. Over there is Gareloch.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17Behind me is the Ayrshire coast, we've got Dunoon over this way,
0:20:17 > 0:20:18the Holy Loch,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Loch Long, and Loch Goil.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25It's influenced by the westerly winds off the Gulf Stream.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27It's a wonderful place for growing plants.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Gosh, look at the colour on that. That's magnificent, isn't it?
0:20:40 > 0:20:45- It's very good. A form of arboreum, Rhododendron arboreum.- Uh-huh?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48And this particular plant, I grew from seed
0:20:48 > 0:20:50that I collected in China.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Gosh! Now, isn't it exciting when you go and collect seed?
0:20:53 > 0:20:56You find the things in the wild and then you bring them home,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59they flower in your own garden, and it's just a great sign of success.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01It is, that's why I go out collecting.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- That's the main reason.- That's it!
0:21:05 > 0:21:09So, as we'd expect on the west coast, lots of New Zealand plants.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- Nice and tender.- Yes. - So what have we got here?
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Right, well, we've got these very spiny plants.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18They're aciphyllas, and they're a type of carrot.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19An astelia next to it,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22and they have red fruits, which are sweet and good to eat.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24And the other silvery plants -
0:21:24 > 0:21:27a lot of those, and there's a huge number,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- are New Zealand daisies, celmisias. - Right.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32A lot of plants in New Zealand have grey foliage,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35these are alpines, and it can help conserve moisture.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37If you have hairs, it stops the leaves losing moisture.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39- Or the wind.- The wind. - It's a windy place, isn't it?
0:21:39 > 0:21:42And why the white flowers, what's the reason for that?
0:21:42 > 0:21:47That's to aid pollination. A lot are pollinated by night insects. Moths.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Not bees, which came to the southern hemisphere later.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52So that's why they have white flowers,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54cos they're much more obvious in the grey dark.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58Cos I was always fascinated by this fact that New Zealand things,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00predominantly, were white flowered.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Yes. It makes a nice theme for a planting.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17This corner, though, looks as though it's been badly hit by something.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Like a bomb's gone off.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- It was the last of our bad gales. - Right, uh-huh.
0:22:22 > 0:22:28- The third of January one. 125 mile an hour winds.- Good grief!
0:22:28 > 0:22:32Blew out of the ground a huge oak tree dating back to 1840,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and that landed on top of all these rhododendrons.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- Right. So all of this has just been absolutely devastated.- Smashed.- Yeah.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41And landed on this parapet in front of you.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45The bridge held, the parapet didn't quite.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47- It's back, now.- Right, so am I safe?
0:22:47 > 0:22:49- You are safe.- Right, OK.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52But the trees and the shrubs behind have been devastated
0:22:52 > 0:22:54just with things landing on them.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58But there'll be so much more light getting into this now. So that will be a benefit, won't it?
0:22:58 > 0:23:00The additional light is a benefit.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04Things will flower more freely, the broken stumps of the shrubs
0:23:04 > 0:23:06will sprout, and it'll be better in the long run.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08It'll be better for the garden.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Sitting here in this wonderful sunshine, the scent is great.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21- It's off that thing, isn't it?- It is.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25- That's Osmanthus delavayi, from the Himalayas, I believe.- Right.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29It's a beautiful scent. If you want a neat garden shrub that's hardy,
0:23:29 > 0:23:35versatile, best scent you could have, that's the shrub to go for.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37I mean, it really is full of scent at the moment.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39- And it flowers early, too.- Yes.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Now, that's Himalayas, but so, too, is that fella down there.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Now that, to me, has a wonderful stem on it.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48- It is.- The colours on the stem are just outstanding.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50That's Euphorbia griffithii, "Fireglow."
0:23:50 > 0:23:54There's a lot of good plants from the Himalayas that you can grow.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56That one there has particularly got good stems on it.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00The colouration on the stem, it's almost like snakeskin.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Especially in the spring, when it's emerging.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04It's particularly dramatic then.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17So right down here, even in the lower part of the garden, there are trees down.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21- How many did you lose? - Well, I counted 40.
0:24:21 > 0:24:27- And stopped.- Right. But of course, when they fall, they do more damage.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31- Yes.- Yeah.- With the density of plants in the three acres,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35if you put 6,000 different plants in three acres,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37woody plants, shrubs and trees,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40when they fall down, they hit something.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42They've got to. And they're going to break things.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43GEORGE CHUCKLES
0:24:43 > 0:24:45And it's going to be a bigger mess.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48So it's hearts and it's plants that get broken.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50But there's a happy story here, too.
0:24:50 > 0:24:51- A happy/sad story.- Yeah.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54There's a duck that's taken up residence
0:24:54 > 0:24:57under this fallen tree trunk on the island.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02She's nested the past three years. Last two years, she was unsuccessful.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05This year, she's nested under this tree trunk.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08- She's got more protection from the elements.- Right.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10So she's benefited from this gale.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13She wouldn't think there was anything different or wrong with this, would she?
0:25:13 > 0:25:15She'd just think, "Ideal place to nest."
0:25:15 > 0:25:18I think that's exactly what she thinks.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22But when she's left the nest and the ducklings have hatched,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25- she'll be losing her little house. - Aye, right.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Well, assuming this snow period is temporary and is going to move on,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52we can get back to the spring work in the garden, including a bit of pruning.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Here we have hypericum, you know that lovely yellow flowered shrub
0:25:55 > 0:25:57that tends to get a bit floppy at times.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02You can really rejuvenate it by pruning it hard, right down into the base.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04You see the little buds coming here.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07There you've got them there, on here. Look at that.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10And you want to go... Cut them right back.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12And you get some fresh, new growth.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Now, I'm actually doing that to illustrate,
0:26:15 > 0:26:20because I know for a fact there's a rather severe frost actually forecast for tonight.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23So I might not take the chance and go the whole way,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25but here you are, that's how to do it.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Take it right back down, there.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Although they're already growing,
0:26:29 > 0:26:34this is now the time to prune some of the ornamental stemmed willows.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36We've got things like orange stemmed ones
0:26:36 > 0:26:40and possibly white stemmed ones, or grey stemmed ones.
0:26:40 > 0:26:45This one is the Japanese fantailed willow, with these fasciated stems.
0:26:45 > 0:26:50This was very badly damaged by frost and cold last year,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54and I'm going to prune it right hard back, get in about it, get it to regenerate,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58and it's the young growths that give you the fantails.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05Now, this is the perfect place for snow, here in the alpine garden.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07These little plants are perfectly at home.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Don't be tempted to scrape off the snow,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13because if you get blue skies like this, and it gets frosty at night,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17that snow will protect them and act as an insulator.
0:27:17 > 0:27:22Well, hopefully by the time you are watching this, the snow will be long gone.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24But when it's freshly fallen and unblemished,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26if you've got a rabbit problem in your garden,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28it gives you a really good opportunity of seeing their tracks
0:27:28 > 0:27:31and finding out how they're getting into your garden.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34So who's going to tell him he's not getting the job?
0:27:34 > 0:27:36THEY LAUGH
0:27:36 > 0:27:39We should've been in the woodland garden, but it's covered in snow,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42so it's not quite as attractive as it was the other day.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44No, but it will bounce back once the snow melts,
0:27:44 > 0:27:46which should be quite quick at this time of year.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- Conifers looked absolutely superb this morning with the snow on them. - One or two were leaning.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Yeah, and there's an osmanthus over there which looks super,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55and the scent is brilliant.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58One of the plants that's maybe appropriate is the flowering currant,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00- "White Icicle."- How appropriate! - Looks bonny.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03That Japanese quince up there is just stunning.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06I mean, it's just shining out there, just now.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08- So there's some lovely things in the garden.- Plenty.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11If you want any more information about this week's programme,
0:28:11 > 0:28:13it's all in the factsheet.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15And maybe in the factsheet we might get the information
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- about your secret compost for show veg, do you think? - LAUGHTER
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Well, the easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23And don't forget, new for us, as well,
0:28:23 > 0:28:25you can find out about Beechgrove on Twitter and Facebook.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29Well, next week, I'm going to be having a look at another design solution for a front garden.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33This time, it's a new house. What do you do when the builders have left?
0:28:33 > 0:28:37And back here in the Beechgrove itself, it's a little bit of...
0:28:37 > 0:28:39- ..more gardening!- Till then.
0:28:39 > 0:28:40ALL: Goodbye!
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd