0:00:11 > 0:00:13HOLLOW TINER RUMBLES
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Thanks, Ben. Save me from shouting.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Welcome to the Beechgrove Garden on a reasonable kind of day.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Well, it's been a crazy, mixed-up season, has it not?
0:00:37 > 0:00:39So forgive me for mixing you up even more,
0:00:39 > 0:00:40because what are we doing?
0:00:40 > 0:00:43We're hollow tining this lawn at the wrong time of year,
0:00:43 > 0:00:45some would say.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47The fact of the matter is,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49we get the chance to try this machine out.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53And it's the most remarkable piece of kit, so simple.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Engine there, and the works here with these hollow tines.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59As you can see, you can go along at a fair old lick,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03taking out a core, about an inch and a half or thereby.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Why are we taking out the core?
0:01:05 > 0:01:10Well, this lawn has suffered from compaction over the years.
0:01:10 > 0:01:11There's very little topsoil here
0:01:11 > 0:01:13and we've got to do something to rejuvenate it,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15so I'm taking a chance, hollow tining,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17and you'll notice that the besom
0:01:17 > 0:01:22is probably one of the best things to use to collect that stuff up.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24And at home,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27I stack that and then use it for putting into tubs and troughs
0:01:27 > 0:01:28when we put in the bedding plants.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32What's the aftermath of that, having taken all that out?
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Well, the next story, of course,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37is that we want to top-dress with a special top-dressing material.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Here you see it, here.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42This is two parts sand to one part soil.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Sterilised soil.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Two kilos to one square metre.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51And that's what it looks like when it's on.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Then you take this rake, back of the rake,
0:01:55 > 0:01:59and just gently rub it all in, and I tell you what,
0:01:59 > 0:02:02what a difference it will make to the lawn.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05If you're a bit of a He-Man, or if you've got a big lawn to do,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08you can use a lute.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Yes, that's what it's called.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11It doesn't play tunes.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14But I'll tell you what it does do...
0:02:15 > 0:02:17It actually gets the stuff in a lot easier.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20And because of the size of it, it bridges the lumps.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23And so you can fill in the little hollows in the grass.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Now, what are the risks of doing it at this time of the year?
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Well, we've opened up the surface.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31So if we get some really bad frosts,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33the frost'll go in and perhaps will damage the roots of the grass.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Won't kill it, set it back a little bit,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38and secondly, of course, if we get very dry weather,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40you get the loss of moisture.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44So you get a bit of evaporation, again, short-term disadvantage.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I think the overall advantage of using this machine...
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Well, we'll see what happens in a month or two's time.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52I reckon this lawn's going to be a belter.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Now, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:56 > 0:03:00I'm in St Andrews, the home of golf and royal romance.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02But today,
0:03:02 > 0:03:06I'm exploring a beautiful garden tucked away on the edge of the town.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12And I'm going to have a look at some design ideas
0:03:12 > 0:03:14for a new front garden.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16What do you do when the builders have left?
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Well, here we are in the calendar border,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and of course, that means we've got to have interest here
0:03:21 > 0:03:23for 12 months of the year.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27And my favourite plant at the moment is looking superb.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30That's Salix Wehrhahnii, with the beautiful catkins,
0:03:30 > 0:03:31especially when they're in bud.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34And then Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn,'
0:03:34 > 0:03:37that's a great plant for flowering in the winter,
0:03:37 > 0:03:38before the leaves come on,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40but those blooms are still going at the moment.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43You know, rather delicate pink blooms,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45but they are incredibly hardy.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Last year, we added into the border, for a spot of summer colour,
0:03:50 > 0:03:52the Asiatic lilies.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53And they're in pots, because, well, I thought,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56well, if we want to move them to somewhere else in the garden,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59we can, and it means that we don't disturb them.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02At the moment, we've got some foliage coming through,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04and, well, to encourage those beautiful blooms,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07which have perfume, you really need to do a spot of feeding.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11And what I want to use is some sulphate of potash.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14And I just sprinkle this on,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17and with this kind of weather that we're having at the moment,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19well, it's naturally going to be watered in.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21You could if you wanted just use a liquid feed,
0:04:21 > 0:04:26with a tomato fertiliser, but you know, that's every 10 to 14 days.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30This is just now, and probably in the autumn time as well.
0:04:30 > 0:04:36In the post, just arrived this week, are these, tree lilies.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38And, well, they're called tree lilies
0:04:38 > 0:04:41because they get to about three metres in height.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45It's a variety called Robina, again with lovely fragrance,
0:04:45 > 0:04:46and pink blooms,
0:04:46 > 0:04:51and what I want to do is plant these in between these shrubs.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52So instead of having to stake them,
0:04:52 > 0:04:56hopefully the shrubs will act as a natural support.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00Quite big bulbs, remember, plant those about six inches deep.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03And they are incredibly hardy, as well.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Here, I'm adding a bit more interest to the sort of fruit theme.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Jim planted those saskatoons a couple of years ago,
0:05:10 > 0:05:11the juneberry.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15I'm not particularly keen on the fruit, but Jim quite likes them.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18So now I'm going to add an ornamental bramble
0:05:18 > 0:05:21called Loch Maree, it's the first of its kind,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24because it has a double flower which is pink.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29And that also is thornless, well, that's quite good,
0:05:29 > 0:05:30cos some of the brambles with the thorns
0:05:30 > 0:05:32are incredibly difficult to train.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35This, I think, is quite an interesting feature.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38It was suggested by Jim, kind of an inverted tripod.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40But this is going to be used for the support,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42because it will get to two metres in height.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46And we can just add a few wires around that.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50And then the other fruit, this is called the fourberry.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53And I need to remember, it's got four features.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57So it has flowers, yellow flowers, the flowers are fragrant,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00then we get the lovely black berries,
0:06:00 > 0:06:02and then finally autumn colour.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04And, well, when it comes to the planting,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06I mean, this is beautiful soil, it's good drainage,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10but what I'll do is add a little bit of bonemeal
0:06:10 > 0:06:14into the bottom of the hole, make sure that you really mix that in,
0:06:14 > 0:06:19so it doesn't burn the roots, and then, well, we can put the plant in.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30I'm having a look at the design challenges
0:06:30 > 0:06:32that are posed by a front garden.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Last week, we had a look at a mature house
0:06:34 > 0:06:37where the front garden was just a sea of gravel.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40This week, something completely different.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41Brand-new house.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44And what comes with that? A brand-new front garden.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56So what happens when the builders have finished?
0:06:56 > 0:06:58You have a lovely new house, and your front garden
0:06:58 > 0:07:03is either nicely levelled with soil or with turf.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07There are other things which have to happen in a front garden.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10All the services need to come from the road to the house,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13so inevitably you'll be left with drainage covers,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17rodding eyes, gas meters that have to be read.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Do you know, the temptation is just, put the turf down,
0:07:20 > 0:07:22go and sit in the sunshine in the back garden.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25But this could be so much more.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26And I'm going to show you how.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31So, Lesley, what's the plan?
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Well, the whole issue of car parking, getting out of the car,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- beautifully dealt with here, so we don't have a problem.- Yeah.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39However, getting over to the front door,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42well, you know, in America on a campus,
0:07:42 > 0:07:44they wait at least a year to see where people walk,
0:07:44 > 0:07:45then they lay the paths.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- Sensible.- I think people are going to cut the corner.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49You didn't, I did,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51- so we're going to broaden that whole entrance with slabs.- OK.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Pretty up the front door a little bit,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55and then we're going to plant up here,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57making sure you can still get to the gas meter.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59And there's quite a nice little corner,
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- that we're going to put a seat in here.- OK.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Not a wee bit exposed, with the neighbours just there?
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Well, it is, but what we're going to do is put a bed in the middle,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09kidney-shaped, bring it close to the house,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- and that will give a nice little bit of privacy for that seat.- OK.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14I'm sure we're going to love our neighbours,
0:08:14 > 0:08:15but we're still going to plant up here
0:08:15 > 0:08:18- so we delineate what's theirs and what's ours.- OK.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19And these.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22I want to disguise the drainage covers, the rod eyes.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- People quite often just plonk a pot on there.- Mmm.
0:08:24 > 0:08:25That just draws attention to it.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28So we're going to include that into a planted bed.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30- OK.- We're just mocking all this up,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32so it's not going to take very long, is it?
0:08:32 > 0:08:34No. Be finished by lunchtime.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36That's good, cos it's going to snow.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Er...
0:08:44 > 0:08:47We could take one off that end there, could we?
0:08:47 > 0:08:49- No.- You think... - No, I like that as it is, no.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Can we cheat under here?
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- And just put slabs at the front? - That's rough.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56And say the whole thing would have been paved.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58But I didn't bring enough slabs.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- If you're willing to admit that. - Yeah, yeah, that's OK.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02I brought more than I was asked to.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03SHE LAUGHS
0:09:11 > 0:09:12So the first thing we've done
0:09:12 > 0:09:15is we've widened the entrance to the front door.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17So it's much more welcoming.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Now we've just dropped these slabs down.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23I cannot emphasise enough, we haven't laid them properly.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26But the principle is that you have a nice, wide entrance here,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28and it stops people cutting the corner.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30We've prettied up the front door as well.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Besides Mike, sweeping beautifully, we've got some lovely pots,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35just adding a little bit of colour.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38And then we've put some stepping stones here,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40nice, even paces over to it,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and then a seating area which is also laid on slabs.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45So what's next, Lesley?
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Well, I think we need to get some green down.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- Well, that's the last bit of turf down.- Yeah.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Even though we're just putting it down for the day,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03you've made sure we've got the beautiful stripes in it.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06And we've got the beds delineated. We've run out a little bit,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09but we've got an island bed that's going to give us privacy.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12In real life, I would actually like this to be much more curvy
0:10:12 > 0:10:15so it was easier for the lawn mower to go round and stuff.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19But it's just really indicating the fact that we've got an island bed...
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- Shows the principal.- Exactly, going to give us some privacy.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- Now, we're going to place some big plants.- Bring on the plants.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51So when you get your new home, you also get a set of missives.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Now, these are the same for all home builders in Scotland,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55and it's some rules and regulations
0:10:55 > 0:10:57about what you can and can't do in your front garden.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59All very sensible.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02The first thing is, you can only plant ornamental plants.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05So, what have we done in our front garden?
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Well, first of all, we had a gas meter,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10which we need to disguise but still require access to.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14This is euonymus called "Katie", it's evergreen and it's nice and floppy,
0:11:14 > 0:11:15so you can still take the readings.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19We have a seating area here, surrounded that with fragrant plants
0:11:19 > 0:11:21and then screening at the back is evergreen.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23We've nestled a couple of bird feeders in there.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Birds will visit your front as well as back garden,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29and it's really pretty to watch them from the sitting-room window.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Back reading the missives, you can't do fences and walls,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35but you still need to delineate where your garden starts and stops
0:11:35 > 0:11:36and increase your privacy.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39So we've put a whole line of evergreens, conifers,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Viburnum tinus.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43This island bed is very, very important,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45because when you're sitting on the seat,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49you want to have a feeling of privacy and enclosure,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51and this tree, which is just top work, does that.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53It's gorgeous, it's Prunus Okame,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57and then it's top worked onto a stem of Prunus serrulas.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00It's going to give you that bark interest as well.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04We always have this rude intrusion of drain covers and everything.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06How do we deal with them?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Far better just to have plants covering them,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12this is Juniper "Blue Carpet", which will just arch and cover them,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14and soon they will be invisible.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17In amongst the plants, we've got a little bit of bling,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20that is things which are going to flower and then just recede
0:12:20 > 0:12:21back into the border.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25At the moment, this forsythia is absolutely strutting its stuff,
0:12:25 > 0:12:26as is Prunus Kojo-no-mai.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30So now, what does this garden say about me?
0:12:30 > 0:12:33It says, "Welcome to my home."
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Well, well, what can you say about the weather?
0:12:52 > 0:12:56It sounds more like a monsoon out there than a spring shower,
0:12:56 > 0:12:57I can tell you.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00We've had the lot in the last two or three weeks.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I've got an inside job to do, thank goodness,
0:13:02 > 0:13:06and we're going to take another look at the substitutes for peat compost,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and there's always a new range to be got at.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13In times past, we've used one compost as a control
0:13:13 > 0:13:17and unbeknown to us, they actually changed the formula this year.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20We've got some of it in stock and this is what is in the multipurpose
0:13:20 > 0:13:22that used to be our control.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Cos they've changed the formula altogether.
0:13:24 > 0:13:30A bit of firewood, we've got some bits of plastic, we've got some...
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Somebody suggested that might be a bit of hemp, a bit of hash,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36whatever, we've got...
0:13:36 > 0:13:37And it just gets worse.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40We've got pieces of glass picked out.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Now, I think that's a damn disgrace. We're paying for stuff like that,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47and these are the kind of compost that get the whole thing a bad name
0:13:47 > 0:13:50and make sceptics like me wish to turn the clock back
0:13:50 > 0:13:54and go back to John and his compost and peat-based compost.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56And it doesn't help the case at all.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58However, we have to progress.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01And we're looking at a range of new composts, new formulations.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04There's two of them are courier-delivered,
0:14:04 > 0:14:05and that might affect the price.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Because this time, I want to look at the price-per-litre of compost.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I'm very conscious that there are different-sized bags
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and I think there's a price hike in there somewhere.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17So we want to look at the price per litre.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19The first one is based on coir.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22The coir is the substitute for peat.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24And it's a superb material,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26but it is known that it's difficult to handle.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Now that's another story that we have to keep telling you.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31If you change your compost,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33don't think you can treat it like the one you did before,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35because they all have their own characteristics
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and you have to be prepared to learn to work with them.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41So this one is coir. This is a courier-delivered.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43It cost 27 pence a litre.
0:14:43 > 0:14:44Now we get to wood bark,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48which is the main substitute in many of these composts.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51This is one that is an improvement on what they used to produce before.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54It comes down to 10 pence a litre. That's an off-the-shelf price.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56For that, I would use.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59This one is... I suppose in a way it's a control,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02because it's 100% sphagnum peat
0:15:02 > 0:15:05from Irish sources with other ingredients.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Looks good, looks like the old stuff, very fluffy,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11very nice to handle, 10 pence a litre,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13plus carrier costs,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and I think that would put it up to 15, 16p a litre.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It looks as if it might run out of steam, I don't know.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21It might be very good for the plants.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Then we go back to the wood fibre type stuff.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25This is more like the thing...
0:15:25 > 0:15:2812 pence a litre, plenty of that about,
0:15:28 > 0:15:29and we've seen these kind before.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I would be reluctant to put young seedlings into that, I have to say.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I think it's too coarse.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Now, this one here has got charcoal in it, you can see bits of charcoal.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39"It's got magical properties,"
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Well, it's better had, because it's 45 pence a litre!
0:15:42 > 0:15:46But it has improved from the product that they put on the market last year.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49It's quite nice, and it smells quite sweet.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50But all sorts of claptrap on there
0:15:50 > 0:15:53about what it's got and what it hasn't got, how can you prove it?
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Then this one.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Now, the interesting thing about this guy
0:15:57 > 0:15:59is that it comes in a concentrated form.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02It comes in a wee bag like this, look.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05And this is what it looks like. There you go.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10One of the crew said, "And if it dries out, will it go back to that
0:16:10 > 0:16:12"and leave the plants high and dry?" Well, time will tell.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15This is a 20-pence-a-litre product, which I would use.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19It looks quite good. But, as I say, over the year,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22we will be looking at the performance of these
0:16:22 > 0:16:26using calibrachoa, which is Million Bells, it's related to the petunia.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29And for no other reason than I like it,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32we've got this little brachycome, the "Swan River Daisy".
0:16:32 > 0:16:33We'll come back to this in due time
0:16:33 > 0:16:35just to see how they're all getting on.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42Well, the air in the conservatory here is just filled with the perfume
0:16:42 > 0:16:46from this white rhododendron. It's gorgeous. Just like vanilla.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50And the little gardens behind the conservatory
0:16:50 > 0:16:53are just bursting into life. This is the White Garden.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Last autumn, we added some bulbs
0:16:55 > 0:16:57so we have a little bit of extra spring interest.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00The Muscari "White Magic" is in flower,
0:17:00 > 0:17:02as is the thalia, the little narcissus
0:17:02 > 0:17:04over there and a white scilla.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08And the Spiraea arguta has just got the arching little branches there,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11with white flowers. That's known as the bridal wreath.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15But this is the area that I want to concentrate on today.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Now, it used to be a sensory garden,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20but over the years, we've had quite a few deaths and disasters.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22I want to replant it with some plants
0:17:22 > 0:17:24that are going to give us a lot of fragrance.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26It's on a slope and it's been terraced.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29And as a really good design tip,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32on the top of this wall, we've got an 18-inch coping slab.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35This is really nice because it gives you a little seat
0:17:35 > 0:17:38that you can sit on and perch. It's good use of space.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40So you can imagine sitting out here on a sunny evening
0:17:40 > 0:17:44with a glass of wine, gorgeous perfumes wafting over to you.
0:17:44 > 0:17:45Now, the sort of plants I'm adding...
0:17:45 > 0:17:49First of all, something like Erysimum "Bowles Mauve",
0:17:49 > 0:17:50that is the perennial wallflower.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52It's got got purple flowers on it now.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Just behind that, there's a dianthus, one of the cottage garden
0:17:55 > 0:17:57dianthus, one of the larger growing ones.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59It's called "Gran's Favourite".
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Very good reason why I chose that.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05It's got white flowers, pink centres and the beautiful clove fragrance.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08And then, towards me here, I've got dianthus, this is "Firewitch."
0:18:08 > 0:18:11A little alpine dianthus, much smaller and politer,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13same glaucous foliage.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Lovely fragrance from the flowers, bright red flowers.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19But there are some things that we have to work a little bit harder
0:18:19 > 0:18:22to get their perfume. Say, for instance, the curry plant.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26What I need to do is just touch, slightly crush the leaves.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31That's just astonishing how like a curry that does smell.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33And then here, just at the edge where I can rub my hands over it,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36I've got thyme. This is "Red Carpet".
0:18:36 > 0:18:39And of course we can use these in cooking as well,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41as we're appealing to another sense, that's taste.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45I've got a Prostrate rosemary with blue flowers and an upright one.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47And then further on, this is a little bit of a legacy
0:18:47 > 0:18:50from the original sensory garden, we've got golden marjoram.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Got a daphne here, this is "Retusa".
0:18:53 > 0:18:55An astonishingly good perfume as well.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58The other bit of the garden is a little tiny promontory here,
0:18:58 > 0:18:59which needs to be planted.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02I want to have a very strong corner,
0:19:02 > 0:19:06so I've got Prostanthera cuneata or the Tazmanian mint bush.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10And again, when I crush that, it's very sweet but minty
0:19:10 > 0:19:12and it had clear white flowers.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14And then, my final dianthus.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17This one is a new one, it's called "Pink Fizz".
0:19:17 > 0:19:19And it's just going to froth over the edge.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32I'm in the east nook of Fife, at St Andrews Botanic Garden,
0:19:32 > 0:19:37and it's a real hidden gem. And I'm about to meet one of the volunteers.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Anne Lightwood, as one of the Friends,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52what do you find so special about this garden?
0:19:52 > 0:19:54I love it because it's a living entity.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Every time you come, something new has opened out
0:19:57 > 0:19:59and there's something different to see.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00I hate to be slightly negative,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03but I understand the garden's slightly under threat?
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Yes, the ground belongs to the University.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07It was a University botanic garden.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10For the last 25 years, it's been managed by the council
0:20:10 > 0:20:14and that arrangement is coming to an end next year,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and there will be financial cutbacks in the future.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20The Friends are a support organisation
0:20:20 > 0:20:23and we are being drawn in as stakeholders
0:20:23 > 0:20:26to set up a charitable trust, which we hope will manage the gardens.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29So everyone's hoping that it's going to succeed?
0:20:29 > 0:20:31There's a feeling that the garden must continue.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33It's an asset, not a liability.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Speaking about the Friends, you've got a huge number of volunteers.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Yes, we have about 1,400 Friends.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42Not all are volunteers, but very many come in regularly
0:20:42 > 0:20:45and plant and propagate and clean seed
0:20:45 > 0:20:47and arrange plant sales in spring and summer.
0:20:47 > 0:20:52We have an Education Trust, where we have loads of school children
0:20:52 > 0:20:54and we also have workshops.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56So there are always jobs needing to be done
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and many of them are done by volunteers.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05As well as the help of volunteers, the garden also benefits
0:21:05 > 0:21:09from the expertise of honorary curator and old friend,
0:21:09 > 0:21:10Bob Mitchell.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16Bob, it's lovely to see you again, no stranger to the programme.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19No, and it's nice that you've come here to St Andrews, in fact.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21There are some beautiful plants to look at here,
0:21:21 > 0:21:22I don't know where to start,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25but I think the pasqueflowers or the pulsatillas are wonderful.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28And we've three particularly that are good just now.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32The vulgaris, which is native to the chalk downs in Europe,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and there's montana, which is native to West Europe,
0:21:35 > 0:21:41and then the Himalayan one, ambigua, which is a stunning plant too.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Another plant that I think more people should grow
0:21:44 > 0:21:46is the lathrys, Lathrys vernus.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Yes, it's so easy to grow and readily available
0:21:49 > 0:21:52and it's ideal for the front of a border.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55And very hardy. It comes up every year in my garden
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- and that's a frost pocket. - There you are.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59Look at this narcissus.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02The petticoat hoop daffodil,
0:22:02 > 0:22:06and that again is from Spain, Portugal, and requires no attention.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08So a little bit of weeding and that's it?
0:22:08 > 0:22:12Bone meal round about it perhaps, to help it produce more flower bud,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- but you can't get any more than that, can you?- It's lovely.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Little prunus, I'm not familiar with this one at all.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20It's called the Dwarf Russian Cherry.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Prunus tenella.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25It's been there for over 30 years and it's running,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28and we don't really need to do much about it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32And produces these lovely pink shoots regularly every year.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35So that would be quite a good one for a small garden,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37even though it runs, it's quite short in height.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Well, if that's 30 years' growth, then you're all right.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41No problem at all.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Carole, this is the rock garden and scree.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52When we started to develop the garden,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54we looked at the sort of natural situation
0:22:54 > 0:22:59in the wild as to where alpines grow and the situation they were in
0:22:59 > 0:23:02and it was a sunny exposure, which we've now produced
0:23:02 > 0:23:03with these terraces.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06And it's important to spend quite a bit of time the way you place the rocks?
0:23:06 > 0:23:10They're much better when they're naturally in terraces
0:23:10 > 0:23:13as opposed to the plum puddings of the ancient rock gardens.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15And then we move into the scree.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20Well, naturally, of course, the scree follows from the rock face
0:23:20 > 0:23:23and we develop this fallen rock in the middle of it,
0:23:23 > 0:23:28and chose the plants which are ideally suited for scree conditions.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31And then we move into a completely different habitat.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Well, you're following the natural again,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35from a scree into heathland.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39The scree is really the fulcrum between the alkaline rock garden
0:23:39 > 0:23:43and the acid heathland and behind it is the rhododendron garden.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Bob, this is a lovely part of the garden, the woodland,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59and some lovely gems of plants.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01It is my favourite part of the garden.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03Now, I know you've been involved
0:24:03 > 0:24:06with the Botanic Garden for a long time.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Can you tell us a little bit about the history?
0:24:08 > 0:24:13It dates back to 1889, when the University laid out order beds
0:24:13 > 0:24:14for teaching within the University.
0:24:14 > 0:24:20They decided in 1960 to move the garden down to this site,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22which was two greenfield sites.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25And that's when you started to become involved?
0:24:25 > 0:24:30I came in '62 and I was given the opportunity to develop the site.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- Well, it's absolutely wonderful. - This is rhododendron davidsonianum,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36from China, and it's a stunning plant.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Well, it's absolutely thriving
0:24:37 > 0:24:40and we've even got the sunshine on it at the moment.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42And it missed the frost last night!
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Well, Bob, we're mainly undercover, but it's still quite cold in here,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59because The Alpine House has to have good ventilation.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Yes, it does. Most of the plants in here are hardly outside.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06And we've brought them in here because they don't get much blush.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Some don't like winter wet, and the public can come here
0:25:10 > 0:25:13in the wet days to view some stunning alpines.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18I really like this for ground cover, and those tiny little flowers!
0:25:18 > 0:25:23Trifolium uniflorum, and you get it from coastal meadows right up to
0:25:23 > 0:25:25the high mountains, in this lovely pink form,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27and a white one too.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30And this is an old, old plant, it's maybe 20-odd years old now.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Fritillarias, I mean they'll grow outside, won't they?
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Oh, they will. And the yellow one you see here in fact
0:25:37 > 0:25:40is growing outside, flowering outside at the moment, just behind me.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43But again, there's no mud splash on it.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Now a plant that's really in tiptop condition is this cyclamen.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51That's one of the parents of the cyclamen we buy at Christmas.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54But this one needs alpine conditions,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57because of the winter wet, it just does not stand it.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59So it's in its right position here.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Now, we've really only touched on
0:26:00 > 0:26:03a little bit of the Botanic Garden here,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06there's lots more glasshouses, there's lots more environments.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08We range from arctic right to tropical.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12- We didn't do tropical today, did we?- No, we needed to.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15So, if you're visiting St Andrews,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18come and see the Botanic Garden, it's well worth a visit.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Dahlia tubers, sprouting nicely in the propogating house.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30If you fancy increasing your stock,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32now's the time to take a few cuttings.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35And this is what we're looking for, young shoot like that.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Take it off right at the base.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44Remove the lower leaves. Aw, this is just in perfect nick.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47And then gently...
0:26:47 > 0:26:49trim the base. So that there's no...
0:26:51 > 0:26:55Pop it into the hormone rooting powder.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Knock off the slack.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01And then enter the compost.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04Now, I've always used 50/50 peat and sand,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06and I don't see any reason why I should change.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09We often get asked questions about people worried about growth
0:27:09 > 0:27:11and fungal diseases on their plants.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Well, if you've got something like this, let me reassure you.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16This is nothing to worry about.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20This is a lichen and it only grows where the air is really clean.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23You know, this is one of my favourite spots,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27the woodland garden, especially all these gems, the understorey.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Absolutely, they've been built up over the last wee while,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31and they're beginning to show off.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32They are and there's the lathrys
0:27:32 > 0:27:35that I was speaking about at St Andrews Botanic Garden.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36It's a good plant.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39Some of them are quite tiny, there's a little primula down here,
0:27:39 > 0:27:43"Victorian Lace", very subtle, but so beautiful.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Now we saved that from the trial of primulas the year before, didn't we?
0:27:46 > 0:27:49- It's beautiful.- You'd think someone finished off with a fine paintbrush,
0:27:49 > 0:27:51all around the edge of it.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Mine is dentaria, there, that lovely lavendar shrub.
0:27:54 > 0:27:55Sub-shrub, I suppose.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59- They tell me they're calling it after a weed now.- Is it cardamine?
0:27:59 > 0:28:00Well, I thought so.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04- They keep changing the names, don't they?- Well, this is very true, yes.
0:28:04 > 0:28:05Anyway, if you'd like more information
0:28:05 > 0:28:08about this week's programme, it's all in the fact sheet.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11You might want some information about Lesley's front garden.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14And the easiest way to access that is online,
0:28:14 > 0:28:15and then new to us this year,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Next week, Carole and I are going to be very busy,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23we're putting some climbers into the Seaside Garden
0:28:23 > 0:28:25and I'm going to be pottering in the Potager.
0:28:25 > 0:28:26And it depends on the weather...
0:28:28 > 0:28:31..but I suppose I'll be gardening again. Till next week.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32- OK, bye.- Bye-bye.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd