0:00:12 > 0:00:16Hello there, and welcome to the third episode
0:00:16 > 0:00:19in the Beechgrove Garden Odyssey 2013.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23In the first programme, I was checking soil temperatures and I'm at it again now
0:00:23 > 0:00:25hoping to get the potatoes in.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Because here we are, nearly at the end of April
0:00:28 > 0:00:31and not ready to go. That temperature's not up yet.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32It's only six.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Meanwhile the seed potatoes are not coming to any harm
0:00:35 > 0:00:37so we'll leave it for another few days.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Remember in the first programme Chris was saying in the Cotswolds
0:00:40 > 0:00:43they were having worse weather than we were.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46We had a letter from a lady in Troon on the Ayrshire coast.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49The Monte Carlo of the Ayrshire coast!
0:00:49 > 0:00:51Saying that they were irrigating lawns!
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Doesn't matter. It's cold here and we've got to go by the conditions.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59But where do you go if you're feeling really cold?
0:00:59 > 0:01:01You look for a hot bed, don't you?
0:01:01 > 0:01:03And here it is!
0:01:03 > 0:01:07We set it up last week. Look at the condensation on that plastic.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I can tell you we've started sowing early salads now.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13And when you put your hand in there, you can feel the heat.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16It's up to 15C in there
0:01:16 > 0:01:18with the help of all that wonderful horse manure.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20And we can get going here
0:01:20 > 0:01:23because we can beat Mother Nature for a wee while.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Here, just the same as the outside bed, we covered it at the same time as this one.
0:01:27 > 0:01:33But that's just the soil that's been there all winter and the temperature there is still just at 5C.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36So I reckon I'm still looking for an inside job. Follow me.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43One of the other consequences of this cold weather
0:01:43 > 0:01:48is that I find people are buying their compost in the garden centre, garden shop, wherever,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52they take it home, put it in pots, start sowing seeds,
0:01:52 > 0:01:54putting out seedlings et cetera.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58And it's freezing cold because it's probably been stored in an open shed
0:01:58 > 0:01:59if not even outdoors.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03So you have to allow the compost to warm up before you start to use it.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Here, in case, we have our citrus compost.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11Now, you can buy citrus compost in little bags, but it's quite expensive.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14But you can make up your own for half the price.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16That's precisely what we're about to do.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20What we have here is two parts John Innes number two,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23two parts ericaceous multi-purpose
0:02:23 > 0:02:25and one part of grit.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28That's for the citrus. It will be mixed, stored indoors
0:02:28 > 0:02:31until we're ready to actually use it.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33So I'm going to spread this around.
0:02:33 > 0:02:34Like so.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Quite coarse grit.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Big saucy plants they're going to be.
0:02:39 > 0:02:45And the number of times I see people dive into this heap
0:02:45 > 0:02:48to start turning it, when they should be doing it like this.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52From the side, turn it over. From the side, turn it over.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55From the side, turn it over.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56And so on.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00And every time you move it,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03you're mixing it better, better, better.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Now, I'm going to have to turn my back on you.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07So, in the rest of the programme...
0:03:11 > 0:03:14You may think this is a beautiful and exotic plant.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17But you ain't seen nothing yet!
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And from exotic houseplants to some fairly common houseplants.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27And also, a bit of spring cleaning.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I'm really pleased to say that we've got a lovely colourful border here
0:03:34 > 0:03:37with dwarf bulbs, mainly crocus.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40This is a variety called Cream Beauty.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43But I think this one is absolutely stunning.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47I thought it was a variety called Pickwick, with this beautiful veining.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51But in fact, it's a variety called King of the Striped.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53It's very similar to the variety Pickwick.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57This one's a lot smaller, but I still think it's rather interesting.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00A variety called Ladykiller.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04A bi-colour between the white and that lovely deep purple.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08And then slightly different - you have to like this one! -
0:04:08 > 0:04:13Iris Reticulata, variety Harmony, in a beautiful deep blue.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17I also want to have a look at our layered bulb pots.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Some of you may remember us planting this last year.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Four layers. We had tulips, hyacinths,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28then the narcissus and then the smaller bulbs.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32And I think what's interesting is that these are the ones I planted last year
0:04:32 > 0:04:36and these are the ones that were planted the year before.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39And we kept a record of the flowering from the year before.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44And this year, we are five weeks behind with the flowering.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47That's all to do with the weather conditions.
0:04:47 > 0:04:53And the ones that are kept in a sunny location, the crocus are beginning to flower.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Whereas these in the shade, we're still waiting for a bit of colour.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00But I'm hopeful now that now it's started
0:05:00 > 0:05:02it will continue for a couple of months.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09On our first programme, we showed how this juniper had been severely pruned.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I suggested that there were planting opportunities underneath.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15On the same programme, George Anderson was visiting a garden
0:05:15 > 0:05:19way down in Galloway, especially to see the snowdrops.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24And he brought us back a wee gift of a snowdrop called Fred's Giant.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Isn't that nice of him?
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Here it is in the green, about to be planted.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32The funny story about that, well, funny peculiar,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Fred is Fred Sutherland who was head gardener
0:05:35 > 0:05:38at the Cruickshank Botanic Garden in Aberdeen
0:05:38 > 0:05:42when I first came here in the early '70s and met Fred on a few occasions.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46He was a real gardener, built up a wonderful reputation
0:05:46 > 0:05:49as an authority on small bulbs especially Galanthus.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54And here am I about to plant some of Fred's Giant, which were named in his honour
0:05:54 > 0:05:58in this piece of ground which has been specially prepared.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02I've been working in quite a lot of leaf mould into the ground.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03It's in super nick.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07This is what would be called planting in the green,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09in other words, still growing.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11They've just finished flowering
0:06:11 > 0:06:13The purists would say you don't need to bother with that.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Just treat them like any other bulbs.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20Lift them, store them, bring them out with the daffodils and tulips in the autumn and plant them.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24But results can sometimes be variable.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27If these bulbs had been kept too dry through the summer,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29it will affect their performance.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33The purists will say, "Move them now and it might affect their performance."
0:06:33 > 0:06:37But it's proven. There are millions available at this present time.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42You can buy snowdrops in the green. It's by far the most popular way of doing it.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45And maybe, before the time is out,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48we'll manage to get a few more.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Just to make this a decent-sized patch.
0:07:00 > 0:07:06Aren't these gems? Wonderful orchids. One of the most popular pot plants of our time.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09A great success story in horticulture.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13They're propagated, micro propagation in Malaysia,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16brought into Holland, grown in vast quantities
0:07:16 > 0:07:20and then sold through many of our most popular outlets.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23So, outstanding as these orchids are,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26there are others which are far, far better.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29I've come down to Midlothian on the outskirts of Edinburgh
0:07:29 > 0:07:32to a garden where there are some absolute gems.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35And the man responsible for growing them is Henry Marsh.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Henry, do you like these?
0:07:37 > 0:07:42They're attractive in so far as they stimulate an interest in orchids.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47That's fair enough. But there are far more interesting things to look at in the orchid world.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08The seed is sown in sterile gel here.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11That provides enough sugars for the seed to germinate.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16And because these are mountain cloud forest plants that naturally grow in moss,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19the little seedlings I've put in pure sphagnum.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23- Is this sterile, too, then? - It's more or less sterile.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25They used to use it for wrapping wounds in the First World War.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- Must be.- Then they're potted on.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32I should say that's probably about six months.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Then they go, slightly larger plants,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38maybe about six plants in a community pot like that.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41They grow well in community pots.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45I then put them singly in pots like this.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49In recognisably ordinary orchid compost.
0:08:49 > 0:08:55These are viable plants and they will flower in about 18 months. Something like that.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Provided you get the right conditions.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59They grow very quickly.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- A lot of care?- Given the right conditions,
0:09:01 > 0:09:03they like to be moist but not wet.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04They grow very quickly.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Gosh, there are some gems in here!
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Look at this. This is an absolutely fantastic little plant.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17That is superb! Look at it!
0:09:17 > 0:09:21That grows in New Guinea in the mountain cloud forest.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24It grows about 8,000 feet up.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26It grows in about 90% humidity.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30As you can see, it takes the form of an alpine.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Every one of these little flowers
0:09:33 > 0:09:35is a perfect orchid flower.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39And growing at 8,000 feet, it's doing what every other alpine does
0:09:39 > 0:09:41- which is form a cushion. - That's right.
0:09:41 > 0:09:47- Now, is that an epiphyte?- It is an epiphyte. It grows on trees in the moss.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52Oh. Because here we've got some that are growing straight onto the bark.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55How do you that? How do you get them from there to here?
0:09:55 > 0:09:57They have to be carefully weaned to grow on bark.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00You put a bit of moss or whatever they're growing on
0:10:00 > 0:10:04but the thing is you must be prepared to water them daily.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07If you're not prepared to water them daily, then think again.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- You're wasting your time. - Yes. Just think about pots.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Where do these in nature get their nutrient from?
0:10:13 > 0:10:18They get their nutrients from the water that runs down the bark of the trees.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22It gathers nutrients from the detritus in the roots of the plants.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27And they make every use of whatever poor nutrient is available.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31- Is it a strong solution? A weak solution?- It's a weak solution, I'd imagine.
0:10:31 > 0:10:32So we don't need to feed orchids much?
0:10:32 > 0:10:37You feed half-strength to whatever you would feed other plants, but sparingly.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42- No strong fertiliser, then. - No strong fertiliser. Fatal to the roots.- They're dead.
0:10:42 > 0:10:47- Yes.- OK. So these are outstanding plants on that side.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49But look at what's behind us. Look at what's behind us!
0:10:49 > 0:10:52That is just phenomenal!
0:10:52 > 0:10:58These are Phragmipediums. They grow in south-eastern faces of the Andes and Peru.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Again they're mountain cloud forest basically.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Some of them grown in limestone.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06You go from that to this fellow up here. This red.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08That's outstanding. Almost pillar box red.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11That is Brasilia Esophrenites, related to the Cattleyas.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16That can grow high up in the mountain cloud forest again
0:11:16 > 0:11:18or in Brazil, it grows right up in the trees,
0:11:18 > 0:11:23stunted trees growing up in the ridges of the mountains.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28And in the winter, it's exposed almost to zero
0:11:28 > 0:11:30and yet in the summer it's baking hot
0:11:30 > 0:11:33so they have a huge range of tolerance
0:11:33 > 0:11:37provided they can get the humidity at some time during the day.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Now, you said that was related to the Cattleyas.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43This is a Cattleya here. This is what I understand by Cattleya.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- That's right.- Wonderful big flower.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50That is again Brazilian. Magnificent flowers, really.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55And flowers regularly as clockwork. It's easy to look after, basically speaking.
0:11:55 > 0:12:02You say easy, but in here we've got one greenhouse and you've mentioned three different continents
0:12:02 > 0:12:05or geographical areas for orchid growing.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07South America, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.
0:12:07 > 0:12:14And always you're talking about a little niche environment.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16How do you get that in a greenhouse like this?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Well, it's precisely because it's a small greenhouse
0:12:19 > 0:12:21that you can find all sorts of different niches.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25You can have a plant growing low down, or one growing high up.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29You can have it facing the sun or facing away from the sun.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32And provided you provide the humidity
0:12:32 > 0:12:34then the plants will grow.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37The whole business is just looking at the plant very carefully,
0:12:37 > 0:12:43observing it and deciding will I change it here, will I raise it up or put it down.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46And just care, basically speaking.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49So listen to your plants. Look at them and listen to them?
0:12:49 > 0:12:53- Absolutely.- We don't need to talk to them, just listen!- Just listen to them.
0:12:53 > 0:12:54They'll tell you what they require.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Those orchids were quite amazing,
0:13:05 > 0:13:07but they're really exotic houseplants.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I just want to give you a bit of seasonal advice
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and some tips on some fairly common houseplants.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17At this time of year, it's April. What should we be doing?
0:13:17 > 0:13:19We should be feeding our houseplants.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23I know with those orchids, he said a fairly dilute fertiliser.
0:13:23 > 0:13:29But as a general rule, most houseplants like to be fed every ten to 14 days.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32There's a whole range of fertilisers that you can choose from.
0:13:32 > 0:13:38If you're a real busy gardener, then you might be interested in these little granules.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42These are what we call controlled release fertiliser
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and they work by the fact that as the temperature warms up,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48they gradually release that fertiliser.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52And so you're feeding from April right through the growing season
0:13:52 > 0:13:55right through until September / October time.
0:13:55 > 0:14:00And this is the time of year as well that you need to pot on your house plants.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Take, for example, this lovely compact drusilla.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Nice and healthy. But when I take it out of the pot
0:14:05 > 0:14:11you actually see that the roots are starting to go round and round the pot.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13So I want to tease that out
0:14:13 > 0:14:19and we'll pot it on maybe an inch, two to three centimetres larger.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Don't go too big.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23A bit of compost into the bottom.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27And then, like I say, we want to tease the roots out.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30And that just helps them to spread
0:14:30 > 0:14:32rather than going round and round.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37If you have a plant that's in a huge pot already,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41it's maybe not practical to pot that on.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46So what I suggest then is you scrape off some of the old compost
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and then just top-dress it with some fresh.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51That's all we have to do.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54As for some other houseplants,
0:14:54 > 0:14:56this is one of my favourites, the peace lily.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00And this one can flower for you twice in the year.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Flowering at the moment, these lovely white spades.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06And it should flower again in the autumn.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09However, it does like a nice humid atmosphere.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14So what you can do is mist the leaves maybe once a week,
0:15:14 > 0:15:18or I think it's a lot easier if you put it in a gravel tray
0:15:18 > 0:15:20and you keep the gravel nice and moist.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24But the actual plant itself isn't sitting in the water.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26It's not being waterlogged.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29And having said that, this is what can happen sometimes.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31This is a houseplant called Bulgurgia.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35And this actually came from one of my houseplants.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39But look, absolutely soaking wet
0:15:39 > 0:15:42and this is what happens when you've got a pot within a pot.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46You go around maybe once a week and you put the water in
0:15:46 > 0:15:48and you think, "A bit more water."
0:15:48 > 0:15:53And this is filling up because this has a fairly shallow root system
0:15:53 > 0:15:56and it really does like to be kept fairly dry
0:15:56 > 0:15:59and just use your finger on the top of the compost
0:15:59 > 0:16:04and if you feel that it's dry, then that's the time to water it.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07And this likes a fairly sunny situation.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11At the moment it's growing. I know the person that has this is disappointed
0:16:11 > 0:16:13because it's not flowering.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15But I think this year, now it's beginning to bulk up
0:16:15 > 0:16:19as long as we keep it on the dry side, it will give lovely flowers.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23If you're looking for something in a shady situation,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26the rubber plant is perfect for that.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28But this is a variegated form,
0:16:28 > 0:16:30so the green ones will do well in deep shade
0:16:30 > 0:16:35but any that are variegated, perhaps light shade is the answer for that.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38And if you're looking for plants that do well in hanging baskets,
0:16:38 > 0:16:40with cool conditions,
0:16:40 > 0:16:44then you can't go wrong with a piggy-back plant or the mother of thousands.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48First impressions in a garden are very important.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52What you see when you come into the secret garden here
0:16:52 > 0:16:55are two enormous hostas.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Hosta Frances Williams at this side
0:16:57 > 0:16:59and Hosta sum and substance on the other side.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03- These...- You're just in time! I'm not going to get these out myself!
0:17:03 > 0:17:06These are enormous plants.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08They were planted a few years ago
0:17:08 > 0:17:11and have more or less outgrown their position.
0:17:11 > 0:17:19- We've got to do something about it. - There's a few dead bits. The weather has got at some of it.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Yes. But all the best bits are round about the outside.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Isn't that convenient!- For us!
0:17:24 > 0:17:29Now, we could split this by using the old system of back-to-back forks.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30But we'd be here for hours.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Even if it was you and me that was back-to-back?
0:17:32 > 0:17:36- What is it, then, the spade? - Yes, go on.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38There you go.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41This could take a while, George!
0:17:41 > 0:17:44It's like that begonia. I should have brought the axe!
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Like lightning. Never strike in the same place twice!
0:17:52 > 0:17:55- I'll take that!- You take that!
0:17:56 > 0:17:58See the roots coming out of that?
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Surface roots. Got the wee root hairs on it already.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03- You're pecking, dear boy! - I am indeed pecking!
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Let's take a wee break from that. There's quite a lot of work involved here.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Cos I do believe you want to commit murder!
0:18:11 > 0:18:14I do. You're not very happy about this.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19When you come in here, Jim, what you see is not the skeleton of a marvellous shrub
0:18:19 > 0:18:23which this is. This is Coriolopsis Pauciflora.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25and it is a fantastic late-spring flowering thing.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28But the structure's rubbish.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Look, it's got crossing branches and there's dead bits in it.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33There's broken bits in it.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36I would like to get in about that with a surgical instrument.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40The point I often say is in the winter when the leaves are off these deciduous things,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42- you get a chance to see the skeleton.- Yes.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44You get a chance to see the outline.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47And you can have permission to do something
0:18:47 > 0:18:52so long as you do not spoil that elegant outline.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Have you got a whistle? Blow it when you want to tell me to stop!
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- Let's have a quick look at what you want to do.- I'll show you.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02I'll show you what I want to take out, Jim, before I do it.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05There's a big branch. If you look at it from over there,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08this branch is actually crossing through the whole thing
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- and it's damaged, too.- OK.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14- There's a branch at the far side... - Before you go any further, take that one out.- OK.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18- Take that one out.- I'll take the top off this first.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21- Do you want to get your hands on that?- I will.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23It's too late, now!
0:19:25 > 0:19:27You'll see the difference.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28When you take that out.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32- We've opened up that bit in there. Haven't we?- We have indeed.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35See, already you've got a space in there
0:19:35 > 0:19:40which this whole plant now is starting... Take hold of that.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43It's starting to look like a big dish.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45And that's what the best shape for this is.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48When you get long branches, you get the flowers hanging down.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53- Do you want to take that off at that...- I'll take that off there
0:19:53 > 0:19:54as a compromise to you.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05To me, that's a far better shape.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07I can start to see it. This is congested at the bottom
0:20:07 > 0:20:09- and we'll thin that out.- Yes.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12But we're starting to get a structure which is better, without a doubt.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15Now, as long as you don't go any further, right?
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- What do you want now? - I'm away to the car!
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- Aye, I'll finish up, then!- Yes, OK!
0:20:33 > 0:20:36There are two things you can do when you come to a new garden.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Either you leave it to grow for a year,
0:20:38 > 0:20:42or you get in about it, clear it, and end up with a blank canvas.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44I'm on the south side of Glasgow
0:20:44 > 0:20:47and that's what's happened here. It's a blank canvas.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49So the problem corner today is,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52to plant some herbaceous, to plant a little alpine area,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55to put some trees in, to give the garden some more structure.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57But one of the things I'm not going to touch
0:20:57 > 0:20:59is this hedge.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Jane McCahey, you don't like this hedge, do you?
0:21:07 > 0:21:11No, it's so overgrown and I thought it was really ugly.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13There's lots of brambles in there!
0:21:13 > 0:21:17- You weren't going to take it out, were you?- I was going to take it out.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Please, don't dig it out. Keep it because this hedge
0:21:20 > 0:21:23would cost you a fortune to re-establish from scratch.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26In here, there are about five or six different species of plant.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30There's cotoneaster, brambles, cherries, rhododendrons.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Even ferns growing at the bottom.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35We've got a whole range of plants, lots of food for insects,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37lots of food then for the birds.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40So this is going to be an absolute haven for wildlife.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42I never thought about it like that.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- That's it. So don't take it out! - Don't take it out. OK!
0:21:52 > 0:21:55We've come up the hill from the wildlife hedge we had down there.
0:21:55 > 0:22:00And this is an area that I think would be absolutely splendid for a little woodland garden.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Only trouble is, there's a bit of a draught comes through that hole there
0:22:03 > 0:22:05where Callum is.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07We'll plant one or two shrubs in there.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I've got three hollies, variegated hollies,
0:22:09 > 0:22:14which will go in there and fill that up and make the whole thing more sheltered.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19And then we'll plant a couple of trees and then let everything else grow.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21- What about all these green bits? - All these green bits, my dear!
0:22:21 > 0:22:27Now these are bluebells. We've got crocus and two wee daffs coming up.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30These will then naturalise in this space.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32And it will just be like a wild wood.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37You're never sure what you're going to find when you start digging holes!
0:22:37 > 0:22:39But the soil's not bad.
0:22:39 > 0:22:44What we'll do is put a bit of organic matter in with the soil.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47And a bit of fertiliser to give them a wee boost.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- That's about right. Callum's good at digging holes!- He is!
0:23:11 > 0:23:13That birch has a brown stem at the moment.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16But eventually it will become startlingly white.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- And the strap. Do you need to check if that's too tight?- Yes.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Every Spring, go back and check it to make sure it's not strangling the stem.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27- If it is, slacken it off.- OK.- Ideal.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31And here we've got this wonderful sorbus, it's a rowan from Korea.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34It's got great big black buds.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38It's called raven's bill and indeed these buds look like crows' beaks.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Great big black crows' beaks!
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Well, Mother, we've been joined by the bevy of beauties.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Who have we got here? What's your name?
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- Eva.- Eva.- Christina.- Christina. And you are?- Ellie.- Ellie. Right.
0:23:52 > 0:23:57I'll possibly forget your names, so you'll need to remind me.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00- Later. Did you see what we did at the top?- Yeah.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05- We planted trees and shrubs to make a little woodland area.- Yes.- Right.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07We want to do the same sort of thing down here.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11I want to create what looks like a dry riverbed.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13And you're going to help me.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15We're going to plant these plants into here
0:24:15 > 0:24:17and plant lots of floral plants
0:24:17 > 0:24:19which will look as though they've always been there
0:24:19 > 0:24:23and they will grow so much there'll be no weeding.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26- Do you like weeding?- It's OK. It can be a bit boring, though.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Course it can, but with these plants there'll be no weeding.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32That's a bit better.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39I will knock this out of the pot and then you can plant it.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Wow, there's another juicy worm!
0:24:43 > 0:24:45What's your favourite food?
0:24:45 > 0:24:47- Worms!- Worms!
0:24:54 > 0:24:58You are almost getting expert at this, aren't you?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04- Does that look good?- Yes.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11So there we are, girls. Job's finished. What do you think of it?
0:25:11 > 0:25:13It's much better than it was before.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Oh, thank you!
0:25:15 > 0:25:18That's better, then. Thank goodness we pleased her.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21We've made a difference. A difference at the top with the woodland planting.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Made a difference here. The idea is you take those little ideas and recipes
0:25:25 > 0:25:28and you plant things all the way along this banking.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30So, down the garden centre, find the plants you like
0:25:30 > 0:25:33and put them in along the banking
0:25:33 > 0:25:35and just extend the plantings we've done already. Job done.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39- Cos you know how to plant, now. - Yeah.- All of you.- Yes.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56One of my favourite shrub roses is Rosa Rugosa in all its varieties.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00But it can be a bit of a blighter. If you turn your back on it for a wee while,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03it wants to head for the hills. It would populate the garden.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Look at this one here. It starts in there, now it's moving out.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08It's moving here, here it's moving, look.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10It's through this cotoneaster.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13All the way out to the path.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16We might have to cut back the cotoneaster somewhat
0:26:16 > 0:26:18to get rid of these, and I'm going to start right here.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Of course, what you've got to try and do is get these out,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25chop it out.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28That's one down.
0:26:28 > 0:26:34More to go. I've heard it referred to as nature's answer to barbed wire!
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Quite appropriate, I think.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41If you grow mint in a pot, there's a tendency for the plant to grow right round the outside
0:26:41 > 0:26:45and the runners stay there and you get a blank piece in the middle.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Nothing growing. All the growth's on the outside.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50So what I'm going to do is lift this out.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54This is what you should do. Look. There's where the runners are, on the outside like that.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57So what I can do with this is I can split it up.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04There you are - wring its neck!
0:27:04 > 0:27:06That can go into the pot there.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09That will grow on. And then those bits here,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11these little bits - look at that -
0:27:11 > 0:27:13they've all got roots on them.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16These can go down the side of a little pot.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Some fresh compost into it.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21Like that.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Three or four round the pot.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30Onto the windowsill. These will then take three or four weeks to grow.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33And they'll be absolutely splendid with your roast lamb!
0:27:34 > 0:27:37If you fancy trying to grow a standard fuchsia,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39you might want to follow us this year.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Because that's what we're going to try and grow.
0:27:41 > 0:27:46Firstly, these need potting on because you want to encourage them to grow upright.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Then the first stage is nipping out all the side shoots.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Right the way up the plant.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57So the whole idea is you just have this single stem.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04Now, then, children, let's see who's going to win the money!
0:28:04 > 0:28:07For the rhubarb. Oh, I think I win!
0:28:07 > 0:28:09But that's disappointing.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11That was forced since January.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Yes, but there's still a bit of crumble in that!
0:28:13 > 0:28:16- Yes.- A nice bit of crumble. - Lovely, lovely.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18With fresh yogurt. Absolutely brilliant.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21If you'd like any more information about this week's programme,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23it's all in the factsheet.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25The easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28And don't forget as well you can find us on Facebook and Twitter.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32- That's your lot for this week. Until next time, goodbye!- Bye!- Bye!
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd