0:00:12 > 0:00:17Hello there and welcome to a fine May morning in the Beechgrove Garden.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21You know, if you are faced with looking after four fractious kids,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24the best thing to do is give them some water to plouter about in!
0:00:24 > 0:00:27And here we have Chris and Carole and Jane and Maddy,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30busily working away, happy as Larry,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33getting some of this pondweed out, this blanket weed.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36I would think it is because it is a mild winter, Carole,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39that we've had quite such a harvest of it.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41I think it's the worst I've ever seen it and I think you're right.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44The temperature of the pond has really warmed up
0:00:44 > 0:00:47and this blanket weed has gone a bit berserk, hasn't it?
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Yeah, but you were saying the water underneath, Chris,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- is absolutely spot-on. - It is remarkably clear.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58You don't want the blanket weed, but the blanket weed is so dense on the surface,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02it is reacting faster to the nitrates and phosphates and anything else in the water,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05so you're not getting the pea soup, the single-celled stuff.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07The water is completely clear underneath.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11- I think that is harder to get rid of, isn't it, the pea-soup effect?- Yep.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- Jane, you have a secret weapon. - I've got a secret weapon in my pocket
0:01:15 > 0:01:19in the form of this little bag, which is a blend of microbes
0:01:19 > 0:01:22that will deal with all this blanket weed and digest it.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25- Just one packet?- That's enough...- For all of this water?!
0:01:25 > 0:01:28We'll see. We may need a second packet.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31The temperature of the water has got to be at least ten degrees.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33You're beginning to know whether it's ten degrees or not!
0:01:33 > 0:01:36It doesn't feel like ten degrees where I'm standing, I can tell you.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39- Can I say, I've got a hole in my waders.- You've got a leak!
0:01:39 > 0:01:43That's a cue for a song, I think! But later, perhaps.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47One of the important things is about the health of the wildlife.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Apart from you guys, of course.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53We're putting the blanket weed onto the plastic
0:01:53 > 0:01:57to allow anything caught up in there to crawl back into the pond.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02Just a few minutes ago, there was a newt making his escape.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04I am conscious I'm not doing very much here,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07so I'm - guess what - off to the greenhouse.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Meanwhile, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:09 > 0:02:11I am in a lovely garden in Aberdeen
0:02:11 > 0:02:13with a wonderful collection of plants.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17But I am going to help the owner reduce the maintenance.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23What a difference already.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27I will leave the rest of the team to clear that blanket weed out
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and I'm going to move on to a much smaller pond.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Probably most of us only have a small garden
0:02:33 > 0:02:36and therefore only room for a pond this size.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38This is the garden for life.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41You can see we have the same problem - some blanket weed.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43I don't think I need the waders on.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Instead, it is the wellies, kneepads and the gloves,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51because this pond is a lot smaller.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56Straightaway, we have similar problems to the big pond with that blanket weed.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59You can see how fibrous it is.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01But in amongst it, we have another weed.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05This tiny little weed amongst it is called duckweed.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08That again multiplies and blocks the light.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12The good news again is, underneath, like Chris was speaking about,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15the water is crystal clear.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Jim was saying in the other pond we have newts.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21In this one, Jane, we have quite a few frogs.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24He has just swum away from me. I was trying to catch him.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25We are going to use the net.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28If we catch any of those, we will put them into the trug
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and then we can put it back once we've cleared it out.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34The other thing I'm going to have to look at is what sort of plants.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37This, for example, this glyceria, that's quite invasive,
0:03:37 > 0:03:41so I will have to pull out a lot of that, replant it into pots.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43That one, that needs attention.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46It really has rooted into the bottom of the pond.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50So I think we should just crack on, shouldn't we?
0:04:06 > 0:04:09It is really nice to have the fountain working again,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and the water, well, it is starting to settle down,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14it is starting to clear.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18I hope you agree with me that there is a big difference that we've made with it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20You can see how much we've taken out the side.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23There is a pile over there. Just going over it again.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27We will leave it overnight, just in case there are any little creatures,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31and, tomorrow, that can go onto the compost heap.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35We never managed to catch any frogs. They must've gone to the edge.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39I think now they will have a really nice swimming pool.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42We've even got some pond-skaters - we can actually see them!
0:04:42 > 0:04:46To deal with the plants themselves, I've done a bit of repotting
0:04:46 > 0:04:47and rescued plants.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Over there, that is the glyceria.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54There is a lot of that in the main pond. It's very invasive.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58I have just lifted three or four of them that had rooted
0:04:58 > 0:05:03and put them into a special pond basket. The same with this one.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05That is the water hawthorn.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07It is a good deep-water plant
0:05:07 > 0:05:13and it follows flowers for a long time, much longer than water lilies.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17So that is a value-for-money plant in my mind.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Back to the baskets, they have a fine mesh on them
0:05:20 > 0:05:23and that stops the soil going through.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Please, don't be tempted to take soil from your own garden,
0:05:26 > 0:05:28because if that is high in nutrients,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32what will happen is you will then get that pea-soup effect.
0:05:32 > 0:05:38It is much better to buy proper pond soil, which is low in nutrients.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43It's a very heavy soil. And then I have rescued another invasive plant.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45This is the water mint.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50A beautiful smell, but it is important to keep it in a container.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53If it starts to escape, cut it back again.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58You may notice that we still have a bit of duckweed on the pond.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01I don't think we will ever completely get rid of that,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05but, every week or so, if we go in with a net,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07we will keep it under control.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10So that is planted. A bit of gravel.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14This is quite important to keep the soil in.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17If you have fish in the pond, that is another thing.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19What they will do is disturb the soil.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26This is a marginal, so it needs to sit on a shelf
0:06:26 > 0:06:30and only go to a depth of about three to four inches.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32That will sit perfectly in there.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38And, well, I think it's looking really good.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42In our gardens, we are used to creating a wonderful display
0:06:42 > 0:06:47of shrubs, or herbaceous perennials, when the borders are horizontal.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51The challenge really comes when the surfaces go vertical,
0:06:51 > 0:06:55that is to say fences, trellises, walls.
0:06:55 > 0:07:01The key aspect in selecting plant material is which direction is
0:07:01 > 0:07:05the surface you are going to climb your plant on facing?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08For instance, is it north, south, east or west?
0:07:08 > 0:07:11If you are not sure, do check.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13A simple compass.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17This garden is laid out so that that is directly north,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20which makes that south, west and east.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Really, that should be the starting point
0:07:22 > 0:07:24when it comes to selecting plant material.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28What we decided to do in the cutting garden was to create
0:07:28 > 0:07:31a series of fence panel surfaces,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34which indicate each of those aspects,
0:07:34 > 0:07:37and then try and create a planting tapestry that
0:07:37 > 0:07:41delivers year-round interest from each of those elevations.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43For instance,
0:07:43 > 0:07:49this panel here is a north-facing panel.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53That is to say that direction is north.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Typically, this is shady, it's cool, it's humid,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00so you have to choose plants that will celebrate those conditions.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04And Akebia quinata is a great example of that.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06It's the chocolate vine.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11It's in flower at this time of year, with its slightly pendant, purple blooms,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15followed by extended pods, which, in Japan,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18are a delicacy when stuffed with minced meat.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21That is a great scrambling plant.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26It needs something to scramble up, so my second choice is Rosa Zephirine Drouhin.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31It's an old Bourbon rose. Double-pink blooms. Very fragrant.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Incredibly free-flowering.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36It's so generous in the way it produces flowers.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Normally, you will find people saying it needs sunshine.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44But, it is such a good flowering performer, it will tolerate a northerly aspect.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47And then the third specimen is a real rarity.
0:08:47 > 0:08:53The beautiful green, luscious foliage of Hydrangea seemanii.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55This is a real rarity.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57But, it is tough,
0:08:57 > 0:09:02and it produces those lace-cap flowers late in the summer.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Pure white.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Exactly what you'd expect from a self-clinging, climbing hydrangea.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10That is the northerly aspect sorted.
0:09:10 > 0:09:17For the east, we are going for plants which are tolerant
0:09:17 > 0:09:21of the conditions that are generally cold -
0:09:21 > 0:09:25we generally get a cold easterly breeze coming through -
0:09:25 > 0:09:29but also the thing to watch out for is sunlight,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33first thing in the morning, hitting the delicate shoots, which could be
0:09:33 > 0:09:37leaves, or buds, or fruits, and defrosting them at the early time of the year.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39That is when the damage is caused.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43So you need something resilient to those conditions.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Clematis, the macropetala forms. Very early flowering.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51This particular one is Maidwell Hall. Clear blue flowers.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55It's already finished flowering and now it's producing the foaming heads -
0:09:55 > 0:09:58old man's beard is the common name for this plant and,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01as soon as these seed heads ripen,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04with the white, wispy fruits, you can see exactly why.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09Mixing that with Schizophragma integrifolium.
0:10:09 > 0:10:15This is a woody climber. White flowers, late in the season.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19It produces them horizontally on strained branches.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23A bit like the hydrangea, it comes out and presents itself,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25a little bit like a doily.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27And mixing with that -
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Vitis vinifera Purpurea.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33The purple ornamental vine.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37The beauty of this plant is it's not really fussy in terms of aspect.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40But if you grow it somewhere where it's truly hot,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43it tends to suffer with mildew on the foliage late in the season,
0:10:43 > 0:10:47so choose an east-facing wall and you won't suffer with the heat.
0:10:47 > 0:10:53Heat is something that Jim might just be struggling with down in the glasshouses.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57It's been getting a bit hot in here,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00so I just stepped out for a minute, to get a bit of fresh air.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04It's mid-May, it is time to plant our cold-house tomatoes.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06What's the score? What are we doing this year?
0:11:06 > 0:11:11We are growing in ten-inch pots, but we're using grow-bag compost
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and these guys have upped their game a wee bit because we put it
0:11:14 > 0:11:18through a sieve and there is very little rubbish in it nowadays,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22which is a great improvement. So that is the basics.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26We're putting a single plant in a pot, growing them up a string.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29We always get asked, "How do you do this knot?"
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Because it's a one-handed thing.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34I think George got the privilege of doing it last year
0:11:34 > 0:11:36and I probably did it the year before.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Twist the string once round the wire like so
0:11:39 > 0:11:43then create a little loop and bring it through with your finger.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46Pulling down like so. Nae bother.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49Now where does the bottom go?
0:11:49 > 0:11:52The fact of the matter is... I'll do it in this one. It is easier.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55Make the plant ready for planting.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Beautiful white roots. Dig a hole.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Put the string in the bottom of the hole.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05And the plant in on top of the string. Nae bother.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07By the time the plant gets a grip,
0:12:07 > 0:12:12it's got nice and slack for twisting around the plant itself.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16So, we have four varieties, standard variety, beefsteak,
0:12:16 > 0:12:21two cherry varieties and a replica that side. Why two?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24The challenge this year - and it came from the visit
0:12:24 > 0:12:28I made to the primary school in Comrie, Perthshire,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31where the children were very keen that I should use comfrey
0:12:31 > 0:12:34to feed my tomato plants.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Here is the comfrey and this is what it looks like
0:12:37 > 0:12:39when you press the liquid out of it.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Typical of organic recommendations,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46it says this should be diluted to the colour of whisky.
0:12:46 > 0:12:52Devotees like myself know that whisky can be almost colourless to the colour of port wine,
0:12:52 > 0:12:57so we'll take a medium blend sort of colour, as we mix it.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00And we'll compare that with a standard, high-potash,
0:13:00 > 0:13:02commercial liquid feed.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05This half gets the Comrie... Gets the Comrie!
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Yes, gets the comfrey.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09And this half gets the commercial feed
0:13:09 > 0:13:12and we shall see just exactly what it is.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Because that's for nothing.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Whereas we have to buy the inorganic material.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21Just before we leave, we've had an inquiry or two about this system of growing.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22It's a system of self-watering.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Start with a reservoir here, into which you put the water
0:13:26 > 0:13:29and, gradually, liquid feed. When you add the liquid feed,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32you mix it first at the right strength and then top it up in here
0:13:32 > 0:13:36and it will give you four or five days of watering of the plant.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Six plants in this particular system.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41You've got a plant with a capillary in the bottom to prevent
0:13:41 > 0:13:44the roots from going through.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48And a little float switch, which controls the water
0:13:48 > 0:13:52and it's taken up by capillary action. It works a treat.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Of course, setting it up on a couple of bricks gives it a better head,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59so you get a nice flow of the liquid through there. It does work.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03It's to be recommended, I have to say.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07With the north and easterly aspect planted up,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10you really start to appreciate how shady it is in that corner
0:14:10 > 0:14:15and, by contrast, the south-facing fence in full sun, plenty of warmth.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16And as soon as the sun comes across,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19the west-facing fence will benefit from that warmth.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23The consequence - you can grow much more glamorous
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and exotic plants on these two aspects.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30To start with, a good old reliable clematis.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31This one is Clematis Jackmanii Superba.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36It's a large, blue-flowering hybrid form, very late flowering.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40It flowers right through until the frost. It's a super candidate,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43very easy to look after and manage.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Mixing that with a rather more delicate clematis.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49This is from New Zealand, one of the cartmanii types.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50It is called Early Sensation.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54It has finished its flowering flush and it's evergreen.
0:14:54 > 0:15:00Great spring flowers, but it needs the protection of that west fence.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04And then, to add a bit of meat to the tapestry, Vitis coignetiae.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08A beautiful plant, leathery-hide leaves
0:15:08 > 0:15:10and the best autumn colour of any of the climbers.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12But, be careful, it's vigorous.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16And for the south-facing fence,
0:15:16 > 0:15:20go for those plants you never thought possible to grow in your garden.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22I've got two actinidias.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24The first is the most vigorous
0:15:24 > 0:15:28and the most showy - Actinidia kolomikta.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30But this is one that cats take a shine to,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32so if you've got furry creatures,
0:15:32 > 0:15:36go for the actinidia which is slightly more resilient and,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40for my money, all the better. It's much more exotic.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42This one is pilosula.
0:15:42 > 0:15:47It produces not just the foliage, but also those beautiful pink blooms.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Combined, they should create a great palette.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56And then a plant that is normally seen in the cool glasshouse,
0:15:56 > 0:16:00or conservatory. Jasminum beesianum.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03Broad, pink, propeller-like flowers, already starting to form.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05Will flower right through the summer
0:16:05 > 0:16:08and it has the most exquisite fragrance.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Combined with the pinks and whites of the actinidia,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14I think this south fence will be something to die for.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30This week, I'm revisiting a garden in Aberdeen
0:16:30 > 0:16:33that Jim was at 14 years ago.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36At that time, it was owned by Alistair McKelvey,
0:16:36 > 0:16:42a plant hunter who, in ten trips to the Himalayas, had collected 150 species.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Julie Platt bought the house 18 months ago,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49and though an eager novice, she wants advice on what to do
0:16:49 > 0:16:52with a garden jam-packed with so many choice plants.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57So, Julie, were you really attracted by the garden when you came here?
0:16:57 > 0:17:01When I came to look at the house, I fell in love with the garden.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04That was one of the reasons I decided to buy the house.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Presumably, it's a little bit daunting for you?
0:17:07 > 0:17:12Not being a gardener, I think when I took on the garden, I didn't realise how much work was required.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Probably, I would like to cut down the amount of work required in the garden.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18So slightly low-maintenance is quite important for you?
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Yeah, that would be very important.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40I hope to grass most of this area,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43but I'd like to keep some of the plants
0:17:43 > 0:17:47in the beds and move them elsewhere, because some of them are so pretty.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49That is quite a sensible idea,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52because obviously that will be less time cutting the grass,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56rather than maintaining the borders. But there are so many plants here.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Presumably, you don't want to get rid of all of them.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00I want to keep them. As you say, they are beautiful plants,
0:18:00 > 0:18:04I want to keep as much as I can, but I think there will not be enough space.
0:18:04 > 0:18:05Of course, there won't be.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Straightaway, I would say that Daphne, that is Daphne Retusa.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Lovely perfume, beautiful specimen.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16I think once that has finished flowering, you can think about lifting that.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18It should have quite a good root ball on it.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20That is maybe an obvious place there.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22You've done a bit of tidying up over there.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27- Something didn't survive, so it's gone.- OK, that one I would keep.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28But this Euphorbia,
0:18:28 > 0:18:33take a look at that, the way it is spreading right through the border.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37- That is one I call a bit of a thug. - OK!
0:18:37 > 0:18:42Because you have limited space, you don't want to lift that
0:18:42 > 0:18:47- and then have it spread through the border, so forget about that one. - OK.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49But let's have a look at the front.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56We've come at the right time to look at the front garden,
0:18:56 > 0:18:59because it's really colourful, with the rhododendrons.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01What do you want us to do here?
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Again, it's about keeping the maintenance down,
0:19:03 > 0:19:07putting maybe some grass paths through to define it a little bit more.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11That is interesting, because we talked about adding grass in the back,
0:19:11 > 0:19:16which will cut down on your maintenance. It's a bigger area.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21But putting in a small grass path here is going to be fiddly.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24It will be more work for you. You have to keep the edges and things.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28What I suggest is we define the paths with some bark.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31I know you have done a bit of weeding. Did that take you a while?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33It took me about three hours on Monday night.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35That's what you want to cut down.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38The other thing is we are going to go over it again,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41get the rest of the weeds out and we are going to mulch it.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44- So I think it's about time we got our hands dirty!- Excellent.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07As a general rule, rhododendrons don't need pruning.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10However, sometimes they can get too big for the situation.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15Maybe they get rather leggy. Then you can think about pruning.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Julie has been quite severe.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Personally, I think you need to do it over time.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Take about three years and you would cut out one third one year,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27then the next third and the next third.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29However, this one is not too bad,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32because it is starting to recover. It's quite interesting.
0:20:32 > 0:20:38Even down here, there is a tiny shoot. So a little bit of patience.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41This one next to me doesn't look particularly great.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46A little bit of life there, but what is interesting is this branch
0:20:46 > 0:20:49has naturally rooted into the ground.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53This is what we call... It is almost like a technique of layering.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Therefore, what I want to do is cut it here,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59we'll keep this and that will come out.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Now that the bed has been weeded,
0:21:10 > 0:21:16this is an ideal time to feed the border with a fertiliser for acid-loving plants.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18You must be careful not to overfeed.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25You would normally lightly fork the fertiliser in,
0:21:25 > 0:21:30but we are mulching the bed with composted bark at a depth of five centimetres,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33which will keep the moisture in and suppress the weeds.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39We are using a coarser grade of bark for the paths,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41which is ideal for walking on.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44We are back in the back garden
0:21:44 > 0:21:48and this is one of the beds you want to get rid of.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51I think there are one or two plants we can salvage,
0:21:51 > 0:21:55because, also, there is a raised bed in the front that needs filling.
0:21:55 > 0:22:00We need to go on a hunt and there is quite a good example.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04It's a little geranium. I think that might be worth trying to lift.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07So see what kind of root system we get on it.
0:22:07 > 0:22:13I have a feeling you might lose one or two things, but it's worth a try.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18Is there...? There are some fibrous roots, so that should maybe be OK.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20However, this phlox, although it looks pretty,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24if you take a closer look,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28there is no root on that at all.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30It's really woody, leggy.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34So my advice there would be don't worry about that one,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37you can buy them fairly cheaply from garden centres.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Little saxifrages, though, these are fine.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43These are just hugging on the rocks.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49And just lifting up a few of the rosettes -
0:22:49 > 0:22:50ideal.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54I think we've just got to go right the way around and see what we can find.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55OK.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Lovely, aren't they, the pulsatillas?
0:23:12 > 0:23:13- Do they go at the front?- Yeah.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- I would actually tend to put that near the back.- OK.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20We've got another one, so spread them around.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25- How do you know how far they are going to spread?- A-ha.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28That's the problem. You did see that one in the garden.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33- That was quite invasive. Maybe stick it in the corner.- OK.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53- What do you think, Julie?- I think it's wonderful. I'm so pleased with it, and thank you.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56I think it's been very inspiring to do what I can do at the back.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59I think it will make the work at the back easier than what I'd thought it was going to be.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Basically, what you've got to do is weed a border,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06mulch it straightaway and then bark on the paths.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08- Perfect.- Thank you.- Thank you.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24One of the great scourges of glasshouse crops
0:24:24 > 0:24:28is red spider mite, and it loves an arid climate.
0:24:28 > 0:24:34So the thing to do on fine days is to give the plants a real good sloshing with water.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Oh! Just soaked myself.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Now you might wonder why I'm cutting back some herbaceous at this time of year.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46There is a reason for it
0:24:46 > 0:24:50and this clump here I'm cutting right back and the reason
0:24:50 > 0:24:55for it is what I want to do is, basically, delay the flowering.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57It might delay it up to about six weeks.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01And there will be a nice comparison with the phlox at the back.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04The plants themselves will be more compact
0:25:04 > 0:25:07and probably a little bit more bushier, as well.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10You can do this to one or two herbaceous plants,
0:25:10 > 0:25:14with things like some of the Campanula group.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16It is also called the Chelsea Chop.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19The reason for that, of course, is the Chelsea Flower Show.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21And that's the time of year you need to do it -
0:25:21 > 0:25:24about the middle, towards the end of May.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Well, the bad news is some of our rhododendrons have been frosted.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29It's a bit of a shame.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32The good news is one of my favourite trees of all time
0:25:32 > 0:25:36is just coming into full leaf and flower.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38It's a member of the Sorbus family, the Rowan family,
0:25:38 > 0:25:43but this is the Swedish version - Swedish Whitebeam. Sorbus aria Lutescens.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Absolutely stunning. I've planted one of these in every garden I've ever owned.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Some of you may remember that Jim was in the fruit cage last week
0:25:54 > 0:25:58and he was looking at damage with blister aphid, but the aphid had actually gone.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03This is a Ribes here and you can see the damage of the blisters.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07But also there is still evidence of the aphid.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10The reason I'm looking at this plant is not for the aphids,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14it is because of the flowers. This is the fourberry.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18It is Ribes aureum and a variety called Black Gem.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20The flowers are so unusual -
0:26:20 > 0:26:24bright yellow, little tubular flowers, really attractive
0:26:24 > 0:26:26and, because it's called the fourberry,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29hopefully, this year, we're actually going to get some fruit.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36Jim, this is a great display of the wallflowers, but what's going on?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Well, just to recap on what we've done.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41This lot of wallflower here are home-grown.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44They were sown in June, they were transplanted in early August
0:26:44 > 0:26:46and then planted out
0:26:46 > 0:26:53in October. That transplanting process makes them nice and bushy.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57These are plug plants grown in modules.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01And these, somebody bought them offline. Online?
0:27:01 > 0:27:05- Online, I think it is.- Bare-rooted things.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- And it shows.- It goes to show, follow you, Jim.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11This is the old-fashioned way, of course.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13- You recall that from your youth. - That's it,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17when I was a kid the first job I had in the nursery was bundling these up.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18Bundles of ten, normally.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Heeling them into a sand bed ready for that autumn planting.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23And that's the display you expect
0:27:23 > 0:27:26but they just completely fell out of favour.
0:27:26 > 0:27:32I think a combination of our changing tastes in colour means this
0:27:32 > 0:27:35sort of cauldron is a bit garish at this time of the year,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38but also that they are perceived as difficult
0:27:38 > 0:27:42- because of that double handling. - Also, they flower quite late.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45And we've had that mild winter and they're doing really well this year.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48The one thing is the perfume you get. Isn't it gorgeous?
0:27:48 > 0:27:50You can't transmit that on the telly.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54The Siberian wallflower at the back is really strong actually.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59So grow them yourself, don't go for the online. Which reminds me,
0:27:59 > 0:28:04if you want any information it's all in the fact sheet
0:28:04 > 0:28:07and the easiest way to access that is on the website.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Next week, are you with us, Mr Beardshaw?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Yes and no. I'm with my new build families.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17So first-time gardeners. Paying another visit.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20Keep them moving in the same direction to see how they get on.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22- They are toeing the line? - I hope so.- That's good stuff.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25- What are you doing? - I'm indoors and outside, Jim.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Cucumbers and courgettes. What about you?
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Sweetcorn is on the menu for me.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33- So, until next week, goodbye. - Goodbye.- Bye.