Episode 25 The Beechgrove Garden

Quite an autumn feel this morning, isn't there?

-And the autumn colours, too, isn't it?

-Absolutely, yes.

Hello, welcome to Beechgrove.

As we say, it's getting cooler, it's getting damper,

it's getting colder in the mornings. What about frost?

Well... Well, down in the Borders yesterday,

down in the valley bottoms, white with frost.

-Fingers were a wee bit tingly.

-Yes.

I've had a touch of ground frost anyway.

We're OK, but there's lower ground below us

and we see that white frost.

My thermometer is still just about 3.2 or something,

-but quite good during the day.

-Not enough to kill the dahlias.

-But soon might be.

-Well, I think so, yes.

But we must look at these brassicas and overwintering veg.

-We planted them four weeks ago.

-And look at them, Jim.

-And they've really come on rather well.

-Very healthy-looking.

Well, it's the cover over the top.

They are sold as hardy winter vegetables for marketing.

And then picked in the late winter, spring.

-So this is like a giant cloche, basically.

-Well, it really is.

-The doors are open.

-Absolutely.

We're growing them as hard as we possibly can, but they've got

an umbrella over the top and it shades them from the wind.

But at the same time, for people who don't have a spare tunnel

to do it in, put them outside, but give them some fleece covering.

These ones that are out there are looking pretty good, actually.

A little bit smaller, do you think?

Just a wee bit behind, but absolutely fabulous.

We're not talking about size,

they're well established, they're healthy, they're growing.

We've had the slug bait down, obviously to keep the slugs away.

And over there, if we don't cover them,

the pigeons will get them, or the rabbits will get them.

-Oh, the rabbits, you name it.

-But it's coming on quite nicely,

this crop, without a shadow of doubt.

But there's a lot more in the garden to be seen and to do.

-We better get on with it.

-We had.

Well, they say gardening's good for you.

Just look at this little beauty here.

Blackberry and Apple Pie, a little new saxifrage.

Brings a smile to your face, it's good for you.

And this week, we're going to find out a little bit more about that.

And it's all about recycling wood, and this is the result.

Of course, it's Gardening on a Budget again.

Well, it's that time again.

The leaves are starting to come off the trees,

it's time to collect the leaves and make some compost of them.

I don't want you carting them away or setting fire to them.

Valuable stuff to put back in the soil, that's important.

Now, I've just emptied a black plastic bag that's been

filled with these leaves since this time last year.

And they've composted somewhat and will be excellent for

turning into the ground. But they're not quite ready yet.

Maybe a bit too dry, you see, because these were stored

underneath the trees, so they weren't getting much rain on them.

Plenty of holes in the bags.

But they dried out a little bit, that's one of the problems.

But it's taken a whole year to get to that stage.

Now, let's look at the opposite. This is a modern compost bin.

I used to have three compost bins, made with pallets

and I mixed them and kept them in rotation and all of this,

I don't have the time to do it.

I don't need to do that, I've got a much smaller garden.

So a couple of years ago I bought one of these.

Made of polystyrene,

it's called a HOTBIN, because it does get very hot.

The temperature inside at the moment is over 20 degrees centigrade.

Have a look inside.

You see how, first and foremost, how thick the material is.

There's a ventilator at the top.

To let the exhaust gases out, I suppose.

But there it is, it's filled to the top. This was started in July.

A couple of months, two--nd-a half months ago.

And it has been filled at intervals since then.

Just look at that, out at the bottom.

So the removable panel here shows you what's happening.

At home I put two or three bucketfuls of weeds

and so on into it, and then a box full of grass clippings on top.

And it's like that for a day or two and then it starts to go down

as it starts to cook. Now, look at that.

That stuff went in there at the end of July.

Look at that.

I used to laugh at the old adverts of compost bins where you

took the bottom off and you could shovel out stuff that looked

like the most beautiful potting compost. This is really happening.

With this style of bin, I recommend it to you.

Sadly, the Beechgrove Garden is nearly over for this year.

But I've one last visit at Mieke's garden in rural Aberdeenshire.

And so we're going to be reviewing some of the little projects

that we did, things like this seat that we made.

So, it's our last Gardening on a Budget.

'Throughout this series, I've been looking at how you can get

'the most from your garden without spending a fortune.

'I've been helping Mieke, who's recently moved

'to Kennethmont in Aberdeenshire.

'For the past week, she's been trialling four different

'wood shredders, turning cut branches into mulch and wood chips.'

-Hello, Mieke.

-Hello.

-You can't hear me!

MIEKE LAUGHS

Now, look, you've been a busy lady, haven't you,

-testing out these machines?

-Yes, very busy.

So you've got four different machines.

-How have you got on with them?

-Well, I got a mulcher to begin with.

And, well, yeah, mulching...ish.

-So, tiny bits of stick, really?

-Yes, tiny, and dry.

Because I had some fresher stuff and it got stuck, so...

So you wouldn't recommend it?

I mean, the other problem is, I suppose,

-it's electric, so you are a wee bit restricted.

-Yes.

-But the smaller garden maybe for herbaceous?

-Yeah. You can try that.

OK, it looks like you're quite enjoying this machine.

Yeah, the proper stuff. This is perfect for some drier sticks.

-And hedging and things, it works really well.

-Size of stick?

-Size of stick, it's 2.5 inches.

-So that's quite chunky.

I was quite surprised with that, yes.

But if it gets bigger, like these sort of leaves,

it doesn't shred it that well.

-So that kind of gets clogged again, does it?

-Yes, that clogs up.

But the smaller leaves, absolutely fine. For hedging and stuff.

-Shall we move on to a bigger machine?

-Yes.

-Where have we got that one?

-We've got it in the woodlands.

Come on, then.

-So I've started the path already.

-It's looking good, Mieke.

Oh, it's fab. I'm really chuffed with this machine.

It recommends 5.5 centimetre branches.

So slightly smaller than the other ones.

Slightly smaller than the other one.

I would even do four,

because it sometimes chucks out bits.

But because of the feeder is bigger than the other one,

-I can take larger shrubs and...

-Oh, OK.

Easier to feed it through.

-Way easier to feed it through.

-And chunkier chips, I think.

-Yes.

-And it's perfect for a path.

-That looks really good.

Now, you did say about the chips maybe coming back the way.

-So, obviously the right safety gear?

-Yes.

-And be careful with feeding it in.

-Totally.

-If anything gets stuck, never put your hand in.

-No way.

-OK, what about the last one?

-OK, cool.

-Now this is the most powerful machine.

-It is.

It's a really good one. It takes 7.5 centimetres of sticks.

It takes all sorts of bushes, so it's really good.

-So mulching and chipping?

-Yeah, yeah.

And it's quite safe because the funnel goes up,

-so it doesn't chuck them out.

-Ah, not like the last one we looked at.

-Not like the last one, yes.

-OK.

So if you had to choose out of all the machines,

-which one would you go for?

-I would go for the one in the woodlands.

Why is that?

This one is 180 kilos, and the one in the woodlands is only 90 kilos.

-Still heavy.

-OK, but you can move it around a little bit easier?

Now, we hired these for a week.

A lot cheaper to hire for a week than a day.

And this machine, and the last one we looked at, round about £200.

How do you feel about that price?

Well, if you are making a path, you need loads of chips,

I would just buy a load of chips because it's way faster.

Or be organised.

In other words, have all your timber ready

so that you can put it through and really get lots out of it.

I see it possibly working more in perhaps a community situation.

Maybe you would then buy the machine.

I mean, they are several thousand pounds,

-but there, people would get use out of it.

-Yes.

Now we did say that this mulches as well doing chips.

Yeah. Proper size chips.

I was thinking about your compost bins.

-How have you got on with those?

-Really well.

Especially with this machine. It's just amazing what you get.

So we... It was all recycled timber, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

-But you've lined it now.

I've lined it, got some tarpaulin and stapled it in.

-And it looks fab.

-Callum helped us build it.

He's made a really good job, I think.

-And it's working well, isn't it?

-Chuffed to bits with it.

Time now to review some of our previous money-saving ideas.

So we're back at the veggie patch. So these are the cut flowers.

And we've done different arrangements with them

and just took other flowers as well from the garden.

And value for money, wasn't it? Because they were sown from seed.

-Any particular favourite?

-My quaking grass.

-It's nice.

-And the cornflower.

-Lovely colour.

-Yes.

-The edible flowers as well?

-Yeah.

It's just good fun with the kids.

-We made chicken chilli wraps with the flowers.

-Delicious.

We did salads, and the kids had a bit of competition, like,

who eats the most of the hot flowers and that sort of stuff.

Well, nasturtiums are particularly spicy, aren't they?

Something else I'm really impressed with, Mieke,

is the little plug plants, the perennial plug plants.

-They've done really well.

-Haven't they?

-28p a plant, and they were so small to start off with.

-Yeah!

-'I didn't even expect some of them to be in flower.

-They look amazing.'

-I love the carnations, the colour is so intense.

-Beautiful.

And just let's have a look at the way they've increased in size.

I mean, look at the sea thrift here. That was so small.

Now that is a mature plant.

-I mean, if you bought that in a garden centre - £1, £2.

-Yeah.

-Excellent.

-Looks really good.

-Yes.

Now, more wood recycling here with the bench.

I think Callum made a really good job of it. Have you used it a lot?

Oh, my gosh.

There's homework made on it, we made crafts on it,

-we had lunch on it, so, yes, well used.

-Absolutely perfect.

Any more wood recycling?

Well, what's left over from the compost bay.

We made a little shop. So Lilian has her own shop.

She's selling all sorts.

Her own packets of seeds she collected from the garden again.

Brilliant. What about the wildlife boxes? Any sign of wildlife?

No, not to rent it out yet!

But it was a bit early in the season when we hung them up.

-But hopefully next year.

-Fingers crossed.

We put in a lot of bare-root plants down in the woodland.

-Have most of those come through all right?

-Growing, yeah.

I mean, they were quite tiny, so we needed a little bit of patience.

-They do well.

-What has it meant for you?

Because this is now your first full gardening year.

It's great discovering things, finding out

you've got certain fruits growing in your garden.

-And just making stuff with them.

-And having good fun as well.

Having good fun, yeah. For the kids exploring.

Well, it's been wonderful, I've really enjoyed it.

And, well, hopefully you continue to garden on a budget. Thank you.

Yes, I will. Thank you very much for everything.

You know, it's quite amazing.

Here we are in October, but how much colour we can find in the garden.

So the three of us are going to have a look around and pick out

one or two plants that are looking particularly striking.

And I want to start off with this sedum.

The flower head is really gorgeous.

And it's a wonderful plant for

attracting the bees and the butterflies.

It's Sedum spectabile, or the common name is the ice plant.

And it's a beautiful contrast to the shrub behind, Physocarpus Diabolo.

Also, though, some shrubs are starting to put on those

autumn tints and colours that are really quite remarkable.

This one is definitely a favourite of mine.

Related to the witch hazel, it's Parrotia persica.

And a variety of hints of reds, pinks, a little bit of yellow.

And in fact, it's right next to the witch hazel.

And that one is putting in the tints of yellows.

Also, I've got this. This is Fothergilla major,

and that is a really bright red,

and it's a smaller shrub that's further down in the border.

Right next door, we've got the herbaceous border.

And picking out one plant here

that I think is really good is the eupatorium there,

it's a new variety called Red Dwarf.

Called that because it only goes to 1.2 metres.

And what I would do, because that is a plant that doesn't need staking,

it looks great in the wintertime.

So I wouldn't cut it back because when we get a touch of frost,

it will look quite amazing there, too.

But one or two plants I do like to tidy up.

So we've got a bit of colour here with the knautia.

But in a couple of weeks, that will go over. I'd chop that right back.

This geranium, it's finished,

so basically go round with the secateurs, cut it right round.

And the great thing about this, it means you can start to weed

the borders, you can basically prepare for the springtime.

I've brought you over to the drier riverbed where we start ff

at the top with celmisia from New Zealand

and then move on through this wonderful little plant

with the pink flowers called Persicaria vaccinifolia.

Further down, we come to the golden orb,

which is really Stephanandra incisa.

That's really starting to show autumn colour now.

The miscanthus, which has got wonderful purple tassels.

And then, on the fence over there, we've got a parthenocissus,

which is going to show autumn colour as well.

All of that autumn colour is on the foliage.

But down here, this is autumn colour with the flowers.

Now, when I planted this 18 months ago,

I expected to have a torrent of flower up the way here.

But we've had a wee bit of a problem,

there's being a little bit of an overflow from that

water butt up there. And I think that has caused

a few challenges with some of the gentians down in here.

Because these are all Scottish-bred gentians.

They are all named after Scottish places.

So if you want to buy them, that's what you look for.

Gentians with a Scottish name. I've got one here which is called Troon,

which I'm going to put in

just really to augment that planting which is there.

Because what I want to do is have something which will show

good blues right the way down.

Finishing up with this fabulous variety at the bottom,

this thing called The Cally. And that is an extremely good variety.

If you want one, I would go for that one

because that is one that will grow really well.

In order to extend the season,

I've decided we'll put in some bulbs of iris.

Now, this is Iris histrioides.

And I've got Iris reticulata up there as well.

Blue, that's the theme.

So in the spring, we'll get this extending of the colour.

Now, this lot will be planted round about one-and-a-half,

two times the depth of the bulb. That's the depth that they're at.

Now in the catalogue, it will tell you that Iris histrioides

will flower in February and March.

That's all right if you're in a very favourable climate,

but we're up here in Aberdeenshire,

and I suspect this will flower March into April.

So, that's the idea. We will be starting the season then,

that will give us some contrast with the snowdrops

which are here, there's some Cyclamen coum in here as well.

And then eventually, coming right through to the gentians.

And I hope, ha-ha, I hope that I will stop, then,

all the little niggles about it being a torrent of colour.

We'll see.

Continuing with George's blue theme,

I want to draw your attention

to this little shrub, Caryopteris clandonensis "Heavenly Blue".

I fell in love with this years and years ago.

But I've not been able to grow it successfully up in this part

because it's a bit cold.

It's managed to survive last winter in this border here,

but it was a very mild winter.

I think this, if we got a severe winter,

will actually need a bit of protection from some fleece.

If it's going to come through.

If there's a little burning of it, it's not a problem,

because it will be pruned in the spring anyway.

And talking about pruning, this is the time of year when

the old buddleias have got to get knocked on the head, so to speak.

To prevent wind rock,

take them down to about a metre from the ground.

We all know gardening is good for you.

Solstice, a production nursery here on the banks of the Dee,

on the outskirts of Aberdeen, is said to grow plants and people.

So it's a fitting place to learn just what makes gardening

a therapeutic exercise.

Well, I'm delighted that Fiona Thackeray is able to join us today.

Head of Trellis. And it's your birthday.

-That's right.

-I.e., Trellis is?

-Ten years old.

-Yeah.

-This month.

-Tell me what it does.

Well, Trellis is the Scottish organisation for

-therapeutic gardening.

-Yes.

-And we support around 370 projects,

-right across the country.

-Really?

We use gardening to help people to help themselves.

Yes. It's easily said, madam. But is there any proof?

For example, it is said to help people with dementia.

There's some evidence that gardening seems to really calm people down.

And there's a wonderful example in a hospital ward in Fife,

where a new ward was built with a garden and views of the five hills

and the patients were much less agitated, much calmer, and also

staff sickness fell because they weren't

having to deal with stressed patients.

So then we go on to people who have learning difficulties.

Very often they're learning new horticultural skills.

Quite often winning awards and qualifications for that,

and it might be the first award they've won in their life.

And also they're building their confidence

as a result of becoming skilled and very competent at what they do,

-and maybe making new friends as well.

-And mental illness?

Yeah, mental illness is...

Well, gardening is used a lot to help people

who've got mental health problems.

It really seems to reduce stress, reduce feelings of pain and anxiety.

Just being in a garden really takes your mind to things

outside of yourself. And that's a real breath of fresh air.

And it helps with perspective.

So you look at the sky, you think about what the weather is doing.

Your eyes are drawn to nature and the birds and wildlife around,

so it really stops you worrying about problems so much.

This is not all pie in the sky.

And Solstice here is a good example

of just what you've been talking about.

I think we shall go and find the nursery manager.

Now then, Jackie Bibby, you are nursery manager of Solstice.

-How would you describe Solstice?

-Solstice is a social firm.

It's a non-for-profit organisation for people recovering from

-mental health issues.

-Yes. And is there an end point here?

It's not just a social facility here, is it?

We provide, with Aberdeen College, Level 1 Amenity Horticulture,

which can lead to a gardening job.

Yeah. Now, why did you pick wholesale production of plants?

Because we wanted a safe and quiet atmosphere for people,

because they're coming here and they're recovering from

severe mental health issues.

So, who, then, would be your clients, i.e. customers,

for the plant material?

-Well, mainly are the local garden designers and...

-A picky lot.

-Definitely, yes.

-THEY LAUGH

But I suppose if the price is right,

-they'll come back to you all the time.

-Yes.

They look for quality, they are looking for hardy plants,

-and a wide range.

-You've helped us out once or twice, that's for sure.

I shall thank you for that. So, how would you describe it?

-We grow people and plants.

-I like that.

Well, I must go and talk to one or two, see how they're getting on.

-Yeah.

-OK, thanks, Jackie.

Well, it's time now to join a team of the participants,

who are getting walloped into splitting up

and potting epimediums in their various different ways.

I love doing this, I love getting up early in the morning. And...

-Excellent.

-And I love working...

-How many days a week do you come?

At the minute I only work Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

This is propagation at its best. Look at that! That's brilliant.

Have you aye been interested in gardening?

-Well, 20 odd years been gardening now.

-Oh, well, I shall...

Most of the time I'm just cutting grass and doing moors.

-But I love doing this for therapy.

-Absolutely.

-So much satisfaction.

-You see a benefit when you're finished as well.

-Exactly.

And they're no a bad bunch to work with, are they?

No, I think so. I wouldnae be here if they was.

-You better say that.

-I better say that.

I think it was early May I started here.

-Are you enjoying yourself?

-Yes.

-It's doing the business for you?

-It's good.

-Aye, it's doing the business for you.

-Very good.

-Happy chappies.

Every one of them. Because they're enjoying their gardening.

-And the patter's quite good.

-Oh, yes.

Aye, it's never stopped since I came in.

It wouldnae be the same without banter.

This is true. The first thing I got was, "Tea or coffee?"

-HE LAUGHS

-That's the way we rock and roll, my friend.

Every season of Beechgrove Garden,

we take several different opportunities

to show how therapeutic gardening is.

This year, for example, I think back to East Haven

and the incredible efforts they've gone to there

to make their community look good.

And I think of this place here at Solstice, doing some wonderful work.

And we keep banging on about it,

it's time we had a Minister for Gardening.

Because it's work that works.

What better way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Trellis

than to plant a tree in commemoration? Well, think about it.

Trellis is to support plants.

But our particular Trellis supports people as well.

So what better kind of tree than this service tree?

Sorbus torminalis.

Sometimes called the checker tree.

The reason being that when the bark starts to peel as it ages,

it peels in little squares like checkers, and the little fruits

that come on it, just like rowans,

are sometimes referred to as checkers.

Now, it says in the old books it's very good for the colic,

but it also says that once the fruits have rotted,

or "bletted", as they called it,

they actually taste like dates and they used to feed them to the kids.

So there's a lot of history in this Sorbus torminalis,

and sorbus in general do well here.

I'm looking forward to this. And its autumn colour, I can tell you.

It's quite special.

Well, it's that time of year, the apples are ripening.

And if you've got a big tree,

then they're going to be ripening all at once.

How do you know they're ripening?

Well, if you just take an apple and you just lift it like that,

it comes off in your hand. And that's the idea.

Check it to make sure there are no blemishes on it

or anything else like that.

And then we can just wrap this in a piece of glossy paper.

I'm sure, like me, you get lots of glossy magazines coming

through the door and this is something which you can use them for

without offending anybody, so there we are...

We'll wrap it up like that.

What this does is, that compartmentalises

or isolates that apple when I've wrapped it up like that.

That can then go into a box - it could be a cardboard box,

I'm using a polystyrene box here. Into the box.

That box can sit outside somewhere where it's going to be dry and cool

and these will keep right through until February or March,

so we can enjoy the harvest for longer.

Well, here's something you might like to try for next year.

Growing your carrots in containers.

I am hoping that we are going to have some carrots here that

are carrot root fly-free.

And I'm just going to lift one up...

Now, just take a look at that.

An absolute beauty.

Because carrot root fly is meant to fly just at a certain level,

I've also got some in this tiered container.

And...

yep, look - we've got another one there.

So definitely worth a try.

Now then, George, do you remember in the spring of this very year

when we sorted out this viburnum rhytidophyllum?

When we left this it was just a ruckle of sticks, wasn't it?

-Yes, it was.

-But look at it now.

-But we knew what we were doing.

-Put it there!

-I was going to say, congratulations.

It looks so healthy!

Look at the shine on the leaves. Handsome beast, it is.

-And it's going to flower.

-Yes.

Well, but of course we knew that!

Of course we did, course we did.

And speaking about flowers, look at the old flowering spike

of the phormium and some beautiful seeds there.

Can we just have a quick look?

-They're so shiny.

-Black and glossy.

-Do you think there's a new variety there, somehow?

-You never know.

-You never can tell!

-We could make our fortune yet!

And isn't that doing well?

It must be so dry underneath there, that beautiful golden luzula.

-That's because it likes it.

-It does.

Another thing that likes it

is the Euonymus alatus going over the top of that fence over there.

-Yeah.

-Almost pillar box red.

Coming into an exciting time of year really, with all these colours.

We are.

If you'd like any more information about this week's programme

of course it's all in the fact sheet and the easiest way

to access us is online. And in fact,

maybe you want to get in touch with us about one or two things, too.

Yes, we've been out on roadshows this year at Strathkinness,

at Gairloch and at Nairn and we have to say, we've had a jolly time.

It's been really super.

Then I said, "Well, plastic sheet on the kitchen floor,

"knock it over on its side and roll it back and forward till it's loose.

"Out it comes and then - have you got a hatchet in the cupboard?"

And we split it into four.

Put it back into a suitable-sized pot.

I never was asked back.

LAUGHTER

So, if you want us to come next year, perhaps

and do a roadshow in your area, get the scones on!

And the same goes in case you've maybe got a problem corner -

quite a small one, though, not too big.

And perhaps if you've got a really nice garden or you know

a neighbour that's got a nice garden and it doesn't matter

what size it is, we'd love to hear from you and again,

just have a look on the website for the details.

Yes. Well, if you hadn't already realised it,

all this summing up is being done because next week is

the last programme in the series, number 26, would you believe it?

-Middle of October.

-I know.

Absolutely fantastic that we've been into this part of the season,

so there'll be a whole round-up of jobs to do and stuff to be

looking at over the winter.

-So until then, bye-bye.

-Bye!

-Goodbye.