0:00:11 > 0:00:13I tell you what, do you think I'm tempting Providence by saying
0:00:13 > 0:00:16- this is a cracking day for gardening?- You might be,
0:00:16 > 0:00:17cos it's been so changeable, Jim.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19Hello and welcome to Beechgrove.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22I tell you, we've had some awful weather over the last month,
0:00:22 > 0:00:24but today, light breeze, sun's not too strong...
0:00:24 > 0:00:27It's quite nice, and the soil's looking good as well, isn't it?
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Indeed. So we are looking at the vegetables. Progress has been mixed,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33- again, related to the weather. - But broad beans...
0:00:33 > 0:00:34What about the broad beans?
0:00:34 > 0:00:36- I think broad beans are a great crop to grow.- Yep.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38And we've got three varieties.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41They're all dwarf varieties, starting off with kind of the
0:00:41 > 0:00:43old-fashioned one, the Sutton.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45- Yeah.- Slightly newer is Robin Hood. - Yes.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49And then Oscar is a completely new one in the catalogues,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- and very different.- Yeah, very white flowers for a start.- Yes.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- Totally white instead of the black and white.- Yeah, yeah.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Slightly taller growing and so what I'm doing at the moment is
0:00:58 > 0:01:01nipping out the tops, cos you can use those in salads.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02Mr Anderson will be after them.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06And of course it stops against the black aphid, doesn't it, as well?
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Yes, it does. But this is also a destructive harvest crop, isn't it?
0:01:09 > 0:01:10It is. It's meant to be.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14In fact, when they mature, all the beans should mature together.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17- And we've got a succession cos... - Yes, these were planted plants.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20We were planting them together, weren't we? And sowing those direct.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22- There's about six weeks of a difference.- Sure.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Will there be six weeks of a difference in cropping?
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Well, one would hope so.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28- It would give us a little bit of a succession, wouldn't it?- Mm!
0:01:28 > 0:01:29Behind me, however,
0:01:29 > 0:01:31we've got one of the crops that has suffered from the weather.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- They are not looking so great, are they, Jim?- The runner beans.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37- A little bit yellow.- Yes.- But, you know, they are starting to recover.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40- Yes, they are. - And you've got the hoe going, and that's a great hoe, that one.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- This is the swoe.- Mm.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Back, forward, it doesn't matter. Very lightweight.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48And of course, what I'm really doing is maybe catching seedling
0:01:48 > 0:01:52weeds, which will be burned up by the sun, but I am also mulching,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55- because that acts as a mulch layer, doesn't it?- Absolutely.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57I hate to see flattened-down ground.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00- No.- Back to crops. Spinach. - Lots of lovely spinach.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01I particularly like this one
0:02:01 > 0:02:02- with the red vein.- Right.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05- Red kitten.- Oh, really? SHE LAUGHS
0:02:05 > 0:02:07I probably would avoid that one.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Well, I'm going to pick some of it because, again,
0:02:10 > 0:02:12I'm sure George would be happy to crop some of this,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15cos it's a bit like sort of a cut, come again.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18We grew it commercially many decades ago, and that was it,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22leaving about an inch of the stock, shearing it off,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25a little bit of nitrogen to encourage it to come again,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28but that lot there are starting to sprout, I think.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Look. They are bolting. That's not good news.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33And I think sometimes you... This one is Koto.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37- Look in the catalogues and see the ones that are meant to be bolt-resistant.- Yes, yes.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39But I'm sure we could still put that in the salad.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Leeks and onions coming away not too badly.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Courgettes, again, suffered from the weather.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46But on the whole, I mean, we're not too badly off.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- Not too bad at all. - Do you agree? Yeah.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Meanwhile, in the rest of the programme...
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Brian is back and planting a range
0:02:57 > 0:02:59of alternatives to box hedging
0:02:59 > 0:03:01to avoid the dreaded box blight.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06And with Mexican orange blossom
0:03:06 > 0:03:07and scented azaleas,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10I'm going to be following my nose this week.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16You know, I can't believe it was just two weeks ago that Jim was
0:03:16 > 0:03:18looking at his tomato plants in the greenhouse,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20and here we are now in the polytunnel.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24And in that two weeks, they have certainly grown, looking very
0:03:24 > 0:03:29healthy, lots of trusses forming, and they're starting to set.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31These two plants, different varieties,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34but they're both cherry tomatoes, and here are one or two of
0:03:34 > 0:03:37the fruits, so hopefully we are going to have a good crop.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39But we do have a little bit of a problem,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42and you need to take a close look at this, and this is how you can
0:03:42 > 0:03:49miss things, but on the underside of the leaves here, I can see...
0:03:49 > 0:03:51In fact, one or two there just dropped off,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53but we've got one or two aphids.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57And what I suggest is that we will need to spray,
0:03:57 > 0:04:02make sure you use a suitable spray for edible crops, and also I
0:04:02 > 0:04:06would do it in the evening when the pollinating insects are not around.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09But you do have to watch it because they will multiply,
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and because they are contact insecticides,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16you've got to spray the top and the underneath to be effective.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Now, also, these bags were quite big,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20and I was suggesting that we would do
0:04:20 > 0:04:21a little bit of intercropping.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Well, the plants have grown so much,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27we have already harvested some rocket, and I've also
0:04:27 > 0:04:30got some lettuce here, which will be great to add to our salads.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33This variety is Mascara.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36And the colour, though,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38is completely different to the ones
0:04:38 > 0:04:39that I've got on the decking.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43On the decking, they're much more markedly sort of red.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46And I think the reason is the fact that we've got the plants
0:04:46 > 0:04:50shading them and just generally the lack of light in here.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53But that doesn't mean to say we can't use it and can't enjoy it.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55As for the cucumber, this one is
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Delistar, a thin-skinned variety.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59And let's have a look.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Yes, we've already got some of the fruits forming.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04That's started to set on the main stem.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07And then what we need to do is a little bit of training,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09so we look for the side shoots.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11So here is a side shoot here.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14And we've got one leaf, then a second leaf.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16It's a little bit like training a vine.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20And then I just need to pinch out the top.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Otherwise, it goes totally out of control.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25And speaking a little bit about out of control, I mean,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28we have put of the netting here for our squashes.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30They're doing quite well.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32And already, this variety,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34it's called Sunshine,
0:05:34 > 0:05:38and, look, there's some lovely little golden balls there.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I think they will be delicious later on.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45From squashes next-door to chrysanthemums here,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47in our big glasshouse.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49And we're trying out something different.
0:05:49 > 0:05:50Variety is the spice of life, isn't it?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52We brought in some rooted cuttings,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54so they're really quite small plants yet.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Many of you will have chrysanthemums that are this high already
0:05:57 > 0:05:58and starting to flower.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00But do you know, my first job in a nursery,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03we started cutting chrysanthemums end of July,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07and we were cutting chrysanthemums at the beginning of January,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09continuously, all the way, using different types,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11different styles of growing.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12Here we've got them indoors,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14so that will bring them on at a nice pace.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16And we look forward to some nice cut flowers.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19But amongst the lot that we bought last year were
0:06:19 > 0:06:21some Koreans. And these are they.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25And I remember way back we grew them as pot plants, not cut flowers.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27So I'm trying to do that this time.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29It's a little bit of an experiment.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33So, you can see, they've actually got flowers on them already,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35so they initiate flowers very easily.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39What I'm doing is cutting them back like so because I want lots
0:06:39 > 0:06:44more stems, and then at the top of each stem, there will be more buds.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48So we are putting them up into a bit of decent compost.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49And they will be cut back.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51They'll be stood in here, beside the rest,
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and hopefully this will work.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Time alone will tell.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Today, I'm in the herb garden here at the Beechgrove.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09And as you can see, on both sides,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11it's got neatly clipped box hedging.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Now, last week,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16I went to meet head gardener Susan Burgess to see how she deals
0:07:16 > 0:07:20with the dreaded box blight on six miles of box hedging
0:07:20 > 0:07:22at Pitmedden gardens in Aberdeenshire.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30Box blight is a massive problem all over the country, as it devastates
0:07:30 > 0:07:34box that will, in some cases, have been growing for centuries.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Susan at Pitmedden has started a regime of spraying with
0:07:37 > 0:07:40a compound that provides a barrier to the blight but is also
0:07:40 > 0:07:41a plant stimulant.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45In other situations, gardeners have been forced to take extreme
0:07:45 > 0:07:47measures by removing infected box completely.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Isn't this laburnum a great backdrop to the Geometric Garden
0:07:57 > 0:08:00at this time of year? Which again, is full of box,
0:08:00 > 0:08:02and this time is topiary.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06It is such a versatile plant, box. I love having it in the garden.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08But it is so much effort to keep on top of the spraying,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11to keep it nice and healthy in our gardens, which is why,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14when I look at this clipped yew hedge that we have surrounding
0:08:14 > 0:08:17the Geometric Garden, it's got me thinking there's
0:08:17 > 0:08:19other alternatives out there for box hedging.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29So, here I am in the area that we are trying out some trees for
0:08:29 > 0:08:30small spaces.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33And this is the perfect spot to try our hedges.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35So we've got five different alternatives.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38We are planting them in a zig-zaggy fashion and we are going to
0:08:38 > 0:08:39compare them all together.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07Well, that's the rain on - perfect timing,
0:09:07 > 0:09:11just in time to water in our first row of plants which is box.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14And this is the plant that we are wanting to compare all the others
0:09:14 > 0:09:16against, and the characteristics of box.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20They're beautiful plants. They're dwarf. They're compact.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22They're evergreen. Just perfect for that hedging.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24And these ones are nice and healthy, too.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26When you're at the garden centre, make sure there's
0:09:26 > 0:09:29no little orange spots, cos that's the first sign of the box blight.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32So, for all the hedges, were going for a 2m row.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34We have got our builder's line in.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36This is to make sure we've got it nice and straight.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38And when we are planting our plants,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41we're making sure the stem's right up against the line.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44These are nice small plants, so all we've done is just dug an
0:09:44 > 0:09:47individual little hole and then popped it in.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Our next one is the Japanese Holly.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Or the box-leafed holly.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56And this is the plant that's really interested me
0:09:56 > 0:09:59because, as you can see, the leaves
0:09:59 > 0:10:02are virtually identical to the box.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05So this hedge is hopefully going to look identical to that hedge.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Now, these plants are slightly larger.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12So for this case, what we've done is we've dug a trench, and
0:10:12 > 0:10:15then we are going to get a 30cm space in between them.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17These are quite bushy.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21The effect that we want with all the hedges is 50cm
0:10:21 > 0:10:23across by 50cm up,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26so we can start clipping these ones already, like I've done here.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28So some of these longer growths,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32you can just nip off round the sides, get your shape,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36and then all this new growth in here is all going to come bushy out,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38and I reckon this time next year,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41you are actually going to really see the shape of this hedge already.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48Over here, we have our poor man's box, and that's a good description.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Because what we have here for this Japanese Holly is
0:10:51 > 0:10:55about £70 for the 2m.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59Now, you are virtually half price for all the other hedges in the row.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02These ones are all coming in around about the £45 mark.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05And this one is a nice yellow-leaved
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Baggesen's Gold, Lonicera.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08I do like these ones.
0:11:08 > 0:11:09But the downside about these,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12and this is something that is going to be good for us to compare as
0:11:12 > 0:11:15well, is the amount of clippings they are going to take.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18And I know this one is going to take about two or three every year.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Now, our next little plant is...
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Bit of a mouthful, but I actually quite like it.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31It is a nice little plant. I like the purple-y foliage.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34And if you're looking for something a little bit different in
0:11:34 > 0:11:36your garden, so you can play around with colours and design,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39well, I think this is a good one because, as you can see,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42when it is up against Lonicera, the colours are going to contrast well.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Another good thing about this plant is, as with all berberises,
0:11:45 > 0:11:46they are prickly, they are spiny.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48So it is a good little security plant,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51especially if you are trying to block off a wee path.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Over here, we have...
0:11:56 > 0:11:59And this one here is one of many, many cultivars,
0:11:59 > 0:12:00so basically,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03you can go to the garden centre and take your pick.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04The other hedges, or all the hedges,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08we are trying to create 50cm by 50 cm.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10But if you are needing something wider,
0:12:10 > 0:12:14then what you are going to want to do is have a double row.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17So what we have done here is our rows are 45cm apart and we
0:12:17 > 0:12:22are going to stagger them, so as you can see, the growth from this
0:12:22 > 0:12:23plant is going to go into this gap,
0:12:23 > 0:12:26and it goes so on and so on,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28and what that's going to do is it's going to grow in amongst each
0:12:28 > 0:12:31other and create that lovely, bushy, compact hedge.
0:12:31 > 0:12:32And our final is...
0:12:33 > 0:12:36And this is the one that I'm actually quite excited about and
0:12:36 > 0:12:38really looking forward to see it happening.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42This is an early spring flowering shrub - white flowers,
0:12:42 > 0:12:43beautifully fragrant,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45sweet fragrance that smells absolutely lovely,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48so I'm interested to see how this is going to look as a hedge.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51So for the final job, as with all our hedges,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54we did mix in some bone meal when we were doing the planting
0:12:54 > 0:12:57process because we really do want to encourage some good root growth,
0:12:57 > 0:12:58and then after that,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01give them a good watering and a good layer of mulch over the top,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04because we really don't want these plants drying out over the summer.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05So there we have it.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08These are five alternatives to the box hedging,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10and what we'll do over the next few seasons,
0:13:10 > 0:13:13we'll keep coming back and seeing how they are getting on.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Well, it will be interesting to see how these various hedges develop.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Thankfully, I've only got one at home, and it's not very big,
0:13:22 > 0:13:24so it is easily looked after.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26But to my little greenhouse at home,
0:13:26 > 0:13:28this is meant to sort of emulate what I am doing.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30It is a production unit.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33This is where I produce the plants that then go into my little
0:13:33 > 0:13:36conservatory, and I can swap them around, when they are in flower,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39out of flower, I've got something to replace them.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42And here are an example of the kind of things that I rely on
0:13:42 > 0:13:44for most of the time. Pelargoniums.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Whether they be pelargoniums or zonal pelargoniums,
0:13:47 > 0:13:48it doesn't matter. Look at this,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50absolutely... Lady Plymouth.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Stunning house plant.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Absolutely performs all of the time.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Gorgeous foliage and a lovely lavender pink flowering.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00And that will flower on and on and on.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03But some of them get to a stage where they need a rest.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05I mean, this chappy here.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07Well, actually, this is Pink Capricorn.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09You can see, plenty of flowers, looks good,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12and there are some new buds at the base, which will keep it
0:14:12 > 0:14:16flowering, because you have to disbud it from time to time.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18That's worthy of still being in the conservatory.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21But then you go to the opposite end. This one.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25This will be lucky to see the end of the week, so to speak.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27It's starved.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28It is needing potted up.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30I might, because I like the colour of the flower,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33I might bring that one back into my little greenhouse,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37cut it back, give it a bit of TLC and try and revive it.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Even if I can only just get some cuttings from it to start all
0:14:40 > 0:14:42over again, that is part of the process.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44And of course, in doing so,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47you are always looking for something different. How about this one?
0:14:47 > 0:14:50This is a Vancouver Centennial.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Look at that for a house plant or a pot plant. Gorgeous foliage.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56These lovely orange flowers. Stunning.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58And they attract attention.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00But they have their time when they need a rest,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03that's when they come back into the wee greenhouse.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05And this is probably the daddy of them all,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Ardens, Pelargonium Ardens.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Look at that. It's not a big showy thing, is it?
0:15:10 > 0:15:12But how is that for delicacy and quality?
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Love it. Stunning thing, it is.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16It really is beautiful.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20And sometimes by accident you can find a winner. Look at this.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Now, this plant here was a bedding plant out there last summer.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27Colour... Spotted it straightaway.
0:15:27 > 0:15:28It's so vibrant, isn't it?
0:15:28 > 0:15:32But look at the number of flowers to one plant, which is worthy,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34to my mind, of being treated as a pot plant,
0:15:34 > 0:15:35not just a bedding plant,
0:15:35 > 0:15:40and actually to propagate it by cuttings to get a few more.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Again, bedding plant maybe?
0:15:42 > 0:15:43This is Mrs Pollock.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Gorgeous foliage colour.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Nice little flower.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48But it is grown for its foliage colour.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Maybe used as a bedding plant.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54But it's worthy of my conservatory, and so I will grow it in here,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57bring it on, get it when it's ready, pop it into the conservatory.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59It is a continuous process,
0:15:59 > 0:16:01and there are sets of plants that are flowering,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04then they need a rest, and then something else takes its place.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Fuchsias, for example, are very good at this time.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08And that's how it goes on.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Jim and myself are going to dip into the post bag and hopefully
0:16:15 > 0:16:18answer some of your queries, and starting off with,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22we've had a couple of queries about a very pernicious weed.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24It's this thing here, horsetail.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Somebody with an allotment, Sandra Richardson, who actually
0:16:27 > 0:16:31wanted it identified but also, "What do you do with it?"
0:16:31 > 0:16:32Now, horsetail, as you can see,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34we've got it here growing in the garden.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37It goes down metres. It really is a big problem.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41But there are a few ways that you can try and deal with it and
0:16:41 > 0:16:43keep it under control.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46One of the best ways, I would say, is just keep hoeing it,
0:16:46 > 0:16:48keep pulling it out, keep on top of it.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52And that is something you can definitely do on the allotment.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54Another way, if it is a spare bit of land,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57you could think about actually excluding the light,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00whether you want to use black polythene or some old carpet,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03but you need to leave it there for quite a long time.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06And the other way is maybe going down the route of
0:17:06 > 0:17:08a systemic weedkiller.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12But there, you have got to be a little bit careful because
0:17:12 > 0:17:15this has like a sort of plastic coating on it.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18It has silica in it, so you've got to bruise it first to be
0:17:18 > 0:17:21effective. And I would suggest that perhaps one of the best
0:17:21 > 0:17:24times to put on that weedkiller is September,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28just as the plant is starting to die back, and it effectively
0:17:28 > 0:17:31then takes that weedkiller down into the root system.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34And another problem that is quite common.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36This one is from South Lanark.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40And if you take a close look at this, now, that is meant to be
0:17:40 > 0:17:44a lawn, but it is covered in this sort of leafy structure.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47This is called dog lichen.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50A lot of people think it is a fungus. Well, you're half correct
0:17:50 > 0:17:54because it is actually a combination of a fungus and an algae.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59It's telling you, really, that the ground is totally impoverished.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03And the letter we had in from South Lanarkshire said that it was
0:18:03 > 0:18:05right near a forest.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Well, that means there is lots of competition for moisture,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10for nutrients.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13To combat it, you can try a moss killer to kill it out,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16or rake it out and then use a moss killer,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18then you've got to feed, you've got to have
0:18:18 > 0:18:22a great programme to encourage the lawn to grow.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Yes, it is getting hotter, I have to say.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Next question on the list is about roses,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30and I thought we'd pick a rose just to start off with.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32There is this gorgeous species of rose -
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Rosa spinosissima 'William III'.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37An absolute stoater. Absolutely beautiful.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Anyway, Margaret McGregor in Kirkcaldy has to shift a rose -
0:18:40 > 0:18:46Dorothy, beautiful pink flowers, climber, 65 years old.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Alterations to the house, it's against a wall, can she shift it?
0:18:49 > 0:18:50No.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52At your peril, I would say.
0:18:52 > 0:18:5665 years, the roots are going to be miles out, the feeding roots,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and you are going to have to be very savage in cutting it back to
0:19:00 > 0:19:02try and move it to another spot.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05If there was time to delay this process so that you could get some
0:19:05 > 0:19:10cuttings later on, I would prefer to propagate it, two or three, perhaps.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Then, once the cuttings were rooted, do what you like with it
0:19:13 > 0:19:19because the old one is hardly likely to be able to take on that shift.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21I'll get ten letters next week saying,
0:19:21 > 0:19:22"Oh, I did that last year!"
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Yes, OK. My advice is try and find another way,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27or go buy another Dorothy!
0:19:27 > 0:19:29That's the answer.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Now, the next question. Rather simple.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34And that is, we used a phrase,
0:19:34 > 0:19:37a horticultural phrase, in one of the programmes recently.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40We said we are going to heel something in, what does that mean?
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Well, it simply means planting it temporarily.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48So, with a spade, we dig our hole, make it look like a ditch,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52and the subject in question were bulbs that had to be moved,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55daffodil bulbs had to be moved.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59As I say, whack them in the soil, no particular order,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02pull the soil over the top, keep them like so,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05and...heel them in.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06That's it.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Hm, the perfume on this azalea is to die for.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Now, I'm on the outskirts of Dunblane,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and this garden is just chock-a-block full of plants.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33This is only the front garden, and I can't wait to go round the back.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43This colourful garden packed full of plants and perfumes
0:20:43 > 0:20:47belongs to self-taught artist Laura Gill and her family.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51Laura's husband, David, is a retired professional planner, and you
0:20:51 > 0:20:55can see evidence of their combined talents everywhere you look.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01Well, this path is what our nieces and nephews refer to
0:21:01 > 0:21:03as the yellow brick road, or sometimes the train tracks.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05I think that's a brilliant idea.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06Depending on what they're playing at.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10But the design, the plants, and the scent in the garden,
0:21:10 > 0:21:12they are all fantastic features.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Well, scent has always been so important to us
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- in the garden.- It's very therapeutic, isn't it?- It is.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- It is very relaxing, especially... - And do you find the perfume
0:21:19 > 0:21:21- is better, yeah, in the evening time?- In the evening, yeah.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23So the Mexican orange blossom.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26But it is also your combination of plants. So, is that you or David?
0:21:26 > 0:21:28No, that's David. He is the garden planner.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31He plans the combination so that when something is going,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33something else is coming in.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35So the lovely granny's bonnets, they're gorgeous.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38- Well, or fairies' hats.- Nice. - For the children.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42And then over there, I mean, you've got the lovely white azalea with
0:21:42 > 0:21:46- the sort of maroon of the heuchera. - Well, again, David.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50I wouldn't have thought... I mean, I love the azalea. It wouldn't have
0:21:50 > 0:21:53occurred to me to plant that beside it to make that stand out even more.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55- Doesn't it just?- It does.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- So, shall we carry on, on the yellow brick road?- Yeah.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20- Laura, you've actually quite a few trees in the garden.- Yes.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22And I'm admiring the acers.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26I mean, not a mark on them, a nice sheltered position.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Presumably, lots of autumn colour, too.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30That's why we love them so much because there is always colour,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33and the leaves are just amazing as they change colour.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36So even when there is not much else happening in the garden, we've still got that.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Then, when they drop the leaves, you've got the beautiful shape of them, haven't you?- Oh, they are.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41They are still very sort of structural,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43and they're just gorgeous.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46But what we love is that the bulbs and things that are
0:22:46 > 0:22:48planted under there when they are not in leaf,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51they go over and then the acer just falls down like
0:22:51 > 0:22:53a curtain and covers everything up.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55- Just like an umbrella, isn't it?- Absolutely.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58And so you are you utilising that plant for 12 months of the year.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00- Absolutely.- OK, tell me a little bit about this one.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01Oh, it's a self-seeder.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I don't know what to do with this, maybe you can help me.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Well, it is lovely at the moment, a Sitka spruce,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08but that could get giant.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10These are one of the forest trees.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12So I think you have got a choice.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Either you really need to take it out now,
0:23:14 > 0:23:17or I actually have one in my garden and I treat it a bit like a bonsai.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20- Right.- So maybe nipping out the top,
0:23:20 > 0:23:25and then if you keep pruning these by half, it contains it.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28- Right, OK. So that's an idea. - That's a possibility.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31But that one is perfect, the yew there. Just like a pencil.
0:23:31 > 0:23:32It is very sculptural.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35So, I mean, as an artist, presumably, shape, form,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37- colour, it's all important.- It is.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40And even if I'm not painting the garden, it is very inspiring.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44- I love this.- More perfume.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47This time not flowers, but foliage, but, you know,
0:23:47 > 0:23:51if you brush past it, variegated marjoram. It's gorgeous.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53- It smells lovely. - And do you use that for cooking?
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Yeah, a lot. We use it a lot.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57This is an interesting part of the garden.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01When we did some renovations to the house about eight years ago,
0:24:01 > 0:24:02there was nothing here,
0:24:02 > 0:24:07it was just mud, and all the excess soil was just piled here,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10and David decided it was a good idea, and I thought it was just like
0:24:10 > 0:24:14a big ugly whale, and I didn't like it one bit, but it is OK now.
0:24:14 > 0:24:15Well, the clever thing is,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19I think it is great because you've created this mound.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21And rather than having like a flat border,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24where you've got to have plants going up in height...
0:24:24 > 0:24:27- Yeah.- Because of this, you can have geraniums at the back of
0:24:27 > 0:24:30the border that are shorter but they still show through.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- I think it's great.- Oh, good.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35And then look at your beautiful acer again, the golden leaf form.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38- Pristine. And I love the foxgloves too.- Oh, I love them too.
0:24:38 > 0:24:41And I know that maybe some people might view them as weeds,
0:24:41 > 0:24:45but I just love how the bees go inside the bells and then they do
0:24:45 > 0:24:47a sort of little shimmy and they come back out.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49- I just love to watch them. - Brilliant!- I love watching them.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Do you want to see the most peaceful part of the garden?
0:24:52 > 0:24:54- Oh, I'd love to.- It's this way.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Laura, I can see why you'd love to relax in this part of the garden.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21- Water is lovely, isn't it? - Oh, it is just so relaxing.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24And after a hard day, there is nowhere better.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26And quite a few fish in the pond!
0:25:26 > 0:25:28Oh, well, yes, there are.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30And some are 18 years old.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34And the reason we have a pond and the reason we moved here is
0:25:34 > 0:25:37because our daughter accidentally won a goldfish at the fair.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- And so it came to this in the end. - And it came to this.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42The water is crystal clear - what is your secret?
0:25:42 > 0:25:43There isn't one, really.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47We are very fortunate, Scottish water quality is excellent.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It's really good.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52The only thing we really do is put in the barley bags
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- because they keep down that nasty green slimy...- Oh, the blanket weed.
0:25:55 > 0:25:56Blanket weed, yeah.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58And plenty of oxygenators, but again, presumably,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00you have to haul that out a bit
0:26:00 > 0:26:03- cos it can be rather invasive.- Yes, we pull it out if it gets too big.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06The iris, I think I've picked the best day to come and see those
0:26:06 > 0:26:08- in flower.- I think you have. I think they're performing for you.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Just gorgeous. And the wisteria.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Now, how long have you had that planted and how long did you
0:26:13 > 0:26:15have to wait for it to flower?
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Probably around 15 or 16 years old,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20but we did have to wait four or five years before it flowered.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Patience is a virtue, isn't it? Sometimes.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25- Absolutely.- And then you can sit and enjoy this.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26- You can do a bit of artwork.- Uh-huh.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29We've seen some dragonflies. I mean, it's beautiful.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32- And even the cat is enjoying it. - I think she is.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35So thank you very much. I really think this is a beautiful garden.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Thank you very much for coming.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53I've heard the wisdom that everything in paradise is not always
0:26:53 > 0:26:55perfect, well, the same applies to Beechgrove Garden,
0:26:55 > 0:26:58which is six miles out of Aberdeen, it's in the centre of the
0:26:58 > 0:27:02countryside, and with two major pests - rabbits and pigeons!
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Look what they have done to my little turnips.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06I was picking them last week. Fortunately,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08they are just ready to be picked.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10We won't lose much of the crop.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Most of our stuff actually has to be netted just to keep the
0:27:13 > 0:27:14vermin out, and it's a problem.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Just like you have.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Well, following on from David and Laura's garden
0:27:21 > 0:27:23with their scented trail,
0:27:23 > 0:27:25here is another beauty, Rosa rugosa.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27And we've got some mixed colours.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Fantastic perfume.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31It's a plant that you can grow as a hedge.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34It does really well in an exposed location.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38And of course, after those flowers, you get those beautiful hips.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Well, a sample of the early produce from the vegetable garden.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46- It's looking good, isn't it? - Yes, it is. It looks good.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Not so sure about the salad. Too much lettuce, maybe.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49Do you think George will come back?
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Bring back Anderson, I think. Yes.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Anyway... But I think there's
0:27:53 > 0:27:55a lovely lot of colour in the bog garden.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58- It has settled down rather well. - Hasn't it?
0:27:58 > 0:28:00And I would pick out this primula here.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03The variety is called Inverewe. It's a slightly different colour.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05We've looked at the pinks, you know.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09I actually think the Primula genus is well represented by
0:28:09 > 0:28:11a good range of colour right round this garden.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13They are, they're fantastic, Jim, aren't they?
0:28:13 > 0:28:15But if you'd like any more information
0:28:15 > 0:28:16about this week's programme,
0:28:16 > 0:28:17it's all in the fact sheet,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20and the easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23- Next week...- Yeah, the two of us are looking at
0:28:23 > 0:28:26a very sad conifer hedge, and we want to try and solve the problem.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- Because this is the third time it's happened.- It is.- Yes, yes.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32And I shall be starting the pruning of the fruit.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- Until next time.- Goodbye.- Goodbye.