0:00:11 > 0:00:14- Well, George, what do you think of this?- What have you done to it?
0:00:14 > 0:00:18- I mean, rain, sleet, snow!- We could have a snowball fight, couldn't we?
0:00:18 > 0:00:20- Let's go in the warm, come on. - It is cold.- Oh!
0:00:20 > 0:00:25- You're in the right place, Jim. - Come in and shut that door!
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Welcome to Beechgrove.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30I tell you, it's wild here!
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Thank goodness we've got a bit of work to do indoors.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35And I wasn't just admiring that for its own sake,
0:00:35 > 0:00:38that little lobelia perennial. Very nice.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41It's lovely - it doesn't set seed, so you've got to take cuttings.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42That's the third year we've kept that.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44It's the first time I've noticed it.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Speaking about the third year, the same with the amaryllis.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- They're gorgeous, aren't they? - Absolutely fabulous.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52This one, I was looking at it earlier when the sun was out,
0:00:52 > 0:00:56and there's actually a bit of glitter on it when the sun's out!
0:00:56 > 0:00:58- It's frost!- Gorgeous.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01I have to say, I rather like that one at the back there, Royal Velvet.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- Is that the winner? - Susan's a pretty little thing.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05She's nice as well.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08We get lots of stories and lots of questions about how to keep them
0:01:08 > 0:01:10and make them flower again.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12As you say, they're in their third year. What's the story?
0:01:12 > 0:01:14Very quickly, they had the winter rest,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16they've been totally dried off.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20Now, Susan has finished flowering, so you could just nip that off.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22George, you were saying just nip it off there,
0:01:22 > 0:01:23rather than the flowering spike?
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Then all the feeding goes back down into the bulb.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27That's what you've got to do now -
0:01:27 > 0:01:30we've got to be feeding it, we let the foliage grow.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32- But stunning, I think.- Absolutely.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Well, we're going to have to face the elements,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36and Chris is with us this week.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38He's coming up roses!
0:01:38 > 0:01:39Brr-rr!
0:01:41 > 0:01:45And how do you successfully combine plants and art?
0:01:45 > 0:01:49It's something I struggle with, but I know a man who doesn't.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Well, George, as you well know,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56I've got a bee in my bonnet about trees, garden trees,
0:01:56 > 0:02:01and this line of six different types of garden tree are meant to
0:02:01 > 0:02:05demonstrate different shapes, sizes, different characteristics of them.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06This is your choice.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09It's an amelanchier, but I don't know this particular selection.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13This is a thing called Rainbow Pillar. Narrow columnar form.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Normally, when we get those,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19we're really wanting them to grow as the shape of a Lombardy poplar...
0:02:19 > 0:02:22- And you're going to prune it? - I'm going to prune it.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25The interesting thing is, when we prune normal plants,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27we prune them to get them to go outwards.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29I want to prune this to go inwards.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31When I prune these shoots, that one there, for example,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34I'm going to prune that to an inward facing bud,
0:02:34 > 0:02:36so that it grows inwards.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39But the other thing that we've got to remember with this is,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41we want to select a strong central leader,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45so we're pruning some of these side shoots off,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48and we're pruning them to inward-facing buds, like that.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51- And we're going to leave this... - To emphasise this pencil shape?
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Yes, to emphasise the growth,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56and we'll have this good form in the plant, which is really quite vital.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59There's many a garden where there'd be room for that sort of thing,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01but time alone will tell. Right, the next one.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05This is Malus Royalty. This was chosen by the staff.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Each of us all had a choice, and was chosen for its gorgeous foliage,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12and it does have very nice dark-pink flowers as well.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15- But what a mess. - It is a mess, isn't it?
0:03:15 > 0:03:18You know, the nursery man has tried to produce a strong central leader,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- going straight up, and that's what we want.- Yes, yes.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24But we've got a lot of competing branches here,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27and if we want to have this growing up, because that's what we want in
0:03:27 > 0:03:31a small garden, we want things to go up and use the space underneath,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33so what we're going to do is take off these shoot there,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37and this way I am pruning to the downward-facing buds, like that,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40so that we get the growth reasonably restricted.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42I'll take that one off there, like that.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44This one we'll take down to there.
0:03:44 > 0:03:45- And the leader?- And the leader?
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Well, the leader itself, I am going to pull that right down,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53and I'm going to take it to there. OK? That's it.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57- This has definite potential, hasn't it?- Oh, yes.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Because wide-angled branches coming out are strong.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03- Yes, it's not like that one down there.- No.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06This is going to grow out and we've got the strong central leader.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08The whole thing, then, the structure of this,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10will stay sound for years to come.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13We'll remember what you just said.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17The cutting garden here at Beechgrove
0:04:17 > 0:04:21has traditionally been the home of the bounty of colour.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23And we've been adding to that
0:04:23 > 0:04:26with a series of herbaceous perennial drifts
0:04:26 > 0:04:28and standard roses.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30In this particular case, weeping standard roses
0:04:30 > 0:04:33that were added a couple of seasons ago, settled in,
0:04:33 > 0:04:34gave us some good flowering last season,
0:04:34 > 0:04:39but being weeping standards, now is the time to prune them.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43The reason you leave it so late is that you want these long stems
0:04:43 > 0:04:45to start to develop growth
0:04:45 > 0:04:48so that the weight of that growth will bring the stem down.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50So, this time of the year,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53you really get a sense of where the growth is going to come from,
0:04:53 > 0:04:55a young shoot like that, for instance,
0:04:55 > 0:04:57and which wood is worth taking off,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59where the previous flower has happened,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01and also where a bud has been frosted.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05So, the thing to do is get a sharp, clean pair of secateurs,
0:05:05 > 0:05:07clean because you don't want to pass on disease
0:05:07 > 0:05:10from one rose to another after you've been pruning.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Just go in and take off those tips,
0:05:13 > 0:05:19just a centimetre or so above a good, healthy bud.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22Once you've finished cleaning up the canopy of the plant,
0:05:22 > 0:05:27you can then start to cast your eye down the standard trunk,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30and here we have a grafted stem.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33It's grafted at the base and budded up here.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36So this is the dog rose, effectively.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38You don't want any of that on there,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40so go in and take that bud out altogether.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43If you leave it on, it becomes super vigorous and will completely
0:05:43 > 0:05:45dwarf the head of your rose.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Then you can look at the roots.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51It's not a bad idea at this time of the year to apply
0:05:51 > 0:05:54a specialist rose fertiliser.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55Give that a good soaking.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58It's activated, of course, by water, so the roots simply can't get
0:05:58 > 0:06:01a hold of it if it remains dry on the surface.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Once that's soaked in, you can then add the traditional
0:06:05 > 0:06:07top dressing to a rose,
0:06:07 > 0:06:10which is well-rotted horse manure.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12It has to be well rotted.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15So, about two to three centimetres thick,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17all the way around the rooting zone,
0:06:17 > 0:06:21which will help to seal in the moisture and give the roots
0:06:21 > 0:06:23a really good growing environment.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Whilst we've introduced roses on the edge of the garden,
0:06:26 > 0:06:29what we thought we'd also try is to create
0:06:29 > 0:06:33a kind of bounty of roses in the centre as well.
0:06:33 > 0:06:38What we're going to do is create a disc of ground cover roses,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40which will overlap these raised beds.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Then in the centre of each raised bed will be a shrub rose,
0:06:43 > 0:06:49and then around the outside will be a whole kaleidoscope of colours,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52which, when under-planted with herbaceous and bulbs,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56should give us a year-round of colour and interest.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06As with anything,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09the preparation of the ground is the most important thing.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And that especially applies to the planting of roses.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17They're a fairly versatile group of plants.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20There are over 100 different species to choose from
0:07:20 > 0:07:23but, generally, they all like very similar conditions,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26and they like, first of all, a very free-draining soil -
0:07:26 > 0:07:29that's why we've chosen to put them in these raised beds.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34And then, well, it has got to be, strangely, a firm soil.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37This is actually a little bit too light and fluffy.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39If anything, it is too good a soil.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43What happens is, as the rose grows up, it rocks in the wind.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47The roots become damaged, and then the flowering is compromise.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50So the thing to do is to make the soil a little bit heavier here,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53and that's why we're putting organic matter on
0:07:53 > 0:07:55in the shape of well-rotted horse manure.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Once you've got a good layer of horse manure on the surface
0:08:02 > 0:08:05of the soil, fork it in lightly, especially if you've a light,
0:08:05 > 0:08:06sandy soil, as we do here.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09And then, because we've got a really light soil,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13tread it down to give the roots a good, firm hold on the ground.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18In a garden like this,
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I want to try to take advantage of the diversity of roses.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24So, the four spots that I've just put in here will provide me
0:08:24 > 0:08:27with the bulky plants, they're the ones that are the good
0:08:27 > 0:08:31and upright, the structural specimens, the old species forms.
0:08:31 > 0:08:37And they will, in a way, provide the highest point of the garden.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42And then, these little spots here, this is the contrast.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44This is the lowest spot in the garden,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47where I want to use ground-covering roses.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49That's really what this garden is about,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52to really enjoy the fragrance.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55It gets trapped in this area so that in the summer months,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59it's awash with the sweet smell of roses.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Anticipating that we were planting the rose garden,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09we ordered our plant stock earlier in the season,
0:09:09 > 0:09:11which means that we can buy them bare root.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14That means you're getting much more for your money.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18If you get them a little early and the bed isn't ready, don't worry.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Just heel them in in a bed like this,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23a temporary planting bed, and the plants will be fine.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25The thing to bear in mind is that what you're trying to do
0:09:25 > 0:09:27is to keep the roots as moist as possible.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29You can see we've got a good range of fibrous roots,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31and some good structural roots on there,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34and we've heeled in right up to the crown of the plant.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37The only thing to remember is, once they're lifted,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39they're then hugely vulnerable,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42especially on a day like today when the warmth is coming through.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Keep these roots nice and moist, pop them straight in the ground.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Choosing your roses really is a matter of choice
0:10:01 > 0:10:04to suit the colour scheme of the garden, the region you're in,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07and also the structure that you're trying to create.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09For instance, one of my large centrepieces,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12sort of old-fashioned shrub-style roses,
0:10:12 > 0:10:14I've chosen Roseraie de l'Hay,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17which is a very elegant arching plant,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21and has wine-crimson blooms on it.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24It's a very elegant centrepiece to have.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28And then, to come down into one of the smaller shrub roses,
0:10:28 > 0:10:32this is Munstead Wood, which is a modern shrub rose.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It's one of the English shrub roses,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37and this is really a great plant
0:10:37 > 0:10:42which combines the old-fashioned sort of crinkled bowl-shaped roses
0:10:42 > 0:10:46with sweet fragrance and long flowering.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49And then this bowl in the centre here,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52where we're trying to harvest the fragrance
0:10:52 > 0:10:55and create a groundcover mix, I have used Kent,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58one of the roses from the County Series, a really good groundcover.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00It doesn't get any higher than this,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02but it does sprawl incredibly well.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Button double white blooms.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Unfortunately not fragranced, but that's coming from elsewhere.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11But it does create a really good carpet
0:11:11 > 0:11:13around this particular part of the garden.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17And then, just to try one of the new floribundas,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19I've gone for Burgundy Ice.
0:11:19 > 0:11:25Burgundy Ice is one of those relatively unusual plants
0:11:25 > 0:11:28which is derived from another well-known rose.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31In fact, it's derived from Iceberg,
0:11:31 > 0:11:36which, during the...I suppose the 1970s, 1980s,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39just about everyone had Rosa Iceberg in their garden.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Burgundy Ice has that burgundy tint to it,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45and all of the health and vigour of the old Iceberg rose.
0:11:45 > 0:11:51And just to help all of these roses take a hold in this garden,
0:11:51 > 0:11:54what I'm doing is adding a couple of handfuls of seaweed meal.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59Kelp meal is perfect, because the enzymes and the trace elements help
0:11:59 > 0:12:04to really invigorate the rose, and just a spot of mycorrhizal fungi.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Mycorrhizal fungi are wonderful at being able to harmonise
0:12:08 > 0:12:11with the roots of the rose.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14The other thing is to plant really quite deep.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17You can see here on Burgundy Ice, I'm planting it
0:12:17 > 0:12:22so that the shoots are coming right down from ground level.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Traditionally, you might plant a little higher than that,
0:12:25 > 0:12:28but the current thinking is, for the health of the rose,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30just plant a little bit deeper.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Now, once the roses are all planted, you can get onto the watering.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38Of course, it's essential in the first few months
0:12:38 > 0:12:40to give them a good deal of water.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45Whilst you're watering, you can look at the wounds on your hands
0:12:45 > 0:12:49and count all the scratches and scars that the roses have given you,
0:12:49 > 0:12:52and remind yourself that of course technically roses don't have thorns.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55You might think they have, but they don't.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56Technically, they're prickles
0:12:56 > 0:12:59because they don't have vascular bundles.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Small consolation if your hands are in shreds after planting,
0:13:02 > 0:13:04but just think of the fragrance!
0:13:10 > 0:13:13- The parting of the ways.- Definitely.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18Well, at least we've found another job in the greenhouse, under cover.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22This is all about fertilisers, and in fact Chris was talking
0:13:22 > 0:13:24quite a bit about fertilisers in his rose garden.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28I'm going to have a little bit of an observation here,
0:13:28 > 0:13:32and looking at six different fertilisers.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35So, when you do an observation, you need a control,
0:13:35 > 0:13:39so my first one is just the compost with no added fertiliser.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44The plant that I'm using, it's all about trying to produce flowers,
0:13:44 > 0:13:49so I'm going for the number-one bedding plant, and that's a begonia.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53The variety is Illumination, Apricot Shades.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56It's the number-one bedding plant because whatever the weather
0:13:56 > 0:13:59in the summer, it normally does really well for us.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01So, my fertilisers. What have I got?
0:14:01 > 0:14:06These two, I tend to call these the general-purpose fertilisers
0:14:06 > 0:14:10that we tend to put in the vegetable patch, on the borders.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15The first one just contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19So we've got equal amounts in that one.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Moving on, another one that I like to recommend to people is the
0:14:22 > 0:14:27one that contains NPK, but also some of the trace elements, so it'll be
0:14:27 > 0:14:31interesting to see, do those trace elements help with the flowering?
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Then these two.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37You very often see these being sold to encourage you to use them
0:14:37 > 0:14:39for containers, hanging baskets,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43because these are controlled-release fertilisers.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46In other words, when the temperature starts to warm up,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49and I hope it does soon, then that starts to release
0:14:49 > 0:14:52the fertiliser, and you only need one application.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56I should also say that we've got equal amounts in these troughs,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00so about 15g to 5 litres of compost.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02And my last two,
0:15:02 > 0:15:04slightly more specialised -
0:15:04 > 0:15:06this one is totally organic,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09and Chris was mentioning about seaweed,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13this has got the NPK, and the seaweed is also producing
0:15:13 > 0:15:14those trace elements.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And we've got some of the mycorrhizal fungi.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19And the final one,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22this one is very high in potassium,
0:15:22 > 0:15:24which should encourage flowers,
0:15:24 > 0:15:29but interesting technology because, when you look at the grains there,
0:15:29 > 0:15:31it's meant to release quite quickly,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33but also slowly.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37And the claim to fame with this one is that it might produce
0:15:37 > 0:15:40as much as 400% more flowers.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42It will be interesting to see.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49When you consider the sort of day we've been having,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53I was quite chuffed that my next job would be in the greenhouse,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56and now look at it. I'm thinking of actually putting the shading on,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58because it gets very hot in here very quickly.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01And that's one of the problems as we approach the summer weather.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04These small greenhouses have little ventilation
0:16:04 > 0:16:08and you've got to do all that you can to keep the moisture level
0:16:08 > 0:16:10in the air absolutely up to scratch.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13One of the ways you can do it is, if you think about it,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15and my greenhouse at home is the same,
0:16:15 > 0:16:17all winter I've had a slatted staging,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20in order that the little heating that we do have can circulate
0:16:20 > 0:16:23and it gets round to all the plants in the glasshouse.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24But now the emphasis has changed,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26it's not heat that we're worried about,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29it's dry atmosphere and it's high temperatures.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31So, a bit of polythene down on there,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33and then capillary matting
0:16:33 > 0:16:35laid on top, which you can keep wet.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37And you've got this nice moist air around the plants
0:16:37 > 0:16:39keeping them healthy.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42It saves the plants, really, from drying up,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44and stop growing and becoming really floriferous.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48There's still time to take cuttings of half-hardy perennials,
0:16:48 > 0:16:52and these, for example, are pelargoniums. This is Lord Bute,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54and you've got what looks like really very nice
0:16:54 > 0:16:57close-jointed cuttings there.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59But I tell you what, the growth is hard.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Really woody and hard.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Very difficult to root.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06These plants need fed if you're going to take
0:17:06 > 0:17:07some cuttings from them.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10So they're fine, there's not a problem,
0:17:10 > 0:17:12but they need a bit of nitrogen in there
0:17:12 > 0:17:14so it softens up the growth and then you can get
0:17:14 > 0:17:16some decent softwood cuttings.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Moving on now to just in front of that - one of the new plants
0:17:19 > 0:17:22that we were introducing is a new salvia.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24I can't quote what it's going to be like yet
0:17:24 > 0:17:25but it sounds interesting.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Used as a bedding plant or perhaps in baskets and so on.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30They are coming on nicely.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31Now, two options here.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35If it's going in a basket, the next move, without them becoming
0:17:35 > 0:17:37pot bound, as we say,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40full of roots, would be perhaps to put them straight into the baskets,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43just like we did with these ivy-leaf geraniums there.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45These were plugs, put them straight in the basket,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48and then it may be some of these salvias will go on the top of that.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50So they're moving along nicely.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53If they're going to be used as bedding plants in the ground,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56they will need another move yet into perhaps a 7cm pot.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Look at this wee cracker. This has arrived mail order
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and it's called Chocolate Salmon.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05No, I love geraniums, and I want to try this as a bedding plant,
0:18:05 > 0:18:08in a basket, or possibly even as a pot plant
0:18:08 > 0:18:09in my conservatory.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12So this is looking nice and that's a good sample,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14getting a taste of what the colour will be like.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16But would you believe it, what can you say about that?
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Another variety, Caramel Violet.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22That's a disgrace. That's come through mail order as well.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24That's going to take quite a lot of nursing
0:18:24 > 0:18:26to get any sort of decent plants out of them.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30But the daddy of them all is this one that arrived this morning.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Look at that.
0:18:31 > 0:18:37Compost bin, and a sharp phone call to the people that sent it.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40That's a disgrace, that doesn't do them any good whatsoever.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Now, moving round a bit, we come to this little argyranthemum.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46I was potting that at the same time as the dahlias.
0:18:46 > 0:18:47Absolutely lovely little thing,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50making nice plants and starting to flower already.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Of course - they're getting sun, the days are getting longer.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55I don't want it to flower just yet, I want to put on more growth.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59So, right at this time, I want to nip these off, like that.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01In other words, keep it growing
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and you'll finish up with much bigger, better plants.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Then onto the shelf here, a variety of plants.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11This is turning to the kitchen, as it were, and the salads and so on.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Here we have your sweet pepper,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16three sweet peppers, £2.40.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18That's going to be an absolute cracker.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Look at that. It costs a fiver.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22But this one has been grafted.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24So we'll see just how well that grows
0:19:24 > 0:19:28and how many fruits we get off it. Is it worth a fiver?
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Time alone will tell.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Well, today I feel privileged.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42I'm in Morningside, which is a suburb of Edinburgh,
0:19:42 > 0:19:44just to the south of the main city,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47and I'm here to visit a beautiful garden
0:19:47 > 0:19:50which combines specialist plants with unique artwork.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'This designer presentation of specially sourced plants
0:19:58 > 0:20:00'and bespoke commissioned sculpture
0:20:00 > 0:20:03'has been 35 years in the making
0:20:03 > 0:20:05'for physician Tony Toft.'
0:20:05 > 0:20:08So we are in the south-west of Edinburgh.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Now, what's the soil and climate like here, Tony?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13- Well, the soil is acid.- Uh-huh.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16With streaks of clay here and there.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19We're exposed to the south-west wind.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23It's unusual to be able to sit in this garden for any length of time.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25GEORGE LAUGHS
0:20:25 > 0:20:27And March and April are particularly difficult, I think,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30because it's dry, it's cold, it's windy.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32But yet, when I look round here
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and see the array of plants which are here,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38many of which are unusual
0:20:38 > 0:20:40and quite special.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43What made you go down that route, because they are tricky?
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Yes, well, we realised from the beginning
0:20:46 > 0:20:49that rhododendrons liked an acid soil.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51So we began to collect rhododendrons
0:20:51 > 0:20:54and somehow you want things that are a bit different,
0:20:54 > 0:20:56you're not wanting run-of-the-mill.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58So we got them from a respectable nursery
0:20:58 > 0:21:02and then you began to realise that other plants liked acid soils, too -
0:21:02 > 0:21:04enkianthus, fothergilla -
0:21:04 > 0:21:07and then once you get into this buying plants,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10you begin to realise that there are some nurseries
0:21:10 > 0:21:12which are really very special.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14You might have gone to Aviemore for a gentian,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17you've come away with a rockery full of plants in the book.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22Now, that then makes a garden into a journey of social history.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25When you have friends round, you walk round the garden
0:21:25 > 0:21:27- and, "I got that from such and such."- Yes.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- That's it.- Yes.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I may not remember the name of it but I know where I got it.
0:21:32 > 0:21:33GEORGE LAUGHS
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Everywhere you look there are these specialist plants
0:21:41 > 0:21:45but in amongst them you've got these fabulous pieces of sculpture.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46Where does this come from?
0:21:46 > 0:21:49That came from the final-year art college show
0:21:49 > 0:21:52when I worked at the old Royal Infirmary.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I think it's rather nice, it reminds me of a meteor.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58You see the shape of that and then the shape of the sedum there,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01which is this wonderful globular form, so it's tremendous.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Look at these peony roses at this time of year,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05that foliage is just....
0:22:05 > 0:22:09And the rate of growth. That's in about the last ten days or so,
0:22:09 > 0:22:11it suddenly shoots up. It's incredible.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13And then that colour goes right through onto
0:22:13 > 0:22:15the pea stakes at the back. Look at those.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Yes, these are a lovely colour, aren't they? That patina of rust.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20The strength in the stems of those
0:22:20 > 0:22:22and then you go to the thalictrum,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24with the stems there, that is just...
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- What are you feeding your plants on?!- Just mulch.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28Gosh.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Then we come right round here and we turn back
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and you look through this at the blue sky
0:22:39 > 0:22:43and that is just absolutely fabulous.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47It's the first thing anyone notices when they come into the back garden.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52It was planted about 32 years ago by my late father-in-law,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55and I was standing there,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57Maureen was in the kitchen window,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59guiding us as to when it was to be put.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00GEORGE CHUCKLES
0:23:00 > 0:23:03- And it's she who looks at it all the time.- That's right, yeah.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- She's enjoying the view of this from the kitchen window.- Yes.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09But the stem on that is just tremendous.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11- Betula jacquemontii?- Yes.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14And then we turned round and there's the contrast,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16- look, tulips. What else for this time of year?- Yes.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It's so wonderfully even. That's a great splash of colour.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21We treat them as annuals,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23profligate, I know, but they look beautiful.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25But look down the inside of that.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28- Look at the colour in there. What variety?- Olympic Flame.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Right, so what's round the corner? More excitement?
0:23:31 > 0:23:32Yes, a surprise for you.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Gosh, a surprise, a hare!
0:23:34 > 0:23:36HE CHUCKLES
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Normally people complain about having hares in their garden.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41We bought it at the Royal Scottish Academy.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44It's been put together by a lady sculptor from the Borders.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46It's not solid bronze,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48it's bronze resin, so it's not worth pinching.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Look at the expression on its face.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52It looks as though it's just seen us
0:23:52 > 0:23:55- and is just about make off into the undergrowth.- Yes.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Gosh, look at the colours!
0:23:59 > 0:24:01A birch and yet it's that colour.
0:24:01 > 0:24:02Where did that one come from?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05That one came from a large nursery, again,
0:24:05 > 0:24:0625, 30 years ago.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11And I was told that the late Beatle George Harrison had ordered 50
0:24:11 > 0:24:15for his estate, and this was rejected.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20This was the only one left in the whole of the country and here it is.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22- You fell for that one, did you? - Yes, we fell for it!
0:24:22 > 0:24:23THEY LAUGH
0:24:23 > 0:24:25They call this Betula albosinensis
0:24:25 > 0:24:28and we normally think "albo" - white,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30"sinensis" - Chinese,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32and here it is, coppers and gold,
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- and almost...- BOTH:- Purples.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37- Yeah!- That is just stunning.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45This is different, Tony.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47There's been a form of rock garden here all the time.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50The best use of a slope, really.
0:24:50 > 0:24:51Come and see this, George.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53A little speciality?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56I'm always thrilled when we get a gentian out
0:24:56 > 0:24:58for the first time.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00- Gosh.- There it is.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Deep-blue in the middle of the rockery.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03That really shows it up.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05The fact that we're just down at this lower level
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and looking right into the face of the plants makes such a difference.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10- Can we look at this here?- Yes.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12- Summer Snowflake.- Yes.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Leucojum. Beautiful thing, isn't it?
0:25:15 > 0:25:16This is interesting, isn't it?
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Yes, it is nice, isn't it?
0:25:18 > 0:25:22It's called Tumble. It's a piece again by Andrea Geile.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25And it's made of what's called COR-TEN steel,
0:25:25 > 0:25:26which takes this patina of rust,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30but I'm told it doesn't go any further than the surface.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35It was her idea to reflect the shape of the leaf of the acer behind it.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37We've seen a lot of fabulous plants,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40we've seen some wonderful pieces of art.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42But my question to you is,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45how have you managed to bring them all together?
0:25:45 > 0:25:48How do you do that, with art and plants?
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Well, I'm not sure. I certainly don't have a philosophy.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55All I would say is that both Maureen and I
0:25:55 > 0:25:58enjoy beautiful things,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00we enjoy collecting nice art.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Plants are beautiful things.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05And it's colour I enjoy,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07and I think part of that is a reaction to
0:26:07 > 0:26:11the dullness of the climate sometimes here,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13and one's looking for colour, and we have it.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Well, we've been visiting this fruit house regularly
0:26:24 > 0:26:28cos we're watching the progress of this gorgeous crop of cherries.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30But I want to dwell with the vines today.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33These rods, spurs, these are the names.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37And then usually you get two shoots, we only want one.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40If you get two, you might get twice as many bunches
0:26:40 > 0:26:43but they'll be smaller. So it'll give the plant a chance.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44Here we go.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Leave one, leave the strongest.
0:26:46 > 0:26:47Here we go.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Take that one out, leave that one there.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55I've got some more fruit for the decking,
0:26:55 > 0:26:57perfect for small containers.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00This one, for the first time, is a bramble that you can grow
0:27:00 > 0:27:03in a hanging basket or a container,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06so three plants there in about a 12-inch pot.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Also, I've got a framberry,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10looks like a strawberry,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13and the fruits also look like a strawberry,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16but when you taste it it's meant to be a little bit of a cross
0:27:16 > 0:27:19between the strawberry and a raspberry.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Now, there's a sight to gladden your heart.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24That's a wonderful salad, isn't it, for this time of year?
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Even on a cold day.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29We sowed our seeds out in this small-space garden
0:27:29 > 0:27:31round about four weeks ago,
0:27:31 > 0:27:32and there is the result.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35And already I can harvest these. There are some mizuna,
0:27:35 > 0:27:37which I can just snip off with the scissors,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39just below soil level like that,
0:27:39 > 0:27:43and that will go into the salad and add just that little bit extra zing.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Well, you know, I really wish the viewers could appreciate
0:27:48 > 0:27:49what we can smell in here,
0:27:49 > 0:27:52because that perfume is gorgeous, isn't it?
0:27:52 > 0:27:54It just fills the whole of the conservatory.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56Possibly a hybrid of fragrantissima.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58A beautiful thing.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Very reliable. I mean, it flowers like that every year, doesn't it?
0:28:01 > 0:28:03- Yes, it does.- Absolutely.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Hailstones at the moment, I think.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Yes, we could do a good job for the tourist board, you know.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Four seasons in a day, we've had.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13I mean, it's absolutely amazing sort of weather, isn't it?
0:28:13 > 0:28:16It is, but apart from the weather, if you'd like any more information
0:28:16 > 0:28:19about this week's programme, it's all in the fact sheet
0:28:19 > 0:28:22and the easiest way to access that is online.
0:28:22 > 0:28:23Next week, Jim?
0:28:23 > 0:28:26- Tomato time! - And for me as well.- Yeah!
0:28:26 > 0:28:29I'm doing a little bit more formative pruning.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32- Yes, the loppers are out again. - Yeah, they are.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Oh, very staid. Well, anyway, until next time...
0:28:35 > 0:28:37- ALL:- Goodbye.