0:00:02 > 0:00:04Beautiful gardens are one of Britain's most glorious sites,
0:00:04 > 0:00:06but if your green space is more mess than majestic,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09making it over can be a daunting prospect,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12especially if you're short on time and money.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Well, The Instant Gardener is here.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17Ta-da.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21Danny Clarke is an expert at transforming gardens.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24And these will really bring a smile to my face.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Each time, our gardening guru will be showing you
0:00:27 > 0:00:31how to create gorgeous garden makeovers.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32Doesn't that look great?
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Each transformation will be packed with brilliant ideas
0:00:35 > 0:00:38to help you get to grips with your own outdoor space.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Just continually deadhead
0:00:41 > 0:00:44and you will keep getting that plant to flower.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46He'll be turning garden junk...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48Oh, look at that.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49..into garden jewels.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53It's going to be used as a planter and I think this is going to look
0:00:53 > 0:00:55absolutely terrific.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59And showing you how to spend a small budget wisely...
0:00:59 > 0:01:03That's why Danny makes me bring a list.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05..be it on shrubs or salvage.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Would you like that in your garden?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10And because Danny is The Instant Gardener,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13everything you see will happen in a single day.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Oh, my...
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Oh, wow.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19That's unbelievable.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Today, we're in the cathedral city of York.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33Dominated by the spectacular 13th-century York Minster,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37this walled city welcomes seven million visitors every year.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41It's also home to some fabulously fertile soil,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45sitting as it does in the Vale of York, where two rivers meet -
0:01:45 > 0:01:47the Ouse and the Foss.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50But more recently, York's natural
0:01:50 > 0:01:52blessings have hit the headlines
0:01:52 > 0:01:54for unfortunate reasons.
0:01:54 > 0:01:55Last year, the city was flooded
0:01:55 > 0:01:58and nobody expected the water to get as high as it did.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01Homes and gardens were badly damaged,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05including the once peaceful haven belonging to today's family.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- Hello.- Hello.- Rich.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19- Yes.- Good to meet you.- You too. - Hi, George, nice to meet you.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22- Nice to meet you.- Let's have a look at this garden.- Come on in.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Thank you.
0:02:24 > 0:02:25George and Rich have lived here
0:02:25 > 0:02:27right beside the River Foss
0:02:27 > 0:02:30for eight years, during which time they've worked hard
0:02:30 > 0:02:33to create a lovely family home and garden for their kids,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Benny and Lawrence, to enjoy.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41But just as all that work was coming to fruition, disaster struck.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Shortly after Christmas,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46York was hit by some of the worst flooding in the city's history.
0:02:46 > 0:02:52Some 600 homes were affected and George and Rich's family home was
0:02:52 > 0:02:54consumed by the rising river,
0:02:54 > 0:02:59completely submerging their garden and most of their ground floor.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Six months later, the family are still in temporary accommodation
0:03:03 > 0:03:06and their house is still being repaired.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09As for their once flourishing garden, well,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13it's a washed-out mess and they've no idea when or how
0:03:13 > 0:03:17they'll be able to restore some life to this sad space.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26Luckily, I know just the man to help in a crisis and, a few days earlier,
0:03:26 > 0:03:27Danny paid the site a visit.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34I know that this road has been devastated by the flood
0:03:34 > 0:03:36and I want to see what I'm up against,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38so I'm coming along to have a look.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46Wow. You know, as you come out, you really kind of stop here.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48There's a bit of a hill here.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51We've got some decking over there with some steps leading down
0:03:51 > 0:03:55to the lawn and we've got another lump of concrete here,
0:03:55 > 0:03:56which is raised.
0:03:56 > 0:04:02This was a flooded garden, the water was at least up to here.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Now, if plants are submerged in water for too long,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08the roots will get damaged, they will rot.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12But, fortunately, the water wasn't here for too long,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14it did recede quite quickly.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17So, really, it was just the delicate plants that got washed away.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20The stronger plants have survived.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22There's a bamboo over there,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26that seems absolutely fine and I can see some geraniums over here and
0:04:26 > 0:04:28they've survived the flood.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32But the lawn looks like it's definitely seen better days.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35It looks like it really did take a pounding.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39I would say that this hedge is dominating this garden,
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I think it's too high and it could do with a good trim.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45The owners of this plot, you know,
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I can see they're disheartened with it,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51because they once had a nice garden that they were proud of.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53So, hopefully I can do something with this plot
0:04:53 > 0:04:55and give them some direction.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Some green shoots of hope already, that's what I like to hear.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07A few days later, Danny is back with a rescue plan in mind,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10but not before we meet this battered garden's owners.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- Hello, Mr Clarke.- Hello, Helen, how are you?- I'm good.- Good.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- This is Rich.- Hello, Rich. - This is George.- Hello, George.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- Hiya, nice to meet you. - Good to meet you.
0:05:18 > 0:05:19Now, stepping over the threshold,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22it's clear to see you were flooded earlier this year.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23- Yes.- What happened?
0:05:23 > 0:05:25The whole garden
0:05:25 > 0:05:26was completely submerged.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29If you see the fence over there, the water was as high as that fence.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32So, the whole thing was completely submerged.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35They told us not to come out here for about a month afterwards,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37because it was just like a bog.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- It was a shock, wasn't it?- Yeah, yeah, it was really, weren't it?
0:05:40 > 0:05:41We kind of went numb,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43because we'd just never faced
0:05:43 > 0:05:44that sort of thing before.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47What did the garden look like before the flood?
0:05:47 > 0:05:51- We'd just got to a point, hadn't we? - It was nice.- It was really nice.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54We'd just got to a point where we only had a small amount
0:05:54 > 0:05:56of work to do on it this summer.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58It's taken us eight years to get to that point,
0:05:58 > 0:05:59because we started working on it
0:05:59 > 0:06:01from the minute we moved into the house.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- Your boys are six and four...- Yes. - How important is this outside space?
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- Oh, it's vital, yeah. - They just...they live out here.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10They have their tea out here, they play out here from the minute
0:06:10 > 0:06:13they get home from school to the minute they go to bed.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15And we spend a lot of time out here as a family, don't we, as well?
0:06:15 > 0:06:18They've got the Wendy house over here, which they love,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- and the hill, which is brilliant. - GEORGE AND HELEN LAUGH
0:06:21 > 0:06:23- Do you roll down the hill? - We've got sledges.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25We go sledging down it in winter, don't we?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27- Yeah, yeah.- Until you hit the fence?
0:06:27 > 0:06:30That's what the fence is there for, to stop you going into the river.
0:06:30 > 0:06:31Stop you going into the river.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Is there anything you'd like to keep in the garden?
0:06:33 > 0:06:35I take it you want to keep the slope?
0:06:35 > 0:06:36We'd really like to keep the slope, yeah,
0:06:36 > 0:06:38- cos they just play on it all the time.- OK.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41And we'd just finished putting that little patio area in down there
0:06:41 > 0:06:44and me dad had helped us put that in, so we would prefer to keep that.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46So, what do you do on a patio area?
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- We did have some furniture on it... - Right.- ..but it floated away.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50- Oh.- So, I don't know where it is.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It's floating about in the North Sea somewhere.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55So, really, it's got to be a garden for both of you -
0:06:55 > 0:06:57- for you and the kids. - Yeah, yes, definitely, yeah.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- OK.- More the kids.- More the kids.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Rich has volunteered to help you out today.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04- Yeah.- George and I are going to get out of your hair,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06go in search of some inspiration, get you some plants.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08What would you like us to get?
0:07:08 > 0:07:10- It's in the book.- Right.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12He likes to keep me on a tight leash.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14- Wild flower seeds.- Right.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16- We can get that.- Yeah. - Have a lovely day, chaps.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- And you.- We will. - You might stay dry for once.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Lead the way, George. Bye.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24So, while George and I head off on our travels,
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Danny's got a plan to raise this garden out of the doldrums.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33My plan here is to make this garden flood-proof,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36but I also want to make it childproof.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37We want to make it tough and sturdy.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42So, the first thing I'm going to do, in the corner over there,
0:07:42 > 0:07:43I'm going to put a raised bed.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Now, the reason I'm doing that
0:07:45 > 0:07:47is because we want to keep the plants' feet dry,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51we don't want them to be wet, just in case there's another flood.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54And the other thing we need to do is to do something with this lawn.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56So, I'm just going to do a section of it, so,
0:07:56 > 0:08:01I'm going to replace this bit here, but keep the bank and pretty it up,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03put some wild flower seeds in there.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07So, we're going to have lots of nice, exciting colour in that area.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09I think it's going to look great.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11And they can roll down it all they like
0:08:11 > 0:08:14and they're not going to do any damage.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17This area here lacks unity.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21We've got this concrete bit over here and we've got the decking over
0:08:21 > 0:08:24there, but the way I'm going to unify it is by using colour.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27So, I've chosen terracotta as a colour here
0:08:27 > 0:08:29and that should do the trick.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32I'm going to do something with this hedge,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35at the moment it's very untidy and it could definitely do
0:08:35 > 0:08:36with a trim up.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39But I'm going to reshape it in a very interesting way,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42because I want to allow some light into this garden
0:08:42 > 0:08:46and it would be nice if Rich and George could have a view out.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49And I'm going to take my inspiration from York Minster,
0:08:49 > 0:08:54I'm going to carve a turret or maybe even two turrets into this hedge.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58And you know what? It's going to look absolutely terrific.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03So, in just one day, Danny will create a flood-resistant raised bed,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06re-turf the flood-damaged lawn
0:09:06 > 0:09:08and add wild flowers to the bank.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10He'll unify the different areas
0:09:10 > 0:09:11by using colourful paint
0:09:11 > 0:09:12and open up the view a bit
0:09:12 > 0:09:14by sculpting the hedge.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21There's a lot to do to knock this garden into shape, but, fortunately,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23our hero won't be flying solo.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24As ever,
0:09:24 > 0:09:26he's joined by handyman AJ,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28as well as Luke
0:09:28 > 0:09:29and Amyrose.
0:09:31 > 0:09:32Rich will be getting stuck in too
0:09:32 > 0:09:34and he's roped in father-in-law,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Phil, for good measure.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38So, more hands to the pump, the merrier.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41You're obviously just lifting the lawn for now.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- Yeah.- Do you want a hand for that? - Yeah.- OK, so...- I'll do that.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Rich will do that. And, perhaps, Phil, you can help me?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- That'll be good.- Cos what I want to do is trim that hedge over there,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53so perhaps you can foot the ladder for me.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- I can do that.- Yeah, cos I don't want to be falling
0:09:55 > 0:09:59in the river, cos I didn't bring me armbands today. All right.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05So, first, AJ and Rich put their backs into getting that old turf up.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08What we're doing here is just sort of, like,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11digging the spade into the ground, so, like an inch and a half,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13two inches, whatever, so it's going to be easier
0:10:13 > 0:10:17when we come from the side, so, like, just shovelling underneath
0:10:17 > 0:10:18to pull this old turf off.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Lawns are actually pretty resistant to flooding,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25but this turf has also been compacted and damaged
0:10:25 > 0:10:29by the building work done to repair the flooded house.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32So, Danny's decided it's got to go.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Once this is up, give it a little bit of a rake over,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36then we've got some really nice sort of, like,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39topsoil to go back down on here, which will then, obviously,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42be a nice layer to put the new turf on.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- ITALIAN ACCENT:- And mwah! Mamma Mia.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Your green grass is going to look marvellous.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52OK. Small amounts of turf and topsoil don't cost much
0:10:52 > 0:10:56but will give small gardens a very quick face-lift.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Now, with Phil on hand to foot his ladder safely,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Danny's turning his attention to that unruly privet hedge.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Privets are kind of regarded as quite old-fashioned, but,
0:11:07 > 0:11:09I quite like them.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Because, you know, if they're well maintained,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13they will stay nice and tight.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15And because they can keep nice and tight,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18they can be formed into all kinds of shapes.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20I mean, balls, spirals,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23and cubes are the obvious ones,
0:11:23 > 0:11:29but I've seen them as trains, teddy bears, faces.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32So, you know, you can do lots of things with it,
0:11:32 > 0:11:36which is really what we're going to do with this.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Danny plans a York Minster-inspired turret,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42let's see if he creates a work of towering genius.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47With an overgrown hedge, I find it's best to do the sides first.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Don't start at the top.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56If we do the sides first,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58you can get a better sense of perspective,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00you can see where you're going with it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Electric hedge trimmers like this should be used with great care,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07if you're not used to them, a pair of hand shears is
0:12:07 > 0:12:09a safer alternative, but a little slower.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Sides trimmed, it's up the ladder to start levelling off the top.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I'm going to use these secateurs to make a start.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Because I want to see where I'm going with it.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23And I also want to give myself a little bit of room,
0:12:23 > 0:12:24a little bit of swing room.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Reshaping and reviving an existing hedge costs nothing
0:12:28 > 0:12:31but will bring an immediate sense of clarity and tidiness
0:12:31 > 0:12:32to your boundaries.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35It can also increase the light levels in your garden.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38The beauty about privet is that you can cut into the old wood,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41it will regrow and it will thicken up.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45So, this is what happens when you get light and air into the plant.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48If this was starved of light and air, you wouldn't get this regrowth,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51it would stay like a solid stem.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55If we get lots of this, then this is going to thicken up quite nicely.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Tell you what, Phil, there's a lovely view
0:12:59 > 0:13:01of the river through here.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Come on, Danny, stop admiring the view and fire up that hedge trimmer.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13It's probably at this point that I need to step back and really
0:13:13 > 0:13:16assess it, just to see where I'm going to go.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Yes, I'm quite happy with my line, so I'll keep on going.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Good luck, Danny, we're starting to see the wood for the trees.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Meanwhile, George and I are off to visit another riverside garden
0:13:32 > 0:13:35that suffered during the floods...
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- George, here we are in the Museum Gardens.- Yeah.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42I know you come here a lot with your children.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Yes, we do, yes, they love it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46I bet they do, I bet they go wild in here.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49We do, we just come and we just let them run and off they go.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Because it's very big, it's very grand,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54but there are actually a lot of things that your garden
0:13:54 > 0:13:56has in common with this place.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Let's have a look around.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03The Museum Gardens sit amongst the medieval ruins of St Mary's Abbey.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Right in the middle of the city and flanked by the River Ouse.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13With parts of it prone to flooding and subject to heavy footfall,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16this garden, like George's, needs to be tough.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19But there's plenty of proof here that a hardy garden
0:14:19 > 0:14:22can also be full of life and colour.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24I feel like this is the perfect time of year to come to these gardens,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26- cos look at this.- Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Everything's springing to life, nice bursts of colour.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31- Yeah, it's beautiful.- What do you make of this section of the garden?
0:14:31 > 0:14:34I love this, because this is my style of planting, just, like,
0:14:34 > 0:14:39fill something really full and throw the stuff in and hope it comes up.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42I'm sure there was a lot of technical planting going on here,
0:14:42 > 0:14:43but to me this looks lovely,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45cos it's so full and there's so much colour
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and there's a lot of different things going on as well.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50- It looks effortless, but it's clearly taken effort.- Yes.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Which makes it relaxed and it gives you kind of a nice atmosphere,
0:14:53 > 0:14:54- doesn't it?- Yes, it does.
0:14:54 > 0:14:55I like that it's Benny-proof,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- you said your son is quite aggressive with the garden.- Yes.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00GEORGE LAUGHS Hopefully these plants
0:15:00 > 0:15:01will be protected.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Right, let's have a wander round.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08While we go off for an in-depth explore of this gorgeous garden,
0:15:08 > 0:15:11back at George's, half the old lawn is in the skip,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14but the team still has a long way to go before this garden
0:15:14 > 0:15:16is flood-proof.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Meanwhile, AJ's putting together a rather ingenious
0:15:20 > 0:15:23time-saving solution for the raised bed.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26What we've got here is a raised bed kit.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27So, it's in bite-size pieces.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I mean, this just comes like any other flat-pack kit, you know,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34with instructions, pieces, a few screws to put together -
0:15:34 > 0:15:36done and dusted.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37We're using it here today,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40because we're having to walk through the house,
0:15:40 > 0:15:43which means we can just walk through slowly with all the bits without
0:15:43 > 0:15:45scratching any of the new walls or the house decorations
0:15:45 > 0:15:46or anything like that.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48It's easy to handle.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54A flat pack is a good solution where space is limited or your carpentry
0:15:54 > 0:15:55skills are non-existent,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58but it will be more pricey and you could build one
0:15:58 > 0:16:00fairly easily and more cheaply using sleepers.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05The first thing you need to do is make sure
0:16:05 > 0:16:09you've got a level playing field and get the foundation perfect
0:16:09 > 0:16:12and the rest will just build nice and easily.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15So, at the moment I've sort of dug out a little bit of a trench
0:16:15 > 0:16:18to try and get it as level as possible and then I'm now
0:16:18 > 0:16:22propping up the trough with this sand, which it'll all sit on
0:16:22 > 0:16:25and then that'll be, hopefully, fingers crossed, perfect.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Good thinking, AJ.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34While he gets on with knocking all those bits together with these pegs,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Danny's making good use of his other hired help.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- All right, Rich, how's it going? - All right, yeah.- Yeah?
0:16:41 > 0:16:44So, I need you to do another job for me, if that's possible?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- Yes.- If you could do some painting?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50What are we going to paint? That's what I'm thinking.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52- That over there.- The concrete?
0:16:52 > 0:16:53That concrete, we're going to paint it
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and we're going to paint it a nice terracotta colour.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- Yeah, I can do that.- And we're going to paint that bit of concrete there
0:17:00 > 0:17:04and the strip by the door just to give the whole area
0:17:04 > 0:17:06a bit of cohesion.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10A splash of bright paint in the garden is really worth considering.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13With a little bit of practice, it isn't difficult to apply,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16it's a cheap way to make a big transformation
0:17:16 > 0:17:18and if you decide you don't like the colour,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20you can always repaint in a different one.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Meanwhile, Danny's still tackling that topiary,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29a work of art that's still a work in progress, shall we say.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- What do you think? - What's your inspiration here?
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- York Minster. - Oh.- Have you heard of York Minster?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38- Is that a ruin as well? - DANNY LAUGHS
0:17:38 > 0:17:40No, more importantly, what does Richard think?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42I like it, yeah.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45When we first moved in, our first idea was to cut
0:17:45 > 0:17:47castlements out of the hedge,
0:17:47 > 0:17:50so, it's not a million miles off that, is it?
0:17:50 > 0:17:53- Fairly similar.- And I thought it was my idea originally.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54Evidently not.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Chin up, Danny, I'd say full marks for mind reading and it means
0:17:59 > 0:18:01the turret cutting can commence.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04There's a lovely river down there.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08At the moment no-one can see it, no-one can enjoy it, so,
0:18:08 > 0:18:09let's see how it goes.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Tell you what, that's really opened the view out,
0:18:18 > 0:18:19that looks miles better.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26It took more than 200 years to build York Minster and it's taken Danny
0:18:26 > 0:18:28almost as long, but at last, I think, we're done.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31You know what, I think it looks absolutely fabulous.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34I'm really pleased with it, it's really opened up this garden,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37it's let a lot more light in and what's great,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40George and Rich have got a great view through to the river.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42I think it's superb.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45The hedge might look like a fortress now,
0:18:45 > 0:18:49but it won't be able to keep out any possible future flooding,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Danny's going to be keeping that in mind with his planting scheme.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58At the Museum Gardens,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02this riverside section has recently been replanted for that very reason.
0:19:02 > 0:19:07So, we're hoping to pick up some tips from garden manager, Alison.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08- Alison.- Hello there.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11What a glorious day for a wander around the Museum Gardens.
0:19:11 > 0:19:12Isn't it, it's fantastic, isn't it?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14- It's always like this, right? - Of course.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17The sun always shines in York, apart from when it's raining.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18Apart from when it floods,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22which this bit of the garden floods regularly, doesn't it?
0:19:22 > 0:19:24It does, it does. I mean, we're only a stone's throw away
0:19:24 > 0:19:27from the River Ouse here, so, yeah, it's pretty much
0:19:27 > 0:19:29a yearly occurrence.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Obviously, last year it was particularly bad, I mean,
0:19:32 > 0:19:35the water was about four feet deep over this path,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38so you would literally be wading up to your waist in it.
0:19:38 > 0:19:44But, surely, plants are never going to survive a waist-height of water?
0:19:44 > 0:19:47It's the length of time they're underwater that's important,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49not necessarily the depth.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52If it retreats quickly, that's good for the plants.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55We generally reckon that if plants are underwater
0:19:55 > 0:19:58for less than a week, they'll be OK.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59If it's more than a week,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02that's when you start getting problems with the roots dying off,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05the stems rotting, fungal infections getting into them.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09If flooding is inevitable and you're not going to build a huge great
0:20:09 > 0:20:11concrete wall, are you? So what do you do to cope with that?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Well, you've just got to work with nature,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15you've got to go with the flow,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17so you've got to look at plants that are really adaptable
0:20:17 > 0:20:20and really robust and cope with those sorts of fluctuations.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23So, ivy, normally seen growing up trees,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26but here we use it as ground cover,
0:20:26 > 0:20:27that's really, really useful,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31very robust roots, so that's a good choice.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32And in this bed here
0:20:32 > 0:20:35we've got tansy and this has a very sort of
0:20:35 > 0:20:38distinctive aromatic leaf to it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It's really pungent. Quite a bitter sort of smell.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43- Wow.- And this is actually a native plant
0:20:43 > 0:20:46and it grows on the riversides,
0:20:46 > 0:20:48but it's quite ornamental too and it has
0:20:48 > 0:20:50these beautiful sort of flat heads of yellow flowers.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53And geraniums are always good as well,
0:20:53 > 0:20:55because they look good for months on end.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57We've got a nice bed of them behind you.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58These ones haven't come into flower yet,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00but they get lovely pink flowers on.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Again, they suck up a lot of moisture.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04So, there's plenty
0:21:04 > 0:21:06of things you could plant in your garden?
0:21:06 > 0:21:08- Definitely, yes. - OK, we're going to have a little bit
0:21:08 > 0:21:10more of an explore, cos there's so much to see here.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Alison, you're doing a fantastic job. Thanks for your time.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Thanks very much. - You're welcome. Bye-bye now.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Almost all gardens will have an area where the soil is wetter
0:21:21 > 0:21:22than anywhere else.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Adding well-rotted manure can help break down the soil
0:21:25 > 0:21:27structure and improve drainage.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31You can choose plants that like
0:21:31 > 0:21:32having their feet wet,
0:21:32 > 0:21:33such as hostas, comfreys
0:21:33 > 0:21:35or phyllostachys,
0:21:35 > 0:21:36that's bamboo to you and me.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38If your garden is prone to flooding,
0:21:38 > 0:21:43use ground cover plants like ivy or geraniums to anchor your topsoil
0:21:43 > 0:21:45and help prevent it from being washed away.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Back at the house, there are just four hours left
0:21:51 > 0:21:54to restore this battered back garden into Danny's vision
0:21:54 > 0:21:57of a flood-proof and flourishing family space.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00And by the look of it, AJ's raised bed kit has sprung up nicely.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Just finishing off this and I'm just putting a bit of liner
0:22:05 > 0:22:07on the inside, just to give this treated wood
0:22:07 > 0:22:09a bit more of a lifespan.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13That'll soon be ready for planting.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Rather than overusing expensive topsoil,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20the bottom of the bed is filled with recycled turf from the lawn
0:22:20 > 0:22:24and Danny's making use of what he's already got elsewhere.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28In this bed, there are a few plants that did survive the flood
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and one of them is this gorgeous bamboo.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35It does look a bit tired, but we can revive it.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37So, I'm going to get in there as low as possible
0:22:37 > 0:22:40with my secateurs and just cut it out,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43I'm not even sure what this is. You know what I'm going to do?
0:22:43 > 0:22:46I'm going to give this bamboo a mate, cos I think it deserves it.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47It survived the flood,
0:22:47 > 0:22:51so I'm going to put one over in that corner just to balance things out.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55But before Danny does that,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57it's time to plant up that raised bed
0:22:57 > 0:23:02and he's made sure it will all be built to last season after season.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05We've got an array of plants here.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08And I've chosen these for successional planting,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11which means that when one plant stops flowering,
0:23:11 > 0:23:14another one will flower, cos what we want to do
0:23:14 > 0:23:18is have continual interest throughout the seasons.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19I've chosen these marguerites,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22they're flowering now and they're for your spring,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25so they will flower all through the season.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29So, just keep an eye on them and just continually deadhead
0:23:29 > 0:23:32and you'll keep getting that plant to flower.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35For summer, I'm going to plant some gladioli bulbs
0:23:35 > 0:23:39and 100 days after planting, they will flower.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43And what I'm going to do, I'm going to dot them about within this bed.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Now, for the autumn, we've got these senettis, absolutely beautiful.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Again, just keep deadheading them
0:23:50 > 0:23:53and they will flower through the season.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Now, for the winter, we've got these hebes,
0:23:55 > 0:23:56they're as tough as old boots,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59but they will survive any condition
0:23:59 > 0:24:01and they will be great in this garden.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03With the successional planting,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06you're going to have interest all year round, it can't be ignored.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09It's going to look absolutely fantastic
0:24:09 > 0:24:13and I know that Richard and George are going to absolutely love it.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Nice one, Danny, that bed looks glorious and, most importantly,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20it will resist any future flooding.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25At the Museum Gardens,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28I want to find out from George just what it was like back in December,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30when the river rose.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33On a day like this, I don't believe that it ever rained in York.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35GEORGE LAUGHS However, it rained
0:24:35 > 0:24:37a phenomenal amount in December.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39What was it like for you?
0:24:39 > 0:24:42To be honest, we still, even after we had the phone call,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44even after we were told we'd be evacuated,
0:24:44 > 0:24:46we didn't believe it would flood.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49So, we got everything from downstairs, we got it all upstairs,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52we got it all out of the way and then at two in the morning,
0:24:52 > 0:24:54there was a knock on the door,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56so we went outside and it was the mountain rescue who came
0:24:56 > 0:24:58and took us out of the house.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01And I said to them, "It's fine, we don't need to get in the boat,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03"we don't need to get in the boat, we'll just walk."
0:25:03 > 0:25:05And he went, "Madam, you can't walk, it's flooded."
0:25:05 > 0:25:08There was army vans, there was police, there was fire,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11they were offering us emergency accommodation
0:25:11 > 0:25:12in one of the local schools.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14It was like a film, it was like nothing I've ever,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16ever experienced before.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18What was it like going back to the house
0:25:18 > 0:25:19once the water had disappeared?
0:25:19 > 0:25:21It was just a shock. I was...
0:25:21 > 0:25:23I think I was a little bit stunned, because I just kept saying,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25"I've just finished decorating."
0:25:25 > 0:25:27And me cooker had water in it and things like that.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30And I was just like, "Well, this is terrible.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31"What's happened to me cooker?"
0:25:31 > 0:25:35And just completely, not thinking of the bigger picture at all.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38Because I think if we had thought of the bigger picture,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40it would have been a lot more difficult.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43What about the boys? How have they reacted to this?
0:25:43 > 0:25:44Lawrence has reacted to it a lot better,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47but when Benny went back to the house,
0:25:47 > 0:25:49he thought that all of our things were gone,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52he thought that all his Christmas presents from Father Christmas,
0:25:52 > 0:25:54he thought the flood had taken them all away.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57But, you know, he's got some things that he won't let go of now
0:25:57 > 0:25:59that he's clinging onto, kind of thing.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01And every time we go, he goes upstairs
0:26:01 > 0:26:02to make sure his toys are there.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05- Oh, so it has really affected him?- It has, yeah.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08The family are still holed up in temporary accommodation
0:26:08 > 0:26:11while their house repairs are completed.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13But I'm hoping that when they do return,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16it will be their garden that'll make the biggest difference
0:26:16 > 0:26:18to the outdoor-mad boys.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20How much do the boys use the garden?
0:26:20 > 0:26:22They're in there constantly, both of them love it.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Even when we come back to the house to visit to see what work's gone on,
0:26:25 > 0:26:28they both come running in and the first thing they do is,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30"Can we go outside?"
0:26:30 > 0:26:33The insurance company told us not to go out there for a month after
0:26:33 > 0:26:36it was first done, so every time we went they would literally
0:26:36 > 0:26:38stand at the back doors and peer out and go,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41"Oh, can we go in the garden? Can we go in the garden?"
0:26:41 > 0:26:43So, as soon as the weather's been a little bit nicer,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45they've been going out in the back garden.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47But they just love it, they absolutely love it out there.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Well, your boys are never going to be able to reclaim their garden
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- if we don't go and get those seeds. - No.- So, let us get on the road.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57- Yes.- And get a bit closer to getting your garden to back to what it was.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58Yeah.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Danny and the team have made a lot of progress,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08but with only three hours left,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10they'd better get some of his flood-resistant plants
0:27:10 > 0:27:11in the ground.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14We've got a lovely array of plants here.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15Now, we've got some
0:27:15 > 0:27:16achillea, which I'm going to
0:27:16 > 0:27:18dot around in this bed.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22And over here, one of my favourite plants is this verbena.
0:27:22 > 0:27:23It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Now, this would grow to, you know,
0:27:25 > 0:27:29a fairly good height and just look at this flower here,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31it's got this, like, fluorescent colour
0:27:31 > 0:27:33and this will, like, glow
0:27:33 > 0:27:36as the sun's going down in the evening.
0:27:36 > 0:27:41What's good about it, it will self seed, so, you know, eventually,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45in this bed, you'll have plenty of these babies going on.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50So, another new bed full of colour takes shape
0:27:50 > 0:27:52and there's a spot for that new bamboo as well,
0:27:52 > 0:27:56designed to balance that hardy flood survivor.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59You know what? They make a great swishing sound.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02But you don't always have to splash out on new plants,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Danny's discovered a few good'uns in the garden
0:28:04 > 0:28:06that simply need a better position.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07Look at this fuchsia,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10I think it's too close to this spiraea.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12So, they need to be moved apart.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Now, don't be frightened to move plants.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17So, all you need to do is to make sure that you dig
0:28:17 > 0:28:18most of the roots out,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21I'd say all of these are reasonably shallow-rooted,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23so they should come out complete without any problem at all.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28I think I'll dig out the fuchsia, there we are.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31When I re-plant that, that'll be absolutely happy
0:28:31 > 0:28:34and it will romp away.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37I would say the lavender isn't happy here.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39I can tell, because it's very leggy,
0:28:39 > 0:28:43hasn't really flourished where it's been situated and it hasn't been
0:28:43 > 0:28:45able to stand the competition.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49I'm going to put this in a position where it's going to get the light.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52And try and give it the best possible chance in life.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Those plants will provide much more bang for the buck
0:28:57 > 0:28:58in this garden now.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02And AJ's come up trumps with another great bit of money-saving recycling,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04using the leftovers from the raised bed kit.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07You know you said you wanted to make a bench?
0:29:07 > 0:29:10- Yeah.- Well, I've had a bit of a plan.- What's your plan?
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Well, actually, I've kind of put it together, but not hammered it.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16- Do you want to come and have a look? - I'll come and have a look.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19This sounds very interesting.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22- AJ, I love it.- So...
0:29:22 > 0:29:23I think it's brilliant.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26..I'm trying to get it in to interlock like the system works,
0:29:26 > 0:29:29- I mean, I've got to put the pegs in. - I think it's perfect.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34I know I've got to be careful, but shall we sit on it?
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Oh, it's passed the weight test.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38It's passed the weight test, hasn't it?
0:29:43 > 0:29:44It's going to fit.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47It's soon put together and there's a perfect spot for it
0:29:47 > 0:29:49on that newly-painted patio.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52If you can avoid stepping on it, cos I don't think it's quite dry.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55But, of course, there's no time to sit and admire the view.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57What's the time, Danny?
0:29:57 > 0:30:01We've really got to get moving now, cos time's running out.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04The sun's beginning to go down and I know that Helen's
0:30:04 > 0:30:05going to be here soon.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11Soon-ish, because George and I have yet to complete
0:30:11 > 0:30:15Danny's wish list of finding those wild flower seeds.
0:30:15 > 0:30:20We are heading to Arkendale to pick up some seeds for the wild flowers.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24- Right.- What, if any, is your experience of wild flowers?
0:30:24 > 0:30:27I do not have any experience of wild flowers.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32Well, today is an exciting new day for us.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36And I found an unusual place to source some interest.
0:30:36 > 0:30:40Not a garden centre or a specialist nursery, but a trading estate.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44I am really excited about this place, very special,
0:30:44 > 0:30:47these guys know what they're doing, Danny wanted wild flowers,
0:30:47 > 0:30:49he's going to get wild flowers.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52He's going to get some of the best in the country.
0:30:52 > 0:30:53Head this way.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00This specialist company supplies wild flower seeds and sales manager
0:31:00 > 0:31:01Stuart is our guide.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05- Stuart, let me interrupt.- Hi.- This is George.- Hello, nice to meet you.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07- Hiya, are you OK?- Yes, thank you. - I'm so excited, this is a total
0:31:07 > 0:31:09- treasure trove, isn't it? - It certainly is.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11- Can we have a look around the seed den?- Yeah, definitely.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Come on through this way.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15- Is that what you call it - a seed den?- Yes, we do.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17It's where it all happens, really.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19What we've got is all of our mixes here,
0:31:19 > 0:31:22so this is everything that's already premixed, so you can see
0:31:22 > 0:31:25in here there's going to be maybe 30 or 40 different species.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28We have got all sorts of British native wild flower mixes,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31so you're going to have things like cowslips, primrose, ox-eye daisy,
0:31:31 > 0:31:34but we make sure that everything's in there in the right proportions.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37You say primrose, but they're British.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39How important is it to have them in seed form?
0:31:39 > 0:31:40Aren't they just going to spring up?
0:31:40 > 0:31:43It's really important to do that, cos, yes, they will grow
0:31:43 > 0:31:45out in the countryside, but what we want to do
0:31:45 > 0:31:48is get people creating more seed habitats.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50If we can get some seed mixes down with all this diversity,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53it's going to help with actually keeping the species alive.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57OK, I can see there's a whole world of activity going on behind you.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59What's happening in those red drawers?
0:31:59 > 0:32:01What we've got here is all of the individual species
0:32:01 > 0:32:03that will go into the mixes,
0:32:03 > 0:32:07so we'll have maybe 200 different species, all British native,
0:32:07 > 0:32:08at any one time here.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10And then Barry will do the mixing.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13So, it's depending on whether somebody's got clay soils
0:32:13 > 0:32:15or maybe a really waterlogged soil,
0:32:15 > 0:32:17you might have a particularly
0:32:17 > 0:32:18dry and sandy soil,
0:32:18 > 0:32:19there'll be different species
0:32:19 > 0:32:21that need to go in the mixes.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24Not a traditional garden centre. What do you make of this process?
0:32:24 > 0:32:26I love it. I think it's fantastic.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28You have a garden that is prone to getting water.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31- Yeah.- Sometimes more than others. - Sometimes more than others, yeah.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Could we get a mix that would work well for George's garden?
0:32:34 > 0:32:37- Yes, absolutely, we can go ahead and have a look at that.- Brill.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43But with only an hour left to work on the garden,
0:32:43 > 0:32:45there's still an awful lot to do,
0:32:45 > 0:32:48not least of which is laying that new lawn.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51The good news is, that looks like new turf arriving to me.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55I know this turf is hard-wearing turf,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57because it's full of rye-grass.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Now, this is ideal for this garden,
0:33:00 > 0:33:02because the kids are going to be playing out on it.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Now, look at it, there's no yellow in it,
0:33:04 > 0:33:08so I know it's good quality and if I lift it, if I show you,
0:33:08 > 0:33:10it should hold together.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Now, that's holding together, so, I know this is ready for the garden.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17I'm very happy with this, so we'd better get laying.
0:33:19 > 0:33:24And Danny's leaving this job to our resident turf-laying expert.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27When you're laying a lawn, there are a few easy steps
0:33:27 > 0:33:31that I'm going to show you to hopefully make it perfect.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36First step is to aerate the soil of the area
0:33:36 > 0:33:39that you're going to re-turf.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43I'm doing this with just a fork, sort of, like,
0:33:43 > 0:33:48three inches, stab it in the ground, give it a bit of a kick
0:33:48 > 0:33:51and a little bit of a twizzle and there you have it.
0:33:51 > 0:33:57And you do that just to let the air in and then on the second step,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00the topsoil will also then go into these holes.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08Right then, this next step I'm doing here is just breaking up the top of
0:34:08 > 0:34:12this soil to try and stop the troughs and the peaks,
0:34:12 > 0:34:14try and flatten them out.
0:34:14 > 0:34:15It also digs up, sort of,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18the slightly bigger boulders in the soil here
0:34:18 > 0:34:20which are no good for the new grass to go down on.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28And the most important thing to do when you have new lawn put down
0:34:28 > 0:34:29is to water it.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Water it, water it, water it.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Right, the next step is the topsoil.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38Get it in.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42Going to rake it around to make it a nice, flat plain surface,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45ready for the lawn to be rolled out on.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Right, the next step is to flatten this topsoil down,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53try and get it as flat as possible,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56then we can rake and flatten and rake and flatten.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58Apparently, Danny calls it the duck walk.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01- So, I'll have to flap me wings. - There we go.
0:35:05 > 0:35:06Next stage, rolling out the turf.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Now, we've got two pieces, just nip them together,
0:35:15 > 0:35:18I find lift them both up onto their edges
0:35:18 > 0:35:21like this and then push down.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24So, while AJ rolls out the rest of the lawn,
0:35:24 > 0:35:28everyone else is trying to avoid damaging it and Danny's treading
0:35:28 > 0:35:30carefully with his next choice of plant too.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32I've got some foxgloves here.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35I absolutely love them and, you know what?
0:35:35 > 0:35:36The bees love them.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39And the flower is like a landing pad,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42you often see bees going in and out of them.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45But before putting it in this particular family garden,
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Danny wants Rich to be aware of one of the foxglove's less pleasant
0:35:48 > 0:35:52qualities that you should be aware of if planting in a garden used by
0:35:52 > 0:35:53small children.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56I kind of feel duty-bound to tell you that
0:35:56 > 0:36:00there is a very, very minute risk
0:36:00 > 0:36:04- of poisoning by ingesting a part of this plant.- Right.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08Now, it's entirely up to you whether I put it in the ground or not.
0:36:08 > 0:36:09I can't imagine it's going to be,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11they're old enough now to know better.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Unless it's a baked-bean plant or potato waffles,
0:36:14 > 0:36:16then I don't think they're going to be chomping on it.
0:36:16 > 0:36:17OK.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20So, with Rich's blessing, it's a yes for the foxgloves,
0:36:20 > 0:36:23I'm sure the kids are likely to be much more interested
0:36:23 > 0:36:24in their favourite slope
0:36:24 > 0:36:27and Danny's planning to spruce that up for them too
0:36:27 > 0:36:29and for Mum and Dad.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32Now, I'm not going to re-turf this area,
0:36:32 > 0:36:34cos I want to do something a bit different,
0:36:34 > 0:36:35something a bit interesting,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39and what can be more exciting than wild flowers?
0:36:39 > 0:36:43So, we're going to have a little miniature wild flower meadow here
0:36:43 > 0:36:45and they come in various forms.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47One way to do it is by using this.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49There's wild flowers in this turf.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52All you've got to do is roll it out and job done.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56This is the quickest way to achieve a wild flower meadow.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00And then the next way to do it is by you getting them in plug plants.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03All plug plants are are young plants
0:37:03 > 0:37:05that come in these small containers
0:37:05 > 0:37:06and I've got some cowslips here.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08And all you've got to do is just
0:37:08 > 0:37:10dig a little hole in the lawn
0:37:10 > 0:37:13and just stick that in and away it'll go.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15But the cheapest way is to use seeds
0:37:15 > 0:37:18and I believe Helen's coming back with some.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Well, Danny, don't worry, George and I are setting to work
0:37:24 > 0:37:26in the seed den.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Production manager Barry is the mixologist in residence here
0:37:29 > 0:37:32and he's going to help us put together our very own
0:37:32 > 0:37:33wild flower medley.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Barry and the team have hundreds of wild flower varieties here.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42We're following a recipe for a classic British collection.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47So, what we're going to do today is do a simple recipe with 500g
0:37:47 > 0:37:49for wild flower for you to take today.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52So, we'll start off with lady's bedstraw.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58- Oh, here we go.- Lady's bedstraw. So, pull that one out there.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01I'm being tentative, because I suspect that bag of seeds
0:38:01 > 0:38:03- is worth quite a lot of money.- Yes.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Hence no sneezing. Oh, yeah.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09So, if you want to put 70g.
0:38:13 > 0:38:14There we go. Perfect.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Right, next one, I'll get the next one.
0:38:17 > 0:38:18Meadow buttercup.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23Meado-o-o....
0:38:23 > 0:38:27Now, if you open that one and smell that one.
0:38:27 > 0:38:28Oh, wow.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32Let's hope these little guys look as fabulous as they smell.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34It is very much like baking, isn't it?
0:38:34 > 0:38:36We don't put this in the oven, hopefully.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39- BARRY LAUGHS - Ox-eye daisy. There we go.
0:38:39 > 0:38:40Oh.
0:38:42 > 0:38:43Completely wrong shelf.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49And before long, our aromatic blend is nearly complete.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51That is a work of art in itself, isn't it?
0:38:51 > 0:38:55- Yeah, yeah.- That really does look like a load of baking ingredients.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57- It does, doesn't it? - GEORGE AND BARRY LAUGH
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Finally, a bit of a hand with the blending and we're done.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Now, that's complete.
0:39:03 > 0:39:04Wow. That's how it should look.
0:39:04 > 0:39:09So that is one day going to be a lovely wild flower...
0:39:09 > 0:39:11- And you've made that. - Made it by hand.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13- Is this what you expected, George? - No.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16It's great fun, I've absolutely loved it.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20Barry, thank you so much for your expertise.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24- No problem.- 50g of hand-picked, hand selected, hand-mixed seeds,
0:39:24 > 0:39:25how do you feel about that?
0:39:25 > 0:39:28It's really exciting, it feels really special
0:39:28 > 0:39:30and it feels like it's something just for our garden,
0:39:30 > 0:39:31really specific.
0:39:36 > 0:39:37I'm hoping the rest of George's garden
0:39:37 > 0:39:40is starting to look a bit special now.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42While she goes off to pick up the boys,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44I'm back to see for myself.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48Wow. Blow me down.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- Do you like it?- I am so impressed. - It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Normally I come in here and tell them off and say,
0:39:53 > 0:39:55"What have you been doing?!"
0:39:55 > 0:39:58This is an incredible transformation, you've done so much.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01- Yes, got a raised bed. - You've painted that.- Yeah.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03- You can't walk... No, stop, stop! - What?
0:40:03 > 0:40:08You can't walk on the lawn, I've just laid it.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Wow. Danny, this looks brilliant.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14- I've brought a contribution. - You've got some seeds, brilliant.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17We went to an amazing place today, the seed den.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21We've got a mix of rare, native British wild flowers.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24- Right, OK.- I think these are going to look beautiful.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27They're going to look lovely, yeah.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31So, with a light dusting of soil to bed them in, my cowslips,
0:40:31 > 0:40:35buttercups and other wild flower seeds are sprinkled into place,
0:40:35 > 0:40:37ready to bloom in the years to come.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43All that remains is somewhere to admire this new view from.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45The blue against the terracotta looks brilliant.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48- It looks great, doesn't it? - I'll just test it out for you.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51You test it out. You stay there and I'll get the rest of the stuff.
0:40:51 > 0:40:52- This is brilliant.- Do you like it?
0:40:52 > 0:40:55- Good job.- In fact, it's quite a good viewing platform, isn't it?
0:40:55 > 0:40:56Yeah.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02Yes, the day is done and what a tall order it's been.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Before, this garden was in a sorry state,
0:41:05 > 0:41:07the family's hard work had been ruined by the floods
0:41:07 > 0:41:10and what hadn't been washed away was damaged
0:41:10 > 0:41:11and struggling to thrive.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17But after an intensive day of TLC,
0:41:17 > 0:41:21the team have created a rejuvenated and vibrant family garden.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Ready to grow with its residents and withstand the elements
0:41:27 > 0:41:28in years to come.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33That damaged lawn has been replaced with fresh turf,
0:41:33 > 0:41:36so the kids can reclaim this space once more.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40While native wild flowers add colour
0:41:40 > 0:41:42and interest to the bank.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48Danny's shaped the unruly hedge into a turreted showpiece,
0:41:48 > 0:41:52which also restores lost views through to the river and beyond.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59The new raised bed provides a safe haven from any future floods
0:41:59 > 0:42:01for a colourful range of seasonal plants.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07And some transplanted old favourites line the garden boundary.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14New seating on the freshened up patio areas
0:42:14 > 0:42:16provide a place to sit and take it all in.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22All done in just one day and on a budget.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24I'm impressed, Danny.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26But what will the family make of it?
0:42:26 > 0:42:30OK, I have a young man here who is like a coiled spring, Danny.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Benny is desperate to see his new garden.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36- Come on, Lawrence, come on, George. - Wow, Lawrence, look.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40Oh, look at this. Wow. It looks like a castle.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Straightaway she got it.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Oh, wow. Oh, that's amazing.
0:42:46 > 0:42:47It's quite a lot to take in.
0:42:47 > 0:42:52Look at that. I can't believe it, how hard you've worked.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54George, what do you think?
0:42:54 > 0:42:58It's amazing, it looks completely different.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00And it looks brilliant.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02I'm absolutely amazed.
0:43:02 > 0:43:03It looks fantastic, thank you.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07- My pleasure.- I'm with George in that I can't believe how much you've got
0:43:07 > 0:43:09- done in a day.- Yeah.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11It looks massive.
0:43:11 > 0:43:12It looks absolutely huge.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15Yeah. And it just looks clean and fresh.
0:43:17 > 0:43:21Oh, look at Benny jumping all over the freshly...laid...lawn.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24Look. Look at Danny.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27I've broken out in a sweat, sorry.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30I would try and stop Benny running all over the lawn, however...
0:43:30 > 0:43:31- It's not going to happen. - GEORGE LAUGHS
0:43:31 > 0:43:33No, it's a battle I'm not going to win.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37If you could avoid walking on it for ten days.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Lawrence, what do you think of the garden?
0:43:40 > 0:43:42I had no idea it was going to look like this.
0:43:42 > 0:43:43Have you missed your garden?
0:43:43 > 0:43:46Because you couldn't play out here for a little while, could you?
0:43:46 > 0:43:48- No.- But now, I think you've got a garden
0:43:48 > 0:43:50that you and your brother can enjoy,
0:43:50 > 0:43:53- but I suspect Mum and Dad can enjoy too.- Yes.
0:43:53 > 0:43:55How happy is that sight?
0:43:55 > 0:43:58Given that you haven't had this for a good few months.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00It's incredible. It's just brilliant.
0:44:02 > 0:44:08Well, I think it's fair to say that these guys have their family garden
0:44:08 > 0:44:11back with a few added extras.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15The lawn's definitely new and improved and it's already
0:44:15 > 0:44:17facing quite a tough test.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Another successful instant garden.