Video Documentaries

Gardeners World episode 31 2015 is the last programme of the current series , Monty Don takes stock of his year at Longmeadow. We visit RHS Wisley to learn why autumn leaves are such a precious commodity for our gardens. And in the final instalment of her botany series, Carol Klein celebrates the glorious displays put on by flowering plants to attract pollinators. Gardeners World episode 31 2015:   What to do with leaves Deciduous leaves are a wonderful resource from which to make leafmould and this is a great time of the year to start collecting them as they begin to fall from the trees. All leaves are suitable, although some will break down more quickly than others. If you don’t have a tree in your garden, why not approach a friend or neighbour, or even your local parks department? Most people will be only too glad to get rid of their fallen leaves! Prepare saved seed for storage Now is the time to sort through any seeds you’ve saved over the summer. Check that they are still in good

In Gardeners World episode 30 2015, Carol Klein explores the inner workings of leaves - how they harness the sun's energy and turn it into food. And Joe Swift meets Griff Rhys Jones for a private tour of his remarkable garden and discovers what a passionate gardener he is. Gardeners World episode 30 2015:   Ground cover plants In this week’s show, Monty chooses plants to act as ground cover in his wildlife garden. Ground cover plants are essential for the border, yet are so often overlooked. With careful planning, they can be used to form a dense mat of foliage which is fantastic for suppressing weeds. They also provide shelter for small mammals and birds, and many have flowers that are attractive to insects. Interplant with bulbs for maximum colour and interest! Save self-seeded forget-me-nots Forget-me-nots often self-seed in the garden, but if they’ve popped up in the wrong place, don’t waste them! Either dig them up and move them to their new position, or transfer them to a see

In Gardeners World episode 29 2015, Monty Don is at Longmeadow with a host of seasonal jobs to keep his autumn garden looking beautiful for as long as possible. And in the third of her fascinating films about how plants work, Carol Klein investigates the science of stems.   Gardeners World episode 29 2015:   Plant amaryllis bulbs Now is the perfect time to plant amaryllis bulbs for flowering over Christmas and the New Year. Give them a head start by soaking the roots in tepid water overnight, taking care not to immerse the bulb itself. It is thought that the bulbs will produce a better display if their roots are constricted, so choose a pot that is slightly wider than the bulb itself, with enough depth for the roots to grow. Fill the pot with free-draining compost and plant so that two-thirds of the bulb remains above the surface. Gently firm in and water before placing somewhere warm and light. Cloche salad crops As the weather gets colder, it’s worth protecting your salad crops with

In Gardeners World episode 28 2015, Carol Klein goes underground to unravel the mysteries of roots and why they are so important to the health of our plants. Joe Swift meets fashion icon Dame Zandra Rhodes to explore how the flowers she likes to grow have influenced her designs over the years. Gardeners World episode 28 2015: Winter containers Many gardeners plant up containers in the summer but have you thought about brightening up your patio with a winter display? There are lots of shrubs and perennials that work well in pots and if you put them together with bedding and bulbs, you can create a colourful display to rival any summer container. If you’re in need of some inspiration, take a look at Monty’s suggestions in the clip above. Here’s a list of what he used. Take cuttings from tender perennials Salvias and penstemons are a large group of plants that provide stunning colour in the border at this time of year. They vary in their hardiness, however, so to safeguard against winter

In Gardeners World episode 27 2015, charge your glasses as Joe Swift visits a drinkable allotment in London where much of the produce is grown to make beer, wine and cider. And in the first of a five-part series about botany, Carol Klein looks at the capsules of potential that herald the start and end of most plants' lives - seeds.   Gardeners World episode 27 2015:   Community orchards There are several communal juicing initiatives for people who would like to make juice or cider from their own apples. For more information, the Orchard Network is a good place to start, or you could try your local authority or Wildlife Trust. And if you fancy attending an Apple Day event next month, check out the link below. There’s plenty going on and there are often experts on hand if you want to know the name of an apple you’re growing. Garlic There are two main types of garlic – hardneck and softneck. Hardneck varieties are composed of a few large cloves that are easier to peel in the kitchen,

In Gardeners World episode 26 2015, as autumn unfolds in the garden, Monty Don has plenty to be getting on with at Longmeadow. And in his quest to track down some of the nation's most remarkable allotments, Joe Swift visits a tropical paradise in Runcorn.   Gardeners World episode 26 2015:   Plant up dwarf irises in pots Not only is it time to put bulbs into the border, you can also plant them in pots. Bulbs like the dwarf iris, Iris reticulata, can provide stunning colour early next year. Place some very gritty compost in the bottom of a pot and place the bulbs on top, spacing them evenly apart. Cover them with compost, ensuring they are planted two or three times their depth. It’s a good idea to top dress them with grit and this will help prevent the petals from being splashed by the compost when it rains. Transplant rooted hardwood cuttings If you took hardwood cuttings this time last year, they should now have developed a good set of roots. You can either move them to their fin

In Gardeners World episode 25 2015, Monty Don tackles some seasonal gardening jobs at Longmeadow and guest presenter Matthew Wilson has some ideas to brighten up a dark, north-facing wall. Gardeners World episode 25 2015: Divide congested agapanthus Although agapanthus like their roots constricted, to improve flowering they should periodically be divided and potted on. This can be done in early autumn, after plants have finished flowering, or between spring and early summer. As the roots can be very tough it is best to use either an old bread knife or other cutting implement with serrated edge, such as a pruning saw, to saw the root ball into smaller sections, making sure a couple of growing points remain in each divided section. Large clumps should only be split every four to six years as dividing plants too frequently will reduce flowering. Take hardwood cuttings of roses September and October are good months to take hard wood rose cuttings. Select healthy plants and then cut a lengt

In Gardeners World episode 24 2015, whilst enjoying the late season colour in the Jewel Garden as the summer begins to fade, Monty Don turns his attention to his spring borders which are in need of refurbishment if they are going to pack a punch early next year. Gardeners World episode 24 2015:   Protect dahlias from earwigs Earwigs like to eat the flowers and leaves of dahlias, with the older foliage sometimes being reduced to a network of veins. The earwigs hide in sheltered places during the day and emerge after dark to feed. By filling upturned flower pots with straw or shredded paper and placing them on top of canes amongst your plants, you can trap the culprits by providing them with somewhere to hide. Check the pots daily and deal with any hidden earwigs as you see fit! Keep camellias & rhododendrons well watered At this time of year, it’s worth keeping your camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas well watered. The plants are forming their flower buds for next spring and it’s i

In Gardeners World episode 23 2015 it's the Bank Holiday weekend and there's plenty to be getting on with in the garden. Monty Don takes stock of what has and hasn't worked at Longmeadow, with a view to planning ahead to the autumn. Meanwhile, James Wong goes behind the scenes at Bristol Zoo to find out more about how the animals are kept fed throughout the year.   Gardeners World episode 23 2015:   Hedge cutting Half the battle with hedge cutting is getting the top of the hedge straight. As Monty says an easy way to achieve this is to place a cane either side of the hedge with string tied taut on to each cane at the desired hedge height. Use a spirit level placed on the top of the cut hedge to check levels and start cutting from the bottom up; falling stems should drop cleanly to the ground and it’s easier to see what you are doing. When cutting slope the hedge slightly inwards so that the top is narrower than the bottom to allow more light to reach the lower leaves. Sow w

In Gardeners World episode 22 2015, Carol Klein catches up with Geoff and Sally Davis to see how their garden renovation project is coming along. And Monty Don is at Longmeadow enjoying the fruits of his labour, with plenty of seasonal advice in store. Gardeners World episode 22 2015:   Tom’s sunflower trial [caption id="attachment_2554" align="alignnone" width="300"] sunflower[/caption] The sunflower trial is still ongoing, with many of the taller varieties still growing skywards without any flowers! But Tom’s been impressed with some of the shorter varieties, many of which look great in a vase. Planting in dry shade [caption id="attachment_2555" align="alignnone" width="300"] Planting in dry shade[/caption] Dry shade is one of the most difficult conditions to deal with in the garden and one many gardeners wrestle with. As Monty says, lifting or thinning the tree canopy will help to increase light levels and soils can be im

At Longmeadow in Gardeners World episode 21 2015, Monty Don's box hedges are still riddled with blight, so it's time to call in an expert to decide on the next course of action. He also has a go at growing some mushrooms in the hope of picking a bumper crop in the autumn. Meanwhile, Rachel de Thame visits the garden at Highclere Castle in Berkshire - the filming location for Downton Abbey. Gardeners World episode 21 2015:   Grow your own mushrooms Mushrooms are virtually fat and calorie-free and packed full of vitamins and minerals – an 80g serving counts towards your 5-a-day vegetable target. Several companies sell complete mushroom growing kits and instructions on how to grow your own are available online from various sources. Remove the lower leaves of tomatoes Tomatoes benefit from having their lower leaves removed once the fruit trusses have developed. This helps to ripen the fruit and improve ventilation around the plants. Sow parsley There are two types of parsley, flat

With the holiday season well and truly upon us, in Gardeners World episode 20 2015, Monty shares some timely tips on how to make sure your garden doesn't suffer while you are away. But there are some gardeners that aren't leave home, as Joe Swift discovers when he meets Phillip Vowles, a prize-winning giant veg grower. Gardeners World episode 20 2015:   Topiary tips Topiary is the art of training, cutting and trimming evergreen shrubs and trees into ornamental shapes. It’s an extremely useful way of adding structure, texture and year-round interest, no matter how small your garden. But to keep it looking good, you need to cut it on a regular basis, preferably on a dull, wet day when it is less likely to scorch. When training a new piece of topiary, use some soft twine when tying in new growth to avoid it cutting into the plant’s stem. It’s best to do this when the stem is green rather than brown because it’s more pliable then. Mow your lawn Mowing a lawn helps to encourage thic

In Gardeners World episode 19 2015, Carol Klein continues her journey across the nation in search of amazing plant combinations. In this episode, she is at Logan Botanic Garden near Stranraer, famed for its colourful, exotic borders. Joe Swift drops in on a street in Bristol as the residents prepare to be judged by RHS Britain in Bloom. And Monty Don shares a wealth of ideas on how to keep your garden looking top-notch all summer long. Gardeners World episode 19 2015:   Late-flowering clematis Monty has a beautiful selection of late-flowering clematis in his Jewel Garden, with his favourite being Clematis 'Purpurea Plena Elegans'. We asked a clematis specialist to give us his top five varieties for fantastic colour at this time of year. Peter Skeggs-Gooch and his family have been growing clematis in the UK for more than 25 years and these are his suggestions. Sow dwarf French beans If you haven’t got round to sowing any dwarf French beans yet, it's not too late! They are a

In Gardeners World episode 18 2015, July is a great time to get out and about visiting gardens, and this week Monty Don travels to Cambridge for an exclusive tour of the gorgeous garden at Clare College. He will also be catching up with various tasks at Longmeadow and, with luck, will be harvesting his first tomatoes. Gardeners World episode 18 2015:   Perennials to propagate from semi-ripe cuttings Summer to early autumn is a good time to take semi-ripe cuttings of perennials that are either tender or short-lived. Examples include lavender, penstemon, fuchsia, gazania, verbena, heliotrope, marguerite and pelargonium. Follow Monty’s step-by-step guide above and give it a whirl! To stop the cuttings from rotting over the winter, it’s best to keep them on the dry side, preferably in a light, frost-free place at a temperature of around 7°C (45°F). Semi-ripe cuttings taken in the summer will be ready to harden off by May the following year. Cut back chives Chives are traditionally grown in

In Gardeners World episode 17 2015, As the summer gathers pace and the weather starts to warm up, drought-tolerant plants really hit their stride. Monty Don shares some of his favourites from Longmeadow, and garden designer Adam Frost shows us how to build a gravel garden from scratch. Gardeners World episode 17 2015: Make comfrey feed Comfrey makes an ideal plant food and is especially good for promoting flowers and fruit. Harvest the leaves from the base of established plants, chop them up and pack them tightly into a bucket. Fill the bucket with water and put to one side. The leaves will break down releasing a smelly brown liquid - you may want to put a lid on your container! In a few weeks, you can strain it and use the concentrate to make a foliar feed. Keep sowing lettuce To have a regular supply of lettuce, don’t forget to keep on sowing throughout the summer. Little and often is best. Regardless of whether you’re sowing into seed trays or directly in the soil, sprinkle the seed

Plants that have a head for heights come under the spotlight this week. At Craigieburn Garden in the Scottish Borders Gardeners' World discovers a unique collection of Himalayan plants, and visits a nurseryman in Hebden Bridge who has been growing alpines since he was a teenager. In Gardeners World episode 15 2015:  1. How to make an alpine trough Michael Mitchell has been growing alpines since he was a teenager. Here he demonstrates how to make an alpine trough from scratch using nothing more than a bucket, some sand and cement.  2. Thin developing apples In early summer, many trees will naturally shed their fruit, a phenomenon known as the ‘June drop’. Despite this, in a good growing year, a fruit tree may still carry too many fruitlets which, if left, will develop into small fruit. With apples, thinning these fruitlets to two per spur will help to improve their final size.  3. Harvest garlic Garlic is ready to lift as soon as the foliage starts to turn yellow. Using a fork, gent

This edition of the programme is bursting with colour and packed with information. At Longmeadow, Monty Don celebrates the arrival of summer by making a start on his new scented border and offers a few suggestions for what to be getting on with for the weekend ahead. In Gardeners World episode 15 2015:  1. Cut back hardy geraniums If you want a second flush of flowers from your hardy geraniums, then June is a good time to chop them back. The foliage of some species, like Geranium phaeum, can look tatty by midsummer, but if you give them a quick haircut now, this will stimulate fresh growth giving you new blooms in about a month’s time.  2. Sow kale & winter cabbage Plan ahead for winter by sowing brassicas such as kale and cabbage. You can sow them in pots, modules or trays and leave them outside to germinate. As the seedlings start to grow, keep a look out for the tiny yellow eggs of cabbage white butterflies which are often laid on the underside of the leaves.  3. Pull out bienni

Joe Swift continues his quest to find the perfect hanging basket and comes up with his own design for a shady part of his garden. Monty Don has caught the bug too and shows us how to plant up an edible basket. Meanwhile, Carol Klein explores one of the nation's most beautiful gardens to find out why their borders work so well. In Gardeners World episode 14 2015:  1. Cut back dahlias If you’re growing dahlias in containers, you can cut them back by a third to a half to encourage stronger, sturdier plants that are less likely to fall over. They will flower a little later in the season, but will last further into autumn.  2. Thin out grapes As grapes develop they need space to grow, so it’s best to thin them now. Use a pair of small, pointed scissors and remove both the smallest, individual fruits and those on the inside of the bunch. This allows the remainder to grow and swell to a good size. Some varieties of dessert grapes can be grown successfully outdoors, they are more successfu

Carol Klein and Joe Swift are at Gardeners' World Live in Birmingham. Joe casts his expert eye over the spectacular show gardens, while Carol focuses on the delights of the floral marquee. Back at Longmeadow, Monty Don catches up with various tasks to ensure that his garden stays in tip-top condition all summer long. Monty Don incorporates a dramatic black-purple phormium as the centrepiece to his summer pots in the Jewel Garden. In Gardeners World episode 13 2015:  1. How to make a hotbed Hotbeds last flourished in the era of the Victorian kitchen garden. They are a great way of extending the growing season at a time of year when the light levels are increasing but the soil is still cold. If you make them in late winter or early spring, you can be harvesting salads, potatoes and other vegetables from March through to May. Jack First is an expert in making hotbeds. Here he shows Joe Swift how he does it at his allotment in West Yorkshire.  2. Mulch strawberries As strawberries star

Over 400 gardens in England and Wales are getting ready to open to the public for the National Gardens Scheme. Carol Klein visits one of them as they prepare for the big event. It's an eventful day at Longmeadow too, as a local beekeeper arrives with a swarm for Monty's new hive. In Gardeners World episode 12 2015:  1. Plant out pumpkins, squashes & courgettes Now that the weather has warmed up and the danger of a frost has gone, pumpkins, squashes & courgettes can be planted out. They are greedy feeders and need plenty of moisture, so it’s worth adding plenty of well-rotted organic matter to the planting hole. If you plant them in a shallow depression, this will help to prevent water from running off when you give them a drink.  2. Water newly-planted trees & shrubs As the weather warms up, it’s really important to make sure that newly-planted trees and shrubs do not run short of water. A good soaking once a week will really help them to get established and put dow