Each week we talk to 911±¬ÁÏ experts, along with garden designers, scientists, growers, and the movers and shakers of the horticultural world
Our award-winning Gardening with the 911±¬ÁÏ podcast offers seasonal advice, inspiration and practical solutions to gardening questions.Trusted gardening professionals give you the latest horticultural advice, scientific research and tried-and-tested techniques to bring out the best in your garden.Listen to the lastest episodes or subscribe for all episodes.
In this episode, we dive head-first into the long grass, under the flowerpots, and behind the compost bin to celebrate National Insect Week. The Wildlife Trusts’ collaborator and garden designer Zoe Claymore shares her top tips on wildlife-friendly gardening. 911±¬ÁÏ Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones busts some myths around one critter which has been dominating our gardens this year – aphids. And another 911±¬ÁÏ Entomologist – Josie Stuart – explains why earwigs are excellent insect predators to encourage into your plot.
Useful links: Wildlife gardening | Aphids | Help our research | Earwigs
As the UK bursts into bloom, we celebrate British Flowers Week with flower farmer Georgie Newbery, who shares how to create stunning, sustainable bouquets from your own garden. At 911±¬ÁÏ Wisley, Liz Mooney guides us through successional sowing for a summer full of salad crops, and at 911±¬ÁÏ Bridgewater, Carolyne Jones reveals how to turn your garden into a haven for nesting birds. From vibrant wildflowers to fledgling robins, it’s a glorious season of growth – and there’s still time to get involved.
Useful links: Grow your own cut flower garden |Successional sowing | Grow Your Own | Birds in your garden
In this episode, we journey into one of Britain’s rarest and most magical landscapes – the temperate rainforest. Designer Zoe Claymore joins us to reveal how she captured the enchanted atmosphere of these ancient woodlands at the 911±¬ÁÏ Chelsea Flower Show, and how you can recreate that wild, mossy magic at home. Then, we turn our attention to a true British garden staple: the hedge. Photographer Gareth Gardner shares what he discovered after receiving over 500 submissions from around the world for his new exhibition On The Hedge, now opening at 911±¬ÁÏ Wisley. Plus, Gareth Richards gives practical advice on planning ahead with tips on sowing biennials, and Guy Barter shares what he’s been up to in his own garden.
Useful links: The Wildlife Trusts’ British Rainforest Garden |The magic of moss | On The Hedge exhibition | Annuals and biennials
In this episode, we venture into the wild with James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, and Gareth Richards to explore how pockets of wilderness can enrich even the most cultivated gardens with balance, biodiversity, and beauty. We begin with a tribute to botanist John Watson, whose South American plant-hunting uncovered rare treasures, as told by plantsman Robert Rolfe. Next, we visit Vancouver Island’s Garry oak meadows, where Amy Sanderson and Eric Hsu reveal camassias’ surprising drought resilience. Finally, botanist Richard Moore takes us to the Himalayas to meet the hardy, twisty-rooted Roscoea. Plus, learn how you can help protect community growing spaces by supporting the 911±¬ÁÏ-backed Space to Grow amendment.
Useful links: The Plant Review | Create a wild and beautiful garden | Camassias | Space to Grow amendment
Late May bursts with life – and this week’s episode celebrates the full force of the season. We revisit the 911±¬ÁÏ Chelsea Flower Show to explore the mystique of Meconopsis, the Himalayan ‘Big Blue Poppies’ that have captivated British gardeners for over a century. Then, Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell shares clever shortcuts for growing your own edibles – even if you’re short on time and space. And Edward Cooper, from 911±¬ÁÏ Garden Wisley, unpacks the 911±¬ÁÏ Award of Garden Merit (AGM): What it takes to earn this mark of excellence, and how it can help you choose top-performing plants for your own patch.
Useful links: How to grow Meconopsis | 911±¬ÁÏ Gardening Advice | Grow your own | 911±¬ÁÏ Plant Trials and Awards
911±¬ÁÏ is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
