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South Kesteven

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts. Chairing this week is Peter Gibbs, and answering your questions are Bunny Guinness, Bob Flowerdew, and Matthew Pottage.

As judging commences for this year's RHS Britain in Bloom, Peter speaks with local Stamford in Bloom coordinator Ann Ellis about what they've done to make Stamford a greener place.

In the hall, the panellists answer questions on how best to secure a climbing rose to a wall, as well as giving advice on ivy that's getting out of control. They also explain when to prune a hydrangea, and how to help a variegated plant that is reverting.

Away from the questions, Dr Chris Thorogood speaks to Beverley Glover at Cambridge Botanic Garden to find out why bees are attracted to certain plants.

Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer: Aniya Das

A Somethin' Else production for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 10 Jul 2022 14:00

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

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Q – We have a gravel driveway which we’d like to make into a green habitat. Can the panel suggest some low growing plants that can thrive in gravel, shade and tolerate being driven over?

(3 minutes 48 seconds)

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Matthew –

BlechnumÌýpenna-marina

SoleiroliaÌýsoleirolii, mind-your-own-business

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Q – I have a small gravel garden so most of my fruit is in pots. Every year my raspberries don’t ripen. What am I doing wrong?

(6 minutes 50 seconds)

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Q – How and when do I prune hydrangeas to achieve the best flower display?

(9 minutes 37 seconds)

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Matthew –

HydrangeaÌýmacrophylla

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Q – My home is covered in a climbing roses which get battered in the wind. What’s the best way to secure them to the wall?

(13 minutes 30 seconds)

Ìý

Feature – Dr Chris Thorogood speaks to Beverley Glover at Cambridge Botanic Garden to try understand why bees are attracted to certain plants.

(16 minutes 34 seconds)

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Hibiscus trionum

Poppy

Peony

Daisy

DimorphothecaÌýjucunda, African Daisy

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Q – With the worrying impact of climate change on our wildlife population, what are your views on wildflowers and letting more green spaces go wild? Are there any top tips on how to tell a weed from a wildflower?

(23 minutes 11 seconds)

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Q – We have a mature fig tree, but my husband says it’s in the wrong place. It’s about 9ft (2.7m) high and 20ft (6.1m) wide. Can it be moved, and if so, how?

(26 minutes 7 seconds)

Ìý

Q – We have a lot of ivy in our garden growing as groundcover. It can get out of control, smothering fences and trees, and is a hiding place for snails. How can we control it and is it harmful to the trees?

(29 minutes 33 seconds)

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Q – I have a Fatsia japonica ‘Spiders Web’ in a pot and it appears to be losing its variegation. It’s growing new leaves but they are dark green. What can I do?

(35 minutes 2 seconds)

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Q – How did you make your start in horticulture, and would you recommend it as a career?

(37 minutes 50 seconds)


Broadcasts

  • Fri 8 Jul 2022 15:00
  • Sun 10 Jul 2022 14:00

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