From the Archive: Ponds and Bogs
Kathy Clugston navigates the murky waters of the GQT archives in search of some pond and bog related advice throughout the years.
Kathy Clugston navigates the murky waters of the GQT archives in search of some Pond and Bog related advice throughout the years.
Water is the giver of plant life and nourisher of wildlife, but how do we ensure that we’re using it correctly? The GQT team have sorted through the archives in search for some questions and answers from the past.
The programme's horticultural experts share their knowledge on what to do if your pond liner breaks, how to remove bird poo from the surface of your pond, and what sort of plants you could plant in bogs and ponds to increase biodiversity?
We also listen back to when pest and disease expert Pippa Greenwood visited the Exbury Gardens dragonfly pond to learn more about these little creatures.
Producer: Dan Cocker

Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod

Executive Producer: Carly Maile
A Somethin' Else production for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4
Last on
Plant List
Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.Ìý
Q – If you could only include one item to improve the diversity of your garden. Would you go for a compost bin, a pond, or a water butt?
(1 minutes 00 seconds)
Q –What native plants can the panel recommend to add colour and structure to the pond?
(4 minutes 36 seconds)Ìý
Anne –
Utricularia, bladderwort
Pippa –
Ìý
Stratiotes, water soldierHydrocharis morsus-ranae, frogbit
Matthew –
Ìý
Lythrum salicaria, purple loosestrifeAponogeton distachyos, water hawthorn
Q – I have recently refurbished a pond. Can I use top soil in it instead of expensive aquatic soil? Ìý
(08 minutes 38 seconds)
Ìý
Matthew –
Ìý
Iris
IrisÌýpseudacorus, yellow Iris
Pontederia cordata, pickerel weed
Ìý
Q – The water in my small garden pond is thick and green, and the pigeons leave an oily slick on it too. How can I clean it?
(12 minutes 44 seconds)
Ìý
Q – The liner of my 20-year-old pond has broken, what is the best method to save the current life in the pond, and some suggestions for plants in the new, larger and (hopefully) more biodiverse pond?
(16 minutes 50 seconds)
Ìý
Feature – Pippa Greenwood visits Exbury Gardens dragonfly pond to learn more about them.
(21 minutes 27 seconds)
Ìý
Q – I installed a pond about 3 years ago but I’m yet to attract much wildlife. Can anyone explain why?
(27 minutes 01 seconds)
Ìý
Q – Could you recommend a container for a small pond, and what could I grow in it?
(32 minutes 11 seconds)
Ìý
James –
Ìý
Colocasia esculenta, elephant ears
Canna 'Taney'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Ìý
Q – We’ve decided to build a bog garden. Should I put a liner into an already damp garden? We’d also like to bring in some colour to garden but what would the panel recommend?
(35 minutes 41 seconds)
Ìý
Bob –
Lobelia cardinalis, cardinal flower
Brassica rapa Pekinensis Group, chinese cabbage
Ìý
James –
Tree fern
Ìý
Christine –
Lysichiton camtschatcensis, asian skunk cabbage
Ìý
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Podcast
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Gardeners' Question Time
Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts