Loving Your Garden - Better Gardening Podcast

Send us a textThis might just be our best episode yet from LYG HQ!Steve Fives is officially Loving Your Garden's most engaging member – with more views, comments, and conversations than anyone else in the group… including me, and I run the place!Steve's garden is something you have to see to believe, so if you'd rather watch this episode, head over to our YouTube channel: Watch on YouTubeBut don't go just yet – Steve's also a brilliant speaker, and this conversation on creating lawn envy is well worth a listen. He explains how he took over a tired, uninspiring garden and transformed it with lush lawns and a selection of palm trees, more at home in the Caribbean than Cheshire. Alongside our resident horticulturist, John Stirland, Steve shares lots of practical tips for anyone wanting to give their garden that wow factor.Check out the chapters if you're short of time – but we reckon you'll want to hear the whole thing.

Send us a textWith UK gardens bursting into colour, this is a beautiful time of year — but it's also a busy time, preparing the garden for the seasons ahead.In the second half of our conversation with Gardener and Broadcaster Martin Fish and our own John Stirland, we cover:Pest control, notably slugs and snailsGrowing your own foodContainer gardeningGetting the best from rosesEffective wateringPeat-free compostPlus, an important Health and safety tip for keen gardenersThanks to Martin Fish for his time. Martin has an excellent Facebook site and YouTube Channel called Pots & Trowels - links here: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=pots%20%26%20trowelshttps://www.youtube.com/@PotsTrowelsNow that we have fan mail, please text in some feedback. Also, take advantage of John's fifty-plus years of experience in professional horticulture and send in any gardening questions you may have.To watch videos of shorter sections of our podcast, visit our LYG YouTube channel:https://youtu.be/P_IbqkOzSSYIf you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9And to sign up for our free subscription newsletter - it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:rod@lovingyourgarden.org

Send us a textThe new gardening year is well underway, and our Loving Your Garden Facebook group is bursting with colourful spring blooms and a real sense of excitement as our gardens awaken from their winter slumber.So, what better time to get stuck into those all-important early-season jobs? To help us on our way, we've called on two seasoned pros — our resident horticulturist John Stirland and his long-time friend, RHS judge and fellow horticulturist Martin Fish, who many will remember as John's TV co-host.In this two-part special, John and Martin share expert advice to set you up for a successful season.Part One dives into:Soil preparationSpring planting essentialsLawncare tips — including scarifying, aerating, top-dressing, overseeding, and feedingPart Two will follow next week — don't miss it!Thanks to Martin Fish for his time. Martin has an excellent Facebook site and YouTube Channel called Pots & Trowels - links here: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=pots%20%26%20trowelshttps://www.youtube.com/@PotsTrowelsNow that we have fan mail, please text in some feedback. Also, take advantage of John's fifty-plus years of experience in professional horticulture and send in any gardening questions you may have.To watch videos of shorter sections of our podcast, visit our LYG YouTube channel:https://youtu.be/P_IbqkOzSSYIf you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9And to sign up for our free subscription newsletter  it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:rod@lovingyourgarden.org

Send us a textIf you've resolved to growing more cut flowers in '25 then you'll find Roz Chandler from Field Gate Flowers an interesting guest. Roz talks about starting her cut flower farm 15 years ago almost by mistake and now runs a successful business growing, displaying and teaching floral horticulture. She has some useful tips for starting a cut flower garden and we also get around to discussing peat-free compost including the two brands Roz swears by and how climate change will have a major impact on how we garden (see Chapters for specifics).Now that we have fan mail, please text in some feedback. Also, take advantage of John's fifty-plus years of experience in professional horticulture and send in any gardening questions you may have.To watch the video of our podcast, visit our LYG YouTube channel:https://youtu.be/P_IbqkOzSSYIf you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9And to sign up for our free subscription newsletter which this month features more of our Winter Plant suggestions, horticulturist Paul Maxey's demonstration of taking hardwood cuttings and a guide to building a hotbox from fresh manure, it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:rod@lovingyourgarden.org

Send us a textIt's become a thing for multi-award-winning garden designer David Stevens to drop in over Christmas with our resident horticulturist John Stirland over a glass of sherry for a gardening chinwag. The result is always educational as these two stalwarts trade wisdom and a few laughs.  The wisdom includes suggestions for Winter interest in an all-year-round garden, some garden design tips, a discussion about gifts for the gardener who has everything, and the one garden tool that neither of our experts could do without.To watch the video of our podcast, visit our LYG YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/1oGPrvNO1KkNow that we have fan mail, please text in some feedback. Also, take advantage of John's fifty-plus years of experience in professional horticulture and send in any gardening questions you may have.If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9And to sign up for our free subscription newsletter which this month features more of our Winter Plant suggestions, horticulturist Paul Maxey's demonstration of taking hardwood cuttings and a guide to building a hotbox from fresh manure, it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:rod@lovingyourgarden.org

Send us a Text Message.11 Times RHS Chelsea Gold Medallist (and LYG member), David Stevens, has designed a few gardens in his long career (understatement). Enough to earn him 26 RHS medals and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Garden Designers. In this short video (link below), David outlines 8 key steps to consider before embarking on a garden makeover that will save you time, effort, and tears. He finishes by outlining a postal design service* that makes his knowledge and expertise surprisingly accessible.                                                                                                                             *PromoDavid Stevens Website: https://david-stevens.co.uk/David Stevens Email: gardens@david-stevens.co.ukYou can watch this interview with accompanying images on our YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7j8D7HCZXg-V6OyRdZxYgNow that we have fan mail, please do text in some feedback. Also, take advantage of John's fifty years plus experience in professional horticulture and send in any gardening questions you may have.If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9And to sign up for our free subscription newsletter which this month features a peat-free fact sheet, advice on growing (and getting rid of Bamboo) and John Stirland's demo of taking softwood cuttings (there's still time) it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:rod@lovingyourgarden.org

Send us a Text Message.Recent press reports would have you believe Bamboo is the devil incarnate but does it deserve its bad reputation? While it's certainly true some varieties can be highly destructive, are gardeners right to shun it at all costs?Who better to ask than Tony Churley who's been growing varieties of Bamboo for the best part of forty years? Both John Stirland and I have had bad experiences with Bamboo so we didn't give Tony a free ride. Still, he puts up some strong arguments for the plant, how to buy the right varieties, how to contain it effectively, how to prevent its invasion from a neighbouring garden, and how to get rid of it if you want it gone.  Now that we have fan mail, please do text in some feedback. Also, take advantage of John's fifty years plus experience in professional horticulture and send in any gardening questions you may have.If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9Our New YouTube Channel link is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7j8D7HCZXg-V6OyRdZxYgAnd to sign up for our free subscription newsletter it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:rod@lovingyourgarden.org

Firstly, apologies for our silence over the past few weeks, we've been busy creating a brand new YouTube channel and subscription newsletter (links below) as well as overhauling our Facebook group to accommodate the massive new growth of 'Loving Your Garden' - now 378 thousand members.Now that we're back into the routine we've re-commenced series 4 with a gardening clinic - hosted by myself and our resident horticulturist John Stirland with the added pleasure of the company of Barbara Stalker, Assistant County Organiser for the National Garden Scheme in Cambridgeshire. Barbara makes a strong case for the excellent UK National Garden Scheme which turns an amazing garden near you into a public source of inspiration for just a couple of days over the Summer. John discusses the importance of knowing your soil by way of explaining why those new plants you bought in Spring may not be thriving as you expected plus our usual discussion about pests and diseases which have been a particular problem after a very wet Spring.  As ever, we've added chapters to help you navigate the podcast. If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link: https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9Our New YouTube Channel link is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7j8D7HCZXg-V6OyRdZxYgAnd to sign up for our free subscription newsletter it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:rod@lovingyourgarden.org

It's always a pleasure and a privilege to be in the company of one of the UK's foremost plantswomen, Rosy Hardy. With countless RHS gold medals to her name, Rosy has become a leading authority on Herbaceous Perennials and this is pure gold for any gardener that is looking for a new dimension to their garden.  If you're in a rush, go to our chapter page and choose your topic of interest but to be honest,  you'd be better staying for the whole conversation to catch every last morsel of knowledge!In association with Magic Mind - Mental Performance ShotsThey have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one-time purchases with code LOVEGARDEN20 at checkoutYou can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/lovegarden If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link:https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9You'll find a friendly community of gardeners from many backgrounds, all sharing a love of plants and gardening. Please get in touch with any feedback or questions for John to: rod@ultravoxtraining.com

It's always a pleasure to welcome our favourite Nature Watcher Mary Porter onto LYG. Spring in the UK is a great time for an update from Mary whose knowledge and experience of the natural world is much appreciated by all of us at LYG and to listeners of her regular spot on my Boom Radio show. This is a lovely chat about the current state of our wildlife and how we can encourage more creatures into our gardens, both for the good of the environment and our mental-wellbeing.In association with Magic Mind - Mental Performance ShotsThey have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one-time purchases with code LOVEGARDEN20 at checkoutYou can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/lovegarden If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link:https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9You'll find a friendly community of gardeners from many backgrounds, all sharing a love of plants and gardening. Please get in touch with any feedback or questions for John to: rod@ultravoxtraining.com

  In association with Magic Mind - Mental Performance Shots They have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one-time purchases with code LOVEGARDEN20 at checkoutYou can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/lovegarden We have a double bonus for you in our latest episode with John Stirland laying out some solid tips for getting your lawn into top shape for Summer and with guest Ed Zamo dropping into Rod's Summerhouse with a professional take on removing nuisance tree or shrub stumps from your garden.I've created some chapters if you're in a hurry but this is a lot of fun and full of useful tips so it's well worth staying through the episode.Ed's website for further info:https://www.stumpbeaver.co.uk/If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link:https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9You'll find a friendly community of gardeners from a variety of backgrounds all sharing a love of plants and gardening. 

There is nothing so satisfying than adding food to your dinner plate that you've grown from seed.  While many gardeners are well-equipped to sow and propagate both vegetables and ornamentals,  most others prefer the convenience of potted and plug plants. However, with the costs of plants and food now a significant factor, growing from seed is an attractive option. Tom Sharples has devoted almost half a century to the seed industry and recently retired as Senior Horticultural Manager at Suttons Seeds. Following on from John Stirland's practical advice for seed-sowing earlier in the year, Tom shares his knowledge and tips for our latest episode including the one thing you should do when buying seed from a garden centre.If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link:https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9You'll find a friendly community of gardeners from a variety of backgrounds all sharing a love of plants and gardening. 

Deep Joy! Winter's last hurrah is nearly upon us, at least if you're in Northern Europe, and it's time to finish off the Winter pruning. Our resident horticulturist John Stirland covers the basics and answers member questions on specific plants including Philadelphus, Fig, Ceonothus, Honeysuckle, and roses. As ever, John covers a lot of ground with lots of snippets of really useful information so it's worth listening through the whole half hour.If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link:https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9You'll find a friendly community of gardeners from a variety of backgrounds all sharing a love of plants and gardening. 

Our resident horticulturist John Stirland kicks off season 4 of Loving Your Garden - Better Gardening Podcast with a masterclass in seed sowing.  John is in full flow here with oodles of great advice on growing plants from seed as a new gardening year gets underway. John also takes questions from our LYG site members.  It's best to sit back and enjoy the full episode but if you're tight for time, our chapter guide may be helpful.If you've not yet visited our LYG Facebook site, here's the link:https://bit.ly/3oIzVr9You'll find a friendly community of gardeners from a variety of backgrounds all sharing a love of plants and gardening. 

You'll need to check out the Loving Your Garden site to see our festive guests in their Santa gear but you can hear the fun in our season finale as horticulturist, gardening writer, broadcaster and RHS judge, Martin Fish, and multi-award-winning garden designer, David Stevens join John Stirland and LYG founder Rod Whiting for an end of season chat over a tipple or two.Have a pen and paper handy as we discuss a busy gardening year, highlights & failures (yes, professionals have them too), and plans for the New Year with lots of plant suggestions and advice about design, trees for smaller gardens, and winter plants, amongst other things.If you're strapped for time, you can select from our chapters although you're better listening through so as not to miss any nuggets from our excellent guests.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

We borrowed our guest's phrase 'happy, healthy house plants' this week as it aptly describes a nirvana that many of us struggle with.  Jane Perrone is a gardening writer and podcaster whose articles many will have read in the Guardian, Financial Times, and The RHS Garden Magazine among many publications.  Jane's passion for houseplants shines through in our chat this week, dealing with the essentials of light, watering, and feeding as you might expect. But, also with sound advice on checking the soil or substrate of the plants we buy, rather than assuming they come fully equipped to survive our domestic environments. Another highlight is Jane's warning about 'death plugs' which for less experienced indoor gardeners is a revelation.If you're short on time, you can narrow your search on our chapter tab but Jane is so easy to follow and so passionate about her subject that I'd settle for the full episode!We talk about Jane's Houseplant Gardener In A Box which is an excellent reference guide and we refer to Jane's website: https://www.janeperrone.com/  which also carries links to her podcast 'On The Ledge'.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

It's been a while since we checked in with our resident horticulturist John Stirland who's forgotten more than I'll ever know about gardening so it's nice to talk about getting ready for some Winter colour,  Autumn feeding, and pruning as well as lots of other topical chat, and answers to member questions that you'll doubtless find useful.Check out the chapter tab if you want to save time and pick specific topics.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

There's been a noticeable increase in discussions on the LYG Facebook site about the forthcoming ban on the use of peat products in UK gardens, due to be enforced from the end of next year.  To help us make sense of it all, our guests this week are Jonathan Whittemore from Johnsons of Whixley, a Yorkshire-based plant wholesaler, and Ruth Goudy, garden writer and owner of Kiln Farm Nursery and Garden Centre in Suffolk.  Jonathan also chairs the Ornamental Management Committee of the Horticultural Trade Association and has played an active part in the RHS peat-free trials.  Ruth is a long-time supporter of reducing peat and wants to help her customers and wider audiences to appreciate, not just the why, but the how to use peat-free compost. You'll be hard-pushed to find a more informed discussion about something that will most certainly have an impact on our gardening and I thoroughly recommend listening through the whole podcast.  If you're listening from outside the UK, please don't discount its relevance, as this is an area that is sure to be globally pertinent within a few years. Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

It is a delight to have Rosy back to chat about what can, with the right planting, be a spectacular time of year in the garden. Rosie and her husband Rob supply a vast number of herbaceous perennials from their nurseries at Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants in Hampshire, UK https://www.hardysplants.co.uk/. Rosie is also a multi-award winning plantswoman and currently Vice-President of the RHS.We talk about the best herbaceous perennials for Autumn interest, how and when to divide the plants, and also the importance of getting your Spring flowering perennials sorted now. There's barrow-loads of great advice in this episode so find a quiet space and enjoy.  Rosy also mentions her Youtube page which is full of fantastic advice and information and you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/results...Plants mentioned include Hylotelepium (Sedum), Aster, Anemone, Kniphofia, Symphyotrichum, Eupatorium, Leucanthemella, Helianthemum, Actea, and Phygelius to name but a few so a notebook and pen would be useful when listening through.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

Our Gardening maestro John Stirland is in great form as we consider plants that will add a little lustre to a flagging garden at this time of year. Flowers, shrubs, and trees all feature in our suggestions for adding some late seasonal interest, so it's worth having a pen and paper to hand as we go. Just a heads-up that we'll get another perspective on Autumn colour with an old friend of LYG, Rosy Hardy from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, in mid-September, so do subscribe to be sure not to miss her outstanding advice.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

It's not every day you get to chat with one of the UK's top plantswomen, a renowned garden designer and the Gandalf of gardening but that was my pleasure when Rosy Hardy, David Stevens and John Stirland all gathered by Rosy's plant stand at the Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show.  It was a delightful conversation about Summer gardens that I'm sure you'll find informative and entertaining.There's also some bonus clips from this year's annual Glee Garden and Leisure Show at the Birmingham NEC where I took a closer look at composite decking and checked in at the Melcourt stand for an update on where we are with the forthcoming UK peat ban.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

Everybody says it's been a great year for so many plants but especially roses so it's a good time to dwell on the ubiquitous rose: conditions, care, suggested varieties, and member questions answered by LYG's resident horticulturist John Stirland. We do discuss a couple of varieties so I've attached a link to pics of the roses we discuss but, frankly, there are so many varieties, it really is a question of personal taste.Roses mentioned in the podcast visible on LYG page (link below)Tess of the D'urbervilles, Simple Life, Scent From Heaven and Gertrude Jekyllhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/574905686709417/permalink/1331208274412484/Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

By now, the heavy work is likely done and we can start finessing, ready to relax and enjoy our gardens.  If only!  Of course, there's always something to be getting on with and, this week, we look at pruning and pest control. Meanwhile, John answers a variety of member questions that commonly arise at this time of the year.You'll find a host of experienced gardeners on our LYG Facebook site but if you'd prefer to ask John direct, you can email rod@rodwhitingcommunications.co.uk and we'll respond in the next podcast.We do reference a promotion, exclusive to  LYG Members for Leon Boots' range of ultra-lightweight boots. That does include our podcast subscribers so feel free to use the code provided in this week's podcast. Please also feel free to provide feedback on the podcast to the same email address.  This is our third year and we've just notched up 10,000 downloads, but I'm sure we can improve and so feedback and suggestions are welcome.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

As gardeners, we're closer than most to nature and we have a good understanding of the role we play in attracting wildlife into our neighbourhoods. But, with many species in a progressive decline over recent decades, that responsibility becomes ever more critical. Mary Porter has dedicated much of her life to wildlife promotion and protection and we're delighted to have her as a guest to LYG as Spring brings fresh challenges and opportunities for us to do our bit.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

We put so much effort into finding the right plants for our garden, we sometimes miss the bigger picture of creating the right framework for all those expensive trees, shrubs, and flowers. The cost of good quality landscaping can be offputting but, like any good investment, it can pay off many times over.  Our chat with professional garden landscaper Jan Prodger from Ace of Spades Garden Maintenance and Design gives a good insight into points to consider, and appreciation of the benefits of effective landscaping.Ace Of Spades Lanscaping:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057294406100 Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

There are few better qualified to talk about herbaceous perennials than 24-time Chelsea gold medal winner Rosy Hardy from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants and we're delighted to have the benefit of her knowledge once again to discuss this garden essential.We talk about seed sowing, plant breeding, and popular plant choices for '23. We also discuss how to use herbaceous plants effectively in your garden and Rosy makes some interesting points about colours and shapes.We also discuss Peat Free which Rosy has long been a proponent of. However, we do talk about the extension of the ban on use of peat-free products but it's worth pointing out that this extension is relevant to professionals. Hobby gardeners will still need to switch to peat free by the end of this year (23).As ever, there's a chapter page if you prefer to select items of interest but Rosy is such good value, you really ought to listen right through.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

Step away from the Garden Centre! Well, just for a moment as multi-award-winning garden designer and LYG member David Stevens gives you some valuable tips on using colour, texture, and shape of both foliage and flowers to keep your garden looking its best all through the year, including Winter.Once again David is a rich source of knowledge as he joins resident horticulturist John Stirland and LYG founder Rod Whiting for a look ahead to the gardening year now that the long Winter is finally over.You'll need a notebook as we discuss plants of all types as well as some handy hints from David and John based on nigh on one hundred years of professional experience between them.As ever, you can find specific topics in our chapter section, but I would recommend listening to the whole podcast so as not to miss any golden nuggets of information.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

It's not terribly inviting outside, where I am at least, with snow falling and low temperatures set for the next few days. However, that hasn't stopped me from planting a good size Amelanchier Lamarckii and having a wee tidy up of some borders.  This is the thing about March and whatever the weather might throw at us, gardeners gotta garden!And that's the theme of this week's podcast with horticulturist John Stirland answering LYG member questions and discussing jobs to be getting on with from sowing (we talk about artificial lighting for plants), first cuts for lawns, finishing off Winter pruning, transplanting and a host of other topical jobs before Spring breaks into a sprint.As we cover a lot of topics, you'll find a quick guide in the chapters section so you can quickly navigate to what particularly interests you although, naturally, I would suggest listening to the whole piece so as not to miss useful nuggets of information.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

Given reported supermarket shortages of fresh salad and veg plus exorbitant prices, there's never been a better time to consider growing your own, if you don't already.Our guest this week is an American garden writer who grew up on a farm in the Deep South of the US and has written many books about growing your own veg - Maggie Stuckey.Maggie and our own John Stirland are of like minds and spend half an hour putting the case for container gardening of veg and herbs to a sceptical podcaster. Do they succeed?  You'll need to listen to find out and in the process perhaps be converted yourself.They cover the golden rules for container veg and herb gardening, what to grow and how to get the best out of very little space.Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators:for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicBPROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

All gardeners know how good it feels at the start of a new gardening year,  especially for UK gardeners coming out of Winter.  To start off Season 3 of our LYG podcast, horticulturist John Stirland has some timely tips for jobs we can be doing including Winter pruning, transposing deciduous plants, and seed sowing, as well as answering member questions.Just a heads-up, LYG Live is now broadcast on Sunday afternoons at 4 pm (UK time) so if you'd like the benefit of John's advice, you can join us live on our Facebook Group site, URL:https://www.facebook.com/groups/574905686709417It's easy to participate and become a member. If you're an established Facebook user, there's no need to wait for approval!Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB PROUD TO BE A FINALIST  IN THE GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

It's always a pleasure to spend time with multi-award-winning garden designer and LYG member Professor David Stevens who rounds off series 2 of our podcast with some great tips on using colour to enhance your garden.  As ever with David, there's always much more for the gardener than the headline topic and you'll need your notebook as he talks about colour blending and specific plants. We also discuss some of the plants in David's own garden so below is a link to some photographs to lend context: https://www.facebook.com/groups/574905686709417/permalink/1207884166744896Time for a wee seasonal break now but we'll be back with a new series of Loving Your Garden Podcasts in the New Year.  Have a wonderful festive break and see you in 2023!Thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB PROUD TO BE A FINALIST  IN THE GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.

I had the pleasure of a tour around Bardney Manor in Lincolnshire recently courtesy of owner Samantha Wright and discovered a pile of lovely rich soil which she'd had delivered ready to start a very ambitious project - more of which later. Anyway, after further investigation, it transpired that the soil was in fact PlantGrow, a soil improver made up entirely of plant matter from a process of bio-digestion. A quick phone call to General Manager Daniel Suggitt and we had ourselves a podcast guest.  Given how peat-free is becoming quite the topic as the deadline for the shift away from peat looms over the horizon, it seems timely to start looking at the alternatives. John and I will be taking a closer look at the PlantGrow operation soon but Daniel gives us a good feel for the product and the story behind it.As ever, we're grateful to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

If houseplants are your Achilles heel then this will be time well spent as we chat with Joe Bagley from ukhouseplants.com looking at position and light, potting, feeding, and general care tips as well as advice on specific plants including orchids.Joe's website has become internationally recognised with more than three million hits from people seeking out his encyclopedic knowledge of houseplants and their care.As we cover a lot of ground, you may find our chapters page helpful on this podcast.As ever, we're grateful to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

How do you define a smaller garden? That's an interesting question that garden designer Michelle MacDonald herself asked in our wonderful conversation which covered all of the crucial aspects of designing or modifying a small garden, from planning to planting and maintaining.We met Michelle at the Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show during that really hot spell in July where she won the best show garden award, courtesy of top designer David Stevens.  Her garden measured just a few square metres and was the perfect example of how you can create a little bit of magic in just a small space.As we discuss photographs in the Live event, attached is a link to the relevant FB page for reference:https://www.facebook.com/groups/574905686709417/permalink/1187639262102720As ever, we're grateful to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

Autumn came hard and fast in the UK this year and all hopes of an Indian Summer have fizzled out under the rain so it's even more important to give some thought to some Winter colour. John Stirland has some more Winter plant suggestions while the ground is still in good shape for planting out. We look at Violas,  Ferns, Festuca Glauca, Hellebores, Winter Aconites, Galanthus Elwesii, Iris Unguicularis and Callicarpa bodinieri Profusion.With thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

Autumn seems to have come at us fast this year. It seems only five minutes since we were sweltering in 40 plus degrees but, here we are in October putting the garden furniture away or under cover and tidying up the garden ready for Winter. However, we need something to encourage us to open the curtains and look outside and John Stirland suggests some trees and shrubs that will put a bit of zing into your garden during those dark, Winter months.With thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

Designer David Stevens recalls his meetings with the late monarch in their regular exchanges at the Chelsea Flower Show and we discuss Autumn jobs including some useful tips on finding those plants we want to move in Winter...but can't remember where we put them! Also, why it's important to know where garden centre plants have come from at this time of year - see Chapters for details.With thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

Yes, now is the time! While the weather is still fair and you can paint in a T-shirt, September is a great month to be sorting out your garden woodwork: fences, benches, Summer houses, sheds, pergolas and other timber products that will thank you for giving it some protection from our cold, wet Winters.Jason Fitzgerald from our sponsors Fitzgerald, Laing Decorators provides some timely advice as well as product recommendations for sprucing up your garden furniture including some priceless tips like making sure you treat the bottom (and tops) of your doors to stop them warping! We do discuss some products using a slide show, which doesn't work too well on an audio podcast so here are the details:B&Q Good Home Colour It Shed & FenceCuprinol DucksbackDulux Weathershield Masonry Paint

It's always a pleasure to meet and talk with David Stevens and one never leaves his company without a strong desire to quickly write down some of the gems he's reeled off about garden design. He has more RHS medals than I can count plus a host of other awards, recognising more than fifty years of excellence in horticultural design.For this week's LYG Live, we thought it would be useful to have a case study for David and John Stirland to discuss and we're grateful to one of our new members Mirjam Tigchelaar from the Netherlands for allowing us to use photographs showing the evolution of her garden project. It's an opportunity for David to outline the main points to consider before embarking on a garden project of any size.  We cover planning, groundwork, garden buildings, water features, sculptures, lighting, containers, turf and, of course, planting. As ever, the key aspects are highlighted under our chapters tab for easy access.NB: It would be useful to be able to see the photographs under discussion on our live broadcast (which is streamed on the LYG FB Page) so here's the link to Mirjam's post so you can see for yourself what we're discussing: https://bit.ly/3dtcGyQ With thanks to our UK-based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

John Stirland provides a few suggestions for border fillers that will provide late Summer and early Autumn colour. There's also advice on hedge trimming and answers to listener questions on figs and dealing with fruit pests.  There are so many plant contenders so we're only scratching the surface here but John has gone for plants that will tolerate most soils and conditions.  Plants we didn't get around to discussing but really should have done include Agapanthus, Crocosmia, Eryngium, Clerodendron etc but we will get around to it as Autumn approaches.If you have any gardening questions, John is a hugely knowledgeable horticulturist so feel free to email them to rod@rodwhitingcommunications.co.uk and we'll tackle them in our weekly live event which you can find on our Loving Your Garden Facebook Group page every Tuesday evening at 6pm (UK time) We'll also include any answer in our next podcast episode.  With thanks to our UK based sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: for a free quote and advice on any project, here's their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

It's a Summer treat for our members as John and I meet up with two stalwarts of the Horticultural world: Rob Hardy from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants and renowned garden designer (and LYG member) Professor David Stevens.  Recorded just as the July heatwave was setting the mercury rising at the Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show, it was a chance to pick up some top tips from the best. It's only 11 minutes or so long but well worth your time. Enjoy!Thanks to our sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators - for a free quote and advice on any project go to their Facebook Group:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB 

Regardless of your views on climate change, July's record UK temperatures, coupled with similar events globally, remind us that something is very definitely afoot.  It's an issue gardeners especially have been aware of for some time, particularly those taking an interest in our wildlife - or lack of it!Our guest this week, Mary Porter, has spent a lifetime championing the cause of UK wildlife from her Lincolnshire base with weekly reports on local radio and now a national station: Boom Radio on Sunday mornings.  We discuss the changes, the challenges different wildlife face and the things we can do as gardeners. Because it's a general conversation between Mary, John and myself, there are no chapters this week, it's one just to set aside half an hour for a, hopefully,  informative piece on this topical issue. As ever, your feedback on our podcasts is welcome... email: rod@rodwhitingcommunications.co.ukThanks, as ever, to our sponsors, Fitzgerald Laing Decorators - visit:  https://bit.ly/3zvPicB for free advice or a consultation.

With record temperatures being clocked up all over the world including the more temperate European countries, gardeners need to be alert to the dangers posed to their precious plants. In this week's episode, John Stirland discusses the crucial topic of efficient watering, plant care and Summer lawn maintenance as well as answering member questions on pruning Wisteria and tree care.As ever,  if time is of the essence, you can scan the contents in our chapter tab.Brought to you in association with our Sponsors - Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: https://bit.ly/3Pe6E2v

Horticultural Wholesaler and LYG member Mark Smith updates us on some of the new products on display at the National Plant Show held at NAEC Stoneleigh in June.Blight resistant Box, easy-maintenance Clematis and dwarf varieties of popular shrubs for smaller gardens are just some of the items up for discussion.  He also reveals how the industry feels about the year to date as fears grow the economy generally, and it's positive news for horticulture at least.Also, John Stirland discusses topical jobs to be getting on with including taking softwood cuttings from your favourite plants.As ever, you can pick out items of interest from our chapter tab but at just 27 minutes, it's worth listening to the whole piece so as not to miss anything.Brought to you in association with our Sponsors - Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: https://bit.ly/3Pe6E2v

This time of year should see our gardens at their best in the more temperate climates but it's also a time when pests and diseases are at their most active. In this week's episode, we consider the main pests we're likely to encounter, such as scale insect, aphids and whitefly as well as fungal infections like powdery mildew and effective ways to control them.We also discuss jobs to be doing in June and John answers members' questions on roses, spraying and weeding, watering and feeding distressed plants and feeding tomatoes and cucumbers.As ever, you can check the chapter tab if you want to skip to sections of interest but John covers a lot of interesting topics this week so it's well worth listening through the whole podcast.

This week Rod and John discuss ways of using the free space above your garden to add another dimension to your outdoor space. Whether it's trees, shrubs or man-made structures, lifting the ceiling of your garden can make a world of difference.John also touches on a couple of key jobs for this time of year for veg growers including tomato care and leek planting.We also respond to a couple of member questions concerning distorted and wilting spring onions and whether Callicarpa needs acid soil.As ever, there's a chapter tab if you want to focus on a specific topic. For more perspective on the gardening issues we're discussing, take a look at our Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/574905686709417Thanks to our sponsors Fitzgerald Laing Decorators: https://www.facebook.com/Fitzgerald-Laing-Decorators-806442509447185/

Our garden lawns can be the source of great pride or bitter disappointment! Our guest this week, Guy Jenkins from Johnsons Lawn Seeds and DLF Seeds & Science gives you the inside story on seed development with everything you need to know about giving your lawn the best chance of success.  From choosing your seed to sowing, feeding, scarifying, aerating and mowing, Guy will take you through the dos and don'ts. Guy also has a solution for one of the biggest challenges to maintaining a healthy lawn for dog owners:  coping with dog pee! As ever we have a chapter section so you can dive straight into the bit you'd like to focus on.  LYG Podcast is brought to you in association with Fitzgerald Laing Decorators - for a free quote and advice on any project,  check out their Facebook Page of the same name.

Summer Bedding is a familiar addition to most gardens, providing an extra burst of colour to your outdoor space.  We look at the options and the pitfalls to avoid including the one common mistake that can leave you with loads of foliage...but no flowers!We also discuss the importance of plant supports, lifting your Spring bulbs, and respond to your questions about container suitability and plants for the front of a long hedgerow.

With all the effort we put into planning, planting and caring for our flowers, trees and shrubs, what's the point if our garden woodwork is a hotch-potch of broken fencing and shabby decking?  There are so many interesting colours now with water-based wood treatments that will transform a garden and help show off your plants in all their glory.We meet up with LYG member Jason Fitzgerald from our new sponsors Fitzgerald, Laing Decorators - he loves the group so much, he's sponsored us! Jason gives us some top pro tips on making easy work of your garden wood maintenance with some useful insight into the best products for the job.We also discuss lawn preparation as we get into a crucial time to get your lawns ready for the summer so, fertiliser, scarifying, aeration and irrigation.  Two key areas to get sorted now so your garden will look its best over the Summer.

John Stirland waxes lyrical about the joys of the garden waking up after the long Winter and how the Easter holiday is the time for you to really get on top of the 'to do' list to get your garden set for the busy growing season.We discuss sowing hardy annuals, buying your bedding plugs and protecting them in preparation for planting as the risk of frost eases, some border plant suggestions, use of glasshouses and getting your fertiliser down.As ever, the chapter tab gives you the option of diving in at a specific topic but you might miss some snippets of wisdom from the Gandalf of Gardening!A reminder that this is an edited version of our weekly Loving Your Garden Live event which goes out at 6pm (UK time) every Tuesday evening so it may contain the odd visual reference. Do feel free to join us and enjoy the friendly knowledgeable and inspirational members from all over the world.

Nick Hamilton, owner of the hugely popular Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland talks about the legacy of his famous father - Gardeners' World presenter Geoff Hamilton who introduced millions to gardening during the eighties and nineties before his untimely death in 1996.We discuss Barnsdale of course but also what it was like growing up in a television studio (Barnsdale was effectively 38 TV studio gardens). We talk about how the pandemic has changed the fortunes of horticulture, Barnsdale as a visitor attraction and how all of these are covered in Nick's newly published book 'The Right Genes' which is packed full of anecdotes about growing up with a famous father in a place that was beamed into millions of homes every week.As ever, you can check out the chapters tab if you want to focus on a particular part of the podcast but at just half an hour, it's worth a listen through from the start. (To paraphrase Mandy Rice-Davies, we would say that wouldn't we!)For info, Barnsdale Gardens is 5 miles East of Oakham in Rutland (LE15 8AH) is open to visitors 363 days a year from 9-5 pm March-October and 10-4 pm over the Winter.  Website: https://barnsdalegardens.co.uk/index.html