Gardening with the RHS
Gardening with the RHS provides seasonal advice, inspiration, and practical solutions for gardening problems. Trusted professionals share the latest horticultural advice, scientific research, and tried-and-tested techniques. Topics include growing vegetables, flowers, garden design, lawn care, and gardening with children. Expert masterclasses cover cottage garden plants, orchids, pest control, and eco-friendly gardening.
Episodes
517: How to feed birds, a turf masterclass, and another essential job for autumn
As the weather cools and birds flock back to gardens, many of us enjoy putting more food out for them. But have we been feeding birds all wrong? How can we help our feathered friends without inadvertently endangering them? RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist Helen Bostock tells us how to feed birds properly this winter. After an incredibly tough summer for turf, many domestic lawns are still feeling th
516 – Incredible ivy, vegetable folklore and autumn planting essentials
Meet one of our most loved and hated native plants. You might think of ivy as a destroyer of buildings or a nuisance weed, but it’s actually just been crowned the most popular flower with pollinating insects in an 8 year study by the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. It’s also the RHS Wildlife Wonder plant for October, so our Science and Horticulture editor Olivia Drake is
515 - The Plant Review: Waxcap Wonderlands, ancient apples, and your questions answered
A new season, and a new edition of The Plant Review, the quarterly magazine published by The RHS that delves a little deeper than the regular RHS Garden mag. If you prefer your plant stories and horticultural happenings that bit more detailed, The Plant Review is the publication for you. In this special programme, RHS plant pathologist Jassy Drakulic talks fungi in lawns, Plant Review editor James
514 - Plants for pollinators, dividing perennials, and no more cauliflowers?
So many jobs to do at this time of year, but not enough time! As we rush to garden centres and nurseries, you can make it easier on yourself by narrowing down your new plant choices to those which are ultra wildlife friendly. Pollinators will always appreciate a helping hand, and a good place to start is with a new RHS guide, Plants for Pollinators. One of the authors, RHS entomologist Josie Stuar
513 – Autumn gets real, root cuttings, and what do spiders ever do for us?
Head to the bottom of the garden this month and you might end up with a face full of spiders’ webs. Before you run screaming into the house, RHS spider expert Ben Brough offers an insight into why an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare is a fantastic garden ally. Want more plants for next spring without the cost of buying? RHS Garden Wisley’s Sam Gallivan teaches us how to take root cuttings and instan
512: Turf wars, houseplant MOT, and a final bulb of the week
Many listeners’ turf will have taken a bashing over summer, and now is the time to glow-up the green. RHS Garden Wisley’s Jim Millward shares his tips on how to get your grass ready for autumn. The holiday is officially over for our houseplants, time to bring them back inside after enjoying a hot summer. RHS indoor plant specialist Freddy Fuller offers do’s and don’ts for seasonal houseplant succe
511: Saving drought-hit plants, the wildlife wonder of apples, more bulb inspiration
Is it dead? Or is it just sulking? That’s what many listeners will be wondering after returning from their summer holidays to find many plants exhausted by hot and dry weather. Horticultural advisor Nick Turrell provides a dose of reality – and some much-needed hope – when it comes to saving, or binning, the hardest-hit perennials. Presenter Gareth Richards speaks to RHS science editor Olivia Drak
510: Magnificent mini-beasts, figs, and another bulb of the week
There’s a myriad of weird and wonderful beasties out there who feast on flowers, but all is not rosy inside the garden gate. Pollinators are in trouble, and Josie Stuart, RHS Senior Entomologist at RHS Garden Wisley shares some unexpected ways home gardeners can help pollinators thrive, no matter the size of your plot. Horticultural specialist Jim Arbury offers expert advice on a hot topic many RH
509: Lovely lantanas, deadheading guide and our autumn bulb of the week
While many garden plants have struggled for survival this summer, one which has truly thrived is the lantana. Horticulturist David Hurrion was one of the judges of last year's lantana trial at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, and he joins us to share his takeaways of growing these eye-poppingly colourful bedding plants, and some of the standout cultivars.
Deadheading is a practice key to ensuri
508: Seed collecting, apple pruning, and wildflowers
Even though it's still August, the signs of autumn are starting to show. False autumn is a survival-driven stress response where trees shed leaves and change colour prematurely due to extreme heat and drought, and you may find yourself doing the autumn jobs a little early this year.
We dive headlong into seed collecting with RHS horticulturist Lucie Rudnicka, plus find out how best to prune
507: Heatwave survival guide for pots and powdery mildew mayhem
In a summer of rolling heatwaves, we look at what we can do to help out one of the garden areas most vulnerable to parching - plants in pots. RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell explains what you can do to keep them alive and thriving as temperatures soar. The heat and high humidity this summer have provided the perfect conditions for fungal plant diseases to spread like wildfire. RHS Plant Pat
506: Garden wildlife care for heatwaves: dahlias, cinnabar moths, and more
As we experience one of the most extreme summers on record, how can we help our garden wildlife cope with the heat? RHS Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake explains why ornamental dahlias can be an excellent late summer food source for pollinators, while RHS entomologist Josie Stuart introduces us to the striking cinnabar moth and its close relationship with drought-resistant ragwort. We
505: Summer SOS: holiday-proof your garden, midsummer planting guide, a giant bug hunt
If you’re going away this summer and are worried about your garden RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter shares some top hacks for ensuring your plants survive the heatwaves while you’re away. But if you’re staying at home and feel inspired to give your garden a revamp for all those summer BBQs, RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell explains what you can still plant in high summer for maximum impac
504: RHS Sandringham Flower Show: climate resilient trees, rainwater capture, frogs
The team head to North Norfolk to fill their boots with inspiration from the show gardens, floral exhibits, specialist growers, and innovative designs on display at RHS Sandringham Flower Show. Gareth Richards speaks with Catherine MacDonald, who designed The RHS Royal Legacy Garden in collaboration with King Charles III, with a special focus on climate resilient trees. Jenny Laville catches up wi
503: Pollinators at RHS Badminton, Elms at RHS Sandringham, and Edimentals
It’s time to recuperate and relish one of the best times in the gardening calendar. Taking inspiration from some of the Pocket Planting gardens at RHS Badminton Flower Show, we’re celebrating plants for pollinators as part of Bees’ Needs Week. Ahead of an elm-themed exhibit at the Sandringham Flower Show next week Jenny Laville meets David Shreeve MBE, who in the late 1970s arranged for the first
502: RHS Badminton Flower Show
Join us at the inaugural RHS Flower Show at Badminton in Gloucestershire! It’s a brand-new addition to the gardening calendar, the next in a massive year of RHS events that celebrate the greatest shows in earth, and Gardening with the RHS is here to take listeners on a journey through some of the show’s highlights. Size matters, and we speak with renowned designer Tom Stuart-Smith about one of his
501: After the heat, multifunctional fennel, and roses 101
This week we’re recovering from extreme heat to get back to what we love best: celebrating the joy of plants, how to grow them, and some tips for doing more in our gardens. Guy Barter emerges from the heat dome with some lessons learned from inside the furnace, and our science editor Olivia Drake shares an RHS Wildlife Wonder Plant for July that’s a hit with pollinators an
500: Insect week: Beetling about, solitary bees, and summer strawbs
Insects are vital ecosystem engineers in our gardens. Small but mighty, they help create healthy, balanced environments where plants can thrive. Of course, not all insects are flying or scuttling above ground all the time, so to mark Insect Week, we’re going underground with RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones to explore the beetle larvae living in our soils. We’ll learn how to identify the
A celebration of British blooms
Insects are drawn to them, poets and artists are inspired by them, and without them, much of our agriculture simply wouldn’t exist. Flowers are one of nature’s most remarkable inventions, and in honour of British Flowers Week, we’ve got three fantastic floral stories. Georgie Newbery, artisan flower farmer and passionate advocate for the British cut flower industry, joins us to share how years of
Plants for sunny spots: the familiar and the unexpected
In this summer edition of the Plant Review podcast special, we get stuck into the plants which love to bask in the sun. Journalist Phil Clayton shares his tips for success with bearded irises, and tackles one of the conundrums associated with this antisocial plant – what to grow them with! Taxonomist Julian Shaw introduces us to a striking new Arum hybrid that's been causing quite a stir among pla
June in the kitchen garden
June is when many kitchen gardens begin to hit their stride. Horticulturist, author, and YouTuber Huw Richards joins us to explore the joys of growing your own food, the benefits of self-sufficiency, and why gardens of every size can have a big impact on people, communities and wildlife. Huw also shares details of the Top of the Plots competition, celebrating inspiring growers across the UK. RHS W
Heatwaves, houseplant hacks, hot new hostas, and more!
As the UK experiences some of the hottest May weather on record, we share practical tips for helping your garden cope during heatwaves. And if the soaring temperatures have you seeking shade indoors, we’ll hear from houseplant experts about their favourite indoor plants and their advice for tackling common houseplant problems. We also catch up with Chris Potts from Sienna Hostas to discover a brea
The best of RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The highlight of the horticultural calendar is back. This week, we’re bringing you the very best of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
We speak to designer Darren Hawkes about The Lady Garden Foundation’s 'Silent No More' garden, and how outdoor spaces can be designed to encourage conversation and connection. Growers and exhibitors from the Great Pavilion share their favourite plants, must-see showsto
Chelsea’s gnome battle, marvellous mulleins and free plants with hidden costs
Love them or loathe them, garden gnomes are back… and this time, they’ve even got royal approval as they’ll be appearing in the Kings Foundation garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which returns next week. Fiona Davison, head of Libraries and Exhibitions at the RHS talks us through the history of the show’s infamous gnome ban.
Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake joins us to marvel at
Moths, hydrangeas and a royal flourish at Chelsea
We’re diving into the fascinating lives of moths with RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones. She tells us what sets them apart from butterflies, and how to set up nighttime nectar bars to give them a helping hand.
We’re also turning our attention to a firm favorite in the garden: Hydrangeas. RHS horticulturist Jack Aldridge is a woody plant expert, and he joins us to share some of his favor
Wild about gardens: from birds to blossom
Today we’re getting wild in the garden and taking a look at some of the abundance that's on display as spring hits its peak. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh joins us to unpack the results of this year's Big Garden Birdwatch, offering a revealing snapshot of the health of some of our most cherished garden visitors. Emma also shares how new research is informing New RSPB advice on feeding birds seasonally and
Alternatives to wildflower meadows, supercharge your garden with leftovers, cultivating unusual crops
To celebrate Earth Day, we’re looking at how we as gardeners can make small changes to benefit the world around us. Nick Turrell and Jenny Laville will be digging into the topic of food waste, exploring how composting and changing our habits can make a big difference to our ecological footprints. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden offers an alternative, biodiversity-friendly approach if you fi
Helping hedgehogs, DIY potting mix, and crispy cabbages
This week Grace Johnson from the Hedgehog Street Campaign joins us once again to tell us more about what we can all do to support the recovery of hedgehog populations, right where they need it most: in our gardens. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden joins us with a clever money-saving tip, showing how you can make your own potting mix from scratch at home. And to round things off, Liz Mooney h
Spring’s hidden heroes: comfrey, carrots, and hedgehogs
This week, we’re shining a light on some of the plants and creatures that play a vital role at this time of year: the ones that truly make spring what it is… starting with an often overlooked but invaluable contributor to the spring display - comfrey. Olivia Drake will be telling us more about this powerhouse for pollinators that deserves a place in any garden. Next, we turn to the veg patch and o
Climate resilient gardens, lettuces, and gladioli
This week we head to RHS Wisley's Hilltop where the science and advisory teams are working tirelessly to come up with solutions to some of the biggest pressures facing horticulture and gardeners today, and few are bigger or more pressing than climate change. RHS advisor Jenny Bowden talks us through an experiment she's working on to find out which plants are best suited to the extremes in summer d
Resilient gardens, blossoming trees & growing cucumbers
This week we’re embracing the arrival of spring in the garden. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden applies a right plant, right place approach in her sandy, drought-prone garden in southeast England. Embracing experimentation, she’s creating a resilient, low-maintenance space that shows even challenging conditions can thrive. We’ll also be celebrating the breathtaking displays of blossom unfold
An ode to home grown
This week, we’re focusing on the edible garden, and the simple yet radical act of growing your own food in an age of convenience. Food writer Nancy Matsumoto explores how our globalised food system is impacting both people and planet, and why women-led initiatives could help shape a more sustainable future. RHS Garden Wisley’s Liz Mooney joins us from the World Food Garden to answer everything you
Spring into wellbeing: primroses, pollinators, and peas
With the first glimmers of spring starting to show through, this week we’re diving into the theme of wellbeing – both for us and our garden wildlife. RHS Science & Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake joins us to explain why the common primrose is an essential early source of nectar for pollinators.
We’ll also be exploring the powerful role gardens can play in our own health and wellbeing. The RHS h
Learning From The Wild
This week, we’re leafing through the pages of The Plant Review to explore a simple question: what can we learn from the wild?
American plantsman Daniel J. Hinkley reflects on a lifetime of exploration that has taken him to some of the wildest places on Earth in search of plants. Yet in his article he turns his attention to a small, unassuming genus growing close to home in Washington State: Copti
Rethinking rose pruning, self-sufficiency, and ornamental grasses
This week we join gardener and biologist Benny Hawksbee in his rose beds to find out how one small adjustment to the traditional rose pruning method can create vital habitat for a key aphid predator. RHS Garden Wisley’s Liz Mooney tells us about her journey to self-sufficiency, and horticulturist Rose Holman guides us through how to cut back your ornamental grasses before the new growth comes thro
Wet winter gardening, woodland walks and pruning wisteria
This week, we’re heading to RHS Garden Wisley to discover how its horticulturists are turning one of the wettest starts to the year on record into a garden that’s primed for spring. Team leader Helen Bensted-Smith shares some top tips for gardening in persistently soggy conditions, and explains why increasingly wet winters and dry summers are challenges we need to adapt to rather than battle again
The wildlife wonders of hazel, the science of winter wellbeing and hot crops from Wisley
This week, as its delicate catkins unfurl on bare branches, Digital Science Editor Olivia Drake introduces this month’s RHS Wildlife Wonder plant — the hazel – which not only supplies queen bumblebees with much needed early pollen, but also provides tasty nuts and abundant leaves to support a huge range of wildlife throughout the year. And while it may still be a little early to sow most crops dir
Planning the perfect veg plot: heirlooms, tomatoes and what lies beneath
Now is a great time to start planning what to grow, and this week, we’re diving headfirst into the seed catalogues for inspiration! We’re exploring some of the tastiest, and most eye catching, additions to the veg patch: heirlooms! We also take a deep dive into tomato cultivars, as Liz Mooney shares her top picks from last years 'tomato extravaganza’ which saw her grow more than 50 varieties at RH
Beyond peat
This week we’re telling the story of peat: from the value of this amazing otherworldly habitat, to the threats facing these rare landscapes and work being done to protect them, and how growers and horticulturists are adapting to a peat-free future. We’ll be speaking to Beth Thomas from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts, RHS Peat-Free Research Technician Scott Spriggs, and plantsperson Mairi Longdon fr
Wildlife-friendly gardening: winter edition
This week we’re rolling up our sleeves to look at how we can support our garden visitors, while also preparing for the burst of life that spring will bring. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh is back to share how monitoring projects like the Big Garden Bird Watch can make a real difference when it comes to helping our declining species. Gareth Richards pops in with his top tips for growing one of his allotment
Feathers, Fruit and Fascinating Plants
Today, we’re joined by the RSPB’s Emma Marsh, who shares how she has made her garden into a haven for birds. We’ll also conclude Nick Turrell’s countdown of the most influential plants that have shaped human culture, and history around the globe. Plus, now is the best time to get outside and prune your freestanding apples and pears. The RHS’s Jim Arbury gives us a masterclass on exactly what you n
Midwinter Gardens: Influential Plants, Christmas Trees and New RHS Gardens
The new year has arrived with an Arctic blast, and so it feels like the perfect moment to retreat indoors and let the garden live in our imaginations for a while. Nick Turrell joins us to continue his countdown of the most influential plants that have shaped human history. Guy Barter shares his practical ideas for making the most of your Christmas tree in the garden, and Pru Murray takes us throug
A Year in the Garden: Hellebores, Hoverflies and Temperate Rainforests
As 2025 comes to a close, host Nick Turrell looks back on a year of discovery in this special end-of-year edition of Gardening with the RHS. From the quiet resilience of winter-flowering hellebores with plantsman John Grimshaw, to the gentle industry of hoverflies with RHS entomologist Josie Stuart, and a summer journey into Britain’s rare temperate rainforests with designer Zoe Claymore, this ref
A Quiet Beauty: Plants That Carry Us Through the Cold
Oh the weather outside is frightful but there’s still plenty of wonder to be found out there. James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, joins Gareth Richards to reflect on the quiet beauty of the resilient plants that carry us through the winter months, and on the quiet beauty of seeing familiar plants anew.We begin with writer and plantsman Phil Clayton, who tells the extraordinary story of the
At the Turning of the Year: From Great Dixter to Tomorrow’s Gardens
This week, we honour the stillness of winter and the returning promise of light as we mark the winter solstice. At this turning of the year, we reflect on the people, plants and initiatives that this new light brings into focus.
We begin by stepping into the richly curious world of Christopher Lloyd, the influential gardener and visionary behind Great Dixter House and Gardens. His legacy is rec
Garden Books We’re Obsessed With This Year
This week, RHS Head of Libraries Fiona Davison, garden designer Zoe Claymore and RHS Gardening Advisor Nick Turrell gather to share their must-read gardening books of 2025. Along the way, they explore what really makes a garden waterwise, dive into the astonishing world of fungi, demystify regenerative gardening, and get to the root of soil science. They also journey through the makings of a tempe
Atomic Gardens and Other Remarkable Histories
December is the perfect time to take stock of the garden and dream of the seasons ahead. With this in mind, this week we’re bringing you some extraordinary stories from horticulturists past and present. Fiona Davison kicks things off with the astonishing tale of Muriel Howarth, who passionately advocated for the potential of atomic energy in gardening. Nick Turrell then joins us to unveil the firs
The Power of Trees: Wellbeing, Wildlife and the Future of Our Woodlands
It’s National Tree Week, and we’re heading into the woods to celebrate the trees that shape our landscapes, enrich our lives, and quietly support the world around us. We’re joined by Sally Bavin from the Woodland Trust, who explains why woodlands are so powerful for both our physical and mental wellbeing. She also shares her fascinating research into mapping the UK’s richest areas of “wellbeing wo
When seasons slip: How to maximise your garden for plants and wildlife
As frosts arrive across the UK – later than usual this year – we’re exploring how to give nature a helping hand when the seasons fall out of step. In this installment of our wildlife ponds mini-series, Helen Bensted-Smith walks us through her top planting recommendations for different aquatic habitats. Wisley Garden Manager Mark Tuson also reveals how his team turns fallen leaves, cuttings, and wo
Tiny Wetlands, Big Impact: The Wildlife Power of Garden Ponds
All life begins with water — and in gardens across the UK, ponds are becoming vital sanctuaries for wildlife. Now is an excellent time of year to create one, and RHS expert Helen Bensted-Smith walks us through everything you need to know: from position and depth, to lining material, structure, and how to fill it! It’s the first in our four-part mini-series on making your own wildlife haven this au
Plants for Purpose: How Research is Reimagining Our Gardens
This week we’re taking a moment to look ahead. Carol Barrie from the RHS Science and Collections Department joins us to talk about Plants for Purpose, an ambitious new project she’s leading in collaboration with the University of Nottingham. It’s using the power of AI, alongside the RHS’s vast Herbarium, to build a living knowledge bank of plants that benefit the environment. We’ll also turn our
Halloween in the Garden: From Bats to Deadly Blooms
As the days grow shorter and Halloween marks the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, we explore the mysterious, the nocturnal, and the beautifully eerie corners of nature. Ecologist and bat expert Greg Slack joins us to uncover the secrets of these misunderstood night flyers — essential to our ecosystems but increasingly under threat. Then, houseplant expert and author Jane Perrone takes u
Grow Forward: Designing Resilient Gardens and Stronger Communities
It’s time to look ahead to the future: From the coming season to the years beyond, the way we garden must evolve with a changing world. Award-winning garden designer Tom Massey joins us to share his tips on how to be more water-wise in the garden. We’ll also explore the growing importance of community gardens, as the RHS unveils its landmark Space to Grow report: the first comprehensive mapping of
From Mushrooms to Matrix Planting: Exploring Nature’s Design
This week, Dr Jassy Drakulic returns to guide us through the hidden zones of your garden, uncovering the fascinating world of fungi and the mushroom magic that may be thriving right under your nose. RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones joins us to introduce the charming yet troublesome vine weevil — a notorious menace for potted plants — and reveals how we can give a helping hand to the bene
Hidden Worlds: From Fungal Networks to Literary Landscapes
This week, RHS Senior Plant Pathologist Dr Jassy Drakulic shares her passion for the mysterious world of fungi, revealing the hidden lives of their fruiting bodies and the ingenious ways they spread their spores. At RHS Garden Rosemoor, horticulturist Alex Paines takes us behind the scenes to explore the art of shaping formal hedges and offers expert tips for keeping them looking their best. And f
Living Libraries: Stories from The Plant Review
Gardens are more than places of beauty — they’re living archives, preserving stories of the past. In this episode, we leaf through the September issue of The Plant Review to uncover what history can teach us about the gardens of today.
RHS horticulturist Jack Aldridge recalls the rare purple-leaved Stachyurus—first spotted in a Devon garden in the 1970s, lost for decades, then rediscovered at a C
The Autumn Shift: Hibernaculums, Snowdrops, and Jane Austen
As astronomical autumn settles in, the rhythm of our gardens begins to change — plants, fungi, and wildlife all adapting to cooler days and longer nights. This week, horticulturist Tim Smith shows us how to support our hibernating garden visitors by creating your very own hibernaculum at home. Camilla Bassett-Smith shares her expert tips on planting snowdrops now for a stunning early spring displa
From Soil to Plate: Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Garden
This week we’re heading down to the world famous, double Michelin star Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in deepest Oxfordshire, to speak to chef Raymond Blanc about his ethos towards growing delicious produce, appreciating the soil, and letting veg take centre stage on the plate. From tasty veg to truly enormous ones, Fiona Davison will be telling us about the quirky tradition of giant vegetable growing
Pioneering Women Gardeners, Daffodils and Climate Lessons
This week we’re exploring the lives of the pioneering women gardeners of the 20th century who paved the way for women in horticulture today… through music. Composer Omri Kochavi will be sharing how he was inspired by the book ‘An Almost Impossible Thing’ by Fiona Davison to create what he calls a 'horti-musical'. Now's the perfect time to think ahead to spring, and daffodil devotee Camilla Bassett
Autumn Abundance: How to Harvest All Year Round
Autumn may be here, but your garden’s productivity doesn’t have to slow down! This week, join us as Liz Mooney from RHS Wisley’s World Food Garden reveals how she keeps her allotment bursting with fruit and veg all year round. We’ll also hear from entomologist Dr Hayley Jones, who’s back to shed new light on wasps — the much-maligned but fascinating insects who’ve had a buzzing bumper year in 2025
Wading into wisteria, managing mildew and an existential conundrum
Many of us have experienced the surge in powdery mildew, ushered in by the hot, dry summer we’ve had. To find out more about this unwanted fungal force and how to manage it, we’re speaking to RHS Senior Plant Pathologist Dr Jassy Drakulic. Late summer is also the perfect time to prune your wisteria to ensure the best blooms next spring. We’re speaking to this custodian of Wisley’s Wisteria Walk, L
Gardening Through Extremes: Survival, Heatwaves & Budget Hacks
This week we are diving into extremes. Tom Hart Dyke shares his amazing story of misadventure in the Panamanian jungle that led him to the brink of death… and to the founding of a ‘World Garden’ deep in Kent. Guy Barter shares some top tips on how to keep your garden looking luscious in the extreme heat and drought we’ve experienced across the UK this summer. And are you gardening on an extreme bu
Allotments: Spaces that Grow Us
Allotments are powerful spaces of regeneration, nourishment, and community, and this National Allotment Week we’re celebrating these impactful sanctuaries. Mike Farrell, Chair of the National Allotment Society talks us through how they have evolved and why in a fractured world, the diverse communities they serve are more vital than ever. Garden designer and allotmenteer Zoe Claymore explores the v
Get Gardening this Summer Holidays
School’s out and summer’s in full swing, which means it’s the perfect time for the next generation of green thumbs to dig in and discover the joys of gardening! The always-inventive Lee Connelly, better known as the Skinny Jean Gardener, joins us with some fantastic garden projects to keep little hands busy. We also hear from keen gardener and parenting podcast host Giovanna Fletcher, who shares h
Plants for Pollinators
A third of British pollinator species are now in decline — but there’s still hope, and gardeners can be part of the solution. This week, the RHS launched its updated Plants for Pollinators list: over 10,000 plants scientifically shown to support pollinating insects throughout the year. Dr Andy Salisbury, head of plant health at the RHS, will take us behind the science — revealing how smart plantin
Dead Hedges, Magical Mints and a Mycelial Menace
This week Sam Southgate from RHS Garden Rosemoor is teaching us how to rethink garden waste by transforming it into amazing structures for both you and your garden wildlife to enjoy. Mary Coates who’s doing her summer studentship with the plant health team at the RHS tells us about her research into the dreaded honey fungus, and how you can help her out. And finally we share some love for the mint
RHS Wentworth: A celebration of great northern gardens and growers
This week, we’re coming to you live from the very first RHS Flower Show at the magnificent Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire. We’ll be chatting with the rising stars of garden design – young talents competing for the coveted RHS Young Designer of the Year award. We’re also shining a light on some of the North’s finest growers, showcasing their extraordinary plants inside the vibrant floral ma
The Story of Strawberries
Nothing captures the spirit of a British summer quite like Wimbledon and the iconic pairing of strawberries and cream. This week we’re diving into the fascinating history of strawberry cultivation with the RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions Fiona Davison, who uncovered a hidden story of pioneering strawberry-focused citizen science. Wisley’s Liz Mooney returns to run us through exactly how to k
Growing Ideas: Highlights from RHS Hampton Court
This week, we're coming to you from the stunning RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025; the UK’s most spectacular summer celebration of all things green, growing, and gloriously garden-inspired! Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge sustainability solutions, and thought-provoking exhibits that reveal how gardening connects us to nature, to each other, and to ourselves. We explore the He
Aphids, Earwigs & Allies: Insect Week with the RHS
This week we’re diving 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. RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones will be busting some myths around one critter which has been dominating our gardens this year – aph
Blooms, Beaks & Beets: Summer in the Garden
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 RHS Garden Wisley, Liz Mooney guides us through successional sowing for a summer full of salad crops, and at RHS Bridgewater, Carolyne Jones reveals how to turn your garden into a haven for nesting birds. From vibrant wi
From Rainforests to Garden Borders: Nature’s Wild Edges
This week, 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 RHS 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 G
Call of the Wild
This week, we’re stepping off the garden path and into the wild. James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, joins Gareth Richards to reflect on how a little wilderness can bring balance, biodiversity, and unexpected beauty, to even the most cultivated spaces.
We begin with a tribute to the intrepid botanist John Watson, whose plant-hunting adventures in South America unearthed a treasure trove o
Big Blue Poppies and Easy Edibles
Late May bursts with life – and this week’s episode celebrates the full force of the season. We revisit the RHS 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. A
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Step into the bloom of RHS Chelsea 2025! In this special episode, we delve into the standout themes, emerging trends, and — of course — the spectacular plants that define this year’s show. Journey with us from Scotland’s wild coastal landscapes to the dappled canopies of urban forests, as we meet the visionary designers behind 2025’s most breathtaking gardens. We’ll also shine a spotlight on the r
Moths, Meadows and Mischievous Mutts
Biodiverse spaces are important not only for healthy ecosystems but they also bring tangible benefits for our mental wellness as well. Unfortunately new data shows that some of our most loved garden visitors – the Lepidoptera, or butterflies and moths – are in alarming decline. We’ll be finding out from Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, how gardeners can give them the boos
Plant Health Week - Get Your Garden Thriving
It’s Plant Health Week, and we’re celebrating with expert tips to keep your garden thriving. RHS Plant Health Advisor Helen Latham will be sharing practical advice to help your plants stay strong and resilient. Meanwhile, Nick Turrell returns to shine a light on the unsung heroes of the garden — weeds! Last week, he turned a common garden nuisance into a delicious, nutrient-rich summer salad. Toda
May Day, Welcoming in Warmer Weather
This May Day we’re embracing new growth in the garden — even from the unexpected plants that pop up on their own! Nick Turrell from the RHS Gardening Advice Team will be shining a spotlight on one so-called ‘weed’ that’s actually packed with nutrients — a perfect addition to your summer salads. Liz Mooney from the edibles team at RHS Garden Wisley is back to share her top tips for growing beans —
Spring in Full Swing
Spring is stretching its limbs, and the garden is stirring to life. As the days grow longer and begin to warm, there’s a tangible energy in the air – a heady mix of birdsong, budding leaves, and the unmistakable scent of fresh soil and blossoms. This week horticulturist Liz Mooney will be sharing her expert tips on getting the best from beetroot, turnips and parsnips – perfect for anyone looking t
Earth Day Special
As gardeners, we understand the deep connection between people and the planet. The choices we make in our own green spaces – no matter how small – can ripple outward, creating real impact. This Earth Day, ecological home grower Poppy Okotcha invites us into her world of regenerative gardening. Dr. Hayley Jones explores how welcoming all creatures – even the less popular ones – can nurture a thrivi
