Loving Your Garden - Better Gardening Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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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.   
                                                                                                                          *Promo
David Stevens Website: https://david-stevens.co.uk/
David Stevens Email: [email protected]

You can watch this interview with accompanying images on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7j8D7HCZXg-V6OyRdZxYg

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/3oIzVr9

And 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/iP4Wd2

To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:
[email protected]

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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/3oIzVr9

Our New YouTube Channel link is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE7j8D7HCZXg-V6OyRdZxYg

And to sign up for our free subscription newsletter it's here: http://eepurl.com/iP4Wd2

To contact Loving Your Garden, perhaps with questions for John, it's:
[email protected]

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

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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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Send us a text

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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Send us a text

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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR.  

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Send us a text

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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Send us a text

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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

Send us a text

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 Jekyll
https://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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Send us a text

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 [email protected] 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/3zvPicB

PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A FINALIST  IN THE ‘22 GARDEN MEDIA GUILD AWARDS FOR PODCAST OF THE YEAR. 

A travel podcast for women over 45 who want to explore this big beautiful world.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify