Explore every episode of the podcast The James & Joe Garden Show

Question Time is back! Which means James and Joe are once again diving headfirst into your gardening dilemmas—with absolutely no guarantees that the answers will be sensible... This week they tackle one of gardening's biggest myths: does spending more money on a plant actually improve its chances of survival? (Spoiler: one very expensive fern says otherwise.) They also discuss whether black fences and Japanese-style charred timber are timeless or just another passing trend, debate the pros and cons of keeping a garden journal, and help a listener navigate the diplomatic nightmare of sharing a holiday garden with a sister who loves bargain-bin begonias. Plus: Why expensive plants sometimes die the fastest. Joe's YouTube milestone... almost. James unearths his gardening notebook from 1990. Should gardeners embrace winter hibernation—or keep pottering all year round? A surprising amount of chat about reading glasses, tree ferns and Kellys. As always, expect plenty of laughs, questionable accents, gardening honesty and the occasional ripping up of the rulebook. And don't forget... if you've got a gardening question, send it in. It might just feature in the next Question Time! If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts—it really helps more gardeners discover the show. Happy gardening! https://www.thegardencollective.uk/the-james-joe-garden-show/ This is an important Public Service announcement: we will not be here next week as we are shaking things around.. Nothing too dramatic but we thought we would up our game. Thank you to all of you who tune in to listen to us burble on every tuesday - see you on 28th July. To ask us a question email gnome@jamesandjoegarden.com or go to our website www.jamesandjoegarden.com About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. For ad free listening and bonus content then join us at the Garden Collective. Not only will you get us but new articles every week from some of the best garden writers around and access to a bulging archive from (without wishing to drop names) the likes of Alan Titchmarsh, Ann-Marie Powell, Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith, Advolly Richmond, Jan Etherington and many others. Come and join the Collective for essays, seasonal notes, reflections and stories. Follow James & Joe on Instagram: @jamesandjoegarden Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: / garden_collective_ Contact us: ⁠gnome@jamesandjoegarden.com www.jamesandjoegarden.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When temperatures soar and the football takes over the TV, what better way to settle one of gardening's biggest debates? In this week's episode, James and Joe take a tongue-in-cheek trip around the globe, comparing Britain's gardens with some of the world's greatest horticultural traditions. Inspired by the World Cup, they imagine gardens going head-to-head in an international knockout tournament—complete with unlikely winners, controversial refereeing decisions, and plenty of laughs along the way. From the elegance of Japanese gardens and the grandeur of France's formal landscapes to the bold planting of Brazil, the colourful displays of Canada's Butchart Gardens, and the unique character of gardens in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico, the pair explore what makes each country's gardening style distinctive. Along the way they ask whether British gardening has influenced the world a little too much, and whether every country should embrace its own landscape, climate and native plants instead of copying traditional English designs. With Britain emerging from a sweltering heatwave, the conversation naturally turns to gardening in a changing climate. James and Joe discuss the importance of planting more trees, designing gardens for shade, choosing drought-tolerant plants, and why establishing young trees has never been more important. It's a thoughtful discussion wrapped up in their usual mix of humour, personal stories and gardening wisdom. As always, there are plenty of entertaining detours—from cricket, banana splits and AI translation to Roman topiary, Christopher Lloyd's love of bold planting, and even the possibility of launching their own international Gardening World Cup. Whether you're cheering on your favourite football team or simply looking for inspiration to make your own garden more resilient this summer, this episode is packed with ideas, laughter and plenty of horticultural debate. Which country would lift the Garden World Cup? You'll have to listen and decide for yourself. 🌍🌿⚽ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, James and Joe tackle the big questions: Do TV gardeners ever actually retire, or are they just doomed to keep trundling on forever? We dive into the absurdity of professional aging, campaign for Dame Carol Klein, and address the existential crisis of a "bent" cucumber. Plus, we offer some much-needed relationship counseling for a couple caught between a wildlife meadow and minimalist paving. In this episode: The Retirement Myth: Why self-employed creatives—and TV gardeners—don't "retire" in the conventional sense. The Campaign for Carol: Why it’s high time for Dame Carol Klein. Rebel Plants: James and Joe name their favorite "free-spirited" plants that refuse to stay where they’re put (spoiler: it involves Seseli and Foxgloves). The Cucumber Straightener: A Victorian relic or a show-stopper? We weigh in on the "polite society" of show bench vegetables. Relationship Counseling: How to manage a garden when your partner wants a concrete jungle and you want a wild meadow. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garden lighting is a divisive subject, and James and Joe are owning the controversy this week. From the "feral" beauty of a well-lit tree to the absolute horror of bright, cold security lights that turn your backyard into an office complex at midnight, we’re ripping up the rulebook on how to light your space effectively. We discuss the delicate balance of creating drama through light and shadow, the importance of "warm white" over harsh blue LEDs, and why James thinks the future of garden lighting is actually… solar-powered path lights that make your garden look like a runway. Plus, we dive into the circadian rhythms of local blackbirds, the perils of "carefully" sexing hedgehogs, and why you should never, ever light a tree at 3:00 AM. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re back with another listener Q&A! As always, James and Joe are answering your most urgent (and slightly unhinged) gardening questions. This week, we tackle the "elephant in the room": what is the official etiquette for bathroom breaks when you’re working in a client’s garden? (Spoiler: It involves a lot of "feral weeding" and shed-related anxiety). We also dive into the ethics of urban gardening—is it botanical cruelty to cram 30 cosmos into a tiny window box?—and take on a listener’s challenge: for every new plant you buy, you must purge one household item. Plus, we discuss the efficacy of paying a witch on Etsy to save your wedding day weather. In this episode: The Bathroom Protocol: How to handle the lack of facilities without ruining your client relationship. Urban Gardening Ethics: When does "abundance" cross the line into plant torture? The One-In-One-Out Rule: James and Joe try to decide which household junk to bin for their latest plant haul. Witchcraft & Weddings: Should you demand a refund from an Etsy witch for a rainy wedding day? Reality TV Dreams: Which reality shows would James and Joe actually survive? Got a question for the next Q&A? Drop it in our DMs. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it ever okay to have a plastic owl in your tree? What is the secret to placing sculpture without looking like you’re trying too hard? And why are some of you planting your underwear? We explore the fine, often blurry line between high-end abstract art and the "tut and tat" that haunts our sheds. In this episode: The Gnome Controversy: Did the King really force Chelsea to bring them back? Sculpture 101: Why empty pots are art, but planted-up toilets are... well, something else entirely. Pest Control or Pure Kitsch: Are plastic herons and balloons actually doing anything, or just scaring the neighbours? The "Jekyll" Gnome: A look back at the original garden-gnome drama. James & Joe’s Personal Collections: The good, the bad, and the slightly unhinged pieces lurking in our own gardens. Have a piece of kitsch you’re secretly proud of? Let us know on socials! This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the boys are diving deep into the listener mailbag to rescue a frustrated subscriber from a bureaucratic nightmare, investigate a neighbour utilising military-grade precision on a front lawn, and honour a beloved friend of the show.In this episode: The Planning Inspectorate Stand-Off: Will from Oxfordshire is being formally mandated by the government to rip up his healthy Prunus serrula and mature hedge to lay down a pristine, unsustainable lawn. James and Joe immediately advocate for direct action—specifically, gluing oneself to the beautifully polished mahogany bark. The Desert Island Luxury Pivot: Joe calls out James' historical choice of taking "a large quantity of York stone paving" to a desert island, leading to a new strategy involving Fred Astaire’s tap dancing catalog and a highly practical (but potentially illegal) fishing rod. The Laser-Levelled Lawn: A neighbour is spotted using a spirit level and a laser line to mow their front yard. Joe breaks down why a flat lawn is completely useless for a putting green, while James remembers his father's bizarre habit of signing the family name "Liversedge" into household dust. The Death of the Pure Nursery: Toby from Aberdeen vents about the corporate takeover of garden centers by John Lewis lifestyle aesthetics. Joe reveals the actual margin on a £3 cup of coffee and calculates food costs strictly "by the mouthful." Housing Association Turf Wars: Sarah from Manchester is judging a local garden competition. Co-Chair of Assessors James shares a cautionary tale of judging an anonymous flower show that nearly required a security detail, before providing a bulletproof breakdown of how a clipboard and a rigorous point system can save you from neighborhood politics. Remembering Matthew Biggs: James and Joe take a heartfelt, reflective moment to pay tribute to the late, great Matthew Biggs—the warmest, funniest plant hunter to ever grace the stage at Malvern. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh from the world's most prestigious showground, James and Joe are back to completely deconstruct the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. After a week where national tabloids picked up their last episode and accused Joe of launching a "scathing, fiery rant" against David Beckham and the BBC, Joe uses his right to reply to set the record straight on why he actually stepped down from the TV coverage after 24 years. Meanwhile, James - reigning supreme as this year's Co-Chair of Assessors - takes us inside the hyper-exclusive, highly secretive world of Main Avenue judging. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James and Joe are back for another "unhinged" Q&A. With Joe calling in from a hotel room (and struggling with a single device for both recording and reading), James takes the lead on the accents, the questions, and the "perfectly unreasonable" answers. In this episode: The "Horticultural Bore" Threshold: Scarlett from Northampton asks when the transition from "contemporary" to "old bore" is complete. James reveals the true litmus test: Do you like Alpines yet? The Mystery of the Ghostly Trowels: A listener from Edinburgh finds random tools buried in their beds. Joe reflects on the "Brookside" husband-under-the-patio trope and the actual treasure they've found, from Victorian oyster shells to poison bottles. Scent & Memory: Sarah from Manchester (via Australia) asks about the power of smell. Joe talks about cut grass and football pitches, while James recalls the "musty humidity" of greenhouses and his grandmother's waxy Hoya plant. The Rhubarb Ribbon Revolution: An amazing tip from a listener in Hawaii/Oregon—making "cordage" (that’s string for the unpretentious) out of dried daylilies and crimson rhubarb ribbons. Front Garden Veggie Wars: Nigel from Derby wants a front-yard veg patch, but his wife thinks it’s "not the done thing." Joe gives a masterclass in how to sell it as a "Potager" to avoid the "keeping up appearances" drama. Royal Near-Misses: James recounts the time he nearly took out the Queen with an extravagant elbow gesture at Chelsea and the terrifying physics of a vibrating glass garden floor. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James and Joe are in high spirits as the "Flower Show Season" officially kicks off. With Joe calling in from a BBC-funded hotel in Tewkesbury and James gearing up for his 20th year of judging, this episode dives into the chaotic, glamorous, and occasionally freezing world of the Chelsea Flower Show. In this episode: The Malvern Warm-up: Joe shares his "smart day" filming schedule at Malvern and why James is relieved to be skipping the stage after 20 years of "three grannies" in the audience. Thirty Years of Chelsea: Joe reflects on 24 years of filming and James on two decades of judging. James reveals how a rude complaint to the RHS head of shows accidentally landed him a judging gig. The Front-Right Tree Rule: The boys share a legendary show-garden secret: why a tree in the front-right corner is the ultimate "tantalizing" design move. Logistics & "Ronald McDonald": Meet Steve, the traffic legend who keeps 15-ton trees moving on an 11-acre site, and why the embankment turns into an articulated lorry graveyard. The Gala & The Stars: James’ "indiscreet" wedding at the Royal Hospital, Joe’s invite from The Times, and a look at David Beckham’s upcoming appearance on a garden designed by the brilliant (and potentially exhausted) Frances Tophill. Canteen Secrets: Why the "Exhibitors Restaurant" has gone from "rough" to "delicious," and James’ tradition of throwing Haribo (and nuts for the vegans) at landscaping teams to keep them moving. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re answering your perfectly unreasonable questions while James attempts to explain why he treads on his compost bags to get an extra 10 litres of value. In this episode: The "Horticultural Bore" Transition: Scarlett from Northampton asks at what age we officially become "bores." Joe and James debate the warning signs - is it the corduroy trousers, the interest in heritage potatoes, or the sudden, inexplicable love for Alpines? Lush Cornish Jungles: James from Cornwall is worried his garden is becoming a Jurassic Park set. The boys discuss "machete gardening" and why the Lost Gardens of Heligan stayed lost for so long. Chelsea Survival Kit: Georgina from Oxfordshire is heading to the Chelsea Flower Show with "financial dread." Joe offers a Martin Lewis-style savings plan: take out cash, leave your credit card at home, and whatever you do, buy a Horatio’s Garden mug. The Hedgehog Census: A shocking fact about 1950s hedgehogs vs. modern wood pigeons. Plus, Joe’s footage of a resident hedgehog in his "March update." Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James and Joe are digging into the future of horticulture - or at least the part where we can sit in a hammock while a machine does the "bloody" mowing. From Joe’s "Doofy" the robot mop to James’ beloved "Kressida" the mower, the boys explore whether technology is a blessing or a way to distance ourselves from the soul of our gardens. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the James & Joe Garden Show, where the rules are made up and the singing is (mostly) banned by court order of James’ wife. This week, we’re answering your questions with our trademark blend of dapper charm and "bloody" bad advice. From the hidden paths of York Gate to the sewers of London, we’re digging deep. In this episode: The York Gate Connection: James admits to "stealing" path designs from the legendary Perennial garden, York Gate. Plus, the rise of the "Sand Garden" trend—is it a revolution or just a weed-filled sandpit? The Traveling Gnome: Kathy from Yorkshire wants to send her gnome on an Amélie-style world tour. James suggests Machu Picchu; Joe suggests a plumbing-challenged rocket to the moon. The Mystery of the Drowning Worms: Andrea from Lancashire has a pond full of stinking, dead worms. Joe thinks they’re stupid; James thinks there’s a bird "refrigerator" conspiracy or a child with a fishing rod involved. A Canadian Winter: Jackie from Ontario asks if she’s "naughty" for gardening after four months of snow. The boys discuss "snuggling" as a winter hobby and the mental health cost of being snowbound. The Main Event: A Royal Rumble of gardening legends. Can Charlie Dimmock take down Christine Walkden? Is Carol Klein the ultimate cage fighter? And why is Tommy Walsh disqualified for dirty goalkeeping? Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James and Joe are back, and per James’ wife’s instructions, the singing has been (mostly) binned. This week, the boys tackle a thorny question: Who actually has the rubber stamp that declares a garden "Great"? Is it a committee over a long lunch, or is it the snogging teenagers behind the topiary at Sissinghurst? Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow James & Joe on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, James and Joe park the "least sensible" chat for a moment (mostly) to dig into something weightier: the profound, life-altering power of Healing Gardens. Fresh from a judging stint in Japan—where the judges are strict and the cherry blossoms are fashionably late—James joins Joe to discuss why gardens are becoming the frontline of 2026 healthcare. From the monastic medicinal plots of the Middle Ages to the cutting-edge spinal injury centers of today, the boys explore why nature is the ultimate bridge to recovery. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: ⁠⁠⁠https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 ⁠⁠⁠ Follow James & Joe on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/⁠ ⁠⁠ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Question Time returns! This week James and Joe open the mailbag and tackle your gardening dilemmas — from expensive plant regrets to sisterly garden turf wars. Along the way they debate whether the price of a plant predicts its survival (spoiler: apparently it does… but not in the way you’d hope), discuss the curious rise of charred timber in garden design, and confess to killing some truly eye-wateringly expensive specimens. There’s also talk of gardening journals, YouTube garden diaries, and the eternal question: is it okay to completely ignore your garden in winter? Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, the global leaders in robotic lawn mowing. Learn more here: ⁠https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ ⁠ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: ⁠⁠https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 ⁠⁠ Follow James & Joe on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/⁠ ⁠ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are garden trends actually useful… or are they just nonsense invented to fill magazine pages? This week, James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift take a rebellious look at the whole idea of “trends” in gardening — from the ridiculous to the genuinely transformative. Because every year, somewhere in a slightly dreadful publication, a journalist phones a garden designer and asks the same question: “What are the garden trends for 2026?” Cue a deep sigh. In this episode the pair explore whether trends even make sense anymore — and if they ever did in the first place. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, the global leaders in robotic lawn mowing. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: ⁠https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 ⁠ Follow James & Joe on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/⁠ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/⁠ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, it’s your turn. James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift open the floor to your weird, wonderful and occasionally completely unhinged gardening questions — all in the noble pursuit of winning the most coveted prize in horticulture. No, not a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We’re talking about Jekyll, the Garden Collective gnome. As ever, there are just two rules: – No dead plants – No dull questions Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, the global leaders in robotic lawn mowing. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift open the shed doors and ask the big question: do gardeners really need this many tools… or are we all just emotionally attached to rusty metal? What follows is a gloriously unhinged inventory of spades, shovels, mattocks, mysterious iron bars, and at least five different types of string (James has a system, apparently). We cover: – The difference between a spade and a shovel (and why getting it wrong should get you gently escorted off a landscaping course) – Golden spades, vintage forks, and the tool that’s been lost and rediscovered five times in a compost heap – The great hoe crisis – why none of us really knows how to use one properly – Edward Shovelhands (yes, really) – The rogue thistle-beheading device inherited from James’s grandfather– Why Japanese toolmakers don’t believe in long-handled edging shears – The romance of linseed oil and cricket bats (unexpected crossover episode) – Multi-tools, fruit pickers, ditch-rakes and the mythical lost mattock of 1994 – And the real answer to the question: should you declutter your shed? No lectures. No rulebooks. Just two gardeners defending their tool addictions with confidence. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. The next live episode is will be in January 2026 – don’t miss it! Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, the global leaders in robotic lawn mowing. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With James & Joe away, we are diving into a topic AND questions episode, prepared in advance by your delightful hosts so you NEVER miss out on your weekly content... What starts with school detentions and gardening-as-punishment quickly escalates into chainsaws, harnesses, cowboy tree surgery, Viking arborists, and the strange satisfaction of watching branches fall into a chipper. James confesses to some deeply questionable early career decisions. Joe admits a lifelong obsession with people who climb trees for a living. Along the way they explore: – Why gardening should never be a punishment – The difference between tree surgeons and arboriculturalists – Why good tree surgeons are artists, athletes, and engineers – Tree Preservation Orders and why you can’t just “have a go” – Planting trees you later have to manage – the long game of gardening – Why trees matter more than ever as the climate heats up There’s storms outside the window, Olympic-level tree surgery fantasies, and a surprising amount of respect for people who willingly climb oaks in high winds. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/  About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠Contact us⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Ask James & Joe time – the episode where your gardening questions get answered with maximum charm, minimum restraint, and a suspiciously high chance of gnome-related bribery. James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift lay down the only two rules: no dead plants and no dull questions. In return, you get: – A surprisingly deep dive into how to design an Arsenal-inspired garden without turning it into “blood and bandages” – Botanical tattoos, family poppies, pirate-era decisions, and whether young people are about to go off tattoos entirely – A full-on debate about how to pronounce Latin plant names without sounding like a posh idiot (or doing accidental Italian cosplay) – The real talk on getting younger people into gardening – and why gardeners should be paid properly – Tool bags vs buckets vs belts, the tragedy of the missing hori hori, and the underrated genius of painting your tools bright yellow Plus: a reminder we’re going LIVE – 10 March, 7pm, - Nicholson’s Nurseries (West Oxfordshire). Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠. ⁠Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift rip up the Valentine’s rulebook and dive into The Secret Language of Flowers – aka the Victorian-era “Snapchat” where you sent a single bloom instead of a message you’d regret. We cover: – Birth-month flowers and what they supposedly say about you (James gets Hawthorn + Lily of the Valley – “humility” and “sweetness”… apparently) – The dangerous art of sending the wrong flower (yellow blooms, narcissus, and accidental insults) – Why Valentine’s Day roses can feel like the least romantic thing on earth – The grim reality of petrol-station romance – miserable roses, nylon teddy bears, and out-of-season strawberries – James’s most unhinged romantic flex – 200 red roses delivered in full kilt-era confidence – And the modern reboot – if plants could send texts, what would you post through the letterbox? Plus: a reminder we’re going LIVE – 10 March, 7pm, - Nicholson’s Nurseries (West Oxfordshire). Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠. ⁠Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for Ask James & Joe – where listener questions meet gardening rebellion, unexpected sermons, and the occasional Victorian murder mystery. This week’s postbag takes us everywhere from “should you really wait a full year before changing your garden?” to whether plants gossip about us when we’re not looking. James confesses to breaking his own rules, Joe defends gardening instinct over perfection, and both agree that courage – not calendar dates – is the real secret to success. Along the way we cover: – Why waiting a year isn’t always the right advice – Late bulb planting and breaking gardening “rules” – Pruning roses with a hedge trimmer (yes, really) – Storm damage, fallen trees, and why gardens always recover – The most poisonous plant you probably already grow – Which plants would be terrible witnesses in a Victorian crime – Whether plants feel loved, threatened, or quietly judgemental – Why gaps in gardens are actually a gift There’s theology (again), questionable accents, plants on the run from the law, and a reminder that gardens are resilient, optimistic, and never finished – much like the people who love them. Plus: news of James & Joe’s first ever live podcast, coming this March. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/  About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠. ⁠Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are green roofs worth it – and are green walls actually… terrible? James pulls no punches on vertical planting, explaining why most green walls fail, why irrigation systems are their Achilles’ heel, and why a humble Virginia creeper might be the smartest choice you’ll ever make. Joe plays devil’s advocate, defending green walls as horticultural art rather than practical gardening – before both agree that maintenance is where the dream usually dies. From there, things get serious (well, serious-ish). Green roofs, however, are declared a resounding triumph. James argues that every flat roof in the country should be green – by law, citing biodiversity, insulation, cooling, habitat creation, and sheer joy when opening the bedroom blinds to a roof buzzing with bees. There are stories of flamingos on London roof gardens, Zandra Rhodes’ exotic pots, rogue designers ignoring planning law, and a surprisingly educational trip through the history of turf roofing – plus a promise of a future deep-dive with green roof expert Kay Davies for those who want the technical stuff James and Joe gleefully avoid. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/  About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠. Follow James & Joe on Instagram. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram. Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift open the inbox and dive headfirst into your gardening questions – with plenty of digressions along the way. They tackle the eternal dilemma of self-seeders – when a “generous volunteer” quietly becomes a full-blown marauder – before heading into snowbound survival tips, from sharpening secateurs with camellia oil to designing gardens from the sofa. There’s advice on wisteria – where it really works, how much pruning is too much pruning, and why cherry pickers should come with a health warning – plus a surprisingly strong opinion on crazy paving, recycled materials and when a project just isn’t worth the angle grinder dust. Along the way there are accents, Belgian cyclists, robot mowers wintering in Magaluf, and a reminder that if you enjoy the podcast, a nice review goes a very long way. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift ease into 2026 with a wide-ranging, laugh-out-loud look at what the year ahead holds for gardeners – and for them. From judging garden shows in Japan and chasing cherry blossom to building kitchen gardens, new garden structures and a suspiciously expensive shelter designed entirely for a cat, they talk travel, home projects and why resolutions don’t really work in gardening (or January). There’s plenty of chat about the big flower shows too – Chelsea, Hampton Court’s move to Badminton, Sandringham and what it means when shows start touring the country. Along the way they reminisce about formative gardens, design heroes and why we’re still talking about drought, water and climate thirty years on. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merry Christmas to all our gnome enthusiasts and loyal subscribers of The James & Joe Garden Show. As we are away for a well-earned mince pie or four, we are releasing Part 2 of the podcast with our first, and only, guest WILL YOUNG. In this bonus episode, James & Joe ask Will about his Dream Garden Party and Will gets stuck in with your listener questions - is there a Golden Gnome this time around? YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. The next live episode is will be in January 2026 – don’t miss it! Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week James and Joe pull on their finest outdoor gear for a deep dive into garden clothing – from questionable fashion choices to the kit that actually makes a difference when you’re cold, wet, and wrestling a shrub. They explore practicality, warmth, waterproofing, and why proper pockets matter more than anyone ever admits. The episode is proudly sponsored by Genus Gardenwear, who are offering listeners an exclusive 20% discount with code GC20 – their biggest discount ever. Valid until 21st December, it’s the perfect chance to grab Christmas gifts or upgrade your own gardening armour. With built-in kneepads, weatherproof fabrics, stab-proof pockets for secateurs and hori-horis, plus serious warmth and comfort, Genus truly design for real gardeners doing real work. We will be back in 2026 after a well-earned break! Keep sending us your pictures of Jekyll celebrating Christmas... YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. The next live episode is will be in January 2026 – don’t miss it! Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week James and Joe take the podcast live for the very first time – complete with classic technical hiccups, a briefly upside-down camera, and Joe accidentally muting himself at least twice. In between the chaos they dive into the world of garden music and answer questions live from viewers inside the Garden Collective on the Scribehound app. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. The next live episode is will be in January 2026 – don’t miss it! Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift open the library doors to explore why gardeners love books so much. From Gertrude Jekyll and Vita Sackville-West to Monty Don and the rise of influencer-authors, they ask: are we learning anything new, or just buying prettier covers? Expect nostalgia, hot takes on self-publishing, and their personal picks for books that actually changed the game. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James and Joe are back with a bite-size announcement that changes everything. The James and Joe Garden Show is going live on The Garden Collective - and you can now ask your questions in real time. Same format, same chaos, same deep dives into the green world but now you get to shape the show. Subscribe to the Garden Collective for just £1 to watch episodes ad free and get your questions answered live plus access exclusive content from Sarah Raven, Matt Pottage, Annie Guilfoyle and many more garden creators. The first livestream is Monday 1 December at 6pm on Garden Music. The podcast will still release publicly but if you want to join the conversation you need to be on the livestream. See you there. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more. It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s your turn! Listeners send in their best, worst, and weirdest gardening questions as James and Joe open the postbag for a bumper Question Time special. From compost conundrums to the curse of the golden gnome, nothing is off-limits. Who’ll win “Jekyll” – the coveted prize gnome – and will any questions be so bad they get binned? A chaotic, hilarious, and oddly educational finale to the season. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James and Joe scroll through the digital garden to ask: has social media helped or harmed how we grow? They dig into the positives – inspiration, access, community – before tackling the pitfalls of fake perfection, fast trends, and the “gardenfluencer” effect. From Instagram-worthy borders to real soil under the nails, it’s a sharp, funny look at how the online world shapes our green ones. AND - James does the most challenging and entertaining accent of all time. It’s near the end, so don’t miss it!  Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift dig into the fascinating – and often perilous – world of 18th and 19th century plant hunters. From Joseph Banks sailing with Captain Cook to Ernest Henry Wilson trekking through China and David Douglas scaling mountains in search of new species, these intrepid explorers risked disease, shipwreck, and worse to bring exotic plants home. But were they explorers or exploiters? The duo explore the colonial questions behind the collecting craze, reveal the plants we owe to these expeditions – rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias, and more – and discuss how modern-day “plant hunters” work today at Kew and global seed banks to preserve biodiversity. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do landscapers really want when the tea tray comes out – and what should never, ever be offered? James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift tackle the vital subject of garden snacks, from Jaffa Cake compulsions to the heartbreak of a solitary rich tea. They reminisce about the best (and worst) client offerings and reveal which biscuits count as an indecent advance. Plus, your questions answered, as always. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber.⁠⁠ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.About Scribehound GardeningScribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now.⁠⁠⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, James and Joe face off two autumn legends – Halloween and Bonfire Night. From America’s commercial pumpkin obsession to Britain’s love of fireworks and toffee apples, they debate which celebration really deserves the crown. Expect stories about costumes gone wrong, questionable trick-or-treat tactics, and the surprising world of international firework championships. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠. ⁠⁠⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pop star, actor, and now horticulturist - Will Young joins James and Joe as their first-ever guest for a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. From childhood mini gardens and drunk dads cutting trees to walled gardens, healing through chaos and finding peace in imperfection, Will opens up about how gardening changed his life. Expect laughter, honesty, and a few rogue chainsaws. BONUS EPISODE WITH WILL YOUNG AVAILABLE to all Scribehound Gardening Subscribers for just £1! James & Joe ask Will about his Dream Garden Party and Will gets stuck in with your listener questions. Go check out the bonus episode, get ad-free listening and all Scribehound Gardening content for £1 here: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ⁠⁠Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber.⁠⁠ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠. ⁠⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠. Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling low? Grab a trowel. This week James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift explore the deep connection between gardening and wellbeing. From mud therapy to mindful planting, they share personal stories of how gardens have helped them through tough times, discuss the NHS’s ‘green prescriptions’, and remind us that no garden is ever wrong if it makes you feel better. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. ⁠Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber.⁠ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠. ⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠. Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week James and Joe bite into the juicy world of orchards - and it’s a feast! From apple trees groaning under the weight of their fruit, to the mysterious medlar (known rather cheekily in French as the dog’s arse), the boys cover it all with their usual blend of knowledge, stories and silliness. It’s part horticultural wisdom, part comedy of errors, and all orchard goodness. Grab a glass of apple juice (or maybe just a russet from the table outside) and join in! Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠. Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠Instagram. Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An action-packed episode in which James does an impression of a fern, Joe gets into a barney in a bathroom and they both explain why one must never stool a eucalypt. Plus: some practical advice about choosing spring bulbs. Whatever next?! ⁠Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber.⁠⁠ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now.⁠⁠⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've never really understood what's going on in your compost heap - or cottoned on to why they are essential garden structures - this is the episode for you. James and Joe try to explain composting in terms a toddler would understand, and answer your questions, including how to have a harmonious relationship with a garden designer and where hawk moths like to hang out. ⁠Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber.⁠ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.About Scribehound GardeningScribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now.⁠⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does a gardener get on TV? Our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift have both done it, and have plenty of tales to tell, from Joe grilling James on camera at the Chelsea flower show to James's edgy TV garden that garnered headlines in the Daily Mail. Plus they answer questions about domestic harmony in the garden and provocative email addresses for planty people. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.About Scribehound GardeningScribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠Subscribe now.⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠Instagram.⁠ Contact us: gardening@scribehound.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have ever wondered how you can get away with murder in the garden? James and Joe have, as they demonstrate this week. Plus there is good news for Abby, Judy and Rowan whose questions get a response - and a gnome. Want to convince your partner that you need a new greenhouse? Borrow James and Joe's suggested script and let us know how it goes! Interested in finding out more about the Green Gyms James mentions? Click here. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber. About the hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular.About Scribehound GardeningScribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections.⁠ Subscribe now.⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠Instagram.⁠ Check out James & Joe on Instagram. Contact us: gardening@scribehound.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Scribehound Gardening ad comes under scrutiny this week as hosts James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift discuss James's claim that this podcast 'makes you a sexier gardener'. Plus the pair answer questions about whether plants gossip about their owners, the merits of straight lines versus curves in garden design, and whether bears really do their business in the woods. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber⁠. About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now.⁠⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift plan their very own dream dinner party - who will they invite, what will be on the menu and who's making the puddings? You'll never guess who they've chosen as their butler. Plus James and Joe answer your burning questions. including what to do when it's too hot to garden. And Jekyll the gnome has an accident. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠Subscribe now.⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠Instagram.⁠ Contact us: gardening@scribehound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nigel Dunnett is renowned for his large scale meadow planting in public spaces, but it was his own private garden that captivated Arit Anderson, who chose to write about the space for Scribehound Gardening's August theme month. Arit and Nigel join Jane Perrone to talk about this inspirational space that may look like a 'normal' garden, but incorporates a host of eco-friendly features. You can read Arit's article here. This week's guests Arit Anderson is a garden and landscape designer, writer and television presenter on BBC Gardeners' World. She is a passionate communicator of the environment & wellbeing through the lens of the garden. Support Arit on Scribehound Gardening here. Nigel Dunnett is Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield and is one of the world’s leading voices on innovative approaches planting design. Nigel is a gold-medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show and the author of several books: His new book with James Hitchmough The Dynamic Landscape is out this month. Jane Perrone is head of inspiration at Scribehound Gardening. Support Jane on Scribehound Gardening. Find out more about ⁠Scribehound Gardening.⁠ Follow ⁠Scribehound Gardening on Instagram.⁠ Contact us: gardening@scribehound.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What better way to thrash out a new name for their show than holding a business meeting on the air? James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift kick off the James and Joe Garden Show and answer a clutch of listener questions, from why taming a drunk squirrel is a terrible idea, to why genius loci isn't just for posh gardens. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber Want to win a Scribehound Gardening gnome?Submit your gardening queries to James and Joe at gardening@scribehound.com. We’ll send a gnome to anyone whose question gets read out on air: and the really good questions win a golden gnome. Just remember when you’re formulating your emails - James and Joe don’t do dead plants or dull questions! About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections.⁠ Subscribe now.⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠Instagram.⁠ Contact us: gardening@scribehound.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift love answering your questions, so Louis the producer has given them free rein this week to spend the whole episode tackling queries galore, from how to save a native orchid from a neat freak husband's lawnmower to whether there's a difference between a sunk garden and a sunken garden. One question even earns one lucky listener a new honour - the Scribehound Gardening Golden Gnome. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. ⁠Subscribe now.⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠Instagram.⁠ Contact us: gardening@scribehound.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With barely an A level to rub between them, hosts James and Joe admit they fell into gardening as a career. They discuss their unorthodox routes into horticulture, why maintenance gardeners are underrated and what they'd do differently if they could have their time again. Plus our hosts discuss your gnome-worthy listener questions, including whether plants like being talked to, whether worm farming is worth the bother, and why an axe comes in handy for just one type of plant propagation. Support James and Joe by becoming a Scribehound Gardening subscriber. About the hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. About Scribehound Gardening Scribehound Gardening is a platform for garden writers to be supported directly by their audience. We are transforming garden writing by giving space for conversations that inspire, surprise, ignite joy and offer genuine human connections. Summer offer: Try one month for £1 followed by 40% off an annual subscription! ⁠Subscribe now.⁠ Follow Scribehound Gardening on ⁠Instagram.⁠ Contact us: gardening@scribehound.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices