BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Looking for advice on gardening in shade? In this episode, recorded at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Monty Don explains how to grow plants successfully in low-light conditions and why shade can be an advantage, not a problem. Discover the best plants for shade, how to improve soil in dry shade, and practical ways to manage light and moisture for a healthier garden. Whether you’re dealing with a small shady corner or a full shade garden, this episode is packed with expert, easy-to-follow tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Garden and landscape designer Adam Frost breaks down how to design or redesign your garden properly. Starting with what you want from the space, how you move through it, and why getting ideas down on paper can save you serious money and frustration. From rescuing mature shrubs with confident pruning to balancing hard landscaping with planting and planning a garden that can evolve with family life, it’s a practical, confidence-boosting guide to creating an outdoor space that truly fits you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Claire in the garden this week to thin out fruit on apple and pear trees, support tall vegetables and flowers, and enjoy a little summertime harvest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Garden designer Pip Probert shares smart, stylish ways to make small outdoor spaces work harder. From choosing the right amount of paving to adding height, structure and personality, Pip explains how to avoid costly mistakes and create a garden that feels beautifully designed, whatever its size. She offers practical advice on budget-friendly materials, hardworking plants, pots, trees, arches and one-metre growing ideas, plus tips on planning, prioritising and finding inspiration. Whether you have a courtyard, balcony or modest back garden, discover garden design ideas to help every area flourish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Award-winning garden designer Sarah Eberle reflects on 50 years in horticulture, from a feral childhood in Devon to creating some of the most memorable show gardens at Chelsea. She shares how her design philosophy has evolved, why nature and landscape remain at the heart of her work, and the inspiration behind her latest Chelsea Flower Show garden, On the Edge, which won both a Gold Medal and Garden of the Year. Along the way, Sarah talks climate change, planting with purpose, and why great gardens should offer sanctuary, beauty and a powerful sense of place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for Oliver's early July jobs: harvest and preserve herbs at their peak, give your fruit a midsummer boost, and start planning for a garden full of autumn colour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RHS Hyde Hall curator Ian Le Gros shares his top plant picks for dry gardens, exposed sites and climate-resilient planting. Discover drought-tolerant favourites including euphorbias, eucalyptus, palms and evergreen shrubs that deliver year-round colour, structure and scent, even in tough conditions. Ian explains how these hardy plants thrive in wind, gravel and free-draining soils, while offering practical gardening advice for creating a beautiful low-maintenance garden. Whether you’re planning a Mediterranean-style border, updating a dry garden or searching for resilient plants that can cope with hotter summers, discover expert inspiration and planting ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Frances Tophill for a joyful celebration of wildflowers, wild gardening and the beauty of so-called weeds. From poppies, cow parsley and bluebells to medicinal plants, folklore and pollinator-friendly planting, Frances explores how wildflowers connect us to nature, memory and the changing seasons. Discover practical tips for growing wildflowers in your garden, supporting bees and butterflies, and creating a more natural, wildlife-friendly space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hot weather hitting your garden? Here’s how to water smarter, protect pots, rest your lawn, and support wildlife through the heat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From drought-tolerant gravel gardens to wildlife-friendly planting and sustainable new-build landscapes, Beth Chatto CEO Julia Bolton and head gardener Asa Gregers-Warg reveal how the garden continues to evolve in response to climate change, biodiversity loss and modern gardening challenges. Sharing practical ideas for creating resilient, beautiful gardens that work with nature, staying true to Beth Chatto’s pioneering vision, they explain how through observation, experimentation and thoughtful planting can transform the way we garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From prolonged droughts to repeated flooding, Monty draws on experiences at Longmeadow and shares what he’s learned about water-wise gardening, climate resilience and the surprising ways plants respond to changing conditions. Discover practical advice on mulching, saving rainwater, autumn planting and choosing plants that can better cope with dry summers and wet winters. Monty explains why gardeners are entering a new era of experimentation, observation and adaptation and why understanding water has become one of the most important parts of modern gardening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oliver’s mid-June jobs are here! Take softwood herb cuttings, give the lawn a lift, and tie in climbers before they turn into a massive floppy mess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From rosemary, mint and basil to herbal teas and edible flowers, Adam explains how fresh herbs can transform both your garden and your food. He reveals why herbs are the one thing he’d always grow, how he keeps plants productive, and the simple ways he uses homegrown flavours in everyday cooking. Along the way, he shares memories of learning to cook, tips for growing herbs in pots and borders, and why nurturing the soil is the secret to better flavour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feel inspired to join the magazine’s Make a Metre Matter campaign this year with gardener and author Lucy Chamberlain. Discover practical, wildlife-friendly ways to assess your conditions and choose crops that thrive, and even a tiny growing space can deliver big results. From herbs and salads to containers and one-square-metre ideas, learn how to grow more food, support biodiversity, and cut waste in even the smallest garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mid‑June garden glow-up! Feed your roses, outsmart pesky pests, and build a mini wildlife hangout with three quick wins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exploring everything from wild species and wildlife-friendly roses to climbers, ramblers and container growing, Head Rosarian at David Austin Roses, Liam Beddall, shares expert rose-growing advice on how to plant and prune your roses, and choose the best rose for your garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Explore how plants can be grown and used to create natural dyes for theatrical textiles, the craft and heritage behind indigo dyeing, challenges of achieving consistent colour for stage costumes, with trainee textile artist Lorelle Aboagye and Skills Centre head Simon Stephens. Discover why natural dyes offer a more sustainable alternative to synthetics and beginner-friendly ideas for growing your own dye plants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prune spring-flowering shrubs with confidence, sow biennials for next year’s colour, and water wisely to keep your garden thriving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Packham joins the podcast to talk about rewilding, biodiversity and the power of noticing what’s right in front of us. From the wildlife that first captured his imagination to the value of focusing on just one square metre, he shares how small, thoughtful actions can help gardeners create richer habitats at home. Touching on the magazine's Make a Metre Matter campaign, managing garden spaces for wildlife and the joy of paying closer attention, this inspiring conversation confirms how every garden, however small, can play a part in supporting nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grow along with Frances Tophill as she shares practical, time-saving ways to build a more productive garden. Starting with soil and light, choosing “good doer” crops, and using low-maintenance methods like no-dig, perennials, and container growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

End‑of‑May gardening tips for sowing tender veg, deadheading spring blooms, and turbo-charging pots and hanging baskets for a riot of summer colour - and a tastier harvest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Gardeners’ World TV presenter Ashley Edwards as he shares the best plants for summer scent. From lavender, rosemary and catmint to roses, jasmine and lilies, you’ll also pick up practical tips on where to plant for maximum fragrance, plus pruning and feeding advice to keep the perfume coming all season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grow your own vegetables with Adam Frost as he shares easy veg to grow at home. From quick salad crops and carrots to long-term favourites like asparagus, practical advice on soil, containers, flavour and low-stress gardening. Adam shares his expert vegetable growing tips to help you start a productive veg garden in any space, perfect for beginner gardeners and kitchen garden enthusiasts alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Chelsea Chop explained, plus how to earth up potatoes in bags for bigger harvests and plant out sweet peas for summer fragrance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Garden designer Andy Sturgeon and Peer Support Worker Glenn Mahaffy explore how the MIND Garden evolved from a Chelsea Flower Show garden into a thriving community space supporting mental health and nature connection. They also discuss the vital role of Project Giving Back in bringing the garden to life and ensuring its lasting impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Garden season is nearing, and BBC Gardeners’ World presenter and designer Arit Anderson takes us behind the scenes of creating a RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden that blends innovation, teamwork and deeply personal storytelling. From the early idea to the intense 18‑day build, she reveals the pressure, passion and people behind a purpose‑led garden inspired by Parkinson’s UK, and what it really takes to bring a show garden to life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harden off and plant out tender seedlings, divide perennials for stronger growth (and free plants), and create show-stopping summer pots and hanging baskets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover the joy in growing, whatever space you have. With beginner‑friendly gardening advice, small‑space growing ideas, and nature‑led projects for every season, gardener and author Amy Chapman shows how gardening can boost wellbeing, reduce anxiety, and reconnect you with nature. Perfect for new gardeners, urban growers, and anyone who believes joy is a gardening skill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Flower farmer and florist Georgie Newbery explores the beauty and impact of growing seasonal, British-grown flowers, sharing practical advice, personal stories, and a powerful philosophy around sustainability, seed sovereignty, and gardening in harmony with nature. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just flower-curious, enjoy an inspiring conversation about cultivating flowers that nourish both people and the planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early May in the garden tasks to set you up for a brilliant summer harvest - get ruthless with weeds, squeeze in your last maincrop potatoes, and mulch now to lock in moisture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grower and author Anna Greenland explores how even the smallest spaces can produce beautiful, flavour packed food through thoughtful plant choices, healthy soil, and a deeper understanding of nature. Drawing on her experience working with chefs and gardens of all scales, she shares practical advice on growing edibles, nurturing living soil, and reconnecting with the rhythms of the seasons; reflecting on resilience, wellbeing, and how gardening can ground and nourish us in uncertain times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Heavy clay, deep shade, a sun scorched patch of ground where nothing seems to flourish. It's easy to see these as problems, but sometimes the very thing you are battling is the key to a garden that feels distinctive, resilient, and entirely your own. Gardener, TV presenter and author Toby Buckland, explores how to unlock the potential of your plot by embracing its character and all its flaws. From reading your space properly, spotting opportunities where others see obstacles, and choosing plants that celebrate your conditions rather than suffering through them, discover how to create the garden that works for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Practical May gardening - sow seeds at the perfect moment, get your lawn looking sharper with less fuss, and stake perennials early to stop the dreaded ‘great flop’ before summer hits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

BBC Newsround presenter De Graft Mensah reflects on his “baptism of fire” into allotment growing, sharing honest lessons from successes, failures and the joy of community gardening. He discusses how small, imperfect spaces can reconnect us with food, nature and biodiversity, and explains why the Make a Metre Matter campaign proves that even a single square metre can make a meaningful difference for people and the planet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Dr Hayley Jones, principal entomologist at RHS Wisley, to find out more about why insects and other invertebrates are vital to ecosystems. Discover the garden-focused collection, how it is stored, how it has evolved since it was started in 1911 and the importance of tracking and reporting new or regulated pests. A UK-wide 2020 Slugs Count project created a preserved slug collection and informed advice on slug identification, non-chemical control, and the beneficial roles they play in our gardens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might not think it’s possible for a vegetable to be trendy, but kale undoubtedly is, and has been for some time. It’s become the poster child of whole food-based, healthy eating, and with good reason, it’s a genuine super food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover how a two-acre former service area in central London has been reimagined into a new, tranquil, richly planted climate-resilient garden in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Through thoughtful design, royal associations and a commitment to long-term sustainability and biodiversity, Head of Horticulture and Landscape Strategies at the Royal Parks Matthew Pottage reveals the horticultural vision of the planting scheme and innovative design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you are starting from scratch or rethinking the gardening space you already have, what garden design principles can help you on your way to creating the garden you've always wanted, and what should you avoid? Award-winning garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson will discuss the dos and don'ts of garden design from mistakes people make time and time again to the fundamentals of garden design that can really make a garden work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colourful and nutritious, packed with vitamins and minerals, beetroot is an easy vegetable to grow. With both the round root and green leaves being edible, beetroot taste delicious and look great, and you can enjoy beetroot almost year-round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover Down House in Kent where Charles Darwin lived for 40 years and carried out world-changing research in his domestic family garden. This re-created Victorian garden includes an historic glasshouse of carnivorous plants, kitchen garden and surrounding meadows that supported Darwin’s accessible experiments connecting the site today to biodiversity, native planting, organic gardening and wildlife-friendly habitats. Visit the Down House in the BBC Gardeners' World 2-4-1 gardens scheme. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Create year-round garden interest by thinking beyond a plant list. BBC Gardeners' World presenter, Arit Anderson, suggests focusing on the seasons, your garden size, the light and shade patterns, structure and wildlife too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Courgettes will thrive if you give them what they need and reward you with lots – sometimes maybe too many – delicious fruits for you to enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join plantsman and BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Jamie Butterworth to discover how to create inspiring, accessible plant combinations that add structure, seasonal interest, and biodiversity Using his “plant recipe” approach to keep designs straightforward with repeated plants and including trees or clipped shrubs for structure, Jamie's key advice for beginners is to get the soil right by adding organic matter and keep gardening joyful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frances Tophill breaks down how beginners can start gardening anywhere by building healthy soil, choosing the right pots and compost blends, and keeping container plants well-fed. Discover best practice seed‑sowing techniques, easy bulbs, essential tools, and the best places to find trustworthy gardening guidance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plant cosmos in beds, borders and containers to create a cohesive, wildflower meadow effect around the garden Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Raven shares the secrets of her success to growing cut flowers. With advice for how you can fill your home with gorgeous bouquets of cut flowers year-round, to get started in small gardening spaces and to ensure your cut flower arrangements last well and look amazing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pots and containers add interest, height, colour, and even that ‘wow’ factor, no matter what size your garden or growing space. Join gardener and author Arthur Parkinson who reveals tips and advice for how to start, what to plant, and how to maintain your garden pots to create gorgeous year-round interest and encourage pollinators too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Squash are an easy and bountiful vegetable producing dramatic plants and handsome, delicious fruits. Each variety is a little bit different and they keep for ages and ages into the winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tomatoes, they tempt us. Every spring we pour over seed packets, debate varieties, and picture in our minds trusses of fruit so heavy, they practically bow the stems. Author Holly Farrell reveals what really matters when it comes to tomatoes, the choices and pitfalls, and the surprising bit of know-how behind every fantastic crop of tomatoes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reconnect with the natural world and the turning of the seasons this growing year with Almanac author Lia Leendertz. Discover seasonal gardening advice linked to nature’s rhythm and the myriad things we can look forward to over the coming months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices