BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Claire shares the simple sweetcorn trick every gardener should know, plus late-summer jobs for roses and dragonflies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monty Don joins us to celebrate one of the stars of the late-summer garden: the dahlia. From favourite varieties and colour combinations to overwintering techniques and growing dahlias in containers, Monty shares how he uses these vibrant plants to keep Longmeadow looking spectacular well into autumn. He also reflects on the creation of his famous Jewel Garden, explains why late-season interest is so important, and reveals the other plants he relies on to bring colour and drama when many gardens are beginning to fade. Packed with practical advice and gardening inspiration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frances Tophill explores the joys, challenges and emotions of creating your own garden. From deciding what to keep, remove or rehome, to choosing plants that reflect your personality and support wildlife, Frances shares honest insight from her own gardening journey. She talks about leaving a much-loved garden behind, planning a new urban wildlife experiment and why a garden doesn’t need to look professionally designed to be meaningful. With practical ideas, thoughtful reflections and plenty of encouragement, this episode is for anyone ready to put their own stamp on a growing space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast presenter Claire Vennis for a lively late-summer potter through the jobs worth doing now - from jazzing up heucheras to sowing spinach and saving seeds for bees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Ashley Edwards as he reveals what really goes on behind the scenes of DIY SOS. From designing life-changing gardens in just days to working through 2am finishes, Ashley shares the chaos, community spirit and emotional moments that make the show so special. He talks accessible planting, sustainable reuse, favourite low-maintenance plants, and the joy of seeing families enjoy their transformed spaces. Plus, hear about his horticultural journey from Kew to Sicily, Horatio’s Garden, Gardeners’ Question Time and Gardeners’ World, with plenty of practical inspiration along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What makes a garden truly welcoming? In this episode, BBC Gardeners' World presenter and garden designer Arit Anderson explores how thoughtful garden design can create spaces that work for everyone, regardless of age, ability or gardening experience. From sensory planting and accessible pathways to community gardening projects and intergenerational growing, Arit shares practical ideas for making outdoor spaces more inclusive. She also discusses how gardens can support wellbeing, tackle loneliness, inspire young people to connect with nature and help communities thrive. Whether you have a large garden, a balcony or no garden at all, there's inspiration for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will your buddleia give butterflies one last feast, are your tomatoes ready for their big August moment, and could a simple splash of water turn your garden into a wildlife hotspot? Join BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine's Claire Vennis for three easy, feel-good jobs to do now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What makes a garden feel calm, balanced and timeless? Award-winning garden designer Tomoko Kawauchi shares how her upbringing in rural Japan continues to shape her approach to creating beautiful outdoor spaces. In this episode, she explains the simple design principles that work in gardens of any size, from using structure and circulation to choosing plants for function rather than fashion. Tomoko also discusses designing with nature, adapting to climate change, improving soil health and creating spaces that encourage people to slow down and reconnect with the outdoors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this inspiring episode, broadcaster, garden designer and author Mark Lan explores what accessible gardening really means. Following a life-changing accident, Mark discovered the restorative power of plants and went on to champion inclusive outdoor spaces that work for everyone. He shares practical ideas for designing gardens around ability, from wide paths, sensory planting and resting places to thrifty approaches that remove financial and physical barriers. With warmth, honesty and plenty of expert insight, Mark shows how gardens of any size can boost wellbeing, welcome wildlife and help more people enjoy growing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Claire's quick and practical gardening jobs are to trim lavender, clean bird boxes and how to grow bigger beetroot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Celebrate the joy of summer harvests with Frances as she shares why growing your own tastes better, how to choose crops that are useful, beautiful and good value, and why perennial veg deserves a place alongside annual favourites. From tomatoes, squash and kale crisps to cut flowers, sweet peas and plants for natural dyes, this warm, practical chat explores the many rewards of a productive garden and proves it’s never too late to sow, grow and harvest something delicious. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Award-winning garden designer and TV presenter Danny Clarke (The Black Gardener) reveals how to create a garden you love without spending a fortune, whatever size gardening space. Danny shares the personal story of how he found his way into horticulture and offers practical, budget-friendly design ideas that make an immediate difference. Encouraging gardeners to plan slowly and thoughtfully, prioritise plants over lawn for lower maintenance and more wildlife, choosing resilient plants that suit your space and conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we head into August, Claire takes you through giving those borders a freshen up, taking salvia tip cuttings and planting out spring cabbages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can we grow food in a way that's rooted in heritage, but forward thinking enough to support biodiversity and sustainability for generations to come? Gemma Sturges is the Kitchen Garden Supervisor and organic gardener at Audley End House and Gardens and has spent more than a decade managing the historic walled kitchen garden. Growing heritage fruit and vegetables, nurturing soil health and caring for perennial crops and traditional produce in a fully organic way, Gemma shares how she grows to build sustainable gardens that support wildlife, celebrate biodiversity and connects to the generations of growers before us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transform your balcony into a beautiful, wildlife-friendly garden with expert advice from BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Ashley Edwards. In this practical episode, Ashley shares how to choose lightweight containers, create stylish planting schemes and select tough plants that can cope with wind, shade and drought. He also explores clever watering ideas, balcony ponds, compact trees, outdoor furniture, composting and ways to make even one pot count for wildlife. Whether you have a tiny urban balcony or a small paved space, discover how to grow with confidence, experiment with plants and turn your outdoor area into a relaxing, colourful retreat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Claire is back this week with easy jobs for summer gardens that can make a real difference, but don’t take long - this week refresh your containers, give your lawn some TLC and have a bit of a tidy up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sharing her expert advice on gardening and growing plants on a budget, Frances reveals how to find bargain buys at nurseries and garden centres and advises to choose smaller pots, healthy roots and plants with strong growth points. She explains when it’s worth splashing out on statement plants, why trees can be a smart investment, and how swapping seeds, growing from supermarket scraps and rescuing discounted perennials can save money. Packed with practical tips on buying, planting, watering and nurturing new plants, get more from every pound while creating a thriving, beautiful garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can spending time in nature improve our health? In this episode, GP, broadcaster and bestselling author Dr Amir Khan explores the science behind nature's remarkable benefits for both our physical and mental wellbeing. From the calming effects of birdsong and green spaces to creating a wildlife-friendly garden filled with ponds, pollinator plants and butterflies, Amir shares practical ways to make the most of the natural world. He also discusses his work with Butterfly Conservation, why our gardens play a vital role in protecting wildlife, and how even the smallest green space can become a sanctuary for both people and nature. Pick up the August issue of BBC Gardeners' World magazine for lots more advice on creating a butterfly-friendly garden. To take part in this year's Big Butterfly Count, visit bigbutterflycount.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Claire enjoys a cheerful mid-July potter to collect seeds, give strawberries some TLC and suggest easy ways to give garden wildlife a helping hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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