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Postbag: Raby Castle

Is it worth using arborist mulch in the garden? How do you maintain large camellias? Why hasn't my wisteria flowered this year? Peter and the panel have all the answers.

Is it worth using arborist mulch in the garden? Please could you advise on how to maintain large camellias? My wisteria has barely flowered this year, what’s gone wrong?

Peter Gibbs and his team of horticultural experts have packed up their windbreakers and travelled to Raby Castle, Park and Gardens in County Durham for a postbag edition of GQT. While head gardener Tim Marshall leads Peter and the panel around the gardens, they also dig through the GQT inbox to answer your gardening queries. On the panel this week are passionate garden designers Matthew Wilson and Bunny Guinness, and house plant expert Anne Swithinbank.

Later in the programme, the panellists discuss the benefits of encouraging birds into the garden to tackle box blight and other garden pests. They also share useful tips on how to prevent box tree caterpillars from spreading.

Senior Producer: Dan Cocker
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod

Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 Jul 202414:00
BBC Radio 4

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Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – Is it worth using arborist mulch in the garden? (02’53”)

Q – What shrubs or small trees could I plant in my 75-meter herbaceous border, that would give height and interest? (07’17”) 

Anne Swithinbank –

Cotinus, smoke bush

Matthew Wilson –

Cotinuscoggygria 'Young Lady, smoke tree 'Young Lady'

Topiary

Tim Marshall –

Cerciscanadensis 'Forest Pansy', eastern redbud 'Forest Pansy'

Broussonetiapapyrifera, paper mulberry

Edgeworthiachrysantha, paperbush

Q – What can I add to help lighten the clay soil? I’ve already used poultry, topsoil and horticultural gravel. (10’21”)

Q – Please could you advise on how to maintain large camellias? (12’52”)

Q – My Wisteria has barely flowered this year – what’s gone wrong? (16’13”)

Q –There are suckers growing on my dying Sorbusvilmoriniitree, should I prune them or let them grow from what's left of the tree? (19’33”)

Q – The development we live in has an attenuation pond which is now being overrun with iris and bulrushes, should we get rid of them, or should we leave them to grow?(21’03”)

Feature – The panel discuss the benefits of encouraging birds in the garden to tackle box blight and other garden pests.

Matthew Wilson –

Osmanthus

Ilexcrenata, japanese holly

Taxus, yew

Q – What variety of Rhubarb thrives in damp conditions? and what other edibles could I plant in these conditions? (30’10”)

Bunny Guinness –

Nasturtiumofficinale, common watercress

Q – Can you tell me what has been destroying my herbs? And how do I get rid of it? (32’15”)

Q – What peat free growing media could I use to reduce my use of Perlite and vermiculite? (35’43”)

Q – Can I use non-alcoholic lager in beer traps? (39’12”)

Broadcasts

  • Fri 12 Jul 202415:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Sun 14 Jul 202414:00
    BBC Radio 4

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