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East and West Hanney

What could I grow up a garage wall? What do you expect to see in open gardens? Kathy Clugston and the GQT team answer these questions and more.

Is gardening a solitary or a social activity? What could I grow up a garage wall? What do the panel expect to see in open gardens?

Kathy and a team of experts visit The Hanneys to solve gardeners' problems. Joining Kathy to answer the questions are fanatical plantswoman Christine Walkden, dedicated botanist Dr Chris Thorogood, and passionate plant expert Matthew Biggs.

Later in the programme, Matthew Pottage and GQT producer Dominic Tyerman visit the Sydney Botanic Gardens in Australia to understand the wide appeal of living wall gardens, as well as provide tips for making your own.

Producer: Dominic Tyerman
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

Q – Is gardening a solitary or social activity? (0’47”)

Q – How do you encourage tree peonies to flower? (03’26”)

Q – Why won’t my young shrub roses are failing to thrive? (06’57”)

Cathy –

Rosa Gertrude Jekyll ('Ausbord'PBR) (S), rose [Gertrude Jekyll]

Rosa Harlow Carr ('Aushouse'PBR) (S), rose [Harlow Carr] ('Aushouse')

Rosa Claire Austin ('Ausprior'PBR) (Cl), rose [Claire Austin]

Q – Could the panel suggest some perennials that I could plant in my white garden bed? (10’38”)

Christine Walkden –

Dicentraspectabilis 'Alba', white bleeding heart

Chris Thorogood –

Daturainnoxia, downy thorn apple

Brugmansia, angel's trumpet

Michauxiacampanuloides, rough-leaved Michauxia

Matt Biggs –

Lamiummaculatum 'White Nancy', spotted deadnettle 'White Nancy'

Helleborusniger. christmas rose

Irisfoetidissima 'Fructu Albo', stinking iris

Feature – Matthew Pottage and producer Dominic Tyerman visit the Sydney Botanic Gardens to understand the wide appeal of living wall gardens. (16’17)

Q – I’m planting a fruit bed at the back of my garage. Can the panel please suggest what I could grow to cover the garage wall? (21’20”)

Christine Walkden –

Prunusarmeniaca, apricot

Prunus armeniaca 'Tomcot' (F), apricot 'Tomcot'

Matt Biggs –

Ribesuva-crispa, gooseberry

Q – I'd like to know why my Magnolia stellata is not flowering? (24’57”)

Q – Is there anything that can be done to make my lawn a uniform colour? (29’44”)

Q – Please can the panel recommend some trees that would ideally offer year-round interest and support biodiversity?(32’54”)

Christine Walkden –

Cercidiphyllumjaponicum, katsura tree


Chris Thorogood –

Betulautilis, himalayan birch

Matt Biggs –

Liquidambarstyraciflua, sweet gum

Davidiainvolucrate, handkerchief tree

Q – We open our garden under the National Garden Scheme. If and when you visit a garden, what are you looking for and what are you expecting? (37’42”)

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