West Horsley

What causes onions to bolt? What do the team think about using crocs at the bottom of pots? How should I go about pruning my lilac tree?

Kathy Clugston and a panel of esteemed gardening experts visit West Horsley, Surrey, to tackle common horticultural challenges and share practical solutions. Joining her are pest and disease specialist Pippa Greenwood, botanist James Wong, and award-winning garden designer Juliet Sargeant.

Later in the programme, Bob Flowerdew wraps up our Edible Essentials series with a fool proof guide to feeding and watering your crops - ensuring a rich and rewarding harvest.

Producer: Matthew Smith
Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Carly Maile

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

Q – My Ficus Ginseng has lost most of its leaves, what am I doing wrong? (01’35”)

Q – What do the team think about using crocs at the bottom of pots? (06’41”)

Q – Can the panel suggest shrubs that will flower late spring, early summer and thrive in chalky soil? (10’57”)

Juliet Sargeant –
Philadelphus, mock orange
Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine' (d), mock orange 'Manteau d'Hermine'
Weigela All Summer Red ('Slingco 1'PBR) (All Summer Series), weigela [All Summer Red]
Weigela All Summer Peach ('Slingpink'PBR) (All Summer Series), weigela [All Summer Peach]
Ceanothus, californian lilac

Pippa Greenwood –
Magnolia stellata, star magnolia
Mahonia, oregon grape
Syringa pubescens subsp. patula 'Miss Kim', lilac 'Miss Kim'
Deutzia × rosea 'Carminea', deutzia 'Carminea'

James Wong –
Pittosporum tobira, japanese pittosporum
Wisteria

Feature – Bob Flowerdew’s Edible Essential guide to watering and feeding crops (16’56)

Q – What causes onions to bolt? (21’19”)

Q – Can the panel advise on what I can plant on a north facing one-and-a-half-meter border adjacent my mixed hedge? (25’37”)

Juliet Sargeant –
Euphorbia robbiae, mrs Robb's bonnet
Anemone hupehensis, japanese anemones

James Wong –
Digitalis, foxglove
Primula vulgaris (Pr/Prim), primrose
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bluebell
Hakonechloa, japanese forest grass
Ferns
Lillies

Pippa Greenwood –
Hardy geraniums
Epimedium
Helleborus, hellebore

Q – How should I go about pruning my lilac tree? (31’48”)

Q – What plants would the panel take from your current gardens if you were moving to a much smaller garden with very poor soil and lots of builder’s rubble in it? (35’23”)

James Wong –
Tree ferns

Juliet Sargeant –
Iris germanica, bearded iris
Ficus carica (F), fig
Salvia 'Royal Bumble', sage 'Royal Bumble'
Salvia 'Hot Lips', sage 'Hot Lips'
Salvia, sage
Salvia 'Amistad'PBR, sage 'Amistad'
Erigeron karvinskianus, mexican fleabane

Pippa Greenwood –
Aubrieta
Eryngium, sea holly