Alle afleveringen
546 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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517: How to feed birds, a turf masterclass, and another essential job for autumn
22 oktober 2026 · 34 min
As the weather cools and birds flock back to gardens, many of us enjoy putting more food out for them. But have we been feeding birds all wrong? How can we help our feathered friends without inadvertently endangering them? RHS Senior Wildlife Specialist Helen Bostock tells us how to feed birds properly this winter. After an incredibly tough summer for turf, many domestic lawns are still feeling the effects of months without rain. It might be time for a reboot, so RHS turf and lawn care specialist Jim Millward talks us through how to turf properly and tells us about his team’s progress on returfing alongside Wisley’s famous Jellicoe Canal. It’s off to RHS Garden Hyde Hall to talk with Sarah Wilson Frost about mulch; what is it, why is it important, and what does it do? And we’ll round-off the episode with listener questions answered with Gareth and Melissa. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producer: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Helen Bostock, Jim Millward, Sarah Wilson-Frost, Melissa Mabbitt
Links:
Bird statistics
Bird feeding
Returfing and laying turf
Guide to mulch
Chop and drop
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516 – Incredible ivy, vegetable folklore and autumn planting essentials
15 oktober 2026 · 31 min
Meet one of our most loved and hated native plants. You might think of ivy as a destroyer of buildings or a nuisance weed, but it’s actually just been crowned the most popular flower with pollinating insects in an 8 year study by the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. It’s also the RHS Wildlife Wonder plant for October, so our Science and Horticulture editor Olivia Drake is here to explain what makes it so valuable, and worth including in your garden. Staying with plant wonders, did you know if you dream of cucumbers, it means you might speedily fall in love? RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions Fiona Davison offers fascinating tales of vegetable folklore for an upcoming online seminar. Hyde Hall’s Andy Tebbutt tells us why autumn is the best time of year for planting, but what’s happening to that plant when you put it in the ground? And Gareth Richards and Melissa Mabbitt answer your gardening questions. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producer: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Olivia Drake, Fiona Davison, Andy Tebbutt, Melissa Mabbitt
Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk
Links:
Ivy
Butterfly Conservation pollinator survey
Vegetables, dreams and folklore
RHS Libraries
Why autumn is the best time for planting
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515 - The Plant Review: Waxcap Wonderlands, ancient apples, and your questions answered
8 oktober 2026 · 27 min
A new season, and a new edition of The Plant Review, the quarterly magazine published by The RHS that delves a little deeper than the regular RHS Garden mag. If you prefer your plant stories and horticultural happenings that bit more detailed, The Plant Review is the publication for you. In this special programme, RHS plant pathologist Jassy Drakulic talks fungi in lawns, Plant Review editor James Armitage tells the story of Blanche Ada’s Thornycroft apples, and Gareth Richards and Melissa Mabbitt answer your gardening questions. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards, James Armitage
Producer: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Jassy Drakulic, Melissa Mabbitt
Links:
The Plant Review
Waxcap Watch
Thornycroft apples
Plants mentioned by James:
Haplocarpha scaposa
Lepechinia hastata
Eryngium pandanifolium
Vernonia crinita
Cyperus involucratus
Carex secta
Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk
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514 - Plants for pollinators, dividing perennials, and no more cauliflowers?
1 oktober 2026 · 34 min
So many jobs to do at this time of year, but not enough time! As we rush to garden centres and nurseries, you can make it easier on yourself by narrowing down your new plant choices to those which are ultra wildlife friendly. Pollinators will always appreciate a helping hand, and a good place to start is with a new RHS guide, Plants for Pollinators. One of the authors, RHS entomologist Josie Stuart, is on the podcast to talk about what to plant now to boost wildlife diversity. If edibles are more your thing, Guy Barter offers sobering news on the future of Britain’s favourite brassicas – is it the end of the line for cauliflowers? And we continue our guide to essential jobs to do in autumn, this time it’s why and how to divide perennials. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producer: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Josie Stuart, Guy Barter, Nick Petters, Melissa Mabbitt
Links:
Plants for Pollinators
Autumn ox eye daisy - Leucanthemella serotina
No more cauliflowers Guardian article
Dividing perennials
Rootstocks for fruit
Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk
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513 – Autumn gets real, root cuttings, and what do spiders ever do for us?
24 september 2026 · 30 min
Head to the bottom of the garden this month and you might end up with a face full of spiders’ webs. Before you run screaming into the house, RHS spider expert Ben Brough offers an insight into why an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare is a fantastic garden ally. Want more plants for next spring without the cost of buying? RHS Garden Wisley’s Sam Gallivan teaches us how to take root cuttings and instantly multiply your plants for free. Last week we ended our series looking at bulbs to plant now for spring interest, and today we begin a new series of serious jobs for serious gardeners throughout a busy autumn, beginning with autumn veg planting with Liz Mooney. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producer: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Ben Brough, Sam Gallivan, Liz Mooney, Melissa Mabbitt
Links:
Wildlife gardening advice
Plants for bugs
Taking root cuttings
Grow your own fruit and veg: September
Liz Mooney’s allotment life
Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk
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512: Turf wars, houseplant MOT, and a final bulb of the week
17 september 2026 · 33 min
Many listeners’ turf will have taken a bashing over summer, and now is the time to glow-up the green. RHS Garden Wisley’s Jim Millward shares his tips on how to get your grass ready for autumn. The holiday is officially over for our houseplants, time to bring them back inside after enjoying a hot summer. RHS indoor plant specialist Freddy Fuller offers do’s and don’ts for seasonal houseplant success. And to round-off a month of spring bulb suggestions, RHS Wisley’s Jess Jansdotter offers her choice in the final 'Bulb of the Week' of September. Plus, we answer some of your gardening questions. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producers: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Jim Millward, Freddy Fuller, Jess Jansdotter, Melissa Mabbitt
Links:
Lawncare advice
Autumn houseplant advice:
Snowdrops
Send your questions to podcast@rhs.org.uk
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511: Saving drought-hit plants, the wildlife wonder of apples, more bulb inspiration
10 september 2026 · 33 min
Is it dead? Or is it just sulking? That’s what many listeners will be wondering after returning from their summer holidays to find many plants exhausted by hot and dry weather. Horticultural advisor Nick Turrell provides a dose of reality – and some much-needed hope – when it comes to saving, or binning, the hardest-hit perennials. Presenter Gareth Richards speaks to RHS science editor Olivia Drake about this month’s Wildlife Wonder plant - apples! There’s more to this popular fruit than meets the eye. September is the month for bulbs, and RHS Wisley’s James McDonnell offers his pick for the next instalment of our Bulb of the Week series - Ipheion. Plus, we answer some of your gardening questions. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producer: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Nick Turrell, Olivia Drake, James McDonnell, Melissa Mabbitt
Links:
RHS Climate Change Survey
RHS Ipheion trials
Wildlife Wonder plant: Apple
Send your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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510: Magnificent mini-beasts, figs, and another bulb of the week
3 september 2026 · 31 min
There’s a myriad of weird and wonderful beasties out there who feast on flowers, but all is not rosy inside the garden gate. Pollinators are in trouble, and Josie Stuart, RHS Senior Entomologist at RHS Garden Wisley shares some unexpected ways home gardeners can help pollinators thrive, no matter the size of your plot. Horticultural specialist Jim Arbury offers expert advice on a hot topic many RHS website visitors want to know more about: figs. Which variety should you choose? How do you get started? And how do you grow them successfully? As September brings cooler temperatures and an increasingly autumnal feel, RHS Wisley’s Claudia Connal offers her pick for the next instalment of our Bulb of the Week series - the mysterious and beautiful Turk’s cap or martagon lily. Plus, we answer your gardening questions on dealing with tomato gluts, growing echinaceas, and pruning hydrangeas and evergreens. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producer: Dan Cocker
Contributors: Josie Stuart, Jim Arbury, Claudia Connal
Plants mentioned: Turk’s cap lily (Lilium martagon); lilies 'Claude Shride’, ‘Golden Morning’, ‘Pink Morning’ and ‘Albi Morning’. Hoop petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium), Crocus ‘Vanguard’. Figs ‘Brown Turkey’, ‘Little Miss Figgy’ and ‘Brunswick'
Links:
Find information on all the topics covered at rhs.org.uk
Send your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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509: Lovely lantanas, deadheading guide and our autumn bulb of the week
27 augustus 2026 · 32 min
While many garden plants have struggled for survival this summer, one which has truly thrived is the lantana. Horticulturist David Hurrion was one of the judges of last year's lantana trial at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, and he joins us to share his takeaways of growing these eye-poppingly colourful bedding plants, and some of the standout cultivars. Lees meer
Deadheading is a practice key to ensuring repeat blooms throughout the summer, and RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell shows us how to do it properly. And finally, as we enter autumn, we’re kickstarting our bulb of the week series with horticulturist Gemma Burr who shares some favourite coronet tulips from another recent RHS Plant Trial. Plus answers to listener questions on bay trees, lawns from seed and Salvia 'Hot Lips'.
Host: Gareth Richards
Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring
Contributors: David Hurrion, Nick Turrell, Gemma Burr
Links:
Lantana trial results
Deadheading
Send your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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508: Seed collecting, apple pruning, and wildflowers
20 augustus 2026 · 30 min
Even though it's still August, the signs of autumn are starting to show. False autumn is a survival-driven stress response where trees shed leaves and change colour prematurely due to extreme heat and drought, and you may find yourself doing the autumn jobs a little early this year. Lees meer
We dive headlong into seed collecting with RHS horticulturist Lucie Rudnicka, plus find out how best to prune your trained apple and pear trees with RHS Garden Wisley’s fruit tree expert Jim Arbury. And finally, we relish in the joy of wildflowers with our very own Gareth Richards, as today sees the publication of RHS Wildflowers: A Pocket Guide. Plus we answer questions from the listener inbox on late sowings of salads, raspberry pruning and hornets.
Host: Gareth Richards
Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring
Contributors: Lucie Rudnicka, Jim Arbury, Jenny Laville
Links:
Seed: collecting and storing
Apples and pears: pruning
RHS Wildflowers: A pocket guide
Send your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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507: Heatwave survival guide for pots and powdery mildew mayhem
13 augustus 2026 · 32 min
In a summer of rolling heatwaves, we look at what we can do to help out one of the garden areas most vulnerable to parching - plants in pots. RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell explains what you can do to keep them alive and thriving as temperatures soar. The heat and high humidity this summer have provided the perfect conditions for fungal plant diseases to spread like wildfire. RHS Plant Pathologist Dr Jassy Drakulic tells us about powdery mildew, and shares what you can do if your plants have succumbed. And finally, our Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter sheds some light on how we can make the most of this summer's most precious resource, when rainfall finally arrives where you are. Plus some listener questions answered. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring
Contributors: Nick Turrell, Jassy Drakulic, Guy Barter
Links:
Drought resistant plants for pots
Powdery mildew
Send your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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506: Garden wildlife care for heatwaves: dahlias, cinnabar moths, and more
6 augustus 2026 · 34 min
As we experience one of the most extreme summers on record, how can we help our garden wildlife cope with the heat? RHS Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake explains why ornamental dahlias can be an excellent late summer food source for pollinators, while RHS entomologist Josie Stuart introduces us to the striking cinnabar moth and its close relationship with drought-resistant ragwort. We also visit Where Magic Grows, a new family-friendly immersive exhibition at Leeds’ Thackeray Museum of Medicine, exploring the connections between plants, folklore and medicine, in collaboration with the RHS. Plus, we answer some of your top gardening questions of the week. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring
Contributors: Olivia Drake, Josie Stuart, Jack Gann, Holly Tomlinson
Links:
Dahlias for pollinators
Exhibition: Where Magic Grows
Lavendars
Plums
Grey Water
Plants mentioned:
Dahlia merckii https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/5296/dahlia-merckii-b/details
Dahlia 'Tangerine Gem' https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/510690/dahlia-tangerine-gem-sin/details
Dahlia australis https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/181404/dahlia-australis/details
Dahlia Pretty Woman https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/282403/dahlia-pretty-woman-vdtg43-pbr-dark-angel-series-sin/details
Veronicastrum virginicum 'Lavendelturm' https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/111539/veronicastrum-virginicum-lavendelturm/details
Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/97048/achillea-millefolium-cerise-queen/details
Email your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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505: Summer SOS: holiday-proof your garden, midsummer planting guide, a giant bug hunt
30 juli 2026 · 29 min
If you’re going away this summer and are worried about your garden RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter shares some top hacks for ensuring your plants survive the heatwaves while you’re away. But if you’re staying at home and feel inspired to give your garden a revamp for all those summer BBQs, RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell explains what you can still plant in high summer for maximum impact. If you’re entertaining children this summer – or you’re still full of wonder for the natural world – David Wembridge from The People's Trust for Endangered Species’ talks about a nationwide search for the gentle giants - stag beetles. And finally, the jobs – we’ll share key things you can do in the next week in the garden. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Guy Barter, Nick Turrell, David Wembridge
Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring
Links:
PTES the Great Stag Beetle Hunt
Info on powdery mildew
Drought resistant gardening
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504: RHS Sandringham Flower Show: climate resilient trees, rainwater capture, frogs
23 juli 2026 · 31 min
The team head to North Norfolk to fill their boots with inspiration from the show gardens, floral exhibits, specialist growers, and innovative designs on display at RHS Sandringham Flower Show. Gareth Richards speaks with Catherine MacDonald, who designed The RHS Royal Legacy Garden in collaboration with King Charles III, with a special focus on climate resilient trees. Jenny Laville catches up with designers Joe and Laura Carey in their playful Pollywiggle Garden, designed for amphibians. And producers Poppy and Dan glean some top tips from the growers and nurseries in the Floral Marquee. Lees meer
Hosts: Gareth Richards, Jenny Laville
Contributors: Catherine MacDonald, Laura Carey, Joe Carey, John Cullen, Louise Batchelor, David Reynolds, Paul Dibley, Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring
Links:
RHS Sandringham Flower Show
Plants:
Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Rubylace' Gleditsia triacanthos 'Rubylace' | thorny locust 'Rubylace'
Aeonium ‘Pink Witch’ Aeonium 'Pink Witch' (v)
Rosemary-leaf willow - Salix rosmarinifolia Salix rosmarinifolia L. | rosemary-leaved willow
Achillea ptarmica ‘Peter Cottontail’ Achillea ptarmica 'Peter Cottontail'PBR | sneezewort 'Peter Cottontail'
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503: Pollinators at RHS Badminton, Elms at RHS Sandringham, and Edimentals
16 juli 2026 · 30 min
It’s time to recuperate and relish one of the best times in the gardening calendar. Taking inspiration from some of the Pocket Planting gardens at RHS Badminton Flower Show, we’re celebrating plants for pollinators as part of Bees’ Needs Week. Ahead of an elm-themed exhibit at the Sandringham Flower Show next week Jenny Laville meets David Shreeve MBE, who in the late 1970s arranged for the first disease resistant elm cultivars to be brought to the UK. And RHS Wisley’s Liz Mooney spills the beans on edimentals - what are they and how do they benefit us? Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Liz Mooney, Jenny Laville, David Shreeve MBE, Alison Johnston, Darren Gillingham, Natalya Scott, Lucie Dannemann-Scott, Michael Leech, Gavin Moth
Links:
RHS Sandringham Flower Show
Explore the RHS Badminton pocket planting gardens
If you have a question you’d like answered on the podcast, write in to us at podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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502: RHS Badminton Flower Show
9 juli 2026 · 34 min
Join us at the inaugural RHS Flower Show at Badminton in Gloucestershire! It’s a brand-new addition to the gardening calendar, the next in a massive year of RHS events that celebrate the greatest shows in earth, and Gardening with the RHS is here to take listeners on a journey through some of the show’s highlights. Size matters, and we speak with renowned designer Tom Stuart-Smith about one of his most ambitious undertakings ever: designing and building the biggest show garden in the history of the RHS. We learn about another RHS first, the introduction of the Young Designer Gardens, giving early-career designers a major national platform. Plus, we meet the world’s leading growers and nursery experts exhibiting at Badminton, for some take-home tips and vegetal inspiration. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards & Melissa Mabbitt
Contributors: Tom Stuart-Smith, RHS Young Designers Abigail Stoyle, Sophie Sturgeon, Sophie Leo,
And from the Floral Marquee: Rachel from The Tetbury Flower Company, Lee from sedum specialist Plants Let's Grow, Colin from Roualeyn Fuchsias, Luke from D'Arcy & Everest
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501: After the heat, multifunctional fennel, and roses 101
2 juli 2026 · 37 min
This week we’re recovering from extreme heat to get back to what we love best: celebrating the joy of plants, how to grow them, and some tips for doing more in our gardens. Guy Barter emerges from the heat dome with some lessons learned from inside the furnace, and our science editor Olivia Drake shares an RHS Wildlife Wonder Plant for July that’s a hit with pollinators and people - bronze fennel. Horticulturist Oliver Ongley looks after the rose garden at RHS Garden Wisley, and he offers on successfully growing roses at home, with a nod to RHS Garden Rosemoor’s current Festival of Roses. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Guy Barter, Olivia Drake, Oliver Ongley
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500: Insect week: Beetling about, solitary bees, and summer strawbs
25 juni 2026 · 32 min
Insects are vital ecosystem engineers in our gardens. Small but mighty, they help create healthy, balanced environments where plants can thrive. Of course, not all insects are flying or scuttling above ground all the time, so to mark Insect Week, we’re going underground with RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones to explore the beetle larvae living in our soils. We’ll learn how to identify the species that benefit our gardens, and what to do about those that can cause problems. Lees meer
Bee expert Rachel Richards from conservation charity Buglife joins us to reveal the remarkable diversity of solitary bees that may be nesting right outside your door, and share simple ways to support these important pollinators.
And finally, as the heatwave continues, we turn our attention to a seasonal favourite: strawberries. RHS Horticultural Advisor Chris Taylor shares his top tips for growing healthy, productive plants and getting the very best harvest. Plus a roundup of top tips based on the latest enquiries on rhs.org.uk
Email your questions to podcasts@rhs.org.uk
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Hayley Jones, Rachel Richards, Chris Taylor
Links:
How to help hoverflies
Vine weevil
Chafers in garden borders
Ground beetle larvae and other predatory gardener allies
More in depth ID features for chafers and stag beetles
Previous episode on Hoverfly Heroes with Josie Stuart
How to help hoverflies
Strawberries
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A celebration of British blooms
18 juni 2026 · 31 min
Insects are drawn to them, poets and artists are inspired by them, and without them, much of our agriculture simply wouldn’t exist. Flowers are one of nature’s most remarkable inventions, and in honour of British Flowers Week, we’ve got three fantastic floral stories. Georgie Newbery, artisan flower farmer and passionate advocate for the British cut flower industry, joins us to share how years of campaigning is giving flower growers a stronger voice and greater visibility at a national level. We explore the sweet pea extravaganza at RHS Garden Wisley this week with National Sweet Pea Society President Roger Parsons. And finally we tackle one of the biggest challenges facing gardens: aphids. Josie Stuart from the RHS Plant Health Team explains how to keep these sap-sucking squatters under control using flowers, while maintaining the natural balance of the garden. Lees meer
Host: Nick Turrell
Contributors: Georgie Newbery, Roger Parsons, Josie Stuart
Links:
National Sweet Pea Society
Aphids advice
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Plants for sunny spots: the familiar and the unexpected
11 juni 2026 · 27 min
In this summer edition of the Plant Review podcast special, we get stuck into the plants which love to bask in the sun. Journalist Phil Clayton shares his tips for success with bearded irises, and tackles one of the conundrums associated with this antisocial plant – what to grow them with! Taxonomist Julian Shaw introduces us to a striking new Arum hybrid that's been causing quite a stir among plant enthusiasts. And we dissect what lessons we can learn from mediterranean gardens. Lees meer
Hosts: Gareth Richards and James Armitage
Contributors: Phil Clayton, Julian Shaw
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June in the kitchen garden
4 juni 2026 · 28 min
June is when many kitchen gardens begin to hit their stride. Horticulturist, author, and YouTuber Huw Richards joins us to explore the joys of growing your own food, the benefits of self-sufficiency, and why gardens of every size can have a big impact on people, communities and wildlife. Huw also shares details of the Top of the Plots competition, celebrating inspiring growers across the UK. RHS Wisley's Liz Mooney reveals what you can still sow this June, from reliable favourites to more unusual edible crops. And as gardens buzz into early summer, RHS Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake investigates lavender, our Wildlife Wonder Plant for June, and reveals which varieties prove most irresistible to bumblebees. Lees meer
Host: Jenny Laville
Contributors: Huw Richards, Liz Mooney, Olivia Drake
Links:
Top of the Plots competition
Lavender Wildlife Wonder plant of the month
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Heatwaves, houseplant hacks, hot new hostas, and more!
28 mei 2026 · 32 min
As the UK experiences some of the hottest May weather on record, we share practical tips for helping your garden cope during heatwaves. And if the soaring temperatures have you seeking shade indoors, we’ll hear from houseplant experts about their favourite indoor plants and their advice for tackling common houseplant problems. We also catch up with Chris Potts from Sienna Hostas to discover a breakthrough in hosta breeding that has produced the first truly red-leaved cultivar Hosta RED NINJA in the genus. And with the warm weather set to continue, why not visit an RHS Garden this weekend? We head to RHS Garden Bridgewater, where curator Tracy Snell tells us more about the transformation of this remarkable historic garden as it celebrates its fifth birthday this month. Plus a tribute to horticultural legend Matt Biggs, who sadly died last week. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Natalia (Conservatory Archives), John (Hugo & Green), Alice (Botanica Studios), Chris Potts (Sienna Hosta), Tracy Snell, Tim Upson
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The best of RHS Chelsea Flower Show
20 mei 2026 · 29 min
The highlight of the horticultural calendar is back. This week, we’re bringing you the very best of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Lees meer
We speak to designer Darren Hawkes about The Lady Garden Foundation’s 'Silent No More' garden, and how outdoor spaces can be designed to encourage conversation and connection. Growers and exhibitors from the Great Pavilion share their favourite plants, must-see showstoppers, and expert tips on everything from getting the most out of your hostas to creating natural dyes at home.
We also meet Joe and Laura Carey, designers of Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City, to explore London’s rich botanical history and discover how even the smallest urban gardens can become truly striking spaces. Plus, we take a look at the cutting-edge horticultural science showcased at the GreenSTEM exhibit.
Whether you’re heading to Chelsea this year or simply looking for expert growing advice and fresh inspiration from some of the world’s leading designers and growers, there’s something here for everyone.
Hosts: Jenny Laville, Tom Howard, Gareth Richards
Links:
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
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Chelsea’s gnome battle, marvellous mulleins and free plants with hidden costs
14 mei 2026 · 32 min
Love them or loathe them, garden gnomes are back… and this time, they’ve even got royal approval as they’ll be appearing in the Kings Foundation garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which returns next week. Fiona Davison, head of Libraries and Exhibitions at the RHS talks us through the history of the show’s infamous gnome ban. Lees meer
Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake joins us to marvel at the beauty of verbascums, which are this month’s wildlife wonder plant thanks to their multifaceted appeal to all kinds of garden insects, including birds, bees and mullein moth caterpillars. And if you’ve ever been inspired by a TikTok or Instagram video to try growing your own fruit and veg from supermarket leftovers, Dr Helen Latham from the Plant Health team joins us with words of wisdom about how plants for free can sometimes come with hidden dangers.
Host: Nick Turrell
Contributors: Fiona Davison, Olivia Drake, Helen Latham
Links:
May Wildlife Wonder plant - verbascums
Gnome ban lifted
Chelsea Flower Show
Plant Health
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Moths, hydrangeas and a royal flourish at Chelsea
7 mei 2026 · 29 min
We’re diving into the fascinating lives of moths with RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones. She tells us what sets them apart from butterflies, and how to set up nighttime nectar bars to give them a helping hand. Lees meer
We’re also turning our attention to a firm favorite in the garden: Hydrangeas. RHS horticulturist Jack Aldridge is a woody plant expert, and he joins us to share some of his favorite cultivars and everything you need to know about caring for your hydrangeas at home - from pruning tips to the secrets behind the brightest blue blooms.
And finally, with RHS Chelsea Flower Show just around the corner, RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions Fiona Davison joins us to reveal more about the unveiling of a striking new botanical painting, known as a ‘Royal Signature’. It marks the occasion of His Majesty King Charles III becoming the charity’s Royal Patron, and celebrates his long-standing commitment to inspiring more people to experience the joy of gardening.
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Dr Hayley Jones, Jack Aldridge, Fiona Davison
Links:
Wild about gardens: magical moths
RHS plant guide - hydrangeas
RHS Chelsea flower show
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Wild about gardens: from birds to blossom
30 april 2026 · 35 min
Today we’re getting wild in the garden and taking a look at some of the abundance that's on display as spring hits its peak. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh joins us to unpack the results of this year's Big Garden Birdwatch, offering a revealing snapshot of the health of some of our most cherished garden visitors. Emma also shares how new research is informing New RSPB advice on feeding birds seasonally and safely. One key food source for young chicks at this time of year is juicy caterpillars; RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones shares her advice on how to live with these misunderstood critters, and why moths in general deserve some more credit in the garden. And finally, we turn to a seasonal highlight: crab apples. Nurseryman Nick Dunn of Frank P Matthews nursery joins us to celebrate these remarkable trees as they burst into bloom, offering beauty, abundance and a vital source of food for birds, insects - and even us. Lees meer
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Emma Marsh, Dr Hayley Jones, Nick Dunn
Extra links:
Wild About Gardens: magical moths
RHS Wildlife gardening advice
Remembering Nigel Dunnett
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Alternatives to wildflower meadows, supercharge your garden with leftovers, cultivating unusual crops
23 april 2026 · 33 min
To celebrate Earth Day, we’re looking at how we as gardeners can make small changes to benefit the world around us. Nick Turrell and Jenny Laville will be digging into the topic of food waste, exploring how composting and changing our habits can make a big difference to our ecological footprints. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden offers an alternative, biodiversity-friendly approach if you find a traditional wildflower meadow just doesn’t work for you. And RHS Garden Wisley’s Liz Mooney and Pavlina Kapsalis share some inspiration for the veg patch, with some unusual crop suggestions you definitely won’t find on the supermarket shelves. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Liz Mooney, Pavlina Kapsalis, Jenny Bowden, Jenny Laville, Nick Turrell
Links:
RHS Grow Your Own Veg Through the Year
RHS advice on fruit and veg growing
Gardening for the environment
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Helping hedgehogs, DIY potting mix, and crispy cabbages
16 april 2026 · 32 min
This week Grace Johnson from the Hedgehog Street Campaign joins us once again to tell us more about what we can all do to support the recovery of hedgehog populations, right where they need it most: in our gardens. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden joins us with a clever money-saving tip, showing how you can make your own potting mix from scratch at home. And to round things off, Liz Mooney heads down to the veg patch with everything you need to know about growing cabbages. Lees meer
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Jenny Bowden, Grace Johnson, Liz Mooney
Links:
How to make a footprint tunnel
Get involved in some Hedgehog citizen science
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Spring’s hidden heroes: comfrey, carrots, and hedgehogs
9 april 2026 · 32 min
This week, we’re shining a light on some of the plants and creatures that play a vital role at this time of year: the ones that truly make spring what it is… starting with an often overlooked but invaluable contributor to the spring display - comfrey. Olivia Drake will be telling us more about this powerhouse for pollinators that deserves a place in any garden. Next, we turn to the veg patch and one of the most satisfying crops you can start sowing right now. RHS Wisley’s Liz Mooney joins us to share some practical tips on growing carrots successfully. And finally, we’ll be taking a closer look at one of the UK’s most beloved native mammals, now beginning to emerge from winter hibernation: the hedgehog. Hedgehog officer Grace Johnson from the Hedgehog Street campaign talks us through the challenges these charming creatures face, and how our gardens (however big or small) could hold the key to helping reverse their decline. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Olivia Drake, Liz Mooney, Grace Johnson
Links:
Comfrey
BIG Hedgehog map
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Climate resilient gardens, lettuces, and gladioli
2 april 2026 · 31 min
This week we head to RHS Wisley's Hilltop where the science and advisory teams are working tirelessly to come up with solutions to some of the biggest pressures facing horticulture and gardeners today, and few are bigger or more pressing than climate change. RHS advisor Jenny Bowden talks us through an experiment she's working on to find out which plants are best suited to the extremes in summer drought and winter flooding UK gardens are increasingly experiencing. Horticulturist Liz Mooney runs us through the Lettuce extravaganza she is sowing at Wisley's world food garden. And bulb expert Muhammad Hafiz Ullah, gives us a masterclass in growing gladioli Lees meer
Host: Nick Turrell
Contributors: Jenny Bowden, Liz Mooney, Muhammad Hafiz Ullah
Links:
Choosing plants for seasonally wet and dry soils
How to grow lettuces
Gladioli
Gladiolus trial
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Resilient gardens, blossoming trees & growing cucumbers
26 maart 2026 · 30 min
This week we’re embracing the arrival of spring in the garden. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden applies a right plant, right place approach in her sandy, drought-prone garden in southeast England. Embracing experimentation, she’s creating a resilient, low-maintenance space that shows even challenging conditions can thrive. We’ll also be celebrating the breathtaking displays of blossom unfolding across the UK right now, as RHS expert Jonathan Newell joins us to explore the rich variety of flowering trees and shrubs in bloom, and what makes this time of year so special for gardeners and nature lovers alike.And to round things off, our resident veg growing affionado Liz Mooney returns with another allotment favourite: this time turning her attention to cucumbers. Lees meer
Host: Jenny Laville
Contributors: Jenny Bowden, Jonathan Newell, Liz Mooney
Links:
Drought-resistant plants
Drought-resistant gardening
Guide to growing cucumbers
Liz Mooney’s top tomato cultivars
Liz Mooney’s guide to aubergines, sweet peppers, and chillis
Liz Mooney’s guide to peas
Liz Mooney’s guide to potatoes
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An ode to home grown
19 maart 2026 · 34 min
This week, we’re focusing on the edible garden, and the simple yet radical act of growing your own food in an age of convenience. Food writer Nancy Matsumoto explores how our globalised food system is impacting both people and planet, and why women-led initiatives could help shape a more sustainable future. RHS Garden Wisley’s Liz Mooney joins us from the World Food Garden to answer everything you ever wanted to know about growing potatoes. And finally, Nick Turrell and Jenny Laville sit down to look at how you can get started growing your own – without ending up with a mountain of plastic along the way. Lees meer
Host: Nick Turrell
Contributors: Nancy Matsumoto, Liz Mooney, Jenny Laville
Links:
Reaping What She Sows book
Nancy Matsumoto’s substack ‘Reaping’
Liz Mooney’s top tomato cultivars
Liz Mooney’s guide to aubergines, sweet peppers, and chillis
Liz Mooney’s guide to peas
How to go plastic-free in your garden
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Spring into wellbeing: primroses, pollinators, and peas
12 maart 2026 · 35 min
With the first glimmers of spring starting to show through, this week we’re diving into the theme of wellbeing – both for us and our garden wildlife. RHS Science & Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake joins us to explain why the common primrose is an essential early source of nectar for pollinators. Lees meer
We’ll also be exploring the powerful role gardens can play in our own health and wellbeing. The RHS has just launched a new science-backed Wellbeing Blueprint, designed to help anyone create a garden that actively supports wellbeing. Ashby Sachs and Vicky Shearing, who worked on the project, join us to talk about what the research reveals, and how we can all put those insights into practice.
And finally we’ll also be dropping by the World Food Garden at RHS Garden Wisley, where edibles expert Liz Mooney will be showing us how, where and when to sow peas for a great harvest later in the year.
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Olivia Drake, Liz Mooney, Ross Cameron, Ashby Sachs, Victoria
Links:
RHS Daffodil Diaries
Primroses
RHS Wellbeing Garden Blueprint
What to plant in a wellbeing garden
The science behind the RHS Wellbeing Garden Blueprint
How to grow peas
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Learning From The Wild
5 maart 2026 · 37 min
This week, we’re leafing through the pages of The Plant Review to explore a simple question: what can we learn from the wild? Lees meer
American plantsman Daniel J. Hinkley reflects on a lifetime of exploration that has taken him to some of the wildest places on Earth in search of plants. Yet in his article he turns his attention to a small, unassuming genus growing close to home in Washington State: Coptis.
Next, David Pearce, curator of Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, transports us to the cloud-shrouded mountains of Madeira to meet a striking architectural plant found nowhere else in the wild, and one that he’s been successfully cultivating on the Dorset coast.
And finally, Sacchi Parasrampuria and James Miller take us to Poon Hill in Nepal, reflecting on a recent plant observation trip and the lessons they brought back from the Himalayas.
Hosts: James Armitage and Gareth Richards
Contributors: Daniel J Hinkley, David Pearce, Saachi Parasrampuria, James Miller
Links:
The Plant Review
Heronswood Gardens
Abbotsbury subtropical gardens
Musschia wollastonii
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Rethinking rose pruning, self-sufficiency, and ornamental grasses
26 februari 2026 · 32 min
This week we join gardener and biologist Benny Hawksbee in his rose beds to find out how one small adjustment to the traditional rose pruning method can create vital habitat for a key aphid predator. RHS Garden Wisley’s Liz Mooney tells us about her journey to self-sufficiency, and horticulturist Rose Holman guides us through how to cut back your ornamental grasses before the new growth comes through. Lees meer
Host: Josie Harris
Contributors: Benny Hawksbee, Liz Mooney, Rose Holman
Links:
Benny’s video on pruning roses
RHS guidance on pruning roses
Become a member of the RHS
Ornamental grasses
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Wet winter gardening, woodland walks and pruning wisteria
19 februari 2026 · 31 min
This week, we’re heading to RHS Garden Wisley to discover how its horticulturists are turning one of the wettest starts to the year on record into a garden that’s primed for spring. Team leader Helen Bensted-Smith shares some top tips for gardening in persistently soggy conditions, and explains why increasingly wet winters and dry summers are challenges we need to adapt to rather than battle against. Guy Barter takes us on a seasonal stroll through Oakwood, which is coming into its own at this time of year, and has plenty of take-home ideas for gardening in damp shade. And finally, we popped in to see Liam Anderson, who’s hard at work pruning the 75m Wisteria Walk. In just a few months, it will be transformed into a spectacular tunnel of cascading purple and white blooms. Lees meer
Host: Nick Turrell
Contributors: Helen Bensted-Smith, Guy Barter, Liam Anderson
Links:
How to choose plants for seasonally wet and dry soils
RHS daffodil diaries
Sarcococca
Wisteria pruning video
Wisteria at Wisley
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The wildlife wonders of hazel, the science of winter wellbeing and hot crops from Wisley
12 februari 2026 · 35 min
This week, as its delicate catkins unfurl on bare branches, Digital Science Editor Olivia Drake introduces this month’s RHS Wildlife Wonder plant — the hazel – which not only supplies queen bumblebees with much needed early pollen, but also provides tasty nuts and abundant leaves to support a huge range of wildlife throughout the year. And while it may still be a little early to sow most crops directly outdoors, if you’ve got a greenhouse or warm windowsill you can get a head start on the growing season. Down at RHS Garden Wisley, Liz Mooney is busy sowing aubergines, sweet peppers and chillies, and she’ll be sharing her top tips for getting the best from these heat-loving crops. Finally, Professor Ross Cameron from the University of Sheffield – author of Plants Can Save Your Life – joins us to explore the science of plants and wellbeing, and how indoor gardening can play a powerful role in boosting our health. Lees meer
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Olivia Drake, Liz Mooney, Ross Cameron, Gareth Richards
Links:
RHS Plants Can Save Your Life: How to live healthier and happier with plants
Wildlife wonder - hazel
RHS Grow Your Own
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Planning the perfect veg plot: heirlooms, tomatoes and what lies beneath
5 februari 2026 · 35 min
Now is a great time to start planning what to grow, and this week, we’re diving headfirst into the seed catalogues for inspiration! We’re exploring some of the tastiest, and most eye catching, additions to the veg patch: heirlooms! We also take a deep dive into tomato cultivars, as Liz Mooney shares her top picks from last years 'tomato extravaganza’ which saw her grow more than 50 varieties at RHS Wisley's world food garden. And finally, let's get back to basics with the foundation of any abundant veg plot: the soil! Nick Turrell and Jenny Laville dig into the ins and outs of how to care for earth beneath your feet. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Lucy Hutchings and Kate Cotterill from She Grows Veg, Liz Mooney, Jenny Laville and Nick Turrell
Links:
Mangelwurzel
Tomato Black Beauty
1,500 Year Old Cave Bean
Chicory Rose of Venice
Beetroot Red Toad
How to grow tomatoes
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Beyond peat
29 januari 2026 · 29 min
This week we’re telling the story of peat: from the value of this amazing otherworldly habitat, to the threats facing these rare landscapes and work being done to protect them, and how growers and horticulturists are adapting to a peat-free future. We’ll be speaking to Beth Thomas from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts, RHS Peat-Free Research Technician Scott Spriggs, and plantsperson Mairi Longdon from Tissington Nursery. Lees meer
HOST: Jenny Laville
CONTRIBUTORS: Beth Thomas, Scott Spriggs, Mairi Longdon
LINKS:
Yorkshire Peat Partnership
RHS Soil analysis service
RHS Gardening Advice service
RHS peat hub
RHS peat petition
Tissington nursery
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Wildlife-friendly gardening: winter edition
22 januari 2026 · 33 min
This week we’re rolling up our sleeves to look at how we can support our garden visitors, while also preparing for the burst of life that spring will bring. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh is back to share how monitoring projects like the Big Garden Bird Watch can make a real difference when it comes to helping our declining species. Gareth Richards pops in with his top tips for growing one of his allotment favourites (and a firm favourite with bumblebees too) the humble raspberry. And Olivia Drake shines a spotlight on the RHS Wildlife Wonders plant for January: the shrubby honeysuckle. Lees meer
Host: Nick Turrell
Contributors: Emma Marsh, Gareth Richards, Olivia Drake
Links:
Sign up to the Big Garden Bird Watch
RSPB free guide and ID chart
How to grow raspberries
Why you need a shrubby honeysuckle in your garden
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Feathers, Fruit and Fascinating Plants
15 januari 2026 · 28 min
Today, we’re joined by the RSPB’s Emma Marsh, who shares how she has made her garden into a haven for birds. We’ll also conclude Nick Turrell’s countdown of the most influential plants that have shaped human culture, and history around the globe. Plus, now is the best time to get outside and prune your freestanding apples and pears. The RHS’s Jim Arbury gives us a masterclass on exactly what you need to do to keep your trees productive and in shape for the year ahead. Lees meer
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Emma Marsh, Nick Turrell, Jim Arbury
Links:
Plants for birds
Apples and pears: winter pruning
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Midwinter Gardens: Influential Plants, Christmas Trees and New RHS Gardens
8 januari 2026 · 27 min
The new year has arrived with an Arctic blast, and so it feels like the perfect moment to retreat indoors and let the garden live in our imaginations for a while. Nick Turrell joins us to continue his countdown of the most influential plants that have shaped human history. Guy Barter shares his practical ideas for making the most of your Christmas tree in the garden, and Pru Murray takes us through some of the new partner gardens RHS members can enjoy visiting in 2026. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Nick Turrell, Guy Barter, Pru Murray
Links:
Nick Turrell's most influential plants part 1, and part 2
Visit rhs.org.uk/partnergardens to search for Partner Gardens to visit local to you and find out their opening times for members.
If you want to suggest a garden to join the scheme or have any other feedback you can email the team on: partnergardens@rhs.org.uk
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A Year in the Garden: Hellebores, Hoverflies and Temperate Rainforests
30 december 2025 · 30 min
As 2025 comes to a close, host Nick Turrell looks back on a year of discovery in this special end-of-year edition of Gardening with the RHS. From the quiet resilience of winter-flowering hellebores with plantsman John Grimshaw, to the gentle industry of hoverflies with RHS entomologist Josie Stuart, and a summer journey into Britain’s rare temperate rainforests with designer Zoe Claymore, this reflective episode revisits three listener favourites that reveal how even the smallest patches of nature can support a much wider living network. Lees meer
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A Quiet Beauty: Plants That Carry Us Through the Cold
23 december 2025 · 39 min
Oh the weather outside is frightful but there’s still plenty of wonder to be found out there. James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, joins Gareth Richards to reflect on the quiet beauty of the resilient plants that carry us through the winter months, and on the quiet beauty of seeing familiar plants anew.We begin with writer and plantsman Phil Clayton, who tells the extraordinary story of the Wollemi pine, tracing its journey from near-extinction to gardens around the world. Lees meer
James then sits down with Tom Christian to discuss the remarkable diversity of the ivy family, a group of plants rich in variety and resilience, whose beauty and horticultural value are often underestimated.
Finally, we meet South Korean artist Seong Weon Ahn, whose delicate paintings capture plants not only with botanical precision, but with a deep sense of presence and mood.
Contributors: Phil Clayton, Tom Christian, Seong Weon Ahn
Links:
Subscribe to The Plant Review
Host: Gareth Richards and James Armitage
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At the Turning of the Year: From Great Dixter to Tomorrow’s Gardens
18 december 2025 · 26 min
This week, we honour the stillness of winter and the returning promise of light as we mark the winter solstice. At this turning of the year, we reflect on the people, plants and initiatives that this new light brings into focus. Lees meer
We begin by stepping into the richly curious world of Christopher Lloyd, the influential gardener and visionary behind Great Dixter House and Gardens. His legacy is recalled by his former student and now Head Gardener at Great Dixter, Fergus Garrett.
Nick Turrell then returns with his top 10 countdown of plants that changed human history. This time, Nick delves into one species that helped ignite a vast global industry, asking whether its influence has ultimately made our lives better or worse.
Finally, a look to the future with Sara Redstone who shines a light on a pioneering initiative taken up by theRHS, focused on strengthening plant biosecurity, highlighting the vital work being done to protect our plants and ecosystems for generations to come.
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Fergus Garrett, Nick Turrell, Sara Redstone
Links:
Great Dixter
Protect your garden health
Biosecurity at the RHS
Defra list of authorised distance plant sellers
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Garden Books We’re Obsessed With This Year
11 december 2025 · 42 min
This week, RHS Head of Libraries Fiona Davison, garden designer Zoe Claymore and RHS Gardening Advisor Nick Turrell gather to share their must-read gardening books of 2025. Along the way, they explore what really makes a garden waterwise, dive into the astonishing world of fungi, demystify regenerative gardening, and get to the root of soil science. They also journey through the makings of a temperate rainforest, spotlight remarkable horticultural heroes from history — and yes, they even tackle the topic every gardener loves to hate: slugs. Lees meer
Host: Fiona Davison with Nick Turrell and Zoe Claymore
Books mentioned:
Garden People: The Photographs of Valerie Finnis - Ursula Buchan
Botanical Illustration: The Gold Medal Winners - Charlotte Brooks
RHS Waterwise Garden - Tom Massey
RHS Fungi for Gardeners - Dr Jassy Drakulic
RHS Slugs: Friend or Foe - Dr Hayley Jones
The Kindest Garden: A Practical Guide to Regenerative Gardening - Marian Boswell
Illustrated History of Landscape Design - Elizabeth Boults
One Garden Against the World - Kate Bradbury
The Lost Rainforests of Great Britain - Guy Shrubsole
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Atomic Gardens and Other Remarkable Histories
4 december 2025 · 32 min
December is the perfect time to take stock of the garden and dream of the seasons ahead. With this in mind, this week we’re bringing you some extraordinary stories from horticulturists past and present. Fiona Davison kicks things off with the astonishing tale of Muriel Howarth, who passionately advocated for the potential of atomic energy in gardening. Nick Turrell then joins us to unveil the first two entries in his top ten most influential plants: species that have shaped history through their extraordinary abilities and dramatic backstories. And finally, Helen Bensted-Smith returns with the concluding chapter of the wildlife ponds mini-series, guiding you through how to keep your pond healthy and thriving for years to come. Lees meer
Host: Guy Barter
Contributors: Fiona Davison, Nick Turrell, and Helen Bensted-Smith
Links:
RHS How to Create a Wildlife Pond
Pumpkins and Prizes exhibition
Write in with your gardening questions to: podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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The Power of Trees: Wellbeing, Wildlife and the Future of Our Woodlands
27 november 2025 · 34 min
It’s National Tree Week, and we’re heading into the woods to celebrate the trees that shape our landscapes, enrich our lives, and quietly support the world around us. We’re joined by Sally Bavin from the Woodland Trust, who explains why woodlands are so powerful for both our physical and mental wellbeing. She also shares her fascinating research into mapping the UK’s richest areas of “wellbeing woodland.” We’ll also dive into the RHS’s new Strong Roots report, which uncovers the challenges preventing Great Britain from growing the trees it needs for the future. Plant scientist Louise Jones takes us behind the scenes at the RHS to explore her investigation into a mysterious fungal pathogen that’s attacking lime trees. And finally, we continue our pond series with Helen Bensted-Smith, who reveals the wildlife you can spot around your pond this week. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards and Guy Barter
Contributors: Sally Bavin, Lousie Jones, Helen Bensted-Smith
Links:
BIO-well research
Ancient forgotten forests need our help
Native trees to plant in small gardens
State of the UK's Woods and Trees 2025
Submit to the natures calendar project
Strong Roots report
Lime Tilia Leaf Blotch Report Form
Write in with your gardening questions to: podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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When seasons slip: How to maximise your garden for plants and wildlife
20 november 2025 · 36 min
As frosts arrive across the UK – later than usual this year – we’re exploring how to give nature a helping hand when the seasons fall out of step. In this installment of our wildlife ponds mini-series, Helen Bensted-Smith walks us through her top planting recommendations for different aquatic habitats. Wisley Garden Manager Mark Tuson also reveals how his team turns fallen leaves, cuttings, and woody material into valuable resources that enrich the soil, strengthen plant health, and boost biodiversity. Finally, we head to East Sussex for a tour of the iconic Arts and Crafts gardens at Great Dixter – home of the late garden writer Christopher Lloyd – guided by Head Gardener Fergus Garrett. Lees meer
Host: Gareth Richards
Contributors: Fergus Garrett, Helen Bensted-Smith, Mark Tuson
Links:
Choosing pond plants
Invasive non-native plants
Aquatic weeds
Chop and drop
Mullet gardening
Write in with your gardening questions to: podcasts@rhs.org.uk
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Tiny Wetlands, Big Impact: The Wildlife Power of Garden Ponds
13 november 2025 · 35 min
All life begins with water — and in gardens across the UK, ponds are becoming vital sanctuaries for wildlife. Now is an excellent time of year to create one, and RHS expert Helen Bensted-Smith walks us through everything you need to know: from position and depth, to lining material, structure, and how to fill it! It’s the first in our four-part mini-series on making your own wildlife haven this autumn — starting from the ground up with tips on planning, design, and making your pond truly work for nature. Lees meer
Plus, Emma McFarline returns to share the fascinating histories and healing traditions of two timeless plants — the apothecary rose and chamomile — and Duncan McLean offers expert advice on finding the perfect indoor plant to brighten up your home through the November chill. From ponds to petals and everything in between, it’s a celebration of how nature connects us — indoors and out.
Host: Jenny Laville
Contributors: Helen Bensted-Smith, Emma McFarline, Duncan McLean
Links:
How to build a wildlife pond
RHS Rosemoor
RHS plants