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Episode 21

Episode 21 of 31

Gardening magazine. Monty Don gets tips on keeping lawns pristine during hot summers from RHS Hyde Hall, whilst Carol Klein learns about garden wildlife from RHS Wisley.

It is summer and it is the perfect time to get out and about visiting gardens. With that in mind, Monty Don leaves Longmeadow to explore the beautiful gardens at RHS Hyde Hall in Essex. He seeks inspiration from their amazing dry garden and discovers how they manage to keep their lawns looking pristine in such a hot summer.

Carol Klein travels to RHS Wisley to learn more about the creatures that inhabit our beds and borders. She finds out which insects visit our flowers, feed on our foliage and, most importantly, help keep our plants healthy.

And we meet a couple in Bournemouth whose extraordinary front garden never fails to wow the RHS Britain in Bloom judges.

30 minutes

Visiting gardens

The Bank Holiday weekend is a great time to visit a garden whether it be an RHS garden (see link, right), National Trust property (see link, right), heritage estate or private garden.聽Looking at how other people design and use a space and what plants they use to fill it is the best way to get inspiration and ideas for your own garden. Follow the link below for the National Gardens Scheme which lists gardens which are open for charity all over the country.

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RHS Garden Hyde Hall

RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Hyde Hall is an evolving estate. Once exposed farmland, it is now an extensive garden with shelterbelts of trees, manicured lawns, herbaceous borders, rose walks and bog gardens. One of the most well-known areas is the Dry Garden. Developed in response to the region鈥檚 low rainfall and as a sustainable solution to climate change and water usage, it boasts a range of drought-tolerant plants which thrive in this sun-baked part of the garden.

Hyde Hall is open year round, so if you鈥檙e in the area and fancy a visit, click on the link below for more information.

RHS Garden Hyde Hall
颁谤别别辫丑别诲驳别听尝补苍别
Rettendon
Chelmsford
Essex
CM3 8ET
Tel: 0845 265 8071

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Britain in Bloom

Communities, councils and private individuals from all over the country have been taking part in Britain in Bloom for the last 50 years. The aim is to use horticulture to improve a local area, but those who enter may also be trying to impress the judges.

Margaret and Chris Dudden create magnificent displays in their front garden for themselves, passers-by and the Britain in Bloom judges. This year, they have used The Red Arrows 50th display season as their theme and hope to scoop another prestigious Britain in Bloom award.

The link below has lots of information about the campaign, how to get involved and, later in the year, the results of the Britain in Bloom 2014 competition.

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Lawn care

Lawn care
The turf team at RHS Hyde Hall work hard to ensure their lawns stay lush and lovely all year round. They even encourage people to take off their shoes and socks to really appreciate the quality of their grass! Nigel Downs, their Turf Technician, says aeration is the key to a good lawn along with a top dressing in the autumn.聽

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Jobs for the weekend: Tie in long rose shoots

The long, whippy growth of rambling and climbing roses can wave around in the wind, getting damaged and scratching passers-by. Take the long growth and tie it in loosely but don鈥檛 be tempted to remove it as it will provide the best flowers next year.

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Jobs for the weekend: Cut back untidy perennials

In herbaceous borders, some flower heads can be left over winter as they have rigid stems and attractive seed heads. Some, however, have flower heads that start to rot and detract from the display. With these, it鈥檚 best to remove the spent flowers as soon as they look tatty, and cut the stems right down to the base where they join the main plant to promote strong, new, bushy growth.聽

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Jobs for the weekend: Prune wisteria

Once a wisteria鈥檚 framework has been formed, the long lateral growth which has grown this year can be cut back. Prune back laterals to five or six buds to reduce the weight of the plant, prevent damage and most importantly, encourage the plant to form new flower buds for next year鈥檚 display. You will need to return to the plant in winter and prune back to two buds as this will ensure the plant produces numerous, large flower heads on a structure that can support them.

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Monty Don
Presenter Carol Klein
Series Producer Christina Nutter
Series Editor Liz Rumbold

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