- 8 months ago
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 episode 7
Category
🦄
CreativityTranscript
00:00Colours, and none of the crowds.
00:18Hello and welcome back to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025,
00:24an event supported by the Newt in Somerset.
00:27Now if you're looking to find inspiration for your garden, you are in the right place.
00:32That is correct.
00:33It's a big day today, it's the first day open to the general public
00:36and there's lots of smiley faces and a real buzz.
00:39Everybody's in such a good mood.
00:42Today we'll be bringing you ideas from all around the showground,
00:46helping you make the most of nature.
00:49Our team of gardening experts are standing by with plenty of tips and tricks.
00:54Coming up, Toby has all the answers when it comes to creating a border
00:59that will surround you with nature.
01:01No matter where you live, just a few plants
01:04will help you create a haven for both you and wildlife.
01:08And Carol showcases which summer flowers are superheroes for the bees and the butterflies.
01:15I've got my top picks for the flowers that'll get your garden buzzing.
01:22Plus I'll be chatting to passionate gardener Kelly Brook
01:25and her husband Jeremy Parisi about why a move back to the city
01:29has made them feel closer than ever to nature.
01:32And if you thought hanging baskets were a thing of the past, well think again.
01:37I'll be getting a lesson in creating contemporary looks to perk up your front door.
01:45But first today I popped over to visit one of the smaller show gardens here at Chelsea.
01:51This is the Killick Saving for a Rainy Day garden designed by Baz Granger
01:55and I'm joined now by Frances.
01:57Hello, good to see you again.
01:59Now this is a wonderful garden because it's one that you probably would see
02:02up and down the country embracing nature in people's homes.
02:05Totally, I mean it's a fairly small size, this could be a typical garden
02:09and yet it does something so much more than most of us do in our gardens
02:12and its real focus is water, saving water, collecting water
02:16and dealing with the unpredictable amount of water that gardeners have to deal with nowadays.
02:21Because it is really embracing nature isn't it?
02:24Totally, it's embracing nature but also the wider environment.
02:27So this pergola which is really, I mean it's eye-catching isn't it, it's beautiful,
02:32it's constructed from only three percent concrete which is much less than you'd expect.
02:36So this is recycled kind of glass that's been 3D printed
02:39and then all the mortar around the stonework is lime mortar which is traditional
02:43but that wider impact of concrete has a really big sort of footprint
02:48so the less that we use in garden construction it can make a big difference
02:52in a wider environment as well as just in our own garden.
02:55Well let's look at the planting now because
02:57Baz has got some real foresight in looking at the plants he's used hasn't he?
03:01He has, I mean we know from this spring that we have long periods where there's no rain
03:05and so he's chosen a lot of drought resistant plants.
03:08There's things like nepeta, there's clary sage which is one of my favourite plants
03:12but what he's also included are plants that can cope with more water
03:16because this whole garden is designed to capture water and channel it through the space.
03:21So the pergola has gutters which take the water down through this beautiful river that runs through
03:28and you can see the level changes of the space.
03:30Imagine a big downpour, the rain would fall all the way down through this
03:35where it would land at the bottom there and that would be a flood zone.
03:39Water lands in there and then it gets recycled through the water feature
03:43but these plants down here like the irises need to cope with periodic periods
03:48of really wet conditions as well as drought.
03:50So there's been a lot of thought in the design then with zones and then layers to cope with that.
03:55Absolutely but it just really works so you can imagine being here
03:57this would be such a nice garden to have wouldn't it?
04:00Yeah it's absolutely lovely and the water feature as well,
04:02I know this is a big one but you could add that to your own garden at home as well.
04:05You could totally do all of this stuff on a really much smaller scale
04:09so the basic thing would be to put a gutter on the side of a shed or a greenhouse,
04:12water butt or a trough.
04:14I have one that's a pond that sort of collects rainwater but it also has plants in it
04:19so it's dual function so you can make a real feature of it
04:22or you know these level changes, we don't often think of that in a small garden
04:27but going up or going down creates a feeling of a lot more space.
04:31Exactly because it's bigger than you think even though we're on a smaller garden I think it's quite big.
04:35Exactly it totally changes the dynamic and looks really cool.
04:38You could turn that into yes a flood sometimes but in sunny weather
04:42that could be a nice little lower seating area
04:44where you're a bit more private from your neighbours.
04:46Thank you Frances, I love your pearls of wisdom.
04:48No worries, it's a pleasure.
04:50Now if you're looking for ways to attract a greater range of wildlife in your garden
04:54then knowing which flowers to choose is key.
04:57Carol Klein went in search of the hero plants
05:00that will be on top of the list for bees, bugs and butterflies.
05:09How do us gardeners actually attract insects into our gardens?
05:14By offering the warmest welcome we possibly can
05:17and planting loads and loads of flowers to feed on.
05:21And why are insects so vital?
05:24It's quite simple, without them we'd starve.
05:28They're the ones who are responsible for so much of our fruit and our vegetables.
05:33Think of an apple blossom, the bee flies in,
05:37the flower is pollinated and later on we get apples.
05:40If they're doing all that for us we've got to offer them as much as we can in return.
05:47All flowers have evolved alongside the insects that pollinate them.
05:52The calendula for instance, the pop marigold, belongs to the daisy family.
05:56It's a huge, huge family of flowering plants.
06:00You've almost certainly got one or two examples in your own garden.
06:04All these petals around the outside of the flower are just there as advertising.
06:09And if you look into the centre of the flower you can see a few little yellow dots.
06:15Each one is a big lump of pollen.
06:17So one flower is going to feed loads and loads of insects.
06:22Marigolds attract aphids, yes, but at the same time those beautiful flowers attract hoverflies.
06:30And it's the young of the hoverflies that feed on the aphids.
06:34So once they've consumed all this they'll also make sure
06:38that your flowers, your vegetables don't get aphids either.
06:42One plant helps another but it's the insects who play the crucial role.
06:51What's this?
06:52This is a foxglove and if you look very carefully inside each of these tubular bells
06:59there are lots and lots of dots.
07:01And the whole idea of those dots is to say come on bee, the bee flies in,
07:07it drinks its nectar, off it flounders and it's pollinated the flower.
07:12There are many other flowers with great long spikes like this salvia.
07:18Because the flowers are small they attract smaller insects
07:21and you can see as many as half a dozen insects feeding from one spire.
07:26Loads of grub at the restaurant.
07:29Both salvias and foxgloves flower during the day but what happens when the sun goes down?
07:36This is sweetrocket and it emits lovely perfume in the evening.
07:42So what are the insects that it attracts?
07:45Moths of course.
07:46It's got quite a long tube behind there and moths have a long tongue
07:51that can penetrate the flower, feed on the nectar and at the same time pollinate the flower.
07:57We all should do everything we can to attract as many insects as possible
08:03by planting a huge range of flowers.
08:06Not only is it good for them but it's beautiful for us and our gardens.
08:15Thank you Carol.
08:16The bees they love the lavender in my back garden.
08:18It's great but I have to be careful not to walk barefooted around.
08:22Just to be careful.
08:23I am out and about on the showground where everyone seems to be having a fantastic time.
08:30Look at those smiling faces.
08:33I'm going to ask you what are the standout moments this year from the showground?
08:37I think it's the colour of the flowers and also the fact of the different layering.
08:42My garden feels pretty flat after this.
08:44So you've been inspired have you?
08:46Absolutely.
08:47I'm re-landscaping a lot of my gardens some of the beds
08:50so I'm going to take lots of photographs and kind of have a great time.
08:53Yeah what a great time to be here.
08:54Thank you very much.
08:56Are you enjoying yourself here?
08:57Oh my god this is our first Chelsea flower show and it's been such an amazing time.
09:01I can hear from an accent.
09:03Oh from overseas?
09:04I'm here from Brooklyn.
09:05Oh okay well I'm going to ask you what are your standout plants from the showground?
09:09I think that this has definitely been the year of the foxglove
09:12and I've been so impressed by your water features.
09:14We're trying to get nature back into our garden.
09:16You picked two perfect examples.
09:19You're going to take all of this home with you are you?
09:21Oh absolutely it's been very inspiring.
09:23Yeah there is so much to see isn't there?
09:26Now in the UK most of us live in cities and it can be hard to feel close to nature
09:31especially if you only have a small space or perhaps no outside space at all.
09:36Our urban living garden expert Jason went to explore some of the smaller Chelsea gardens
09:42proving that it is possible to connect with nature wherever you live.
09:49Feeling connected to nature in the city is really important.
09:56It's a way of linking us to the landscape around us
09:59and here at the Balcony and Container Gardens
10:01there are tips and tricks to help us immerse ourselves into nature.
10:09Now this is the Fetter Cairn Wilderness Retreat Garden
10:13and the first thing you notice is probably this luxurious copper bath.
10:18Now I'm an 18th floor balcony gardener in Manchester city centre
10:22and I can tell you this now if I was to have a bath on my balcony
10:26I think I'd probably have the police called on me
10:28but what you have to remember is that this garden is set in the Scottish Highlands
10:33so if you imagine that you were in a lock in the Highlands
10:36that's what this is.
10:37It's letting you feel immersed in the space.
10:40If that's not quite the water feature for you there is this bird bath over here
10:45and of course that's going to bring birds into the garden
10:47but there's also some stones here which will allow the pollinators to come in,
10:51land and drink safely.
10:54One of the biggest struggles as a balcony gardener is not the sun
10:58it's actually the wind.
11:00Here on this garden the designers have selected some heathers
11:04and heathers are great because they've got small leaves
11:06which means that they transpire less and lose less water
11:11and finally the planting here wraps around the balcony
11:15it almost feels like a tight hug
11:17which leads right up to this glorious pine tree.
11:21Now it's not just there for show
11:23it adds height, structure and also an aroma.
11:33On the Fetterkern garden we were in the Scottish wilderness
11:37but right here we've been transported to a Japanese courtyard.
11:42Now this is the secret base garden
11:45and it's inspired by something called biophilic design.
11:48All it means is love of nature
11:51and when we're thinking about our cities
11:53you'll think about something like a living wall at the side of a building
11:57that's biophilic design.
11:59Now to achieve the same principles in our courtyards in our small spaces
12:04you can do something like this
12:05have lots of layers
12:07you can grab yourself an Acer
12:09and then some smaller pots beneath to give that multi-layered effect.
12:15A living wall sounds really really complicated
12:17but it doesn't have to be
12:19it could be something as simple as grabbing some ivy
12:22and popping that on a shelf
12:23super simple.
12:27Now this water feature is slightly different to an immersive bathtub
12:31but it's immersive in its own way.
12:34What I love about this water feature is the running sounds
12:37it makes it feel nice calm and relaxed.
12:42This whole garden just goes to show that even in a small compact space
12:46you can find a way to bring nature to you.
12:54Now it's time to get our hands in the soil
12:56and I'm joined by gardening expert and Britain in Bloom judge
13:00Camilla Bassett-Smith.
13:02Welcome Camilla.
13:03Good to see you.
13:04Got some exciting things ahead but I've got to ask
13:07we're talking hanging baskets today
13:09and as a Britain in Bloom judge
13:11you're looking for the best of the best
13:12but you must also see the good the bad and the ugly.
13:16We do indeed.
13:17We see so much from whether that's a row down a high street
13:20or baskets at a community centre
13:23or at someone's front door
13:24sometimes some of them are a little bit sad looking
13:26but on the whole they're pretty amazing.
13:28The standard is high.
13:29It is and really lifts your spirits as well.
13:31You're going to change the perception of hanging baskets aren't you
13:34because they're not always old-fashioned.
13:36I'm going to tell you about my dad in a minute.
13:37What are we doing today?
13:38So today I thought as you said
13:40you don't have to have an old-fashioned traditional style basket
13:43you can get some really beautiful modern examples
13:46like this one the teardrop shape
13:48which I like to think more of a raindrop
13:50because we're talking about nature today
13:52and naturalistic designs
13:54but there's so many that you can get hold of
13:56so you can be a little bit creative.
13:57Yeah the ones I remember in the 70s
13:59and I know you're surprised to think I'm a 70s babe
14:02but they weren't as pretty as that
14:03and my dad was obsessed with his hanging basket.
14:06We had to water it every single day.
14:08Watering is a problem actually
14:10but there are many things you can do
14:11and one of the great things is
14:12by using something like this sheep's wool as a lining
14:16and it's great because it retains water
14:19so for a start you don't have to water your basket as much
14:23but also it's environmentally friendly
14:25because it's biodegradable.
14:28Where do you get this from?
14:29I've never seen anything like this before.
14:31I wouldn't recommend just going and shearing your nearest sheep
14:33unless you're qualified.
14:34Unless you know the farmer.
14:35Yes if you know someone that keeps sheep
14:38or online they sell it by the bag by the sack
14:40you've got one over there
14:42really easy to get hold of.
14:43Is it expensive?
14:44No it's not really at all.
14:46I'm thinking if you put that in a hanging basket
14:49it's going to leak does it not?
14:50No it won't I mean any hanging basket when you water
14:52you'll get a bit of water coming out of the bottom
14:55that's fine
14:56but it will hold on to that and release it slowly
14:58but also from a naturalistic point of view
15:01birds will take it for their nests
15:03so you're being friendly to everybody.
15:05I love that now if you can't get hold of sheep's wool
15:07what else could you use?
15:08You could use moss.
15:10Moss is a traditional thing that people would use
15:12from your own garden.
15:13Coir liner is okay
15:15but it's not as environmentally friendly
15:17because if you think of the footprint
15:19it's the outer side of the coconut.
15:21Ah right like they're matching.
15:23So if you think of how far a coconut is coming
15:26on its journey
15:27I would say it's better to go for something
15:29like the sheep's wool
15:31or moss from your own garden
15:32which is easy to get hold of.
15:32I like the idea of moss definitely.
15:34Right what are the plants that we've got lined up?
15:36I must say first we're using a peat-free compost
15:38that's very important to go peat-free
15:40multi-purpose in there.
15:41My number one plant is a Rigaron covanscianus
15:45the Mexican fleabane
15:47and it's all over the site isn't it Nikki?
15:49This is a really good plant
15:51flowers from April right through to October.
15:53That's a long flowering season.
15:55It really is
15:56and those open daisy shapes
15:57which are great for butterflies
15:59very easy for those butterflies to get to.
16:02Looks like a daisy to me.
16:03It does it is a daisy
16:04it's the daisy family
16:05and last year butterfly conservation
16:08had one of the worst years
16:09on their butterfly count for butterflies
16:11so actually the more we can do
16:13the better to encourage them in
16:14and feed them the better.
16:15So this is my first one going in just there
16:19second choice
16:21now isn't this just beautiful
16:22I love the colour of lilac
16:23lilac and white to me is so soft and natural.
16:26And what's this one called?
16:27This is Bacopa.
16:28Bacopa?
16:29Now this is sold as a basket plant
16:30so people will get this
16:31this is everywhere at the moment
16:33mostly in white I have to say
16:34this one's a bit more of an unusual colour
16:36but it's a great plant
16:38because it's very nectar rich
16:40and it's proven to be very popular to bees
16:42the RHS actually
16:42in fact there's a bee there
16:44he was loving it.
16:45I like these because you could actually
16:46have these on the doorstep couldn't you
16:48hanging down by your hanging basket.
16:51But the RHS did a survey
16:53a trial on these
16:54to see how friendly they were to bees
16:56so they really are known
16:58to be a good bee friendly plant
16:59because a lot of the plants
17:01basket plants
17:03are not quite as friendly as you would think
17:05they've been bred so much
17:06that the kind of goodness
17:07has been bred out of them.
17:08See could I just say
17:09you're being quite delicate
17:10but also slightly forceful.
17:13Yes you need a little bit of
17:14they need to know who's boss I think Nikki
17:16and we're in charge here
17:17so just gently popping them through there.
17:19Can I ask
17:20we're talking about
17:21encouraging wildlife
17:22into our hanging baskets
17:24our very modern looking hanging baskets
17:26what are the little cups there?
17:28Well we have something very exciting here
17:30which are called bee cups.
17:31Can I take one?
17:32You can take one
17:34and they're made of
17:35environmentally friendly resin
17:37and the reason we have these
17:39it's because you're feeding your
17:41butterflies and your bees
17:42with your nectar
17:43yeah
17:43but they need a drink as well
17:45so you pop that
17:46just into a pot or a basket.
17:48Can I say it's a bee champagne flute?
17:50Yes definitely
17:50but with water?
17:51Yes but I think we might need
17:53some champagne afterwards
17:54but in a bigger glass.
17:56I love that
17:57so that goes in?
17:58Yes popping one of these in the basket
17:59I'll pop that in a little bit later
18:00but just in the edge there
18:02and it will take the rain water
18:03as well as that falls down
18:04so that's a really good thing to have.
18:06And so just the design
18:08be aware have it around the side
18:09you've got your bee cups
18:10exactly and then something at the back
18:12think about height
18:13because this basket
18:14affords you so much height
18:16I love that
18:16so think of something taller at the back
18:18which is going to climb up
18:19yes and over
18:20yes well the things at the front here
18:22these will spill over
18:23the coppa will really just go crazy
18:25as will the arigaron at the front
18:27this I also have to say is self-cleaning
18:30so you don't need to deadhead it
18:32which is really great
18:32it just sheds its own dead flowers
18:34which is a clever little plant.
18:36Oh look at that
18:37I'm going to leave you
18:38Are you?
18:39to finish this
18:39with this nemesia
18:40and I want to see the most beautiful
18:43hanging basket at the end
18:45that is looking so beautiful
18:47we'll be back later
18:48to see the finished look
18:50and Camilla will also show us
18:52a different design
18:53that would look great
18:54hanging actually on your front door
18:57but now Angelica's over
18:58in the Great Pavilion
18:59with undoubtedly
19:01one of Britain's favourite flowers
19:05oh thanks Nicky
19:05those baskets are looking great
19:07and I'm looking forward to seeing
19:08the other design later on
19:10now it smells absolutely wonderful in here
19:13and if there's one flower
19:14that really sums up a British summer
19:16it's the rose
19:17and there are some fabulous ones here
19:19in the Great Pavilion
19:20but today I'm going to find out
19:22how you can grow your best ever
19:23from Matt Nicholas
19:25of gold medal winning exhibitors
19:26Peter Beal's Roses
19:28congratulations
19:29thank you so much
19:3030th gold medal
19:31yes we're very very very proud
19:32so you must know what you're doing
19:34let's say that
19:35I'd say so yeah
19:36now I've been talking to some of the visitors
19:37who have come here today
19:38and they say that roses are difficult to grow
19:41can you set us all straight?
19:43yeah absolutely not
19:45there are some basic fundamentals
19:47that will get your roses absolutely singing
19:49all summer long
19:50okay hit us with them
19:51what are the best conditions?
19:52so I mean most importantly
19:54more than anything
19:54roses are really thirsty
19:56so a good water
19:57if they're in pots
19:58and it's as hot as it's been
19:59they need water in every day
20:01okay not once a fortnight
20:02not once a month
20:02like a lot of people will do
20:04almost every day
20:05so they do need work and a bit of TLC
20:07they do they do
20:08soil preparation is always important
20:10so when you dig in the hole
20:11whether it's into a pot
20:12or whether it's into the ground
20:14farmyard manure
20:16you can add in some multi-purpose as well
20:17as well as using your slow release fertilizers
20:19your bone meals
20:20your fish blood and bones
20:21that kind of thing
20:22and what about space?
20:24you can pretty much put a rose anywhere
20:26the more space you give it
20:28the more airflow
20:29is going to help keep you any disease down
20:31as long as you know how big it's going to get
20:33then you can give the space accordingly
20:35okay so all of them need sunny spots?
20:38majority of them
20:39there are a couple that prefer shadier areas
20:41but generally speaking
20:42bare minimum four hours sun a day
20:44and they'll be happy
20:45I do want to bring in a question here from Nicol
20:46he says there are so many different kinds of roses
20:48I don't know which type to purchase
20:50so what are the best varieties to grow?
20:53it comes down to personal preference really
20:55so we will look at you know
20:56the it's more important to look at the area
20:58you want to plant it
20:59and those conditions
21:00and then match a rose to that that space
21:02so you might be looking for a climber
21:04you might think you're looking for a climber
21:06when actually you're looking for a rambler
21:07it might be that you want a shrub
21:09which is slightly shorter
21:10you might want a floribunda
21:12that's going in a pot
21:12it's yeah
21:14the possibilities are endless
21:15okay at this point I want to bring in Jane
21:17because you've got a question about
21:18a type of rose that you need
21:20hi
21:21thanks for being here
21:22thank you very much
21:23so my question is
21:25I live in Derbyshire in the Peak District
21:27we're quite exposed
21:28I've got a south facing wall
21:30and I'd like a kind of climber
21:33but that's got to be a bit resilient
21:35that when we get the first puff of wind
21:37it's not going to just sort of
21:38all the petals blow off
21:40yeah absolutely
21:40and pinks would be perfect
21:41pinks would be perfect
21:42so I'd love your advice
21:43so for that kind of aspect
21:45one that springs to mind immediately
21:46is a rose called Pippin
21:47okay
21:48repeat flowering climber
21:50nice big kind of tennis ball sized flowers
21:53very hardy
21:54doesn't drop its petals
21:55at this you know
21:56the sight of a little bit of wind
21:58yeah amazing
21:59and also was named
22:01after our founder's childhood nickname Pippin
22:05oh I love that
22:06that's great lovely story
22:08I will definitely give that a go
22:09Pippin right
22:10I'll let you know
22:11thank you so much
22:12thank you
22:13and I've got one here from Carol
22:14why do so many roses have very little fragrance now
22:17because that's what a rose is known for
22:19that's right
22:20so there are so many varieties now
22:22when it comes down to new breeding
22:24whether the fragrance is in it or not
22:26almost comes down to luck
22:27you might cross two very fragrant parents
22:30and get a completely unscented new plant
22:33on the stand
22:34we've probably got 50% of really fragrant roses
22:37and 50% that don't
22:37can you name a couple here
22:38name a couple here
22:39so you've got Souvenir de Dr. Germain
22:42Comte de Chambord
22:43Jacques Cartier
22:45good names
22:45yeah really great names
22:47and then you've got things like Sandringham
22:48which smells absolutely fantastic
22:51but listen Matt
22:52I could talk to you all day about roses
22:54it's fascinating
22:54I really appreciate it
22:56now all week we're getting advice from the experts here
22:58but there are also plenty of visitors to the showground
23:01with their own gardening tips to share
23:03Toby's been asking the Chelsea crowds for their ideas
23:06on how to coax wildlife into our gardens
23:09the showground's buzzing
23:13if you had one tip to help the bees what would it be?
23:16lots of different flower shapes and sizes
23:18so flat flowers
23:19flowers that are open that bees and insects can get into
23:22can get access to the nectar
23:23just plant more flowers and more wildlife
23:26and just give them the space
23:27I would say it's definitely no mow May
23:30so lock the mower up for the duration of May
23:33sit back relax
23:34and just allow the bees to do their thing
23:37and just allow the lawn to naturally flower
23:41and because it's longer you get more wildlife
23:44is that the name of the game?
23:44yes
23:45notice a few more insects
23:46are you going to carry this on through June and July and August I guess?
23:49I don't think my wife will let me
23:51we've just recently started a garden at the hospital that I work at
23:55which was like an old rubble site
23:57but we've started planting over the last few months
23:59and we've started to see bees
24:00and we've started to see butterflies
24:01if you had a single tip for bringing in wildlife what would it be?
24:04putting the pond in has attracted loads of wildlife
24:07birds bathe in it and splash around in it
24:09and the wildflower bed that we put in attracts loads of bees and butterflies as well
24:13funny enough for wildlife having really rubbish ground is good
24:16the less nutrients there are the greater the diversity of plants
24:20not to be so harsh on your garden
24:22to leave more to the wild
24:24and not to cut too much back every year
24:27you've got to try and not deadhead all the time
24:28as tempting as it is to get the flowers back
24:31you've got to keep the things that the birds want to come and eat
24:34don't tidy up too much I'm guessing
24:35yes I think that's the best way to put it
24:38yeah I'd like you to find my wife so you can tell her that
24:41start with the insects then it'll be the birds then it'll be the hedgehogs
24:45yeah yeah fingers crossed
24:47are there any tips from Denmark that we could learn from?
24:52I think we learn the most from you guys
24:56you're saying all the right things
24:58thank you so much Toby for those great tips
25:04and actually Nikki do you get any fantastic wildlife creeping into your garden?
25:08do you know what we get parakeets lots of them
25:10they just love West London
25:12and they love making a lot of noise
25:14you know when they're in your garden
25:17we're here on the Carew Succulent Garden
25:19one of this year's RHS feature gardens designed by the Newt in Somerset
25:25it is a slice of landscape from South Africa
25:28and it really feels like you've been transported there
25:30it so does
25:32and it's showcasing the beauty and importance of succulent plants
25:35that grow in South Africa's Carew region
25:37and we're here with designer Katie Lewis
25:40welcome Katie
25:41so tell us a bit about the idea behind this absolutely stunning garden
25:46it really does stand out
25:48thank you
25:49what we really wanted to do was show the diversity that you can get with succulents
25:53we've got some tiny wee little mesoms that you can see in the quartz fields here
25:58all the way up to the tree aloe trees or the quiver trees
26:03so it's you know quite a big difference in scale
26:06so that's what we hope that people will see here
26:08also we've got something which probably people haven't seen before
26:13but at the same time we've got lyphops
26:15and we've got mother-in-law's tongue
26:17really quite common houseplants on the garden
26:19but set in its natural environment
26:22so this is how they would look
26:23but can we grow some of these in the UK?
26:26I love succulents
26:28sometimes they get a little bit waterlogged during the winter months
26:31but are there varieties here that we could grow at home?
26:34absolutely you could grow all of these plants at home
26:37they're all available
26:39they're all in cultivation in the UK
26:42some of them are tender
26:43so won't be that happy outdoors certainly all year round
26:48but others are hardy
26:50sadly they're not in flower yet because the sun hasn't come out
26:53they will come in flower this afternoon
26:55but these are Livingston daisies
26:57which are quite a common annual
26:59that probably you've seen or many people have seen and used many times
27:03and they're ideal
27:05we've also got some Haworthias and Gastarias
27:08that make great houseplants
27:09they're really easy to use
27:11they're ever so tough
27:13as you say you've got to be careful in the winter
27:15that you don't overwater them
27:17but you can go on holiday for three weeks or two weeks
27:20and come back and they'll still be as happy as Larry
27:22you don't need to get someone round to water them for you
27:25we like that
27:25we like that
27:26because you want plants that you'll be able to have at home and enjoy
27:29and are easy to grow
27:30absolutely they are easy to grow
27:32they do like to have a free draining soil
27:34so that is something that you need to ensure they have
27:38and if you have a clay soil for example
27:39they'd be best grown in pots
27:42it is an incredible garden
27:44I'm sure you spotted it as well
27:45the critters
27:47I like anything whimsical that the family's children might like
27:50with the snakes there
27:51and they spit water as you walk past
27:53they do
27:53does it shock all the visitors?
27:54well it does
27:55it's a bit of fun
27:56and we've put a little thing in the system
27:58so you're not quite sure when you're going to be squirted
28:01so we've got a black cobra
28:03it's not real obviously
28:04no no
28:05so why does it be your garden without its?
28:07all made by our very talented artists
28:09and we've got a Karoo toad
28:11it's surprising to think of a toad in a semi-arid desert
28:14but they do burrow into the ground
28:16so it's about the plants
28:17but also educating us
28:19and you know wildlife around the world as well
28:21absolutely
28:22it's all linked
28:23and that's what we've tried to do with this garden
28:25we've also got a feature about some of the rocks
28:27because the rocks affect the soil
28:28that affect what plants grow
28:31and the wildlife
28:32how they eat them
28:33can actually affect how some of these plants propagate and grow
28:37by the way they're dispersed
28:38amazing
28:38thank you so much
28:39yeah thank you
28:40all right thank you
28:42we've got loads more tips and tricks to come today
28:44on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
28:47and I'll be catching up with gardening fans
28:49Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy Parisi
28:52but first when it comes to feeling closer to nature
28:56there's nothing quite like growing your own
28:58and with summer just around the corner
29:01it's the time of year to start thinking about summer berries
29:04here's Sue with a guide to get you started
29:08Taking your first bite of something homegrown
29:12is so much sweeter than something you'll get from the shops
29:15and it doesn't matter the size of your garden
29:18or the level of gardening experience
29:20there's a summer fruit that's perfect for you
29:28Strawberries are probably the best fruit to start with
29:31because you can find them easily in packs at garden centres
29:34and they need a sunny spot and regular watering
29:38and if they dry out you might not get such a good crop
29:42when you are watering get right into the base of the plant
29:46avoid the leaves, avoid the berries
29:48this will help you prevent your plant getting disease
29:52you can grow them in the ground
29:53or you can grow them raised like this
29:56this is the perfect picking hike for me
29:58no bad back, no bending
30:00and the slugger is perfect for you
30:03and the slugs can't get them
30:08Raspberries are another fantastic fruit
30:11they're delicious, they've got lots of antioxidants
30:15and they're relatively low maintenance
30:17there are two types of raspberries
30:19summer fruiting and autumn fruiting
30:22the summer fruiting tends to grow taller
30:24so they need some sort of staking
30:27when they finish fruiting just cut them right back to the base
30:30only the ones that had fruit on
30:32and leave the ones that had no fruit on this year
30:34to provide you fruit for next year
30:37autumn flowering raspberries do everything in one year
30:40they send up their shoots, they flower
30:42and they produce berries around August through to October
30:46when they finish fruiting and they've gone dormant
30:48cut them right down to the base
30:50it really is that simple
30:52the plus is that they produce berries
30:54where most other berries have finished
30:56and the birds don't eat them
30:58but I do
31:02mmm
31:05delicious
31:10and finally you don't need to separate your berries
31:13into rows or individual pots
31:15they can look decorative within the flower border
31:18I'm on the Songbird Survival Garden
31:21and deep in the undergrowth there are alpine strawberries
31:24thornless blackberries
31:25and this beautiful blackcurrant
31:28they lack a fertile soil
31:29and are best planted late autumn to early spring
31:33when the plants are dormant
31:35they do well in sun or partial shade
31:38in fact currants are more tolerant of partial shade than most berries
31:42now these have been planted for the birds to eat
31:45but if you want to harvest them yourself
31:47wait till they're black
31:48and as soon as they are get out and pick them
31:51otherwise you'll lose out to the birds
31:54by July you'll have clusters of jewel-like berries
31:57glistening in the sun
31:59gorgeous
32:04oh thanks Sue
32:04and you know that's really inspired me
32:06to start growing my own fruit
32:07and make some wonderful desserts
32:09now my guests today are passionate gardeners
32:12Presenter Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy Parisi
32:15and after spending the best part of a decade
32:17lovingly renovating a large country garden in Kent
32:20they've now moved back to London
32:22but have got the gardening bug even more
32:24welcome back to Chelsea Kelly
32:26oh thank you
32:27so lovely to see you
32:28so lovely to see you again
32:29we have a lot of history
32:31together but that is another thing
32:33let's talk about your new garden
32:35yes we made the big move to London a few years ago
32:39so it was a bit of a wrench for me
32:41to move from the countryside into town
32:44but we have inherited a beautiful garden
32:46which we have just started to transform
32:50tell us about this new garden then
32:51it's got a lot of established planting
32:55but a lot of it hasn't really been touched for years
32:58lots of kind of trees
32:59we're right near Hampstead Heath
33:01we've got a lot of green space
33:03the reason we moved is we got a dog
33:04and we wanted to be somewhere
33:06where there's lots of like open areas to walk the dog
33:09and obviously work kind of pulled us into town
33:11so I needed to have a garden
33:14but something that was kind of more manageable
33:16yes smaller more manageable
33:19as we're getting older
33:20you know I'd lived in Kent for what 16 years
33:22Jeremy had lived there with me for six years
33:24six years yeah
33:26and I think you got sick of like going into the pond
33:28and getting out the duckweed
33:30and the blanketweed
33:32I introduced him to composting
33:34yeah yeah
33:34Kelly I know you want to say let him speak
33:39tell us about the composting Jeremy
33:41you put a lot of pressure on me now
33:43no yeah I had in Kent I had two main job
33:45was to organize the compost
33:47yeah
33:48and cleaning the pond
33:49but I found this quite relaxing to be honest
33:51was it quite therapeutic for you?
33:52therapeutic yeah
33:53you're alone with the nature
33:54it was quite amazing yeah
33:56but you have loved gardens since you were young
34:00yeah yeah I was doing this not a lot
34:02but you know with my parents, grandparents
34:04I had a small you know like two waters of a flower
34:07a watering can
34:08yeah a nice one
34:09I was doing this
34:10give us a clue
34:13yeah a little watering can
34:15but your family have a farm in Italy
34:17don't they with lots of olive trees and things
34:20so you was always kept away from the olive trees
34:22yeah I couldn't go and play with a football
34:25close to the olive tree
34:26yeah
34:26so yeah
34:28so you just learn to respect the garden
34:30learn to respect it
34:31don't play around in it
34:32Jeremy you can't go there
34:33so how they treated him with the olive trees
34:36that's what I was like with my hydrangeas
34:37I was like don't go there
34:40but what I think is fascinating about you Kelly
34:42is that you've always had this as a hobby
34:44and not many people knew about it did they?
34:46no I mean I'd lived in Kent for like 16 years
34:49and I inherited this like five acres of beautiful land
34:52and over the years I just got to really got to know my garden
34:56and just learned so much about horticulture and landscaping
35:00and you know in the beginning it was really overwhelming
35:03but in the end it was just like second nature to me
35:06so now moving to London and we've got a much smaller garden
35:09and it's you know it's so much more maintainable
35:12I mean in the end you end up feeling like a caretaker
35:14when you're kind of dealing with all of that
35:16it's more manageable
35:16it's definitely more manageable for us
35:18and it doesn't take over
35:19whereas I think in Kent it did take over our life a little bit
35:23I'm a perfectionist yeah and I'm a perfectionist
35:26so I did my back in didn't I
35:28because I would always be like pulling weeds out
35:31or you know bind weed or moving around
35:33so I just had to kind of take it a bit more easy
35:35you mentioned nature Jeremy
35:37so are you getting more in touch with it still being in London
35:41even though you're away from the countryside?
35:42yeah because we've got two big woods close to where we live
35:45so we walk the dog every day and we've got Amsterdis
35:49so every day we're in the nature
35:51so yeah it's fantastic
35:53what are you looking for here at Chelsea
35:54to spruce up your new garden then?
35:57well I need a shed, a new shed
35:59of course you do Jeremy
36:01everyone needs a new shed
36:03I would love to go and see the Japanese garden
36:05right do you like that style?
36:07yeah because I'm an ex-Judo fighter
36:09so all of this comes from Japan
36:10so I'm really looking forward to see this year
36:13he was telling me about like the kind of philosophy behind Japanese gardens
36:18what does it all represent?
36:20so I think in each Japanese garden you got water
36:23with like life, stone with like mountain, rock
36:28yeah it's a lot of history
36:30I didn't know that
36:31I don't know a lot about Japanese gardens
36:32so I think we're gonna have a little walk around and see that
36:35it's not that's not my style
36:36I like the more naturalistic style
36:38and the kind of country cottage gardens and things like that
36:41okay so you're going to be looking for a shed
36:43yeah
36:43are there any plants specific plants you're looking for?
36:45we're looking for some
36:47I'm probably going to go by the David Austin store
36:49and get some climbing roses
36:50because I feel like we need to incorporate some of them into our life
36:53and also where we live
36:56our area is really known for kind of fruit trees
37:00so every house when it was built had like an apple tree in the garden
37:03and obviously over like the years a lot of them have just died
37:07so I would like to incorporate a crab apple tree back into our garden
37:10just because just for that heritage
37:12yeah
37:12and also it's beautiful because it you have the lovely blossom in the spring
37:16and then you've got the lovely little apples in the autumn
37:18so it kind of gives everything every season
37:20so that's really nice
37:21amazing
37:21well good luck finding new bits maybe a shed and some plants for your new garden in London
37:28thank you
37:28it's wonderful to talk to you
37:29you too
37:34great to hear from Kelly and Jeremy
37:36I'm sure they're going to be picking up a few tips on their walk around the showground
37:41I am back with Camilla who earlier showed us how to create a modern sleek hanging basket
37:47and Camilla here is your finished article
37:49beautiful
37:50thank you
37:51so lovely
37:52I like the bee cups
37:53yes they're in there
37:54and we've got the namesia at the top as well
37:55this beautiful little bi-colour poking through
37:59how easy are they to hang because not all of us have something like this
38:02it's a bit high up this one
38:03it's a bit high
38:04could it come off a tree?
38:05it could you know
38:06and that's such a lovely thing to do for birds and wildlife around
38:10because they're much more likely to visit it if it is hanging off a tree
38:13so anything really
38:14outbuilding shed
38:15shepherd's hook
38:17anything like that
38:17I mean of course by your front door is also fine because that's where you see it
38:21that's how I grew up with them outside the front door
38:23what about the watering though?
38:25okay well watering recommended usually once a day
38:27and in a hot summer I would always water a basket once in the evening
38:32or in the morning
38:32the morning's actually a good time of day
38:34this might be a stupid question
38:35always from the top or do you ever take it down and dunk it?
38:37I always do it from the top
38:38right okay
38:39I mean it depends how high up you've got it
38:40but I use a smaller watering can to do that because that's just easier
38:45but as I said with this really good wool
38:48that's going to keep the moisture in as much as it possibly can
38:50that's beautiful
38:51thank you
38:51stunning
38:52but we have an even more impressive creation I see
38:55well this is something a little bit different
38:57and we're very used to making wreaths at Christmas aren't we
38:59and putting them on our front door
39:00love them
39:01but we don't often think about the possibility of putting one on your door in the summer
39:05and filling it with floral beauty
39:07I really like that idea
39:09I always have one at Christmas
39:10I have one at Halloween
39:11but why don't I do it in the summer?
39:13it's easy to do
39:13and also it's a great thing
39:14if people don't have a garden as well
39:16you know you don't
39:17you just need a front door
39:18so you can do that on a flat or anything like that
39:21but this one
39:21I love the undulating round shape of this
39:24because when you look at nature
39:26nature isn't square is it
39:28it's round
39:28so this beautiful curve
39:30and what we're going to be planting in it
39:31we've got this steeper tenuisomer
39:35I've got something like this I think in my garden
39:36it's so gorgeous
39:37it's had a name change
39:38but that doesn't matter
39:40its common name is the ponytail grass
39:42that's how we've got to remember it
39:43go on then I'll let you start
39:45pop him in the corner
39:46because what I want to do with this basket
39:47do you want to hang?
39:49oh I think I'm all right
39:50give me the plastic
39:51there you go
39:51you have the plastic
39:52because these you could reuse couldn't you
39:54you can you really can
39:55and it's great
39:56for example it's
39:57you've still got time to put your
39:59your runner beans in actually
40:00so something like that pot
40:01it's got quite a lot of depth
40:02on the kitchen shelf
40:03on the kitchen shelf would be perfect
40:05and I just wanted to say
40:06with this steeper tenuisomer
40:08this is an old plant of mine
40:10which looks a little bit
40:11sorry for itself
40:12at this time of year
40:14kind of late spring early summer
40:15they tend to look a bit dry
40:17but actually much like you do with your hair
40:20you just pull through
40:21clever
40:22and you get rid of that old
40:23yes give it a comb
40:25and much like ourselves
40:26in the morning first thing
40:28after a bit of titivation
40:30it looks much better
40:31in it goes
40:32yeah
40:33and we've got some beautiful
40:34little delicate flowers here
40:36these are thrift
40:38now these are
40:38you see them a lot on the coast actually
40:41um armiria
40:42which is the sea thrift
40:44and they're so delicate
40:45they're loved by wildlife as well
40:47but they're also very good
40:48if you do garden on a coastal spot
40:50they're perfect with salt air
40:52so I'm going to pop that one in next
40:54and what I want to do here
40:55well I'm going to ask you
40:56very quickly actually
40:57while you're doing that
40:59what you've got here
41:00so I can see obviously
41:01we've got our peat-free compost
41:03but what's this
41:03we have
41:04so it looks right
41:05it looks like I'm about to do some cooking
41:06and that's not my strong point
41:07so thankfully I'm not
41:09this is biochar
41:11now biochar is relatively new
41:13we're talking about it recently
41:15it is organic matter
41:16that has been heated up
41:18to a really high temperature
41:19but with little or no oxygen
41:22and why it's very good for gardeners
41:24is because you can use it in the soil
41:26and it retains water
41:28so we've mixed some of this into our compost
41:30and the balls next door
41:31yes these are also clay balls
41:33and much the same thing
41:35they basically hold on to the water
41:37and a bit like a sponge
41:38they let it out when the plants need it
41:39that's good
41:40you could actually use those in house plants
41:42definitely yes you could
41:43but you need to soak them first
41:44so they get the water in them
41:45I'm so intrigued by what that was
41:47you thought that looks a bit odd
41:48anything that helps with the watering
41:49and the maintenance
41:50oh my goodness
41:51it's already taking shape
41:52we'll put one there
41:53maybe a little lower down one
41:55it's whether we can get them all in here
41:56because this basket
41:59do you want me to hold it
42:00oh that would be wonderful
42:01I'm a willing assistant
42:02you're doing a great job
42:03look at that
42:03let's put that one in there
42:05see if we can get him in
42:06there's not much space
42:07in the soil in this one
42:08but these plants are all perennial
42:12so after your season of hanging basket
42:14you can pop them in the garden
42:16so they're going to live on
42:17they are
42:17and they're great shelter for the insects as well
42:19so anything like this
42:20with grasses or ivy
42:23gives really really good shelter
42:25and you get that kind of undulation
42:27don't you
42:28do you know what
42:28I can see that hanging on my front door
42:31very very easily
42:32just want to hold it up
42:33I will
42:34I'll pop a bit of moss in the front there
42:36Camilla
42:36that is beautiful
42:38look at that
42:40a hanging basket for 2025
42:43thank you
42:44my pleasure
42:48I'm here on the Sea Wilding garden
42:50designed by Ryan McMahon
42:51which has been named the winner
42:53of this year's RHS
42:55Best All About Plants garden
42:57now this is a massive achievement
42:59for you Ryan isn't it
43:00yeah so it's my first time at Chelsea
43:02so to win gold
43:02and then best in category
43:04it's it's an amazing
43:05it's amazing time
43:07absolutely incredible
43:08and we can see why
43:09let's talk about this garden
43:11thank you
43:11so the garden has been inspired by
43:13the restoration work
43:14the marine restoration work
43:16sorry that my charity Sea Wilding are doing
43:18up at Loch Craig Nish in Argyll
43:20what they're doing is
43:21restoring their ocean habitat
43:23by reintroducing two keystone species
43:26which are native oysters and seagrass
43:28both of which are found there
43:30but now so fragmented around
43:32so what they're trying to do is
43:34restore these habitats
43:35so then they bring back
43:36that lost biodiversity to their sea lot
43:39and we're doing that in a garden
43:41habitat garden setting sorry
43:43by bringing in some rare British native plants
43:45and all the plants in this garden
43:47are British native plants
43:48either found at Loch Craig Nish
43:50or should be found at Loch Craig Nish
43:52yeah which I know it's really important to you
43:54and also the community isn't it
43:55yes absolutely
43:56you can really sense this coastal vibe here
43:59if you wanted to bring that sort of feel
44:01into your own garden
44:02what would you suggest
44:04and what would you pick out for us?
44:05I think you know if people wanted this look at home
44:07they could maybe look at recycled materials
44:09what's in their local area
44:11maybe look at what's online
44:13to see if people are doing any works in their gardens
44:15to want to get rid of some stone
44:17yes
44:18we've used sandstone
44:19because that's local to where we are
44:20which has got this lovely kind of hues to it
44:22and as we come through to these crushed shells
44:24it just complements that really nicely
44:26yeah but I think if you do something
44:27that's local to where you are
44:28it's a much more sense of place to your garden
44:31and that locality as well
44:32this coastal vibe that we've created here
44:34it's very much a wet west coast of Scotland coast
44:39and that's one of the wettest areas of Europe
44:41not even the UK
44:43so it's very lush all the way down to the shorefront
44:47it's very different say to south of England
44:49or the east of England
44:50where it's a bit colder in winter
44:52but you can always achieve that coastal look
44:54by having a sea thrift
44:57which it grows everywhere
44:59it can grow inland
45:00it can grow right by the shore
45:02and yarrow
45:02just doing those planting combinations
45:04so that they've got these lovely silvery leaves
45:07that kind of harsh resilient plantings
45:09which are very similar to gravel gardens
45:11and of course you can have these lovely crushed whelk shells
45:14that we've got here
45:14I know I do like this
45:15they're giving a scent of the smell of the sea as well
45:18I think what's great about this garden is the senses
45:20you can smell the sea
45:21you can feel it
45:22and you just want to be there
45:23and you can create it with these little things
45:25that you've given us in your own garden
45:27yes thank you very much
45:28thank you
45:29now if you're looking to create a Chelsea border
45:32that will last all summer long
45:33here's Toby with his essential tips
45:35and I'm sure the birds and bees will thank him too
45:43the gardens here at Chelsea might be about show
45:45but get into the borders
45:47and they tell a story of how we can immerse ourselves in nature
45:51there's lessons here for us all
45:54this is the Komorebi garden
45:56now Komorebi as if you didn't know
45:58is the Japanese word for the concept of sunlight
46:01falling through the branches of trees
46:02and creating dapple shape at ground level
46:06in a real woodland garden
46:08obviously you can go outwards
46:09but in a small space you have to go up
46:12and that is what the designer has done here
46:14raising the borders up
46:16closer to eye level so you can enjoy the plants
46:18there are ferns bustling and spilling with epimidium and grasses
46:23I mean it really does have the vibe of sitting in a woodland
46:29the pathway garden is a step up in size
46:34and here's a design concept to consider
46:36to encourage wildlife into your garden
46:38it's planted in layers
46:40trees at the top provide a place for birds to perch, roost and nest
46:45and flowers at ground level are there for the bees and butterflies
46:52on the soil itself
46:53bark and the odd branch cover the earth
46:55and that feeds soil micro life
46:58as well as providing a home for beetles
47:00but so much of encouraging wildlife
47:02is down to how you look after the garden
47:05keep a looser feel
47:06don't tidy up too much
47:08particularly at the back end of the year
47:09when plants like cranesbills go to ground
47:12leave the stems to fall where they are
47:14because they're hollow
47:15they provide a home for insects to overwinter
47:19and then come spring
47:19they'll be there for the birds to build their nests
47:22and perhaps best of all
47:23it saves you the job of picking them up
47:28on the bees for development balcony garden
47:32they've gone all in for the pollinators
47:34and you can do that too
47:35if you remember this simple trick
47:37you want to pack your garden with flowers
47:40that bloom right through the year
47:41now obviously in summer that's a breeze
47:43but if you go shopping and buy plants in flower during winter
47:46well you can tick that box too
47:48and interestingly herbs not only provide food for us
47:51but also for pollinators
47:52because many have high protein pollen
47:55thyme, chives, loved by bumblebees
47:57while fennel is loved by hoverflies
48:01as well as flowers where the bees can eat out
48:03these wall-mounted discs of wood
48:06provides a home where they can raise their young
48:08leafcutter bees, hoverflies
48:10they love this kind of complexity
48:12it's simple to make
48:13because it's lots of stems and sticks
48:15packed between these wooden discs
48:17they're mounted to the walls
48:18they've got holes drilled in them
48:20and it's in the holes
48:21that leafcutters lay their eggs
48:24so pack your garden with plants
48:25and use natural materials
48:27their colour, their feel, their scent
48:29we're hard-wired to like them
48:31and as they weather and change
48:33they'll encourage nature into your garden
48:38ah thank you Toby
48:39great ideas there
48:40to keep summer borders looking good
48:43all summer long
48:44now if you really want to attract wildlife into your garden
48:48you can't go wrong with a pond
48:50whether you've got a pond
48:52whether you've inherited one
48:54or want to create one from scratch
48:56they can be tricky
48:57I'm here at the exhibit by Lincolnshire Pond Plants
49:00and I'm joined by Dawn Fisher
49:03hello Dawn
49:04first of all congratulations on your gold medal
49:07thank you
49:07you must be thrilled
49:09what were you trying to achieve?
49:10what was the message you were giving out with this exhibit?
49:13so behind us we have got polluted water
49:16on it represents all the waterways we've got
49:19we've got filtration plants
49:21we filter all the plants
49:22and we can go back to having a beautiful wildlife waterways again
49:27it is a little sanctuary isn't it
49:30but how tricky are ponds to put in?
49:33I think it's getting the planting right
49:35so you've got to have your rafting plants
49:37for all your frogs and newts
49:39and your emergent plants for your dragonflies
49:41you've got to get the balance
49:43exactly
49:43and 70% shade
49:46because then you don't get the green water and blanket weed
49:48because I was going to ask you how easy is the maintenance
49:51because I think a lot of people think I'd love a pond
49:53but do I need to clean it out?
49:55cleaning it out can be a bad thing
49:57because you're cleaning out the good bacteria
49:59as well as the bad bacteria
50:01so what you need to do is
50:02you need to put the planting right
50:04so then what we're going to do is eat all the excess nutrients
50:08and we keep it clean that way
50:09so in a way it's the balance isn't it
50:11yeah
50:11and what have we got on the edge?
50:13I'm loving the plants along there
50:14and the flowers coming through
50:16so a lot of the edge plants
50:18so a lot of the rafting plants that are coming into the water
50:21and out of the water
50:22they're more for your frogs and your newts
50:24but then we have the tall emergent plants
50:26like the equisetums
50:28we've got the irises
50:30are they good for wildlife as well?
50:32but they're good for your dragonfly nymphs to climb out the water
50:35you paint such a beautiful picture
50:37I want this
50:38it would take up my whole garden
50:40but I would definitely want this
50:42we've had lots of questions through actually
50:44from our viewers on social media
50:46do you mind?
50:47I'm going to start with Elisa
50:49what is the best budget-friendly way to create a pond?
50:53because not everyone can do it on this size
50:55so one of the shows we went to
50:57we had a lady come and she said
50:58I haven't got any money
51:00the kids are desperate for a pond
51:02so she went to the supermarket
51:04she bought a washing up bowl
51:06she put two plants in it
51:08buried it in the garden
51:09a week later they got a frog
51:10and the kids were ecstatic
51:12I remember tadpoles when I was younger
51:15collecting tadpoles and then letting them off
51:17but you can have them in your garden or your courtyard
51:19exactly
51:20exactly
51:20it can be just a small bowl
51:22you just need an oxygenator
51:24a rafting plant
51:26and an emergent plant
51:27and you're well away
51:28any size
51:29Debra says how much or how little
51:31this is a good one
51:32how much how little sunshine does a pond in a pot need please?
51:36so if you want to have water lilies in your pot
51:40because you can get the little dwarf pygmy ones
51:42you must have some sunlight
51:44otherwise you're not going to get any flowers
51:46but 70 percent shade is what we should be trying to achieve
51:5070 percent
51:5170 percent shade
51:53and then it stops the reaction with nutritious water
51:56so you don't get the green water and blanket
51:58wonderful
51:59so if you've got trees or a wall that doesn't matter
52:01you can still have a pond
52:02yeah exactly
52:03it looks absolutely beautiful
52:05we love the message
52:06we've all got to do more
52:07but how wonderful way to attract wildlife
52:09nature into our back gardens
52:11Dawn thank you very much indeed
52:13thank you
52:17now it's nearly time for another trip to the Chelsea Garden Clinic
52:21but before that remember
52:22you've got until eight o'clock this evening
52:24to vote for your favourite large show garden
52:26in this year's BBC RHS People's Choice Award
52:30now if you miss them
52:30here's a quick reminder of the six gardens you can choose from
52:33The Glasshouse Garden designed by Joe Thompson
52:46Hospice UK Garden of Compassion designed by Tom Hovland
52:56The King's Trust Garden
52:58Seeding Success designed by Joe Perkins
53:04The Hospital Field Arts Garden
53:07designed by Nigel Dunnett
53:16The Abernade Intelligent Garden
53:18designed by Tom Massey and Jay Arn
53:26Chino Niwa
53:27The Japanese Tea Garden
53:28designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara
53:34and if you want more information on the six gardens in contention
53:39and to cast your vote
53:41go to the website bbc.co.uk forward slash chelsea
53:45where you'll also find the terms and conditions
53:48and the privacy notice
53:50now the vote closes at 8pm tonight
53:52and the winner will be announced tomorrow evening on BBC One
53:56you haven't got long
53:57and remember please don't try to vote
53:59if you're watching on demand after the vote has closed
54:03time to open up today's Chelsea Garden Clinic
54:07today Frances is in the hot seat
54:09are you ready?
54:10I think so
54:11shall we start off on socials
54:12lovely Shirley says
54:14Frances I bought a rhubarb plant last year
54:16and planted it in the garden
54:18but it has very small thin stalks
54:20although they are lovely and red
54:22should I pull the stalks or leave it this year
54:25and hopefully it will grow larger next year
54:28it will grow larger next year
54:29they take a year or two
54:31maybe even three to really settle in
54:33the key thing with rhubarb
54:34is that they're moisture loving plants
54:35so plenty of water for this first year
54:37and if we have droughts
54:38mulch it in the winter
54:39manure something like that
54:41and then next year hopefully
54:42maybe the year after
54:43you should pull some lovely big stalks
54:45two years later fingers crossed
54:47Angelica
54:47careful Julie
54:48hello what's your question?
54:50hi my lovely mum and I bought a camellia
54:53the same one
54:54and neither is thriving
54:55and I'm just wondering
54:56is there anything that we can do to the soil
54:59to help it to bloom
55:00are you on acid soil?
55:02I'm not sure
55:04but probably not
55:05they do like acid soil
55:06you can't really change your soil type
55:09so if you're alkaline or acid
55:10it just sort of is what it is
55:12you can do things like add iron filings
55:14but really I think
55:15if you want to grow a camellia
55:16and you're on alkaline
55:17put it in a pot with some ericaceous compost
55:19or choose something like a daphne
55:21that has winter flowers as well
55:22that will cope better with the conditions you have
55:24okay thank you very much
55:26and mum is called Hilary
55:27isn't she?
55:28yes she is
55:28hello Hilary
55:29hi mum
55:32Rachel says
55:33why have the leaves on my Taylor Acer
55:35in a pot dribbled up and gone crispy?
55:37it was protected all winter
55:39it's in a sheltered spot
55:41and it has been watered
55:42my other Taylor Acer in the ground
55:44wasn't protected
55:45and that one's thriving
55:46okay so acers don't like the wind
55:49they can be scorched by the wind
55:51they also don't like to be too hot
55:53so I imagine if it's in a sheltered position
55:56it's maybe got too hot
55:57they don't need frost protection
55:59they're really hardy
56:00so if the one that wasn't protected
56:02and is in the ground is doing well
56:03you could if there's space
56:04plant the other one in the ground
56:05if there's not space
56:06water
56:27don't try and force your apple
56:45to produce more fruit than it wants to do
56:48so yeah sorry for the sound
56:50I think it disappeared for a while
56:54yeah
56:56apple pie is important
56:57June drop it always happens
56:58every year it's normal
56:59don't worry
57:04okay Emma says
57:05what are some of the most forgiving
57:07and adaptable plants for renters?
57:10here we go I'll try again
57:11what are the most forgiving
57:13and adaptable plants for renters
57:14as they move from garden to garden?
57:17this is a good question
57:19and it's something that we all have to do
57:21keeping plants in a pot is great
57:22because then you can move them around
57:24as you move around
57:26but what you have to remember
57:27is that you don't always necessarily
57:28go to a garden
57:29with the same conditions that you've come from
57:30so you know be adaptable
57:33maybe leave some behind
57:34for the people who'll rent after you
57:36that's the thing isn't it
57:37when you're renting
57:38that is the problem
57:39you know you want to invest in a garden
57:41but you might want to take it with you as well
57:44exactly
57:44I think that you can get some money
57:46I feel like I'm in a girl band right now
57:48and you can take the money off
57:50on the landlord and you know do that
57:52but it's where you live
57:53and you want it to look amazing
57:56we all need to use mics
57:58the good news is
57:59as you can tell this is live
58:01and here we are at the RHS Chelsea flower show
58:05but it's so true
58:06spend time in your garden
58:08and if you rent you know
58:09not everyone has their own garden
58:10yeah no that's true
58:11and what a great show we have had today
58:13I mean it has gone so quickly hasn't it
58:16yes
58:16yeah
58:17Monty's going to be back tonight
58:18eight o'clock on BBC One
58:20yes and don't forget to vote
58:21for your favourite garden okay
58:23thank you so much
58:24for being here and answering those questions
58:26and a big thank you to our audience
58:27yeah thank you everybody
58:30thank you
58:30we're back tomorrow at two o'clock
58:32goodbye
58:32see you then
58:33bye
58:55you
59:06emersal therapy is something I did
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