Gardening with the RHS

Latest Episodes:

At the Turning of the Year: From Great Dixter to Tomorrow’s Gardens Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

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.

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

Garden Books We’re Obsessed With This Year Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

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.

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

Atomic Gardens and Other Remarkable Histories Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

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.

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

The Power of Trees: Wellbeing, Wildlife and the Future of Our Woodlands Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

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.

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

When seasons slip: How to maximise your garden for plants and wildlife Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

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.

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

Tiny Wetlands, Big Impact: The Wildlife Power of Garden Ponds Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

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.

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

Plants for Purpose: How Research is Reimagining Our Gardens Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re taking a moment to look ahead. Carol Barrie from the RHS Science and Collections Department joins us to talk about Plants for Purpose, an ambitious new project she’s leading in collaboration with the University of Nottingham. It’s using the power of AI, alongside the RHS’s vast Herbarium, to build a living knowledge bank of plants that benefit the environment. We’ll also turn our gaze to spring, as now’s the perfect time to get tulips in the ground before the ground gets too wet or freezes. We revisit Arundel Castle, where back in 2022, 80,000 tulip bulbs arrived for a spectacular spring display. And finally, we head to RHS Rosemoor to meet Emma McFarline, who’ll be exploring the practical, and sometimes surprising, uses of familiar garden plants, from their roles in history to their value today.

Host: Guy Barter

Contributors: Carol Barrie, Martin Duncan, Emma McFarline

Links:

Plants for Purpose Project

RHS Plants for Pollinators

Planting tulips for seasonal colour

Scientific overview of rosemary

Biomedical research on rosemary as a therapeutic agent

Therapeutic effects of rosemary on nervous system disorders

Calendula in modern medicine

Common mullein, pharmacological and chemical aspects

Halloween in the Garden: From Bats to Deadly Blooms Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

As the days grow shorter and Halloween marks the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, we explore the mysterious, the nocturnal, and the beautifully eerie corners of nature. Ecologist and bat expert Greg Slack joins us to uncover the secrets of these misunderstood night flyers — essential to our ecosystems but increasingly under threat. Then, houseplant expert and author Jane Perrone takes us on a chilling journey through the world’s most intoxicating and poisonous plants, revealing the strange allure of nature’s most dangerous creations. And finally, we turn toward the light again. RHS Garden Rosemoor’s Emma McFarline shares how she’s preparing her cottage garden for the seasons ahead, proving that even in the darkest months, there’s always something growing just beneath the surface.

Host: Nick Turrell

Contributors: Greg Slack, Jane Perrone, Emma McFarline

Links:

The Atlas of Deadly Plants

RHS Garden Rosemoor

RHS advice on gardening for bats

Grow Forward: Designing Resilient Gardens and Stronger Communities Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

It’s time to look ahead to the future: From the coming season to the years beyond, the way we garden must evolve with a changing world. Award-winning garden designer Tom Massey joins us to share his tips on how to be more water-wise in the garden. We’ll also explore the growing importance of community gardens, as the RHS unveils its landmark Space to Grow report: the first comprehensive mapping of the scale, impact, and needs of community gardening across the UK. Sarah Galvin, Head of National Community Programs at the RHS, will join us to discuss some of the most inspiring findings. And finally, we’ll take a step into the wonderfully eccentric world of competitive fruit and vegetable growing with Pumpkins and Prizes, a new exhibition at RHS Garden Wisley. Curator Fiona Davison will be on hand to share the stories behind this vibrant tradition.

Host: Jenny Laville

Contributors: Sarah Galvin, Tom Massey, Fiona Davison

Links:

RHS Waterwise Garden by Tom Massey

RHS Space to Grow

Pumpkins and Prizes Exhibition

From Mushrooms to Matrix Planting: Exploring Nature’s Design Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

This week, Dr Jassy Drakulic returns to guide us through the hidden zones of your garden, uncovering the fascinating world of fungi and the mushroom magic that may be thriving right under your nose. RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones joins us to introduce the charming yet troublesome vine weevil — a notorious menace for potted plants — and reveals how we can give a helping hand to the beneficial insects that prey on them in our gardens as winter approaches. Finally, horticulturist Louisa Neale takes us on a tour of the breathtaking Oudolf Landscape at RHS Garden Wisley, sharing practical tips on how to bring a touch of Piet Oudolf’s iconic matrix-style planting to your own outdoor space.

Host: Guy Barter

Contributors: Dr Jassy Drakulic, Dr Hayley Jones, Louisa Neale

Links:

RHS Fungi for Gardeners book

Science & Collections at the RHS

Info on vine weevils

The Oudolf Landscape