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Isle of Wight

Eric Robson and the team visit Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Bunny Guinness, Anne Swithinbank and Bob Flowerdew answer audience questions.

Eric Robson hosts the show from Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Bunny Guinness, Anne Swithinbank, and Bob Flowerdew answer audience questions.

Eric visits the rural retreat of Queen Victoria and Matthew Pottage provides the ultimate guide to hanging baskets and window boxes.

Produced by Howard Shannon
Assistant Producer: Hannah Newton

A Somethin' Else production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4.

Available now

43 minutes

Last on

Sun 7 Jun 2015 14:00

Questions and Answers

I have a Birch planted in a dustbin. I transported it from Sweden 25 years ago. It is 25ft (7.6m) and top heavy. When would be a good time to pollard it?

Bunny – You should do it in the autumn.

Bob – Try replanting it into a fibreglass water tank rather than a dustbin.

Ìý

What time of the year would you cloud prune a Myrtle?

Bunny – prune it when it has flowered but no later than August.

Ìý

Our Viburnum has died back. What is the cause and the remedy? It flowers in the winter and is evergreen.

Anne - It sounds like Viburnum tinus laurustinus. It is prone to dying back and could have been caused by frost or wind. They can also suffer from Viburnum Beetle and it causes the plant to smell rank.

Bunny – Cut the Viburnum back, water it and add some mulch to the roots.

Ìý

I have a North facing, green roof. It was originally planted with Sedums and Alpine, but they have not survived. Could the panel suggest some planting that will tolerate shade and damp during the winter and sunny, dry conditions in the summer.

Bob – The geranium Herb-Robert has lovely ferny foliage and turns red when dry.

Anne – Try using short ferns or clumps of Dwarf Bearded Iris.Ìý

Bunny – Ivy hedera cristata would be easy but won’t add a lot of visual interest. Polystichum setiferum is difficult to establish but will survive the extreme conditions. The Golden Hop could be laced up the side and over the top.

The gardens at Osborne House

The gardens at Osborne House
Eric Robson meets Head Gardener Toby Beasley.

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