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Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.

Horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts. In the chair this week is Peter Gibbs, and he's joined by experts Bob Flowerdew, Matthew Pottage and Bunny Guinness.

This week the panel are on Bunny's home turf in the historic town of Stamford. They explain what to do with an overgrown tulip tree, and how to safely plant out runner beans. They also recommend some plants for a Mexican themed garden, and suggest ideas for what to do with a glut of loofah plants.

Away from the questions Matthew takes a trip up the road to Bunny's garden, and learns about her new rose meadow project.

Producer: Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer: Aniya Das

A Somethin' Else production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – My in-law’s cactus has grown well over 9 foot (2.7m) tall. It’s in danger of punching a hole through the ceiling. Should they prune it or should they just give it away?

(1 minute 45 seconds)

Q – The water in my small garden pond is thick and green, and the pigeons leave an oily slick on it too. How can I clean it?

(4 minutes 30 seconds)

Q – We have a large tulip tree in our garden and have never touched it. The previous owner of the house used to prune it every year. When and how should we prune it?

(8 minutes 8 seconds)

Q – My son and daughter-in-law are planning a Mexican themed gravel area with patterned tiles and bright pots. What grasses and plants can the panel suggest in this theme?

(11 minutes 18 seconds)

Bob –

Pelargonium 'Paul Crampel'

Bunny –

Agapanthus

±·±ð°ù¾±²Ô±ðÌý²ú´Ç·É»å±ð²Ô¾±¾±Ìý'Zeal Giant'

Erigeron karvinskianus, Mexican daisy

Matthew –

Chamaerops humilis ‘C±ð°ù¾±´Ú±ð°ù²¹â€™

´¡²µ²¹±¹±ðÌý±è²¹°ù°ù²â¾±

³Û³Ü³¦³¦²¹Ìý´Ú¾±±ô²¹³¾±ð²Ô³Ù´Ç²õ²¹

Yucca whipplei

Feature – Matthew Pottage visits Bunny Guinness’ garden to explore her new rose meadow.

(16 minutes)

ÌýRosa ‘²Ñ³Ü³Ù²¹²ú¾±±ô¾±²õ’

Eremurus, Foxtail lily

Luzula

Rosa ‘W¾±²Ô»å´Ú±ô´Ç·É±ð°ù’

Rosa glauca

Q – The flowers on our roses are too heavy for their stems. How can we stop them drooping over?

(21 minutes 22 seconds)

Q – Despite sowing parsnip seeds in various ways over the years, I’ve struggled to get them to germinate. Why?

(24 minutes 35 seconds)

Bunny –

Parsnip F1 ‘Gladiator’

Q – My climbing hydrangea has flowered for 10 years, but for the last 2 years it’s stopped. Nothing has changed around it. Is it the end of its life or should we be doing something to help it?

(28 minutes 36 seconds)

Matthew –

Hydrangea seemannii

Q –Ìý Why do my very healthy runner bean and climbing French bean seedlings go sad and shrivelled as soon as I plant them out?

(34 minutes 40 seconds)

Q – I’m growing some loofah plants for the first time. Every seed in the packet has germinated so I have rather a lot. Do you have any ideas for this surplus?

(38 minutes 15 seconds)

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