The Garden of Eaden: 2024

Why does Alan Titchmarsh Hate these Two Plants?

Alan Titchmarsh is one of the UK's best love garden presenters, yet despite his love of plants there are two which he readily admits to hating! In this video English horticulturist Simon discusses which ones they are and how he personally feels about them too.

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Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Maintenance Jobs for November

The growing season may have come to an end but there is still plenty of work to do in the exotic garden despite being November! Clearing dead leaves, last minute weeding and plenty of winter protection are the watch-words for this month. So to focus on what really matters English horticulturist Simon takes a walk around his garden to discuss the maintenance jobs that he has planned for this month.

Last Chance to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs!

If you are keen to get an early display of colour in the garden then spring flowering bulbs are a fantastic way to go. However the clock is ticking with regards to getting them in. In fact the last chance to get them in the ground is about to slap you in the face! Is it too late to plant spring bulbs? Well, in this video English horticulturist Simon explains both when and why that is.

Monty Don says 'Winter Cold Protect these Four Plants in November'

With winter soon to be here, it is important to keep an eye on your more tender container grown plants due to the risk of damage from a sharp frost. So in this video English horticulturist Simon takes a look at Monty Dons advice and goes into it in more detail regarding the cold tolerance of these species and the best way to protect them from cold damage using winter protection.

Tropical Gardens UK: November Exotic Garden Tour

The year is nearly at an end and the garden has started its inevitable seasonal decline. It won't be long before the hard frosts bite and the garden is put to bed for the winter. However there is some confusion as a number of our tropical effect, exotic plants are coming back into flower! With luck we will see them in full bloom before a cold snap causes them to perish! So in this video English horticulturist Simon shows you around his garden for what will presumably be the last tour of the year.

Never Forget these Autumn lawn Maintenance Jobs

Understandably, most lawn maintenance jobs tend to get forgotten as soon as the weather turns wetter and cooler for the autumn. However, if you neglect these time sensitive works then you could end up paying for it big time come the spring with a lawn in shocking condition requiring expensive repairs! So check out English horticulturist Simon's list of autumn maintenance jobs that you really don't want to miss out on.

What Happened to My Exotic Garden

We were on a recent trip away to make a couple of videos on Caesar Manrique's cactus garden, only to find out that out exotic garden here in the UK had not only changed, but looked almost derelict compared to before we left. This is what happened! This is what autumn can do to a tropical effect garden when you take your eye of the ball.

Never Ignore these Autumn Jobs for Rhododendrons and Azaleas

Come the autumn its understandable that gardens are not going to be used as much as they were in the spring and summer. However there is important plant maintenance that needs to be actin to ensure the very best flowering displays come the following spring. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains which autumn jobs you should never forget when it come to looking after and maintaining your Rhododendrons and Azaleas.

Five Freaky, Creepy Plants and Flowers for a Scary Halloween

Halloween is well known for its scary associations, so in this video English horticulturist Simon shares his five freaky, creepy plants for a scary Halloween. There is no photoshopping here, each and every plants exists as shown in nature!

Topical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for October

The time for voluptuous UK exotic gardens has gently phased from its seasonal best to a slightly tired reflection of or former glory. However it is a great time to ask 'What could we do better for next year? So in this video English horticulturist Simon tours the garden looking for season tasks - including what plants are needed for the latest gaps and which, if any, plants need to be moved to a more suitable position for next years display.

Four Plants You Should Never Cut Back, Prune, Trim in the Autumn, Fall

Read any gardening publication ad they will almost always say that the best time of year to prune back your plants is in the autumn once the deciduous plants have dropped their leaves. Now this rule may work well for may species but there are four where this could be considered to be a cardinal sin! We expose these plants in this video!

We rehomed Timmy the Rescue Mediterranean Spur-Thighed Tortoise - Lorna ...

Lorna, our resident family 'Tortoise Whisperer', received a call a couple of weeks ago regarding a Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise that needed rehoming after its elderly owner began to find it too difficult to look after him. So in this video Lorna introduces Timmy the tortoise, explains the back story as to how we came to rescue and rehomed him as well as discuss his welfare and future winter protection.

How to Grow Echium candicans 'Pride of Madeira' from Seed

You are probably familiar with the impressive Echium pininana with its gigantic flowering spike and propensity to self-seed years after the initial parent plant had long disappeared via the green waste bin. However, despite its smaller stature, Echium candicans 'Pride of Madeira' is arguably a far more ornamental flowering plant as well as being of a more suitable size for the suburban garden. Sadly they are rarely seen available for sale, but they are surprisingly easy to grow from seed. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains his technique for propagating the 'Pride of Madeira' from seed.

Exotic Garden Jobs for September Update

So technically we should still be enjoying the balmy days of summers end, but the reality is that both the garden and the weather are displaying distinct autumnal qualities. This means that gardens have begun their slow but relentless journey of leaf drop, die-back and collapse! And for gardeners this means more work is required to keep the place smart and ornamental. At the beginning of the month English horticulturist put a metaphorical pin in to a number of jobs that needed doing for September. This video shows how many (if any) he achieved!

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Tulips Bulbs

Tulips are not only the first, highly ornamental group of flowering plants to emerge in the spring, they are arguably the brightest, most colourful and architecturally perfect of all spring bulbs! However there are some reliability issues with tulips bulbs as retailers have a habit of selling cheap, undersized bulbs, and growers seem to be more interested in developing increasingly flamboyant blooms with a disregard to plant health, hardiness and quality. So to help increase your chances of securing a wonderful display of tulip blooms check out English horticulturist Simon' five mistakes to avoid growing Tulips.

How to Take Euphorbia Cuttings

The Euphorbia genus contains one of worlds largest groups of related plant species, including a large range of attractive, shrubby species and cultivars suitable for the suburban garden. So in this video English horticulturist explains how to propagate them from cuttings in order to beef up your own garden displays for minimum cost. Just don't forget to get permission when taking plant material.

Tropical Gardens UK: Tresco Abbey - Head Gardener Tour PART 3

Yes, we finally published Part 3 in our 'Tresco Abbey - Head Gardener Tour' series. So join us as we walk around the Abbey garden with Andrew Lawson, while simultaneously picking his brains for horticultural gems!

Don't forget to check out out part one and part two. Keep an eye out for our final episode - part four.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Snowdrops - Galanthus

Snowdrops are often considered to be the first flowers of spring, and while that is not remotely true they are arguably amongst the most eye-catching. As such they are extremely popular to buy however to get the best display from them there a number of mistakes that can easily made which you may which to avoid! So to find out how to grow, plant and care for you snowdrops - Galanthus species and cultivars check out English horticulturist Simon 'Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Snowdrops' video

Garden Pest and Disease Warnings for September

Summer seems to have returned mid way through September and has brought with it an influx of seasonal pests. However forewarned is forearmed, so in this video English horticulturist Simon shows you which pest are making a comeback, and which ones are new for this season. Furthermore he will show you what to look for and what steps can e taken to manage your pest problems.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Dahlias

Dahlia growing used to be a big passion with gardeners over most of the latter half of last century, but went out of fashion during the end of the 1970's and early 1980's. However, they appear to becoming more popular again but not the large blowsy show plants. No, it is the more compact forms with dark foliage and simple blooms that have captured gardeners imagination. So to find out how to grow, plant care for and generally get the best performance out of your Dahlias just check out this video from English horticulturalist Simon.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for September

September has finally arrived and immediately brought autumn with it which was a bit crap! We were hoping for two or three weeks of warm weather, but sadly that is now a distant memory. However work in the garden hasn't stopped and with many plants beginning to prematurely drop their leaves due to the drop in temperature the autumn tidy up has already started. To find out more check out English horticulturist Simon's 'Exotic Garden Jobs for September' video.

How to Grow, Plant and Care for the Silver Tree: Leucadendron argentuem

Leucadendron argentuem is arguably one of the most beautiful of all ornamental trees, Commonly known as the 'Silver Tree', it is a native to the cape peninsula of South Africa where sadly it is now endangered due to urban development, inappropriate fire management, and competition from non-native trees! However, there are a number of nurseries which are successfully propagating this stunning species, so if you want to find out the growing requirements of Leucadendron argentuem check out English horticulturist Simon's video 'How to Grow, Plant and Care for the Silver Tree'.

How to Grow, Plant and Care for Canna Lilies

Canna lilies are among the most exotic of all flowering garden plants and while for the most part they are surprisingly easy to look after there can be some mistakes made which will reduce your enjoyment of these plants. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains his essential tips on how to grow plant, grow and care for your Canna lilies as well as cover the most common pests and diseases which they can suffer from.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden September Tour

Oh my goodness, summer is almost over and many of my exotic plants have yet to bloom! So follow English horticulturist as he takes a tour of his exotic garden, bemoaning the performance of his so-called fancy specimen plants.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Plant and Grow Calla Lilies

Calla lilies are a surprisingly cold-hardy, herbaceous perennial with some wonderfully coloured exotic blooms. So if you would like to plant and grow calla lilies check out what English horticulturist Simon has to say regarding his experience of growing them in his tropical effect, cold-hardy exotic garden.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for August Update

With the arrival of August, summer finally returned. But if I am being honest our exotic garden hasn't performed as well as expected, so a certain amount of work has to be put in place to support some of the more tender plants that hadn't survived last winter too well. So in this video English horticulturist Simon takes a tour of his exotic garden to point out which of the works discussed in our earlier video have been achieved.

How to Get Rid of and Kill Box Tree Caterpillar

The box tree caterpillar moth is an insidious pest, capable of denuding a mature box plant in a matter of days! So what can be do to get rid of or kill the Box tree caterpillar? Well, we will be covering three ways in this video so hold onto your hats. However, if you are in the UK it's not going to be all good news! To find out more check out our 'How to Get Rid of and Kill Box Tree Caterpillar' video.

Can you Grow Ginger Lily in the UK? Hedychium species, Hybrids and cult...

The ginger lily genus contains some wonderfully, exotic flowering plants and if you choose wisely there are even a few species and hybrids which you can successfully grow right here in the UK - despite our cold, wet, crappy winters! However, pick the right specimens and it can quite easy to grow ginger lilies in the UK. But getting them to flower, well that is a different thing altogether. So in this video English horticulturist Simon discusses the best plants to choose as well as give his tips on to how to get these magnificent plants to bloom.

How to Get to Tresco Island, Isles of Scilly

Tresco island is arguably the most beautiful and natural of all the Isles of Scilly, however being 24.5 nautical miles away from the UK mainland access to the island can be a little awkward as you can only get there by boat, plane or helicopter! So to find out exactly how you can get there check out our 'How to get to Tesco Island, Isles of Scilly' video, where we explain all - including our own choice for reaching Tresco.

Garden Pest and Disease Warning for August

Apart from a major proliferation of slugs and snails early on in the summer, we seemed to have been let off rather lightly with regards to all other pests and diseases. Well fear not as the early signs are not good, as evidenced by the return of the box caterpillar moth, Fuchsia gall mite and a selection of other hungry creatures. To find out more, English horticulturist Simon chats about the various pests and diseases which have caught his eye in recent weeks.

Tropical Gardens UK: Tresco Abbey Gardens - Head Gardener Tour Part 2

We recently visited one of the UK's top gardens - Tresco Abbey gardens, sited on the gorgeous island of Tresco within the Isles of Scilly archipelago. We also had the fortune to meet up with the Head Gardener at the Abbey gardens - Andrew Lawson, who generously allowed us to film him as we were taken on a detailed tour of these historic terraces.

'Walk With Me Tim' Parody - The New Inn, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Hotel...

'Walk With Me, Tim' is one of Lorna's favourite Youtubers so in this video we decided to do our own version of a 'Walk With Me Tim' hotel review when we took a trip down to Tresco Island to stay at The New Inn.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden July Tour

It's been a long time coming, but the warm weather and burning sunlight has finally arrived. Unfortunately its all 'too little, too late' for many of our exotic effect plants. However growth has moved on and the garden is filling up to finally provide the beginnings of a jungle aesthetic. So join English horticulturist Simon as he shows you around his garden pointing out the plants of seasonal interest.

Tropical Gardens UK: Tresco Abbey Gardens, Isles of Scilly - Head Garde...

How to Grow, Care for and Propagate Houseleeks - Sempervivum

Houseleeks - Sempervivum species and cultivars have been grown for their ornamental uses and their folk law legends for well over 1000 years. In fact there are still a mainstay of garden centre alpine sales beds to this very day due to the popularity of their looks and easy to grow nature. However there are a few environmental conditions that they will not forgive so English horticulturists Simon and Lorna explain exactly what you need to know to grow and care for these wonderful plants.

Tropical Gardens UK: Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing and Planting Hardy B...

If you are looking for plants that bring a touch of the tropics to your garden then there are few plants that have a more intrinsic, exotic look than the Japanese or Hardy Banana - Musa basjoo. However in order to achieve its full potential in your garden you will need to be able to provide it the optimum conditions required to produce those stunning, paddle shaped leave and alien-like fruiting body. To find out who to provide the environment check out English horticulturist Simon's Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing and Planting Hardy Banana.

Top Ten Flowering Garden Plants to Attract Bees

If you have been watching the news then you are probably aware that bees, as well as most other insects, have been in decline since the 1940's. However, bees have recently been under additional pressure with regards to a variety of harmful mites, viruses and beetles! So if you are interested in helping your local population of bees by attracting them with a range of nectar rich flowering plants then check out English horticulturist Simon's top ten plants to attract bees.

How to Deadhead Dahlia Flowers

If you are looking to keep your Dahlias blooming, then you will need to remove the old, faded flowers in a timely fashion. However recognising a spent bloom can sometime be tricky and pruning techniques can vary wildly! So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains why you deadhead Dahlias, when and how to prune dahlias professionally and what happens to your plant if you don't cut off your old flowers.

Five Essential Tips for Growing the Hardy Japanese Banana - Musa basjoo

Musa basjoo, otherwise more commonly known as the Hardy or Japanese Banana, is a surprising robust and cold hardy banana species from the Japanese island of Ryukyo. So tough is it that you can grow this plant outside in the UK all year round, albeit with winter protection is you want to maintain the pseudostems (trunks) So to find out how to get the best display out of your banana tree check out Simon video - Five Essential Tips for Growing the Hardy Japanese Banana - Musa basjoo.

Tropical gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for July Update

So this means to is time for a recap to see which jobs have been completed and which ones are still outstanding and why. It also gives us an opportunity to find out if anything interesting has happened in the garden - which it has! Just check out our banana tree - not a true tree!

How to Kill and Get Rid of Bamboo

If you are looking to kill bamboo permanently, then just was is the best killer for bamboo roots? Well, English horticulturist Simon goes in to detail on the various ways that can work for you.

Garden Pest and Disease Warning for July

With the heat of summer finally here the garden is now in full swing. Plants are growing, flowers are blooming and insects are definitely doing their best to destroy our hard work. So in this video English horticulturist points out the various insect threats that have reared their ugly heads in and around his garden and the various methods of control which can be used to mitigate their damage. This is the 'Garden Pest and Disease Warning for July'!

Tropical Gardens UK: How to get the Hardy Japanese Banana to Flower - Mu...

Banana plants are notoriously difficult to bring in to flower in the UK. In fact the Royal Horticultural society states in its website that is it extremely rare and only limited to a few species and dependent on having a long hot summer! However, English horticulturist Simon thinks that it is a lot easier than most gardeners think so in this video he gives his thoughts on this, as well as showing his own Banana plant in flower.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden July Tour

Everything is flowering two or three weeks later due to the cool spring, however July has finally bought a little colour to the garden. Even the dahlias have begun to bloom - just! So why not join English horticulturist Simon as he shows us just what is what in this exotic garden July tour.

Tropical Gardens UK: Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Bamboo

Most gardeners agree that a healthy, established bamboo can create a fantastic, exotic look to most gardens, however they do need to be chosen and planted with care. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains some of the problems than can occur in his 'five mistakes to avoid growing bamboo' in this video.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for July

Temperatures are moving towards their warmest in July so your cold-hardy exotic plants should be putting on both size and plenty of colour this month. So this means maintenance and plenty of it to keep your tropical effect garden looking at its peak! To find out what to keep you eye out for check out English horticulturist Simon's video where he explains the exotic garden jobs he has planned this July.

A Mystery Plant Arrived, What Happened Next? Fargesia Scabrida 'Asian Wo...

So I received a notification on my phone that a parcel was being delivered shortly. No, that is not unusual as I get these scam texts most days. However this occasion was different as a parcel did indeed turn up at my door! So what on earth was it, and what do I need to do next?

Five Mistakes to Avoid Planting and Growing Lavender - Lavendula

Come the summer and Lavenders start to shine! However, many plants you see planted in suburban garden are often looking overgrown, woody and barely flowering! Well there is something you can do about that. Just check out English horticulturist Simon's 'Five Mistakes to Avoid Planting and Growing Lavender - Lavendula' video.

Tropical Gardens UK Exotic Garden - Great Dixter, Tour and Review

Great Dixter is home to one of the few exotic gardens ever designed and grown in the UK that still exists in roughly its original form. It is also the inspiration for our own garden as well as this gardening channel, so as gardens Lorna and I owe it a debt of thanks. We get to Visit Great Dixter every five years or so which means we have an idea as to how it looked in the past and can make a comparison to how it looked in this latest visit. It is as good and as inspiring as it one was?

Tropical Gardens UK: Outdoor Lighting for your Exotic Garden

Pink hydrangeas can be a real problem, especially if you had originally purchased one that was blue! However there is no need to suck it up as all it not lost! In this video English horticulturist Simon explains what steps you can take in order to change your pink hydrangea back to blue and it is a lot simpler than you think.

Exotic Garden Jobs for June Update

It seems that summer has finally ramped up the temperatures after a cool start to the month of June and with it came a tonne of work to keep up with the garden. We published a video earlier on in the month regarding the jobs we hoped to achieve and in this video we have an update as to what we did indeed accomplish. So just where did we get to with the weeding, plant maintenance, pest management and general dog-work?

How to Care for Stapelia grandiflora - Carron Plant, Starfish Flower, G...

Native to the African continent, Stapelia grandiflora, more commonly known as Carron Plant, Starfish Flower, or Giant Toad Plant, is an exotic flowering evergreen succulent plant that is surprisingly easy to grow. although not a true cactus, it does exhibit many similar characteristics.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Grow the Arum LiIy - Zantedeschia aethiopica

The Arum lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica is a gorgeous evergreen herbaceous plant from southern Africa. Yet despite its exotic origins it has been proven to be surprisingly hardy and easy to grow right here in the UK! To find out more English horticulturist Simon goes in to detail on how to both plant and grow this fantastic flowering plant in your garden.

June Garden Pest and Disease Warning

It's the month of June and along with the weather the incidence or garden pests is beginning to heat up! However, forewarned is forearmed so English horticulturist Simon as been carrying out his monthly garden pest and disease checks and 'snipping them in the bud' as it were with regards to timely applications of fungicides, pesticides or other such management.

How to Plant and Grow Glory Lily tubers - Gloriosa superba, rothschildiana

Glory lilies arguably produce some of the most exotic of all flower structures, yet are easily grown from tubers. While they are not hardy enough to over winter in our English climate the tubers can simply be lifted and stored in cool, dark dry conditions until the following spring. To find out to plant and grow Glory lily tubers such as Gloriosa superba and rothschildiana English horticulturist Simon explains all you need to do.

Is Great Dixter Gardens Worth Visiting - Tour Review

With planting designed by Christopher Lloyd and landscaping by the Victorian, genius architect Edwin Lutyens the gardens at Great Dixter promise a world class display! However it has been a number of years since the death of Christopher Lloyd and so one has to ask if the magic of these two gardening titans still resonates today. To find out more English horticulturists Simon and Lorna take a trip down to East Sussex to find out for themselves.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden June Tour

June is finally here, the first month in which you can expect to see some flower colour in your exotic garden. Unfortunately cold nights and weeks of rain has held back many plants, and provided poor displays from others! Be that as it may, English horticulturist Simon is going to walk around his garden to see what is happening. Hopefully something inspiring can be found?

How to grow African Mexican Marigolds from Seed -Tagetes erecta

If you look around the garden centres it will seem that the impressive pot-grown African marigold, also known as the Mexican marigold, has gone out of fashion. Why? Because they no longer seem to be on sale there any more! However, if you are keen to grow these in your garden all is not lost as the seed of the African/Mexican marigold is still readily available from both garden centres and online retailors. Luckily this plant is very easy to grow from seed so in this video English horticulturist Simon explains how to grow African Mexican Marigolds (Tagetes erecta) from seed.

Tropical Gardens UK: Five Shade Loving Plants for Cold Hardy Tropical Ef...

Shady borders have always been difficult to plant up with interesting, bold or colourful plants so in this video English horticulturist Simon counts down his top 5 shade loving plants for cold hardy, tropical effect. As a bonus there are also a number of other fantastic plants which didn't make the list but are mentioned at the end of the video.

Tropical Gardens UK Exotic Garden Jobs for June

Spring is in full swing so the balmy (or wet if you are in the UK) weather is bringing the garden on in leaps and bounds. Unfortunately the work in the garden is also building up, but if you can keep ahead of the curve you will be able to maintain far higher standards with much less work later on in the year. So in this video English horticulturist Simon walks around his own exotic garden to point out the jobs that he has planned for June.

How to Prick Out and Transplant Baby Plant Seedlings

There are a number of things that can go wrong when handling seedlings so in this video English horticulturist Simon explains his way to prick out and transplant seedlings grow in an old-school seed tray.

How to Grow Giant Sunflowers from Seed Outdoors, Outside - Helianthus gi...

If you have always wanted to grow giant sunflowers for seeds, but thought the were too difficult to do so then I have good news for you. They are no more difficult than regular sunflowers which are as easy as can be! So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains how he germinates his giant sunflower seeds directly into the ground outside/outdoors. If you would like to do the same than consider growing sunflower giganteus Mongolian Giant, Russian giant, Siberian Giant and Titan.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for May Update

It seems that summer has arrived with the month of May and with it came loads of work just to keep up with the garden. We published a video earlier on in the month regarding the jobs we hoped to achieve and in this video we have an update as to what we did indeed accomplish. So just where did we get to with the weeding, plant maintenance and pest management?

You can find the link to that earlier video here, but if you want to find out more exotic garden jobs then check out our playlists.

https://youtu.be/vFw-L3PZagU

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Plant and Grow the Bottlebrush Plant - Call...

The blooms of the bottlebrush plant are as exotic as they come, yet despite originating from the other side of the planet the Bottlebrush - Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens' will grow surprisingly well over here in the UK! Provided it is given adequate cold protection in the early years as well as being planted in favourable conditions according to its native environment it can grow to become an extremely attractive and valuable ornamental plant.

Garden Pest Warning For May

The warm weather of May has brought an abundance of fresh plant growth and with it an explosion of pests breeding as though their very lives depend on it - which of course it does! And while mother nature revels in its burgeoning diversity, gardeners are paying the cost by stupidly growing plants that these God given creatures relish eating. But we are not going to allow our hard earned money to end up down the gob of a marauding slug. No, we are going to put in pest management and combat them with our superior minds and human-like skills! Yes, I am looking at you monkey-boy (forward slash) girl because you can do it too! No one really reads these video descriptions do they?

How to Get Rid of and Kill Scarlet Lily Beetles

The Scarlet Lily Beetle is one of the many scourges that spring brings. So destructive is it that it can reduce a fully grown plant to just stalks and stems in a matter of days! Luckily it is easily identifiable, however controlling it is not as simple as you may think. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains several ways in which you can get rid of and kill scarlet lily beetles.

Tropical Garden UK: Exotic Garden May Tour

The month of May has finally arrived and the weather definitely feels more spring-like, although the nights are still cool enough to put a stop to a decent period of sustained plant growth. However, the warmer temperatures have brought slugs and snails in their droves, and it' almost a full time job keeping them from eating the emerging plants! Anyway there is a lot going on so why not find out more by joining English horticulturist Simon as he tours around his West Sussex exotic Garden?

Tropical Gardens UK: Is the Canary Island Date Palm Cold Winter Hardy -...

The Canary Island Date palm - Phoenix canariensis, is a stunning exotic tree from the Canary Islands and widely planted in the south coast of England. Yet despite reports of it being surprisingly cold winter hardy, many of the young plants purchased fail to survive their first winter. So what is going on? Is it hardy or is it not hardy? Well English horticulturist Simon finds out and explains all in this video.

Free Tomato Seeds and Plants USA and UK

If you are looking for free tomato seeds or plants you might get lucky with a charitable donation but the chances are that you may have to make it happen yourself. The good news is that this is surprisingly simple so in this video English horticulturist Simon explains exactly how he processes the seeds from a shop bought tomato to produce his own tomato plants.

What is Acer Dieback, how to recognise Acer Dieback, How to Treat Acer D...

Step back in time twenty years and there didn't seem to be such as thing as Acer dieback, yet almost everywhere you look now there are usually a few specimens displaying the tell-tale signs of future death! So what is Acer Dieback, what causes it? Furthermore, how do you recognise it and what can you do about it if your have it? Well luckily for you English horticulturist Simon goes deep into these questions and more! You just need to watch this video to find the answers.

How to Plant and Grow Salvia involucrata 'Hadspen'

Salvia involucrata 'Hadspen' is a rarely seen yet absolutely wonderful cultivar that is known for its rather bizarre opening flowerbud! Surprisingly hardy, although it does require a little support for its stems, it is an easy plant to grow so long as you can keep the slugs and snails at bay while they are establishing. So if you want to know how to grow Salvia involucrata 'Hadspen' then English horticulturist Simon will give you the benefit of this knowledge in this video.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic garden Jobs for May

Sunny days and mild nights have finally arrived, albeit with a few hiccups. With this change in the air life is finally flourishing in the garden, with regards to the plants that we want, and the plants, pests and diseases we don't! In order to keep a tight grip on the process so as to maintain standards and not make more work later on in the year English horticulturist Simon explains the exotic garden jobs that he has planned for this May.

Where is the Best Place to Plant and Grow a Camellia

Camellias are arguably the best of all the early spring flowering shrubs, but they can be quite needy with regards to where they are placed in the garden and that includes being planted in to a large container! So in this video English horticulturist breaks down the requirements Camellias need to perform at their best and how to implement that as best as you can in your garden.

Tropical Gardens UK: Is the World's Most Exotic Fuchsia Winter hardy - F...

There are plenty of half-hardy bedding fuchsias available in the spring but one of the most exotic of all ornamental fuchsias is conspicuously missing. And that is the magnificent Fuchsia boliviana! Commonly grown by 'those in the know' or anyone in Madeira, it's time this impressive species was more widely grown here in the UK. So Lorna and I have taken it on ourselves to trial this plant in our cosy, south coast garden to see how it copes with our crappy winter weather. This video is the result of that micro-trial.

Why Have My Camellia Flowers Buds Turned Brown - Camellia Flower Blight

Oh my goodness! Spring has arrived, your Camellias are in bloom, then without warning they have been covered in unsightly, ugly brown markings! So what has caused that and is there anything that can be done to save them? Well, in this video English horticulturist Simon explains what has caused the problem and what can be done about it although be aware that there is no quick and easy treatment! So check out why have your camellia flower buds turned brown - Camellia flower blight to find out more.

Five Mistakes To Avoid Planting and Growing Tree Lilies

Tree lilies are arguably the king of all lilies and why wouldn't they be? Massive blooms, impressive heights, hardy and low maintenance it's surprising that more aren't seen as you walk around your suburban paradise! Anyway, to get the very best out of your display there are a few planting decisions that need to be both made and actioned, so in this video English horticulturists Simon and Lorna point out their five mistakes to avoid when planting and growing Tree lilies.

How To Plant and Grow Bare-Root Dahlias

Dahlias can provide one of the best floral displays over the summer and autumn, assuming they are kept dead-headed. However they can prove to be expensive when purchased on bloom. However, by purchasing them in the spring as bare-root section you can not only save your hard earned money you can generally find a far larger selection to choose from especially if you are sourcing from specialist growers on the internet. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains how he plants and grows his bare-root dahlias to get the best out of them.

How to Plant and Grow Crinum Bulbs - Crinum Powellii, Powell's Swamp Lily

You can't argue that Crinum bulbs produce a spectacular bloom both in its size and in its architecture. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains his technique for planting the Crinum powellii bulb in order to get the best performance out of it.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden April Tour - Arundel Castle Special

Arundel Castle Gardens are a hidden gem of exotic UK gardens and for some bizarre reason is seldom mentioned in the media! However Lorna and I have taken it upon ourselves to showcase this stunning garden in all of its April glory. And where many exotic gardens tend to fall down at this time of year (I'm looking at you RHS Wisley) this one still manages to shine brightly.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for April

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and if you have done enough research, enough work and spent enough money then your exotic garden may actually showing some ornamental value this early on in the spring. Ours still needs work and the money will have to wait, but there are a lot of jobs that need actioning in a timely fashion! So in this video English horticulturist Simon takes a tour of his exotic garden to point our the relevant jobs he is looking at this April.

Regarding the tree fern spring maintenance video mentioned, the link is below:

https://youtu.be/2ye1FKuO-Lo

How to Plant and Grow Seed Potatoes in a Container or Pot

If you want to grow healthy, excellently flavoured potatoes, but neither have the room outside nor a garden for traditionally trenched rows, then planting your seed potatoes into a large pot or container could be just the solution you are looking for. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains what you need to get started and his technique for producing a strong healthy crop.

Tree Fern Unwrapping and Spring Maintenance - Dicksonia antarctica

With the returning mild spring weather, tree ferns are awakening and with that work needs to be done. Winter protection will need to be removed and environmental needs need to be met in order to give these wonderful plants the best start. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains what spring maintenance he implements regarding his tree ferns - Dicksonia antarctica, once the winter protection has been put aside for another year.

April Garden Pests Warning!

April brings with it warmer weather, rain and the emergence of new plant growth. In fact one could say that it has everything you need to kick start your garden pests into abundant, foliage-destructive life! Unfortunately the poorer weather of the previous months has meant that many gardeners have avoided venturing into the garden but this is a mistake as many common garden pests are already actively feeding and breeding. To find out what are the likely culprits in your garden, as well as how to combat them, English horticulturist Simon discusses four of the worst in this April garden pest warning.

How to Plant and Grow Bare-Root Canna Lilies

As far as exotic plants go Canna lilies almost have it all! They are hardy throughout a good proportion of the UK, they produce incredible tropical -effect, architectural foliage, and once they start flowering they will last almost until the first frost so long as you keep on top of the dead-heading. However they can be expensive to purchase the fancy varieties once they come into season, unless of course you take advantage of purchasing your canna lilies as bare-root sections come the spring. So if you are one of the organised early-birds you may well be interested in how to plant and grow bare-root canna lilies. Well in this video English horticulturist Simon and Lorna explain how they manage theirs.

Is RHS Wisley England's Best Garden? We Take a Tour

The Royal Horticultural Society gardens at Wisley, Woking, is not only the best of all the RHS gardens, but it is at least in our opinion one of the very best gardens in England! It displays a large number of extremely well designed and executed gardens, with a high level of both maintenance and detailing. In fact one could argue that no expense is spared. So we put it to you, is RHS Wisley England's best garden? If you don't agree then let us know what is your favourite garden in the comments. You never know, Lorna and I may well give it a visit to see for ourselves

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Tomatoes from Seeds

Tomatoes are one of the easiest edible crops to grow from seed but there are so many things than can go wrong and ruin it all! So in this video English horticulturist points out his top five mistakes to avoid when growing Tomatoes from seed. So with a little patience and forward preparation you too will able to guarantee a successful crop.

How to Plant and Grow Musa basjoo - Hardy or Japanese Banana

The hardy Japanese banana is arguably the toughest of all banana plants and is super-easy to grow here in the UK. With roots cold tolerant to -15 degrees Celsius it is as strong as they come and they require next to no maintenance other that watering during periods of drought.

How to Plant and Grow Ginger Lilies - Bare Root Hedychium

With milder winters, and a far better availability from our traditional garden and on-line retailors, Ginger lilies are slowly becoming the 'must-have' plants of the season. In fact, no self-respecting cold hardy, tropical effect and exotic garden should be without one, especially with a number of choice specimens capable of surviving outside in our UK winters - albeit in the milder regions of the southern and south-western counties. With so many fancy, as well as RHS tried and tested hybrids, available just how do you plant and grow bare-root ginger lilies (Hedychium hybrids)? English horticulturist Simon and Lorna explain how.

Tropical Gardens UK: RHS Wisley Exotic Garden March Tour Walk-Around

Although spring has barely begun to sprung, any good exotic, tropical effect garden should have something interesting to look at, at anytime of year! So Lorna and I took a rare opportunity to visit RHS Wisley this March to check out their exotic garden to see what, if anything, it has to offer. So why not join us as we embark on our RHS Wisley exotic garden March tour?

Tropical Gardens UK: Five Genuinely Blue, Cold-Hardy Palm Trees

If palm trees were not exotic enough for an English garden, there are a number of absolutely fantastic blue palm trees available too. All of which are capable of withstanding the freezing temperatures of England, although one at least will only survive the very mildest regions of the UK such as those hallowed Isles of Scilly. To find out more, check out English horticulturist Simon top five genuinely blue, cold hardy palm trees.

Tropical gardens UK: Exotic Garden March Tour Walk Around

March has brought with it a change in the air! The nights are milder and plants are racing to emerge from the soil. So its worth having a walk around the garden to witness the beginnings of new life, as well as enjoy the early flowering bulbs. So why not join English horticulturist Simon as he shows you what is on the move in his exotic garden in his monthly walk around tour?

Tropical Gardens UK: New Plants for our Exotic Garden

The winter calendar has finally clicked over from February to March allowing specialist nurseries to finally dispatched long awaited exotic plants to eager customers such as myself. Within just a few days, a number of packages turned up at our front door, so in this video English horticulturist Simon opens the boxes to find out which new plants for our exotic garden have arrived.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for March

With the milder overnight temperatures of March you can really begin to see plants waking up for spring. Early bulbs are coming into bloom and even hardier plants are beginning to break bud. This means it time to start preparing for the weeks and months to come to ensure the very best spring and summer displays. So check out English horticulturist Simon's exotic garden jobs for March to find out what he is planning for his garden.

Are Aspidistra elatior Cold Winter Hardy - Cast Iron Plant?

The Cast Iron Plant - Aspidistra elatior is well known as a popular houseplant of the Victorian period and for good reason. It is drought tolerant, cold tolerant, shade tolerant and capable of surviving the coal-smoke filled atmosphere of the Victorian drawing room. But is it tough enough to cope outside in a typical English winter? Well English horticulturist Simon says yes and in this video explains his thinking behind it.

Tropical Gardens UK: Can You Grow a Banana Tree Outside in the UK ?

As far as tropical-effect plants go banana trees (not a true tree) are arguable amongst the most iconic. So wouldn't it be amazing if it were possible to grow a fully hardy banana plants outside, all year round, in your own garden despite our awful winter weather? Well it turns out that you can - assuming you don't mind that it won't produce edible fruit, and it not just a choose of one, there are literally three banana and banana-likey's that you can take your pick from. To find out more check out English horticulturist Simon's top three hardy plants from the banana family.

How to Plant and Grow Magnolia x soulangeana - Saucer Magnolia, Tulip T...

Magnolia x soulangeana, along with its many gorgeous hybrids, is arguably the first full-blown, outstanding horticultural display of the spring. With its massive blooms opening up and unobscured by leafless stems it is no wonder that this superstar of a plant is so popular here in the UK. So to find out how to plant and grow Magnolia X Soulangeana otherwise known as the Saucer Magnolia, Tulip Tree or Chinese Magnolia check out English horticulturist Simon top tips in this video.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Planting and Growing Crocosmia Bulbs - Montbretia

Crocosmia cultivars and hybrids are one of the great mainstays of the tropical-effect, exotic garden. However as a native to southern and eastern Africa some specimens are hardier than other and native conditions are best matched as possible to get the most out of these impressive plants. So to get the most out of your Crocosmias (commonly called Montbretias) English horticulturist Simon explains his five mistakes to avoid when planting and growing Crocosmia (Montbretia) bulbs.

How to Plant and Grow Tree Peonies, Peony , Paeonia suffruticosa

Tree Peonies are one of those plants that gardeners tend to put on a pedestal. Exquisitely fragile, expensive if you have purchased one from a decent propagator, yet full of eastern exoticness! I think exoticness is a real word. Anyway, come the spring and the garden centres are usually full of cheaply grafted plants at a comparably reasonable price - although the quality can be a little suspect. Be hat as it may you are going to want to do the best by them so check out English horticulturists Lorna and Simon guide on how to plant and grow Tree Peonies, Peony, Paeonia suffruticosa.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Jobs for February

While technically still winter, February is usually when the first signs of spring appear. However a few mild days can spring the garden back into to life so its worth taking advantage of these balmy times to get on top of those time sensitive jobs which can greatly benefit you further into the season.

Check out the following video links as mentioned in the above video:

HOW TO PLANT BARE ROOT KNIPHOFIA?

https://youtu.be/j1Q1_VtlojQ

HOW TO PLANT BARE ROOT AGAPANTHUS?

https://youtu.be/eKPVtXdl8ug

Five Mistakes to Avoid Planting and Growing Bare-Root Peonies, Peony, Pa...

Peonies are arguably some of the most bold and impactful of all ornamental flowering plants. However they can be surprisingly expensive, especially when bought in bloom. So by keeping an eye out in your local garden centres and other plant retailing outlets come early spring there is a good chance that you will be able to find a reasonable selection of pre-packed, bare-root peonies available for sale and at a far more reasonable price! That being said there are a few thing you will need to know in order the get the very best performance out of your bare-root plants so in this video English horticulturist Lorna explains her five mistakes to avoid when planting and growing bare-root peonies.

Tropical Gardens UK:Exotic Garden February Tour Walk Around

At face value there isn't much to see in an exotic garden in February. Look at bit closer however, and you will see that life is returning for its big, spring comeback! So join English horticulturist Simon as he takes a late winter tour around his garden to see just what is on the move.

When do you Plant Snowdrops - Galanthus nivalis

Although not the first plant to flower in a new year snowdrops are easily the most recognisable and with their pure-white blooms the most noticeable! Often seen naturalised throughout the UK one might be forgiven for wanting to grow this extremely cute and perfectly formed bulb in your own garden. Assuming this is true, just when is the best time for planting snowdrops - Galanthus nivalis?

Five Common Cycad Problems Treatment and Recovery - Sago Palm, Cycas re...

Cycads are arguably the kings of an exotic-effect garden and why wouldn't they be? They have ridiculously glossy leaves, wonderful architectural structure and more importantly look as cute as a button! However they can suffer from cultural, and environmental as well as a number of pests and disease. So check out this video where English horticulturist Simon explains his five common problem, treatment and recovery of the Sago Palm - Cycas revoluta.

How to Plant and Grow Bare Root Agapanthus - Lily of the Nile

Indigenous to the southern African continent, Agapanthus (common name 'Lily of the Nile') is a truly gorgeous genus of herbaceous plants, perfect for almost any style of garden. So assuming you wish to have them in your garden the chances are that you have taken the opportunity to purchase bare root specimens in the spring, therefore avoiding the far higher purchase prices of established pot grown plants when the weather improves.

How to Plant and Grow Bare Root Kniphofia - Red Hot Poker

The Red-Hot Poker - 'Kniphofia' is a fantastic and mostly hardy addition for the exotic, tropical-effect garden. Often bought as bare root plants in the spring there are a few issues which can arise when compared to established pot grown specimens. However, English horticulturists Simon and Lorna point out the most common problems and how to resolve them.

How to Plant and Grow Crocosmia Bulbs - Montbretia

What is the Hardiest Tree Fern in the World

Tree ferns have not only a gorgeous primordial presence but they can also add a fantastic exotic dimension to any tropical effect garden. However, despite many tree fern genera being native to subtropical and tropical climates there are a few that you can consider growing in the mildest regions of the UK. However tree ferns are expensive and so to save losing a prized specimen to freezing conditions just which is the hardiest tree fern that you can buy? To find out English horticulturist picks out three of the most widely cultivated tree ferns for garden use and checks out their relative cold hardiness.

Those are Sphaeropteris cooperi, Dicksonia antarctica and Dicksonia squarrosa.

How To Grow Hardy Fuchsia 'Genii'

If you are looking to grow hardy Fuchsia then arguably one of the most striking colour forms is the fantastic Fuchsia 'Genii'. They are both robust and easy to grow however to get the pest performance out of them there are a couple of tricks of the trade that you can employ. To find out what they are check out English horticulturist Simon video on how to grow hardy Fuchsia 'Genii'.

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