Dig It

The first blossom, bulbs are coming into their own and there’s a bit of welcome warmth to the sunshine -spring has officially sprung! Peter Brown and Chris Day delve into March with this month’s busy podcast, including what’s on, topical news, the Dig It top 5 and much more. What’s on Saturday 11th March  is Orchid Day at the Garden Centre with Dig It’s favourite Orchid expert Manos Kane...

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) open exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands raising money for charity through admission fees, tea and cake. Over the past 96 years the NGS has raised over 67 million pounds for charities. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with the Chief Executive of the NGS, George Plumptre and discuss the huge impact opening o...

In this month’s Dig It podcast Peter Brown and Chris Day look at how the gradual change in seasons is beginning to affect what we plant, prune and plan ahead in our gardens. Thursday 2nd February Chasing Plants talk with Dr Chris Thorogood in Oxford, 7-8pm.  Saturday 4th February, 10am-4pm. Our Graft & Grow Event at the Garden Centre with The Mid Shires Orchard Group and grafters Andy How...

In this episode of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Charles Dowding, a leading champion of no-dig gardening. Not only does he have a huge following, but his advice is born out of more than 40 years of growing, analysing, comparing, and recommending. We learn about the process of his No Dig philosophy from soil preparation, weed control, plant nutrition and how this method could work for...

There’s plenty to chat about in the garden this January as Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the gardening stories making the headlines, the Dig It Top 5 as well as tackling those gardening tasks. What’s on Snowdrop gardens and snowdrop days https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/seasonal/snowdrops.html Monday 16th January: Small is Beautiful, a talk by Alys Fowler www.kew.org/kew-gardens/...

A passion for houseplants In this episode of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Tony Le-Britton, passionate houseplant professional and owner of Not Another Jungle shop in Northampton. From humble beginnings growing houseplants in a greenhouse in the house (yes, really!) a childhood ambition fulfilled by appearing on the Gardeners’ World to developing his own special style and flair in he...

December 2022 in the Garden (short notes) Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day delve into the stories affecting gardeners and the gardening trade, plus jobs to do in the garden. In the news The RHS move their gooseberry and rhubarb national collections from Wisley to Bridgewater, near Manchester. The 5,000-year-old Newlands Corner Yews are highlighted as part of the Conservation Foundations 40th...

Alan’s down-to-earth world of gardening Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with horticultural supremo Alan Down in this latest Dig It podcast. Alan has been incredibly active in the gardening trade from early days in commercial growing in Germany, developing skills in germinating tree seeds and in Somerset to setting up a very successful garden centre and most recently taking on a new role - President...

The mild weather continued into November but plenty of rain and wind brought the garden to a colourful if damp end to autumn. Peter Brown and Chris Day prepare for the bare-root planting season, delve into some of the popular news stories making the headlines, plus a look at some of those pressing jobs in the garden and with our beloved houseplants. What’s on Monday 7th November: Wilding Rural Enf...

In this edition of Dig It Chris Day chats with the editor of Garden Trade News (GTN) Trevor Pfeiffer. Trevor examines how the massive garden trade, suppliers of both products and plants help spread news and information as well as analysing the sales across the trade in the Best Sellers Charts. Trevor gives us some of his personal insights into the garden centre trade from sustainability and g...

Peter Brown and Chris Day start preparing for winter as well as providing us with a roundup of the latest news and views from the world of gardening. What’s on Saturday 1st – Sunday 2nd October: Buckingham Garden Centre’s Apple Weekend with Gerry Edwards, The Mid Shires Orchard Group, CPRE The Countryside Charity, BBOWT, Chrissie’s Owls (Saturday), plus Junior Gardening Club’s children’s best dres...

For the past 33 years Kathy and her husband Simon have created a simply amazing Manor House Garden in Stevington, just north of Bedford. It’s a garden full of inspiration, buoyed by Kathy’s keen use of colour and structure as well as plenty of great plants. In this episode of Dig it, Peter Brown and Chris Day discover more about how the garden evolved, advice on growing plants in containers using...

After a challenging hot and dry summer in the garden we enter the month of September and a change in season. Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle some essential tasks for the month, plus they look at the latest garden news and events coming up at the Garden Centre. Wednesday 21st September: Orchid Day 11am-3pm at the Garden Centre. We will be joined by Manos Kanellos, top orchid guru and a pr...

In this edition of Dig It, Chris Day chats with Pauline Brown, Partner at Buckingham Garden Centre and Nurseries, to discover more about the history and evolution of the business looking at the changes in the way we garden, the development of the site over five decades and how trends have impacted on the business from sustainability to new plants. We also chat to Pauline about her own passion...

Make sure you’re ready for August in the garden with Dig It’s round-up of garden news, events as well as a look at those essential tasks to be getting on with top advice from Buckingham Garden Centre’s Peter Brown and Chris Day. What’s on 3rd-7th August RHS Hyde Hall Flower Show , Chelmsford, Essex 4t h August Summer Cycle at the Royal Botanic Kew Gardens , Richmond, 5.30-8.30pm Wednesday 17th at...

July is traditionally the start of the cherry season so in this edition of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with Vikki Grainge from Horwood Cherries, to discover more about growing these delicious fruits famed for their wonderful flavour despite the short of season of cropping. Plants mentioned: Flowering ornamental cherries including ‘ Amanogawa’ and ‘Kanzan’ , Prunus avium (wild cherry, bi...

Make sure you’re ready for July in the garden with Dig It’s round-up of garden news, events as well as a look at those essential tasks to be getting on with, with top advice from Peter Brown and Chris Day. What’s On 4th - 9th July RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The world’s largest flower show. Wednesday 6th July at 4pm at Buckingham Garden Centre - FREE talk Tom Gadsby’s Garden Design Maste...

The Queen of Herbs – Jekka McVicar Jekka McVicar talks with Dig It’s Peter Brown and Chris Day about the popularity in growing herbs, tips on growing them, plus a fascinating insight into her RHS show work Jekka shares her passion for growing and propagating herbs, organic growing, meeting the Queen and Jekka spills the beans on her exciting new herb garden project which opens next year. Plant men...

As we garden into June, so the priorities of tasks change with maintenance, planting and sowing still important along with tasks to keep our gardens moving onwards and upwards, including wildlife ponds, pondwater coverage tips, tomato growing and some essential pruning. After a busy May, Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day look at some of the topical news stories, happenings at the garden centr...

How to be a better wildlife gardener In this podcast Peter Brown and Chris Day chat with gardening expert and nature lover Martin Fish. Topics covered include invaluable advice on developing a wildlife friendly garden, lawn meadows, managing wildlife and how best to achieve the right balance of potential pests and wildlife, his thoughts, and observations on the new trends in re-wilding and his tak...

Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day tackle the merry month of May with a look at some of the topical national horticultural news stories, including the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, plus there’s gardening tasks galore to be getting on with as well as developing your flower gardens. What’s on this month No Mow May Wednesday 11th at 4pm and Saturday 14th May at 3pm FREE Masterclass Growing Per...

From peeking over hedgerows to see flowers from a different viewpoint and scrumping apples on a horse, leading nursery expert Rosemary Hardy’s love of plants and gardening blossomed from a very young age. Rosemary chats to Peter Brown and Chris Day about the development of the nursery from a walled garden just down the road to their current beautifully nurtured 13-acre Hampshire Nursery in Freefol...

April is a busy month in the garden and after a relatively mild and dry March there’s plenty to be getting on with. Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day look at some of the topical news stories including the new listings of poisonous plants (potentially toxic to humans and our pets) from the HTA, the peat-free debate continues, the seaside town of Morecambe receives a 12-acre wildflower meadow a...

In this episode we talk to David Hedges-Gower, the UK's leading lawn expert. who has more than 36 years of lawn and turf experience. Dig It hosts Peter Brown and Chris Day learn how our lawns have evolved over the years, share practical advice on sowing and growing a new lawn from seed, the types of lawn seed available, the importance of feeding, aeration, scarification and irrigation, the process...

March in the Garden As we celebrate our first year of Dig It, Peter Brown and Chris Day look at some of the topical news stories including changes in the garden centre world, a university led community gardening study and a new autumn plant fair. In the podcast we prepare the greenhouse for spring, start plants from seed indoors and out, share hints on spring bulbs and how to help our hedgehogs. I...