Gardeners' Corner

With the heat wave continuing Gardeners’ Corner is live at Garden Show Ireland in Antrim Castle Gardens. David Maxwell is joined by Diarmuid Gavin, Cherry Townsend and Mary Doris who will take questions from an invited audience. Also on the programme, with house plants one of the big themes at this year's show, Conrad McCormick will pick some of his favourites and away from the show David heads to...

As summer begins in the garden, David Maxwell finds inspiration at Ireland’s biggest gardening show. In its 17th year, Bord Bia Bloom attracted over 100,000 visitors. In the programme, David catches up with Oliver Shurmann from Mount Venus nurseries who designed an imaginative woodland garden for under 5s which won best large garden and with house plants more popular than ever, Pat Keville from Pl...

Do you have native plants in your garden? A visit to True Harvest Seeds in Kilclief in Co Down showcases some of the native origin plants growing in the wild and how Debbie Gillies and the team of volunteers are preserving the seeds for the future. From the homegrown to the exotic - David heads to Cluain na dTor in Donegal to see Seamus O' Donnell's collection of stunning plants from across the wo...

David visits the gardening event of the year – the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023. With 36 show gardens and a pavilion full of plant experts, Gardeners’ Corner looks at the show from the perspective of the ordinary gardener. What elements can we all put into practice and with several gardens featuring ‘weeds’, should we all be growing more of them or is that a step too far? Of course, the celebritie...

In this late spring edition of the programme, presenter David Maxwell visits the new community garden in the County Down village of Saintfield. In County Donegal, Joanne and Milo Butler run OURganic in the hills above Gortahork. The gardens are used to teach others about organically growing food and the principles of permaculture. Jekka McVicar chooses basil as her ‘Herb of the Month’ and gives so...

Gardeners Corner takes questions from Gardeners’ at the Balmoral Show 2023. David Maxwell is joined by experts Claire McNally and Ann Fitzsimmons. Questions from the audience include plants for a shady exposed back garden and when to fertilise daffodils. Also on the programme, David visits a flower farm in Magherafelt, a guide to fertilisers and why alliums should steal the show in your garden in...

In this Gardeners’ Corner special to mark the coronation, presenter David Maxwell travels to the private garden of King Charles III in Gloucestershire. He’s shown around by Derry man, Brian Corr who learnt his gardening trade in Northern Ireland before becoming Head of Gardens at the King's Highgrove Estate. David explores the different areas of this organic garden which the King has been hands on...

How much do you think about your garden after dark? In this programme presenter David Maxwell meets Jo Mulholland who’s mad about moths. He finds out about their decline and what gardeners can do to help these often underrated pollinators. Mary Doris has tips on how to look after spring flowering bulbs to make sure they perform next year and John Gault gives a masterclass in rhododendron care from...

With two weeks until the coronation, David visits a garden under construction to mark the event. Diarmuid Gavin’s bold design for The King’s Coronation garden will soon be an eye catching attraction at Hazelbank Park on the shores of Belfast Lough. Among those helping to get the garden finished on time are some students from CAFRE’s Greenmount campus. Also on the programme, Helen Mark visits the N...

David visits Jekka’s herb farm near Bristol on its first open day of the season where Jekka McVicar shows him around the new herb garden. In Hillsborough, as the spring spectacular gets underway, Claire Woods reveals how even the professionals have nature to contend with sometimes and Montalto Estate near Ballynahinch launches its Lost Garden. In studio, Ann Fitzsimmons will join David with some E...

In this Gardeners’ Corner special, live from Fairview Primary School, David Maxwell joins the children, parents and teachers at Fairview Primary School in Ballyclare. In collaboration with the Education team at BBC Northern Ireland, the programme showcases some of the great gardening taking place in schools across Northern Ireland. Experts Claire McNally and Brendan Little will be on hand to offer...

How do you garden for gorillas? David meets the man who was in charge of planting at Dublin Zoo for four decades. Stephen Butler explains how the plants enhance the environment for the animals and give a sense of their natural habitat. At Ballywalter, Anna Hudson is building walls out of logs – an attractive feature in any garden and great for wild life. In Greyabbey, on the Ards Peninsula, there...

David Maxwell heads to Rosie Maye’s garden in Slane, County Meath where she has an enviable collection of hellebores. From named varieties to self-sown seedlings, they are the stars of the show in March. In Ballywalter, Anna Hudson is preparing veg beds in the glasshouses using homemade compost and digestate, a by-product of anaerobic digestion. Jekka McVicar reveals her herb of the month and Cher...

At Mount Venus Nursery in the Dublin hills David Maxwell meets owner Oliver Schurmann whose enthusiasm for plants can be traced back to a local farmer giving him a handful of seeds. He still retains that childlike wonder as he tends to walled garden which blends seamlessly with the nursery full of both common and unusual plants. Mary Doris has tips on creating a garden that appeals to all the sens...

David Maxwell heads to Powerscourt Gardens in County Wicklow where 3000 roses are being planted in the Italian garden. Head gardener, Alex Slazenger introduces David to some of the winter highlights in a garden for all seasons. In Hazelbank Park on the north shore of Belfast Lough, Diarmuid Gavin is starting work on a garden to mark the coronation. Mary Doris has tips of creating garden for all th...

As the Snowdrops reach their peak David Maxwell heads to one of the biggest collections in the country at Altamont Gardens in County Carlow. The collection started by Corona North has been maintained and increased since she left Altamont to the state in 1999. David meets Robert Miller, a resident ‘Galanthophile’ who introduces him to both rare and run of mill snowdrops. In Wicklow, David visits Ji...

This week David Maxwell heads through the Glens of Antrim to Glenmona House in Cushendun. The 19th century house, owned by the National Trust, is getting a new lease of life. David meets gardener, Una Quinn, who wants to make the grounds both flamboyant and practical. At Ann Fitzsimmon’s garden in Killinchy, she is taming two thugs; a fig tree that has got out of hand and bamboo that was threateni...

Gardener’s Corner focuses on the North West with visits to the walled garden at Oakfield Park in Raphoe. Estate manager David Fisher sets the scene and Head gardener Wendy Bridgett gives presenter David Maxwell a tour of the 18th century walled garden. In Derry, David visits an award winning community garden between the city’s walls and The Fountain estate. Alan Warke explains how the space has be...

In this week’s programme David Maxwell heads to a frozen Florence Court and takes refuge in the brand new glass houses in the 1930s kitchen garden. Ian Marshall explains how they have recreated the original greenhouses and added a 21st century twist. Also on the programme, in windy Ballyrobert Maurice Parkinson is planting wild foxgloves. He says they are an ideal free plant in any garden because...

This week David finds out more about the ultimate easy to grow plant – the peony. Grower Alec White explains why he gave up a career in law when he fell in love with their brilliant blooms and why they are a worthwhile investment, lasting over 50 years in the garden. Also on the programme, James Shippen on the biomechanics of digging and Jekka McVicar reveals the first of her herbs of the month. I...

In the first programme of 2023 David visits the Montalto Estate’s Winter garden where new head gardener Lesley Heron points out some of her favourite plants for winter interest. In Newcastle, David finds out about the work of the Ark Community Garden, a Christian charity working with vulnerable adults to produce veg for the local community. And it might be mid-winter but Gardeners’ Corner gets a t...

As one year gives way to another, David Maxwell looks back at the gardening year of 2022 including; a visit to Gravetye Manor in Sussex - the home of the influential Victorian Irish gardener William Robinson, Bloom in Dublin and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London. In Randalstown, David witnesses the transformation of a viaduct into a unique garden space funded by the RHS and at Airfield Estate...

Ahead of the Christmas Day celebrations, David Maxwell and the gardening experts get together for a festive fireside chat. Ann Fitzsimmons plays host at her Killinchy garden set amidst the County Down drumlins. Also joining in, for hot chocolate and Mexican molé muffins (with home grown chillies!) are Brendan Little and Cherry Townsend. The gardening gurus show how the garden can play its part pro...

With one week until Christmas Eve, join David Maxwell and experts for some seasonal gardening inspiration. Renowned herb expert Jekka McVicar reveals what she’ll be using from the garden and Christmas and homemade remedies for sore throats! Klaus Laitenberger has more lesser known seeds up his sleeve, including poppy seeds for use in baking. At Nettlefield Primary School, it’s all go at the new sc...

As the chill of winter bites, David is joined in studio by Ann Fitzsimmons for some timely advice on protecting the garden when the mercury falls. One listener wants advice on ‘Old Man’s Beard’ but this one isn’t wearing a red suit. From Greenmount college to New Jersey – David Wilson on the joy of his horticultural career. At Ballyrobert Cottage Garden, Maurice Parkinson is clearing away the remn...