Gardening with the RHS Dead Hedges, Magical Mints and a Mycelial Menace
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Jul 24, 2025 Sam Southgate, a passionate horticulturalist from RHS Garden Rosemoor, discusses creative ways to repurpose garden waste into structures that benefit both gardens and local wildlife. Mary Coates shares her intriguing research on the troublesome honey fungus and invites listeners to get involved. The conversation also celebrates the mint family, featuring innovative designs from the RHS Hampton Court. From enhancing biodiversity to brewing garden-inspired beverages, this episode is a delightful dive into vibrant gardening possibilities.
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Creating "The Nest" Dead Hedge
- Sam Southgate shared how he created an ornamental dead hedge called "The Nest" using woody garden waste.
- It provides a cozy wildlife habitat and a sheltered seating area, enhancing garden biodiversity and visitor engagement.
Advice on Building Dead Hedges
- Build dead hedges with compacted woody material as long-lasting wildlife habitats and garden screens.
- Incorporate climbers like honeysuckle for shelter and delightful scents, creating engaging sensory garden spaces.
Where to Find Hedge Materials
- Source sticks for dead hedges from local wildlife reserves, coppicing areas, gardeners, and arborists.
- These places often have spare timber they want to dispose of, making it easy and cost-effective to gather materials.