Roots and All - Gardening Podcast

Today, Sarah interviews Paul Hetherington, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Buglife Invertebrate Conservation Organisation, with a particular interest in discussing worms and depending on the type, their significance in the garden. So dip into the world of our 2 enthusiasts for an insightful chat about the trials and tribulations of this common garden dweller and much understated invertebrate. Learn about the enormous impact they have on our ecosystems and how we can encourage and nurture these ultimate 'friends of the earth'. However it pays to be mindful that not all worms have a positive effect on our environment! As ever, this episode is full of useful tips and advice to bring out the horticulturist in all of us! Points of interest; How to identify a particular type of worm. Importance of earthworms on the landscape and our produce. How to encourage more earthworms and identify the ones we don't want. Chemicals and the effects they can have on earthworms. Worms and compost. The implications of native and non-native species. FAQs Answered; How many species of worm are there in the uk? How do I conduct an earthworm count? What do worms look like when they self fertilise? Why can we consider earthworms as natural recyclers? Which worms are good for the garden and which ones are not? Guest follow up; Visit buglife.org.uk - Particular topic of concern is pollination and species at risk. Find out how you can help? Further useful research; www.opalexplorenature.org www.ispotnature.org www.field-studies-council.org www.earthwormsoc.org Royal Entomological Society "Formation of vegetable mould through The action of worms" by Charles Darwin 1881. Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

Anyone with a modest or sizeable outdoor space will appreciate the time and effort that goes into maintaining it. So the question professionals in the industry are often asked is, how do I get a good gardener? In the second episode of this series, Sarah Wilson finds out some answers as she interviews Claire Vokins a friend and fellow Horticulturist, who runs her own garden care business, Elizabeth Clare Gardening Ltd, in South West London. With a no-nonsense approach, Claire blows the lid off this topic and reveals a wealth of knowledge and practical advice. Learn about the benefits and pitfalls of hiring a gardener, the many variables to consider and the most important factors when deciding on your choice, especially the ever grey area of how much you can expect to pay on an hourly rate. Adversely, pick up some helpful pointers on what to do if hiring a regular gardener is out of your budget. So whether it's a 'jungle cut' or a more detailed maintenance and care plan you have in mind for your outdoor space, there is bound to be something that will grab your attention in this episode. Points of interest; Where to source a professional gardener. Retaining your gardener. Resources to teach yourself about the plants in your garden. Guidelines on garden rubbish disposal. Common gardening mistakes. How to deal with inherited gardens. How to have ownership of your outdoor space. FAQs answered; What hourly rate should I expect to pay my gardener? Should I let my gardener use my tools or ask them to supply their own? When are gardeners at their busiest? When should I book a landscape gardener if I wish to have more extensive changes done to my garden? Guest follow up; Elizabeth Clare Gardening Ltd Twitter @ECGardeningLtd Claire Vokins Twitter @CEVokins Further useful research; www.rhs.org.uk www.shootgardening.co.uk Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall

In the first episode of this insightful series, Sarah covers one of her favourite topics as she talks to two special guests about Dahlias. Join Emma Page, Award winning Horticulturalist and Garden Designer and Dave Gillam, Chairman of the National Dahlia's Society as well as being the General Manager for Abercorn Garden Centre in Chelmsford, as they share their extensive knowledge and experience. We discover the inspiration behind Dave Gillam's passion for growing Dahlias competitively and find out our guests favourite type of Dahlia, and why. So whether its growing them for the sheer pleasure of it, or you are a bit more serious about the whole affair and wish to grow these beautiful plants in order to compete, this is the place to learn more about the 'tender' perennial. They may not be considered low maintenance but any effort put into growing them is likely to be highly rewarded. Points of interest; Dahlia growing routine and the 'mystery' of growing from seed. Leaving Dahlias in the ground. Planting Dahlias in beds. Growing in tubers. Combating the 'danger zone' surrounding the first shoots. Tempting varieties of Dahlias, including the Honka Fragile. Species vs Hybrids FAQs Answered; Where can I buy Dahlias? What do I do with Dahlia tubers? To stake or not to stake? How do I go about dead-heading? What are the well-known competitive varieties of Dahlia? Where can I buy Dahlias for weddings or other special events? Guest follow up; Emma Page www.natureredesigned.co.uk Email her directly at info@natureredesigned.co.uk Emma Twitter @epgd181 Dave Gilliam - YouTube www.dahlias-nds.co.uk National Dahlia Society - and Facebook Abercorn garden centre, Chelmsford Please find Richard Ramsey's transcribed interview on the Roots and all website. Find Richard at www.withypitts-dahlias.co.uk. for ideas on; Cut flowers, Dahlia seedlings, floristry, flowers for big events. Further useful research; www.hallsofheddon.com A Specialist plant nursery; Dahlias and Chrysanthemums. Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk Website www.rootsandall.co.uk Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod Patreon Link; https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall