Gardening with the RHS

Join hellebore expert John Grimshaw as he shares insights on nurturing these resilient winter flowers, including breeding tips and caring for native species. RHS entomologist Josie Stuart highlights the invaluable role of hoverflies in pollination and pest control, while offering tips to attract them to gardens. Garden designer Zoe Claymore delves into the enchanting world of temperate rainforests, discussing their unique flora and conservation efforts, along with practical ideas to bring their beauty into home gardens.

Phil Clayton, a passionate writer and plantsman, shares the captivating story of the Wollemi pine, from its near-extinction to its growing presence in gardens worldwide. He discusses the threats it faces and how gardens play a crucial role in its conservation. Tom Christian, a dendrology expert, dives into the diverse ivy family, highlighting its underappreciated beauty and horticultural value. With intriguing insights on garden-worthy species, he reveals how these plants can thrive in British gardens, enriching winter landscapes.

This week, we honour the stillness of winter and the returning promise of light as we mark the winter solstice. At this turning of the year, we reflect on the people, plants and initiatives that this new light brings into focus. We begin by stepping into the richly curious world of Christopher Lloyd, the influential gardener and visionary behind Great Dixter House and Gardens. His legacy is recalled by his former student and now Head Gardener at Great Dixter, Fergus Garrett. Nick Turrell then returns with his top 10 countdown of plants that changed human history. This time, Nick delves into one species that helped ignite a vast global industry, asking whether its influence has ultimately made our lives better or worse. Finally, a look to the future with Sara Redstone who shines a light on a pioneering initiative taken up by theRHS, focused on strengthening plant biosecurity, highlighting the vital work being done to protect our plants and ecosystems for generations to come. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Fergus Garrett, Nick Turrell, Sara Redstone Links:  Great Dixter  Protect your garden health  Biosecurity at the RHS  Defra list of authorised distance plant sellers 

This week, RHS Head of Libraries Fiona Davison, garden designer Zoe Claymore and RHS Gardening Advisor Nick Turrell gather to share their must-read gardening books of 2025. Along the way, they explore what really makes a garden waterwise, dive into the astonishing world of fungi, demystify regenerative gardening, and get to the root of soil science. They also journey through the makings of a temperate rainforest, spotlight remarkable horticultural heroes from history — and yes, they even tackle the topic every gardener loves to hate: slugs. Host: Fiona Davison with Nick Turrell and Zoe Claymore Books mentioned: Garden People: The Photographs of Valerie Finnis - Ursula Buchan  Botanical Illustration: The Gold Medal Winners - Charlotte Brooks RHS Waterwise Garden - Tom Massey RHS Fungi for Gardeners - Dr Jassy Drakulic RHS Slugs: Friend or Foe - Dr Hayley Jones The Kindest Garden: A Practical Guide to Regenerative Gardening - Marian Boswell  Illustrated History of Landscape Design - Elizabeth Boults  One Garden Against the World - Kate Bradbury  The Lost Rainforests of Great Britain - Guy Shrubsole

Fiona Davison, Head of Libraries at the RHS, shares the remarkable story of Muriel Howarth, a pioneer of atomic gardening and her efforts to use irradiated seeds. Nick Turrell dives into the top ten influential plants, discussing how barley and hemp shaped history through their roles in brewing and textiles. Finally, pond expert Helen Bensted-Smith offers essential tips on maintaining wildlife ponds, emphasizing gentle maintenance and the importance of understanding ecological changes throughout the seasons.

Join experts Sally Bavin from the Woodland Trust, Louise Jones, a plant scientist probing tree pathogens, and Helen Bensted-Smith, a wildlife contributor, as they delve into the vital role of woodlands. Sally reveals how trees enhance mental and physical health, while Louise discusses the concerning Tilia leaf blotch fungus threatening lime trees. Helen highlights the rich biodiversity of garden ponds, showcasing the diverse life forms they support, from dragonfly larvae to frogs. Together, they unveil the connections between trees, wildlife, and our well-being.

As frosts arrive across the UK – later than usual this year – we’re exploring how to give nature a helping hand when the seasons fall out of step. In this installment of our wildlife ponds mini-series, Helen Bensted-Smith walks us through her top planting recommendations for different aquatic habitats. Wisley Garden Manager Mark Tuson also reveals how his team turns fallen leaves, cuttings, and woody material into valuable resources that enrich the soil, strengthen plant health, and boost biodiversity. Finally, we head to East Sussex for a tour of the iconic Arts and Crafts gardens at Great Dixter – home of the late garden writer Christopher Lloyd – guided by Head Gardener Fergus Garrett. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Fergus Garrett, Helen Bensted-Smith, Mark Tuson Links: Choosing pond plants Invasive non-native plants Aquatic weeds Chop and drop Mullet gardening Write in with your gardening questions to: podcasts@rhs.org.uk

Helen Bensted-Smith, from the RHS Wisley curatorial team, shares expert tips on creating wildlife ponds, emphasizing their importance for biodiversity. Emma McFarlane discusses the fascinating histories of the apothecary rose and chamomile, showcasing their medicinal uses. Duncan McLean offers guidance on selecting the right indoor plants for winter, highlighting popular choices like poinsettias and the RHS's commitment to peat-free sourcing. From pond construction to plant traditions, this discussion highlights the synergy between nature and home.

This week we’re taking a moment to look ahead. Carol Barrie from the RHS  Science and Collections Department joins us to talk about Plants for Purpose, an ambitious new project she’s leading in collaboration with the University of Nottingham. It’s using the power of AI, alongside the RHS’s vast Herbarium, to build a living knowledge bank of plants that benefit the environment. We’ll also turn our gaze to spring, as now’s the perfect time to get tulips in the ground before the ground gets too wet or freezes. We revisit Arundel Castle, where back in 2022, 80,000 tulip bulbs arrived for a spectacular spring display. And finally, we head to RHS Rosemoor to meet Emma McFarline, who’ll be exploring the practical, and sometimes surprising, uses of familiar garden plants, from their roles in history to their value today. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Carol Barrie, Martin Duncan, Emma McFarline Links: Plants for Purpose Project RHS Plants for Pollinators Planting tulips for seasonal colour Scientific overview of rosemary Biomedical research on rosemary as a therapeutic agent Therapeutic effects of rosemary on nervous system disorders Calendula in modern medicine Common mullein, pharmacological and chemical aspects

As the days grow shorter and Halloween marks the end of harvest and the beginning of winter, we explore the mysterious, the nocturnal, and the beautifully eerie corners of nature. Ecologist and bat expert Greg Slack joins us to uncover the secrets of these misunderstood night flyers — essential to our ecosystems but increasingly under threat. Then, houseplant expert and author Jane Perrone takes us on a chilling journey through the world’s most intoxicating and poisonous plants, revealing the strange allure of nature’s most dangerous creations. And finally, we turn toward the light again. RHS Garden Rosemoor’s Emma McFarline shares how she’s preparing her cottage garden for the seasons ahead, proving that even in the darkest months, there’s always something growing just beneath the surface. Host: Nick Turrell Contributors: Greg Slack, Jane Perrone, Emma McFarline Links: The Atlas of Deadly Plants RHS Garden Rosemoor RHS advice on gardening for bats