RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 episode 3
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Hello, welcome back to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, an event supported by the Newt
00:22in Somerset. It is Medals Day and we'll be bringing you all the headlines from across
00:28the showground along with those all-important medal results. It's really tense here today.
00:34It's exciting as well. It is. All that work the growers have put in over the year and
00:40they just want to know how well they've done. And you think when you're looking at the gardens,
00:44it hasn't taken them months to put them together, sometimes it's taken years and getting that
00:49gold medal is the icing on the cake. Even though it is the taking part that counts.
00:55But it's not just gold we're celebrating on the show today. We'll be covering all the
00:59colours of the rainbow. Our team of gardening experts are back with their top tips and tricks
01:04to show you how to make the most of colour in your outdoor space. Toby Buckland will
01:09be here to help you get all the latest Chelsea shades in your borders. Whether you're looking
01:14for vibrant flowers or a calming colour palette, I've got top tips on the right colours for
01:20every garden. Taking a close-up look at a plant that always adds a splash of colour,
01:26I'll be asking the experts how you can grow your best ever clematis this summer. Friend
01:32of the show and florist to the stars, Simon Leiser is back, helping us to create a colourful
01:38centrepiece for your home, whatever your style. And I'll be catching up with actress and star
01:44of Strictly, Sarah Hadland. She's going to be here on her first visit to Chelsea and
01:48she's on a quest to find the easiest plant to grow when life is quite busy. With all
01:54that in store and not forgetting those exclusive medal results, which we'll be revealing later
01:59in the programme, we've got a packed show for you. Well as we said today, we are helping
02:08you bring a dash of colour to your very own gardens and that can be done in a host of
02:12different ways and Francis is here to help us. There is so much colour here, it's like
02:16a kaleidoscope, isn't it? It really is, it's really beautiful and you can use colour in
02:21all kinds of ways. If you use it around a garden, it helps to draw your eye through
02:24a space and also bring harmony but then you can be clever with changing the colour in
02:29different zones and kind of cause a bit of differentiation between different spaces if
02:33it's used well. Yeah, no exactly and what I like about this garden is that the neutral
02:36paving is limestone which helps those colours pop. Exactly, so paving, hard landscaping
02:41is used as a foil against the plant so if you keep it nice and neutral, it allows the
02:46plants to sort of do the talking and come to the fore and look really spectacular which
02:50is exactly what happens here. So this greyish, creamy tone of the landscaping then bounces
02:55off the quite bright colour palette with lots of purples, lots of reds, obviously picking
03:01up on the ribbons of the pergola but then also yellows, things like the baptisias, the
03:06verbascum also kind of bounce against that by using opposite colours on the wheel, the
03:10purple and the yellow that go really well together. Well let's pick out some of the
03:14wonderful colourful flowers that we've got in this garden. Yeah, well I think the lupins
03:19are first off really kind of striking because not only are they colourful but they have
03:23this spike that sticks up above everything else and that gives a sort of muted background
03:29to all of these other bright colours. Then you can see things like the sort of softer
03:34purples and the green seed heads that give sort of a bit of a background to all that
03:39brightness as well so you can't just use bright colours, you need to think about those greens
03:43and the textures behind them to again make those flower colours. To elevate them. Exactly.
03:48And is the positioning of the flowers important here? Yeah, I think you want to create rhythm
03:53so you want the same species to be used throughout so if we look at these two spaces behind,
03:59you've got lupins there in the bright sunshine but then lupins here in the deep shade. They
04:04look quite different in those different areas but they still create a harmony by giving
04:08you a rhythm throughout the space and then you come to the front edge, there are no lupins
04:13but instead you have the baptisia with the yellow so you have that same shade but you
04:17have a completely different colour palette and yet the two things marry and I think part
04:21of that is because of clever use of coloured foliage so things like bronze fennel go through
04:26everything and pick up that purple but give it a different tone depending on what the
04:30flowers around them are. Yeah. You can do the same thing also with things like bark
04:34on trees. Well yeah because the Japanese trees, I love it, they just allow the other colours
04:39to pop as well. Exactly or you can pick up the colour by choosing a tree that has a really
04:43bright bark like prunus serrula or even birches that kind of give you an additional colour
04:50and even structures in the garden can do the same thing or the foliage itself so there's
04:54loads of ways that you can think about colour. It can get complicated but it's really fun
04:59to have a play with all of those things. You can, I always like to try colours in a vase
05:03before you put them in the garden so you're not spending so much money on it. Give it
05:06a try and then see how the colours play against each other. I love it. Thank you Frances lots
05:11of colourful tips there. Pleasure. Well it's medals day and at Chelsea it's always a nerve
05:16wracking time for the designers and growers here as they wait to find out if all their
05:21hard work has paid off. Now early this morning just as the show garden results were being
05:26revealed, Nikki headed off to discover who will be celebrating tonight after striking
05:31It's first thing in the morning and I'm here to meet Gemma Lake from the RHS to deliver
05:38the news the designers in the small gardens have all been waiting for. Let's go.
05:49Congratulations. First show garden and first time at Chelsea.
05:57I'm incredibly honoured to receive this medal as my first garden at Chelsea.
06:06Congratulations. First time at Chelsea and you've got the gold. Yeah, first time so it's very special.
06:18I can hear the emotion in your voice.
06:22Congratulations. Well done gents. I mean I know you've been at Chelsea before but it's the first time
06:33designed a garden together, the Down's Syndrome garden. How are you feeling? Yeah, pretty happy.
06:41On behalf of the RHS I'm so happy to give you your medal.
06:46Yeah. Well done. We've got a silver girl. Thank you. Well done to you and to the whole team.
06:56I mean this has been such a passionate project hasn't it? Yeah, yeah so this project is getting people to
07:01understand that people living with HIV can live normal, happy, healthy lives. You've done it.
07:06You've done it. He has done it. He's done it and more.
07:10Well done to the two of you. You're the only husband and wife team in the whole of Chelsea.
07:19We haven't even looked up from our plot so I wouldn't be able to tell you that.
07:37Tom, that was worth getting up early for wasn't it?
07:41So well done to you, well done to John and the rest of your team.
07:44Thanks Nikki. Of course this is the Red Cross's medal and they've just been amazing throughout.
07:52Well done to all of you.
08:12Well done to you guys. Thumb it up.
08:15That's incredible. But I couldn't read it. I was like what colour am I looking at?
08:21It's the right colour, take it from me.
08:24How are you feeling?
08:26I'm kind of speechless. It means so much to do this.
08:29Everybody put so much work into the garden. It's a fantastic achievement.
08:37On behalf of the RHS, I am absolutely thrilled to give you your medal.
08:47Well done. I'm so pleased. Seven times here at Chelsea. Does it get any easier?
08:52No, no. I was just saying. It gets harder. It gets harder.
09:00And a huge congratulations to everyone who got a medal here at Chelsea.
09:05Well I'm on one of those gardens from this morning that received a well-deserved silver gilts medal.
09:11I'm joined by designers Nick Burton and Duncan Hall.
09:14So I can ask them all about how they've made the most of colour in this fabulous space.
09:20But first of all guys, I've got to say well done. You must be thrilled.
09:23Thank you very much.
09:24An awful lot of hard work, an awful lot of passion.
09:27But this garden, when you're just standing here, it is an oasis of colour and vibrancy.
09:33But I really love what you've done here because colour is so important, isn't it, in a garden?
09:38It is. And this garden is a celebration.
09:41And so we wanted to use colour to sort of add a playful and sort of joyful element.
09:46So we've really not shied away from using pinks and yellows together and making it a really sort of joyous garden.
09:53And how can colour affect your mood? Either lift it or, not subdue it, but make it more calming?
09:59Yeah, it's interesting, Nicky, because I think the palette we've used here is probably different to what we would do in our normal day-to-day work.
10:07And I guess we wanted to make the planting playful and joyful.
10:12And so we've used yellow and pink together, which we probably wouldn't use in our day-to-day work.
10:19But it seems to work and gets our message across here about the joy of people with Down syndrome.
10:23Absolutely. I mean, in a way, the garden has been divided up, from where I'm standing here, into two halves.
10:29And obviously there's a reason for that.
10:32The back is very green, very lush, very tranquil with the colours that you've used, the scattering of the whites and the creams.
10:40So our building is called The Hug and it's all about empathy and affection.
10:45And so we wanted our building to sit within this very calming sort of green space.
10:50So we've used colour quite sparingly.
10:52We have a few whites and a few sort of pale yellows just to kind of to give it a little lift.
10:57But it's very, very calming.
10:58And then as we transition out, we've just become bolder and bolder as you come across.
11:02And as Nick says, there's some lovely soft yellows, which just sort of sing with the pinks in a really lovely way.
11:08And then we've not shied away from the odd strong piece just to really draw your eye.
11:12I love that, by that water feature where you sort of walk through the water.
11:16And when we talk about green, how many different variations of the colour green are there?
11:21And you really have used it very well throughout, haven't you?
11:25Yeah, thank you.
11:26And then when we get to here, this is more playful, would you say? Energised?
11:32Yes, I think so.
11:33And also the colours on the different levels. We haven't got it just down below.
11:37Have you obviously really thought through the planning? Is that something that we could do in our gardens?
11:42Yeah, very easily, I think, Nicky.
11:43Yeah, I mean, everything we've used here is not particularly unusual.
11:46Plants that you get easily from garden centres or nurseries.
11:50So yeah, this could definitely be replicated in your own garden.
11:53So what tips and tricks would you give someone like myself who's got a very small, modest garden but really wants to use this colour?
12:00I think sort of don't be shy about it. If you want to use colour, then you should use colour.
12:05And I think with the heights, just make sure you're not using plants that all flower at the same height.
12:10And it's just interesting to have. Spiked flowers are quite interesting because they kind of emerge through sort of foliage low down.
12:17So it just gives you a slightly more dynamic feel.
12:20Well, it certainly works. Congratulations to you both.
12:23Thank you very much.
12:24Thank you for chatting to me today.
12:27The plants in this garden are truly stunning.
12:30And if you've ever wondered how to up your game when it comes to growing your own floral showstoppers, Angelica's been to seek out some expert advice.
12:41The Great Pavilion is packed full of the world's top plant experts.
12:45So I've come along to tap into their knowledge and get some advice on growing the perfect flowers in your own garden.
12:51And today we're getting tips from Raymond Everson on how to grow your best ever clematis.
12:57Raymond.
12:58Good morning, Angelica.
12:59Good morning. I mean, you're beaming because I need to say congratulations for winning your 35th gold medal.
13:04Thank you so much.
13:05It's amazing. Well, I can see why. Because your clematis are absolutely perfect. And it's a stunning exhibit.
13:12Well, thank you. That's a great compliment.
13:14Yes. So tell us, how is it to grow them at home, though?
13:17Well, I think basically clematis like to grow in a microclimate without the plant material.
13:22They love to have a shady root system.
13:24And really, if you grow the dark coloured clematis, the reds or the purples, then grow those in the sunshine.
13:30And you can have the pale pinks in the semi shade.
13:33So you've got marvellous opportunities.
13:36And how much space do you need to grow them and grow them well?
13:39Well, some of our really tiny ones like Bijou, you only need just a tiny spot.
13:43And so some of the very compact ones are ideal for growing in pots and containers.
13:47We bred them especially for that.
13:49And what about new varieties? Everyone likes to hear about the new ones you can grow.
13:53So the new varieties that we've launched this year at Chelsea, Bridgewater, which is quite an interesting deep pink.
14:00That's multi-flowering. So it comes up flowers in May and produces more buds and more flowers.
14:06So we've tried, because people have been very frustrated that clematis have flowered for a few months and then finished.
14:12So we've been doing a lot of breeding development where our clematis flower for much, much longer.
14:17So they repeat flowering. So Bridgewater is really good.
14:20And this one, Elpis, is fantastic. Very long flowering.
14:24I know you're all about developing stuff and you've got your eye on different colours as well, haven't you?
14:29But I want to bring in some questions here from some of our viewers.
14:32Compton Florals have got in contact.
14:34They had some clematis that bloomed beautifully two years ago, but last year had barely any flowers.
14:40How can they make sure they get good blooms this year?
14:42It's really difficult to exactly say, depending which variety it is.
14:47But basically, I think it's probably down to the pruning.
14:50So maybe it's an old variety that flowers on the previous season stems.
14:54So you need to leave two thirds of those stems there.
14:58So it may be just down to the pruning.
15:00So they need to check the variety and then to learn about the pruning.
15:04Well, this leads me on to Sue Palmer's question, because she says she never knows how much to cut back her clematis.
15:08She's got Ville de Lyon, Mrs Thompson and the President.
15:11Those are what I call old varieties.
15:14So all of those flower on the old or previous season stems.
15:18So really reduce the top growth by one third.
15:21And you do that at the end of February, early March.
15:24OK, Pam says, I bought a couple of clematis a couple of years ago and the leaves keep going brown.
15:29What's she doing wrong?
15:30I think the problem there may well be that those clematis are too dry,
15:33especially if the leaves are going brown from the base upwards.
15:36That's a sign that the plant is not getting enough water.
15:40Right. You know, you know your stuff.
15:43That's why you get gold.
15:45Thank you so much, Raymond.
15:47And it's easy to see why the judges were so impressed with his stunning clematis exhibit.
15:52But what other displays got top marks this year?
15:55Well, Carol has been to celebrate with some of the other medal winning growers here in the Great Pavilion.
16:06There's huge excitement in the air in the Great Pavilion.
16:10And the standard is incredibly high.
16:13And that's reflected in the fact that there are almost 50 gold medals in here.
16:25Phil, huge congratulations. Gold medal?
16:28Yes, yes.
16:29And it's your very first time.
16:31Yes, it is. Yes. So unexpected.
16:34There were tears shed this morning.
16:36I'm sure there were.
16:37Over the years I've seen so many sweet pea exhibits, but this one really takes the biscuit.
16:44We're so keen to show sweet peas off in a very natural, very relaxed sort of way.
16:49The way that they grow at home with all the leaves and the tendrils,
16:53it just sets them off, just softens the whole effect.
16:56We're really pleased with the effect we've got here.
16:59And I think the public are going to adore it.
17:05Barbara, you've won a silver gold medal and it's your very, very first time.
17:11I can't believe it. We are elated, delighted.
17:15Antigua and Barbuda is on the world stage.
17:18I'm proud. I mean, I think it's one of the most original displays I've ever seen.
17:24But didn't you have a few problems?
17:26Yeah, we had problems. Our plant material did not arrive until the day before.
17:30And we eventually got over it.
17:32We were all unable to exhale and then they came on the 18th and here we are.
17:38And here you are.
17:39Yes.
17:40Absolutely brilliant.
17:45Steve, congratulations.
17:49Once again, it's a very, very special year.
17:51Double gold for the fifth time.
17:54Fifth time, yes.
17:55But more than that, it's your 40th anniversary in two ways, isn't it?
18:00It is. It is Ruby wedding anniversary, 40 years married.
18:04And we've been in business 40 years as well.
18:06Wow.
18:07And she's Elaine Anne.
18:09Elaine Anne, yes.
18:10With an agapanthus named after her and I grow her.
18:13She's wonderful.
18:15As always, Steve, it's a beautiful exhibit. It really is.
18:19So congratulations to you both.
18:23But there can be only one winner of the best exhibit in the Great Pavilion,
18:29chosen by the judges from all the exhibits.
18:32And this year, it's one of our best known faces, Raymond Everson Clematis.
18:42At every twist and turn, there are medal winners galore.
18:48This really has to be one of the most superb Chelsea flower shows ever.
19:01Ah, so much work goes into the flower show.
19:04So congratulations to all those medal winners.
19:07And if you've been inspired by those medal winning growers
19:10and would like to add a sprinkling of that Chelsea gold dust to your garden at home,
19:14Sue is here with the Hero Plants that will get your garden growing for gold all year round.
19:26I really enjoy yellow in the garden.
19:28It brings joyous highlights throughout the border.
19:31Pale yellow looks beautiful with blue and golden yellow looks perfect with purple.
19:37And with the right plant choices,
19:39you can have that splash of sunshine from early spring right the way through to late autumn.
19:50Starting in spring, we've got these yellow candelabra primulas with a fantastic burst of colour.
19:56They've got a whirl of yellow flowers and they flower from March onwards.
20:02And they produce nectar when there's lots of other plants haven't yet got going.
20:06They like damp, shady conditions and they'll be happy in a bog garden or something like a woodland.
20:12Really are very delicate and pretty.
20:18And moving on into spring, we've got these gorgeous golden gems with their contrasting red stems.
20:24And they like shade too because if you put them in full sun, their leaves could get scorched.
20:28Keep deadheading them and they're going to go on into early summer.
20:33And finally, we've got trolleys or globe flower and they come in all sorts of different tones of yellow.
20:39And they'll form a big clump so that you can divide them easily and dot them around the shadier part of your garden,
20:46creating lovely little pockets of light.
20:50Moving into summer, we've got this daylily, see you tomorrow.
20:54It's been shortlisted for plant of the year this year.
20:57It's got acid green and golden flowers and normally, I don't like daylilies because they only flower for one day.
21:03But this one is supposed to flower for a week.
21:06Pull off each flower when it's finished flowering and when the whole head is flowering,
21:09cut it right back at the bottom of the stem but leave the leaves on
21:13because they're going to feed the plant for next year's flowers.
21:16As we move into autumn, there may be no plant more spectacular in its yellow splendour than chrysanthemums.
21:23As other plants are starting to fade, these beauties are just getting into their stride.
21:28To get really good blooms like this, these plants need a lot of food.
21:32So if you're planting them in the ground or the pot, they'll need regularly feeding and deadheading.
21:38But hard work pays off and if you treat them well, you're going to get this sort of display.
21:44This chrysanthemum, Misty Lemon, you could almost wear it as a hat.
21:48And it's been paired rather subtly with a nice, smaller chrysanthemum, Swan.
21:53This is a bit more mean.
21:57And finally, we've got a little yellow pom-pom tree.
22:00I've got a red and a green one.
22:02This is a bit more mean.
22:05And finally, we've got a little yellow pom-pom chrysanthemum, Feeling Sunny.
22:10And that can be in the border or used as a cup flower.
22:13And that's the thing about yellow in a border.
22:15It can provide such uplift, both to the garden and the gardener.
22:19And with the right plant, it can leave you feeling sunny all year long.
22:25If you would like to bring some of this fabulous floral colour at Chelsea into your own home,
22:31Simon Lysett is here to show us how to create a country-style centrepiece for your kitchen
22:37and the heart of your home.
22:39Simon, what a joy to have you on the show.
22:42Thank you so much.
22:43You're welcome.
22:44Now, you're going to impress us here, aren't you, with your design?
22:46Well, I've got a couple to show you and I'm starting off with something that's quite rustic,
22:51gentle, country-inspired.
22:53Everybody's got a terracotta pot hanging around in their house or garden.
22:56And I've just put some chicken wire inside, two-inch mesh, which we know and love.
23:01Super sustainable.
23:02And once you've made your mechanics for this container, they'll last for years.
23:06You can keep using it again and again.
23:08We have seen so much colour here at Chelsea.
23:11It's all about colour.
23:12Thank goodness it's back.
23:13And you know me.
23:14I don't hold back.
23:15I love a bit of colour.
23:16All the colours.
23:17I don't have a lot of fear.
23:18So, we can do that with this beautiful floral design?
23:21Yes, and you can do it with anything that you've got within your garden.
23:24So, lovely mint that smells gorgeous.
23:26Yeah, I wouldn't think of putting that in.
23:27Well, it grows vociferously, so it's a great thing to use.
23:30Can I ask where you get chicken wire from?
23:32I've never bought it.
23:33A hardware shop.
23:34I don't use foam.
23:35I'm just going to quickly add.
23:36Okay.
23:37And you're not making many rabbit hutches these days.
23:38No.
23:39Where do you get it from?
23:40A hardware shop.
23:41Hardware shop.
23:42Yep, you can buy it normally by the meter, which is great.
23:44The two-inch mesh is good, too.
23:47The two-inch mesh is good because it's the larger hole,
23:49so it means that when you're arranging,
23:51you've got that lovely sort of brain-shower cap shape
23:54that gives you a lovely supporting form.
23:57I like the terracotta pot because it's got a warmth
23:59and it shows off the colour as well.
24:01But what else could you use?
24:02Anything?
24:03Yeah, pretty much anything that you've got to hand.
24:05You know, quite often you'll be sent an arrangement in a container.
24:08If you're just, you know, pop it on the top of the tumble dryer
24:12in the utility room, like we all do,
24:14and then just you'll go and find something.
24:16A basket would work for the rustic look,
24:18and you just put a plastic liner inside.
24:20I like rustic.
24:21And then just some chicken wire.
24:22So rustic means not too precise, which is good in my book.
24:25Yes.
24:26Because you know what I'm like when it comes to floral displays.
24:28I never give up, but I'm still learning.
24:30Can I ask you, it's been amazingly hot recently.
24:33Should you change the water in the vase
24:35or should you leave it and top it up?
24:37Something like this.
24:38As long as you're cutting and splitting
24:40and removing the lower leaves,
24:42so your water doesn't become soupy,
24:44you shouldn't need to change it.
24:46But you can, it's easy.
24:47By the time this arrangement's finished,
24:49you could just tip it over the sink,
24:51bring it up, top it up, nice, good to go.
24:54And what sort of flowers should we be looking at this time of year?
24:57We want to be seasonal, don't we?
24:58We want to be seasonal.
24:59It's all the gorgeousness inspired by what's growing around us.
25:02And I'm creating almost like a floral trifle here.
25:05I'm layering things.
25:06A floral trifle.
25:07Yes.
25:08This is what we've got to do at home.
25:10But I want that deep layer of custard and cream on the top.
25:13Minimal bottom, so my greenery is the sort of,
25:16that fruit and spongy bit.
25:18Yes.
25:19And then the bit I love is the custard and the cream.
25:21So that's the higher level.
25:23And that's where all these lovely stems,
25:24like this beautiful nigella,
25:26that's such a pretty flower to use.
25:28So if you don't have many flowers in your garden,
25:31can you do it with less and we've got an abundance here?
25:34Absolutely.
25:35I mean, these little pots that I've done,
25:37just very, very few stems in there.
25:40Little pot.
25:41Just put a glass tumbler inside and make a little bunch
25:44using what you've got in the garden
25:46or what you've found in your local florist or flower store.
25:49And how long would that last if you cut,
25:51and I saw you did a little split up the stem, didn't you?
25:54Yes.
25:55So as long as you keep it topped up with water,
25:58it will last you four, five, six days,
26:00depending on how hot the house is.
26:02It's coming on a treat.
26:04Well, we just keep feeding them in
26:05and then these lovely stems that work well
26:07when they're seen up above the other arrangements
26:10as they would grow.
26:11I love that.
26:12That's giving us this sort of trifily effect.
26:14And you keep working at it
26:15because we're going to come back to see the finished version.
26:18Fabulous.
26:19Look at you.
26:20He's so amazing.
26:21Absolutely amazing.
26:22And if you're more of a modern, minimalist type of person,
26:25we'll have a centrepiece that's just right for you.
26:28Now, houseplants have become a huge trend in recent years.
26:32I've got so many.
26:33And the displays here at Chelsea really are the creme de la creme.
26:37But who will win the coveted title of Best Houseplant Studio?
26:42Chris Babin is here to reveal all.
26:46The Houseplant Studio area is a recent addition to Chelsea,
26:51only here since 2022.
26:54But I can't wait to see what ideas and inspiration they have
26:58for any size space.
27:03Each studio showcases innovative and exciting ways
27:15to display houseplants in any area of your house.
27:19So here we've got herbs everywhere.
27:22And this would be perfect for your kitchen, utility room,
27:24outdoor cooking area.
27:26And I think not only does it look amazing,
27:29but they taste delicious as well.
27:30We've got some peppermint here, rosemary.
27:33We've got basil, sage.
27:35You name it, we've got it.
27:37I think it looks incredible.
27:42The studios often feature sensory, immersive experiences,
27:48combining light, sound and scent
27:52to create a tranquil oasis amidst this bustling showground.
28:01This area has understandably become
28:07a hugely popular part of the show,
28:10offering not only practical tips,
28:12but inspiration to enhance our own homes with greenery.
28:17Relatable spaces for houseplant lovers like you and me.
28:26So what do you think of the Houseplant Studios?
28:28We've just got a massive new extension
28:30with lots of space to fill.
28:32Something large like that would be amazing.
28:34I love it, it's really interesting.
28:36Have you got a favourite?
28:37Well, I'm really enjoying these cacti.
28:39Oh yeah, yeah?
28:40Cacti.
28:41I like the one where you can listen to the music
28:42while you look at the plants.
28:43That's pretty cool.
28:44Like a sensory thing, yeah?
28:45This one with the cacti and succulents.
28:48Yeah, the greenhouse.
28:49I like that one a lot.
28:50That looks great, doesn't it?
28:51Because I need some houseplants on my roof.
28:53I'm going to go learn how to do that.
28:54I hope you get awards with them though.
28:56I love the planting on the ceiling.
28:58So cool, isn't it?
28:59So cool. Is it yours?
29:00No, I wish.
29:06Okay, so they're just about to announce
29:08the winner of Best Houseplant Studio.
29:10Let's go and see who it is.
29:15I'm thrilled to award you with
29:18the RHS Best Houseplant Studio.
29:21Congratulations.
29:23Fantastic.
29:26Let's have a hug.
29:27Well done you.
29:28Thank you so much.
29:29Well done you.
29:30That's wonderful.
29:31I'm going to catch up with James to see how he feels.
29:33James, first of all, congratulations.
29:35Thank you very much.
29:36Well done.
29:38You've just won the award for the third time.
29:40How does that feel?
29:41I'm ecstatic.
29:42While I've got you,
29:43top tips for creating an indoor plant display at home.
29:48Do what makes you happy.
29:49Don't do what you see on social media
29:52because you think that's trendy.
29:53Right.
29:54Buy a plant because you love the look of it
29:56and then find out how to look after it.
29:58Do it because you love it and it makes you happy.
30:04Well, we have lots more exciting medal news for you today
30:08here at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025,
30:12an event supported by The Newt in Somerset.
30:15And plenty more top tips and tricks
30:17for your gardens at home.
30:19And I'll be chatting to actress Sarah Hadland,
30:21a Chelsea first-timer,
30:23to find out what she's most excited about seeing
30:25here at the showground.
30:26And we'll be meeting top designer Jo Thompson
30:29to find out how a single rose inspired the colour scheme
30:33in her Chelsea garden this year
30:35and can inspire you too.
30:37So, Angelica, sitting next to you in that amazing frock,
30:41when it comes to colour,
30:42are you bold in your garden or are you subtle?
30:46Well, yes, the dress speaks volumes.
30:48I love bold colours and I like bright things.
30:51I always have.
30:52So I like it to be punchy and for when you walk into my garden
30:55to see it.
30:56But I am a little bit nervous about too many colours,
30:59you know, and I think maybe we should be braver.
31:01I think that's what we're trying to get here at Chelsea.
31:03Me, I sort of tend to go for the pinks,
31:05the dusty colours into the whites.
31:07More subtle.
31:08But, yeah, much more subtle.
31:09But I do keep it quite constrained.
31:11Perhaps I should be a little bit more adventurous.
31:14And I love those colours.
31:15I love pinks.
31:16Would I put an orange in my garden?
31:18Not at the moment, but perhaps I should.
31:20Yeah, exactly.
31:21Yeah, I think so.
31:22Well, thankfully, Angelica, there is one man here
31:26who's pushing us all to be braver
31:28and to embrace those big, bold, coloured ideas in our garden.
31:32It's expert Jason Williams.
31:39One thing I love about coming to the Chelsea Flower Show
31:43is seeing how the garden designers manage
31:45to incorporate colour into their gardens.
31:49But that's not just reserved for the large show gardens like this.
31:53Some of the small space gardens
31:55have got some really great examples
31:57of bringing colour to make some impact.
32:05Now, this garden is all about using the colour wheel
32:09to bring emotion to the garden.
32:12Now, if we take a look at this side,
32:14you'll see that the colour palette is really quite muted
32:17The green here is designed to give our eyes a bit of a rest.
32:21But if we take a look over here,
32:23what we'll see are the salvias and geoms.
32:26So we have the purples here from the salvia
32:29along with those oranges from the geoms.
32:32And on the colour wheel, they're opposite colours,
32:34but they elicit a sense of joy and excitement.
32:38And that's really, really important
32:40because when you think about your garden
32:42and how you use it,
32:43if you have a small balcony, for example,
32:45and you've got a brilliant view,
32:47you want to sit out there and reflect.
32:49So you might choose some of these more muted colours.
32:52Whereas if you have a roof terrace garden
32:55and you entertain out there,
32:57you might want to have some of this colour palette over here
33:00to add that little bit of excitement.
33:02Now, later on in autumn,
33:04we'll also have pops of red from over this side of the garden
33:07as well as the fruit from over here.
33:11It just goes to show that even in a small space
33:14you can use colour to great effect.
33:27Well, I've brought you to this garden
33:29because in the previous one,
33:31all of the colour came from the planting.
33:34But in this garden,
33:35well, the colour has come from everywhere else.
33:39Now, one thing we are not very good at
33:41when it comes to container gardening
33:43is having some form of a colour scheme.
33:46Sometimes we can go to the nursery
33:48and we'll pick up one or two pots
33:50and we just go with our gut feeling.
33:53But here, there's an actual theme.
33:55This garden is inspired by the 1980s
33:58and in particular, Rubik's Cubes.
34:01So what you see in terms of colour
34:03is repeated over and over again.
34:07So what we have here with this bench
34:09is a planter, so we're maximising on space
34:12and it's just a wooden bench that has been painted.
34:15Now, this is something that we can do at home.
34:18Another thing that I would say from this garden
34:20as a top tip
34:21is we can use something as simple as a throw
34:24or perhaps a cushion to add in a little bit of colour.
34:28And one final tip from this garden
34:30is it's not just coming from the hard furniture
34:33is it's not just coming from the hard furnishings here.
34:36There's also lights as well
34:38and we have some red lights under the table.
34:40We have some blue lights in the back there
34:43that really helps to uplift the garden.
34:49So, as long as you pick your colour palette
34:51and stay with it, people,
34:53you can create a masterpiece just like this
34:56in your very own small space.
34:58Now, our guest today will be familiar to many of you
35:01as Stevie from the hit BBC comedy Miranda
35:04but more recently, you'll have seen her
35:07grace the dance floor in Strictly
35:09where she made it to the final.
35:11Taking a break from her busy filming schedule,
35:14it's Sarah Hadland.
35:15Hello!
35:16Oh, this is gorgeous.
35:17Isn't it wonderful?
35:18Yes, it's beautiful.
35:19We wanted it fitting for you.
35:21You were absolutely incredible in Strictly.
35:22I feel like I know you.
35:23Oh, thank you.
35:24Thank you so much.
35:25But here, we welcome you with open arms
35:27because it's the first time you've been to Chelsea.
35:29I've never been to Chelsea.
35:30I mean, this is just stunning.
35:32I mean, it does make you need the loo a little bit,
35:34the tinkling of the water,
35:35but it's so gorgeous.
35:36I'm also thinking you could do a different style of dance
35:38on each stage.
35:39Is it in the blood now?
35:40Yes.
35:41I'm constantly thinking,
35:42could I whip out a little tango here, maybe?
35:45We'd love that.
35:46Yeah.
35:47What are your first impressions of Chelsea?
35:48I mean, it's mind-blowing.
35:50I've always been a big fan of Chelsea.
35:52I mean, it's mind-blowing.
35:54I've always kind of thought,
35:55I've seen it on the TV, obviously,
35:57but actually being here,
35:58I mean, the planting is just insane.
36:00So I'm trying to sound a bit garden-y
36:03by saying the planting
36:04because that's quite a saying, isn't it?
36:06I know, it's the first time you've been to Chelsea,
36:07but it doesn't mean you are not a gardener
36:09because you do like it
36:10and your granddad taught you as a child.
36:13My paternal grandfather, my dad's dad,
36:15he was really into his gardening
36:17and he would absolutely love this.
36:19And he used to have fruit cages with raspberries
36:22and my sister and I used to go in there and play
36:24and make little houses.
36:25But he also, I remember,
36:27he had a wall that faced the sun
36:29and he grew an apricot,
36:30which back in the 70s was a big deal
36:33and we cut it into six and ate it.
36:35It was amazing.
36:36And your mum?
36:37My mum is very into her gardening.
36:39She continues it on, doesn't she?
36:40She does.
36:41She actually volunteers at Tatton.
36:43Does she?
36:44Yeah, once a week.
36:45So she loves it, yeah.
36:47And a lot of people do volunteer to get outside.
36:51Well, I think it's to be in a beautiful place
36:55and to be in nature
36:56and I suppose people are realising more and more
36:58that it's so good to be in nature.
37:00It makes you feel great.
37:01I mean, this just makes you feel very zen.
37:04Very zen.
37:05Yeah.
37:06Is that how you feel in your own garden?
37:07I mean, my own garden,
37:09I mean, it's quite shaded.
37:11It's very narrow and very long,
37:13so I've tried to section it
37:15and I've got a lot of ferns.
37:17I do love a fern.
37:18You know, a bit of a floaty fern
37:20and they love it there.
37:21But, hashtag, I have just cut down a tree.
37:25Okay, with permission?
37:27With full permission.
37:28We just wanted to put that in there.
37:29With full permission
37:30because it was very close to the house
37:32and it was creating a lot of shade,
37:33so I'm about to do a big replant.
37:35Ah, so this is perfect for you to be here.
37:37Perfect.
37:38What will you be looking out for going around Chelsea then?
37:41I think what I'm looking for
37:42are things that are fairly low maintenance
37:44because I'm away a lot for work.
37:46But also, I do love colour.
37:48I love a rhododendron.
37:49Well, today's all about colour today, which is great.
37:51Is it?
37:52Yes, we are promoting colour in gardens.
37:53Oh, hence the...
37:54Hence.
37:55Well, I got the memo,
37:56even though I didn't get the memo.
37:57It's a rhododendron.
38:00I love rhododendrons, hyacinths.
38:02I love geraniums.
38:03I love a geranium.
38:05And I think there'll still be quite shady bits,
38:08so I want to get even more ferns
38:10because they seem to thrive in my garden.
38:12How much time do you spend in your garden?
38:14Oh, I go into my garden every day.
38:16Every day, I open the back doors and I go and sit out.
38:19Even if it's raining,
38:20I like to have a little cup of tea standing outside.
38:23So it's nice to have that downtime.
38:25Yes.
38:26To complement the busy time.
38:27What have you got coming up?
38:28I'm about to go to Guadeloupe to do Death in Paradise.
38:32So that will be...
38:33That will give me a lot of inspiration.
38:35A lot of inspiration there.
38:36Yeah.
38:37You're just loving it.
38:38You're having the best life.
38:39Got your garden,
38:40doing a bit of work abroad,
38:41pop in to see us
38:42and do a bit of a tango on the garden.
38:44Yeah.
38:45Amazing.
38:46Excellent.
38:47Thank you so much.
38:48Oh, my pleasure.
38:49You are amazing on the dance floor,
38:50but it's lovely to have you here as well.
38:51Oh, thank you.
38:52Thank you, Angelica.
38:53It's lovely to be here.
38:55Now, earlier, Simon showed us
38:56how to make a colourful floral centrepiece
38:58to complement your kitchen in a classic country style.
39:02And Nicky's about to reveal the finished result.
39:05Can't wait.
39:07And just take a look at this.
39:09A fabulous floral trifle
39:11that Simon did literally in minutes.
39:14Gorgeous, but Simon,
39:15you've got something else up your sleeve for us, haven't you?
39:18Yes.
39:19Something a little bit more contemporary?
39:21A little bit more modern.
39:23Modern.
39:24Yes, well, I wasn't expecting carrots.
39:26That's what I'm going to start off by saying.
39:29What are we creating here?
39:31Well, something that works well in the kitchen,
39:33to my mind, is fruit and veg.
39:35All the goodies that we use within the kitchen
39:37also look great for decor.
39:39This is actually an old paint tin.
39:41Is it?
39:42That we've emptied out.
39:43And then I've just got a glass liner inside with my water
39:46and I've just used a bit of moss to pack it in place
39:49and then I've just put the carrots around it
39:51with some rosemary in between in the gaps.
39:53And when the arrangement's finished,
39:55you can still make a lovely stew out of those carrots.
39:57And then do you just shush the moss all around?
39:59You just spray it to keep it moist?
40:01Just a little bit, but don't let it tuck into your container
40:03or it will start to siphon that water out
40:05and you don't want that.
40:06So what have we got then?
40:07So my previous arrangement was made in chicken wire.
40:10So this one I'm using my hand as a vase
40:13and it's almost like creating that sort of tied bunch.
40:16So just holding it?
40:17Yeah, hold the flowers.
40:18And build?
40:19Just hold and turn.
40:20This is a lovely variety of carotus.
40:23So that's actually a variegation of the flower of a carrot.
40:27Not much fragrance.
40:28I want to see these roses here.
40:30The scent that's coming off them.
40:32They're gorgeous.
40:33Gorgeous.
40:34I like this.
40:35I like this.
40:36This is elegant, isn't it?
40:37But we are looking for that different look.
40:39It's trying to find things,
40:40and also things that live together and grow together.
40:43So the flowers of a carrot will look very fun with a carrot.
40:46And then I thought these gorgeous poppy seeds.
40:48Oh, I like those.
40:49Aren't they just a dream?
40:50And how important is colour?
40:52Because we've got some examples here where they're very blousy
40:54and they're all sitting well together.
40:56This we're just using a much more,
40:58I don't want to say restricted palette,
41:00but just a couple of colours.
41:01It's a bit more tonal, a bit more curated.
41:03Tonal.
41:04Depends on what you've got around.
41:05You know, I hate making any rules
41:07because flowers and flower arranging
41:09should be something you do for fun with what you've got.
41:12Don't worry too much.
41:13So I'm using all this lovely mix of oranges and that gorgeous green.
41:18But, you know, it would be great to put in a bit of yellow with it,
41:21a bit of lime green, whatever is to hang.
41:23So you could add a few colours there.
41:25Definitely.
41:26And you know what colour your house is.
41:27And to be honest, I think any colour goes with anything.
41:30Look at a hummingbird or a coral reef.
41:32They all work.
41:34Can I just ask, you've got rhubarb in there.
41:36I'm not going to let that go.
41:37It is.
41:38Does that affect the water or not?
41:39Because it looks so beautiful.
41:41It makes a vase within a vase.
41:43It does.
41:44And it's the sort of thing that I would do for a party,
41:46for a night, if you've got people coming round.
41:49Lovely on that.
41:50I've seen that very beautiful breakfast bar in Chappers Towers.
41:54Chappers Towers.
41:55So I think something like that would look gorgeous
41:58on your kitchen worktop and next day make a crumble.
42:01Yeah, because my kitchen is a bit more contemporary.
42:03I mean, I would happily take these,
42:05but I think that would work really well.
42:06Yeah, you are.
42:07And is that the secret, to look at your surroundings
42:09and think, OK, how can I do a beautiful display
42:12that reflects where I live?
42:14Sometimes, or go contrasty, do something totally unexpected.
42:17You know, very rustic and very rural
42:20in a really contemporary setting could look fabulous.
42:23Opposites attract, so to speak.
42:24Yes, the harmony of disharmony.
42:26The harmony of disharmony.
42:27Look how quickly you're doing that.
42:29And I love the way you're twisting and holding right.
42:31So I've just made sure I've cleaned off most of the stems
42:34that are going to go there.
42:35And then I've got a little bit of rosemary,
42:37which is a really good support around the edges,
42:40being a bit of a slightly woodier stem
42:43that just supports any of the softer flowers,
42:46puts a bit of fragrance in.
42:48And I've just got another little poppy in there.
42:50And these are flowers that we could find in our garden.
42:52Yes, yes.
42:53We buy the veg.
42:54We buy the veg from our local green grower.
42:58You've hopefully got a local florist nearby,
43:00a flower farm that you can go and get some really seasonal stems,
43:04which will be much less expensive than imported stems
43:07and are full of joy and fragrance.
43:09Beautiful.
43:10Seasonal, beautiful and contemporary, as ever.
43:13Simon, look at you.
43:15You're a genius.
43:16Thank you so much.
43:18He makes it look so easy.
43:19We'll all be trying it at home.
43:21The large show gardens on Main Avenue
43:24are crown jewels of the Chelsea Showground.
43:27But what have the judges made of the designers' efforts this year?
43:31Well, we're about to find out.
43:33It's time for the large show gardens' medals results.
43:36Have the streets of Chelsea been paved with gold this year?
43:40Let's see.
43:42It's been a strong year at Chelsea
43:45with a real gold rush on Main Avenue.
43:48First up is the Glasshouse Garden by Joe Thompson.
43:52It's Joe's tenth Chelsea and this is her sixth gold medal.
43:56It's a hugely ambitious garden
43:59with exquisite signature rose-filled planting
44:02and it's clearly paid off.
44:04We've won a gold medal and that is a brilliant reward
44:08for all the hard work that the most fantastic team
44:11have put in to create this garden.
44:14Another gold medal winner is the Avanade Intelligent Garden
44:18designed by Tom Massey and Jay Arn,
44:20showcasing cutting-edge technology.
44:22It uses AI to monitor the needs of the trees
44:25and the judges obviously felt this garden ticked all the boxes.
44:29I'm very happy that we've got our second gold.
44:32How many times have you been?
44:34This is my third gold.
44:36See, he has won more than me.
44:38Nigel Dunnett has a reputation
44:40for pushing the boundaries of garden design
44:43and the Hospital Fields Arts Garden is no exception.
44:46A conceptual garden
44:48complete with innovative planted sand dunes,
44:51it was awarded a Silver Gilt Medal.
44:54We've been awarded Silver Gilt, which is a great medal.
44:57It means that the judges have picked up on one or two little things
45:00so I'll have to check the feedback
45:02and find out how we could do better next time.
45:05The King's Trust Garden Seeding Success
45:07designed by Joe Perkins is another gold winner.
45:11This is Joe's third Chelsea
45:13and this medal makes it a Chelsea hat trick
45:16With its distinctive coloured glass panels,
45:18this beautifully planted garden
45:20has won the judges' seal of approval.
45:22I'm over the moon to have won a gold medal.
45:24It's a great reflection on the team
45:26and we're so happy today, it's a great result.
45:29The Hospice UK Garden of Compassion
45:31has been awarded Silver Gilt
45:33and was inspired by the Mediterranean travels
45:36of designer Tom Hoblin.
45:38This is Tom's tenth and final Chelsea
45:41and he's known for his attention to detail.
45:44He grew over 1,000 plants from seed for this garden.
45:51Another gold medal winner is
45:53Chano Niwa Japanese Tea Garden
45:55designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara.
45:57It's the designer's 17th visit to Chelsea.
46:00He already has 12 gold medals in other categories
46:03but this is his first appearance on Main Avenue.
46:06His garden is inspired by the landscapes of Japan
46:09and features Ishihara's signature look
46:12of pine bonsai and Japanese maples.
46:15So many wonderful gardens celebrated there.
46:17Congratulations to all and congratulations to you, Jo.
46:20Well done.
46:21Eleventh time here at Chelsea, fifth gold medal.
46:24You must be feeling pretty special.
46:26Oh, it's an amazing feeling.
46:28On your garden right now, one colour really does pop, doesn't it?
46:32Oh, it's those deep pinks and moody reds.
46:36Absolutely.
46:37So when you're designing a garden, where do you start?
46:40Do you do a colour wheel to decide what influences you want?
46:44Well, other designers do use colour wheels
46:47but actually I'm quite contrary and I don't use the colour wheel.
46:50What I prefer to do instead is look at the plant itself.
46:54So, for example, looking at this lovely rose here, Wild Rover,
46:58and you can see all its deep reds
47:00but then it fades and I know it fades to this sort of moody blue colour.
47:05So I'm thinking about other plants that have these colours in their petals
47:10when I'm putting a palette together like this.
47:13So what you're saying is when you love a colour,
47:15maybe a tip is to look at the other colours that complement it
47:18or could be popping out from that flower.
47:20Absolutely, and also looking at the green of its foliage,
47:23that's really important.
47:24I need to choose other plants that have got that kind of green,
47:28not something that's got too blue a green, if you see what I mean.
47:32Do you think of people's moods when you're creating and designing a garden?
47:36What these colours are going to do?
47:38The whole palette here was inspired by the women who were on the Glasshouse programme
47:42and I really wanted those sort of strong, deep colours
47:45but then softened a little bit, just as you say,
47:47to create a sort of gentler mood at the same time,
47:50which is why I brought in these aqua legias and these ornamental cow parsleys here.
47:55They sit so well together, don't they?
47:57Yeah, they really do.
47:58Really beautiful.
47:59Are there other ways that you can add colour to a garden?
48:02I would say bringing in, thinking about the colour of your hard landscaping as well,
48:08if you're bringing in colour, but keep that soft.
48:10I think I prefer to let the plants do the talking with the colour.
48:14Is there a colour that you shouldn't use in a garden
48:17or nature decides that we can use anything?
48:20Oh, that's a tricky question.
48:22I would say I think there's most colours you can use.
48:28I haven't ever really thought about that.
48:30I really love using the colours that people say don't use
48:34or in fact colour combinations.
48:36People say don't use orange and pink together,
48:39so that really drives me to put orange and pink together
48:42and show that it really can work.
48:44You've got some beautiful roses behind you
48:46and there's elements of yellow and orange in the centre.
48:49Exactly, that's Emma Bridgewater
48:51and if you look at the form of that rose,
48:53all those petals packed so tightly together
48:56and right in the very centre there,
48:58there are tones of apricot and peach
49:01and they fade out to the pink and they're wonderful.
49:05I like what you said about using sentiment with colour as well
49:09because that will help you.
49:10If you love those colours and they bring that warmth and things,
49:13that will bring that sentiment out in your garden as well.
49:15It can change your mood, can't it?
49:17Colours have such an effect on you
49:19and I find this really calming.
49:22I'm so glad that you're saying that
49:24because that was exactly the intention when creating this garden.
49:27I didn't want to create anything too punchy,
49:31I just wanted it to feel gentle, serene
49:34and have that romantic atmosphere.
49:37Well, it's worked, hasn't it?
49:38It has, you've certainly achieved it.
49:40A huge congratulations and please tell us
49:42this won't be your last garden at Chelsea.
49:44You said it will be.
49:45Five goals.
49:46I remember.
49:47We've got to go for the sixth, surely.
49:49At the moment, I'm saying never again.
49:51You're enjoying it?
49:53Who knows?
49:54Thank you so much for sharing your garden with us today.
49:58Well, if you would like to follow in Jo's footsteps
50:01and let colour be the guiding inspiration for your garden,
50:04Toby Buckland is here to show you how.
50:11When buying flowers, it's always the colour that draws us in
50:14and every shade has its own effect.
50:16This is Seeding Success, the King's Trust Garden,
50:20and as far as colours go, yellow is king.
50:26Now, yellow is a colour that brings its own sunshine.
50:30It brightens up any border, no matter what the weather.
50:33Some designers use it to make spaces feel smaller.
50:36That's because it draws the eye away from things
50:38you'd rather not look at, your old shed,
50:40your washing line, for example.
50:42But it's certainly a colour that brings light and joy.
50:45In this garden, whether it's the acidic globes
50:48of the Billy Buttons or the lemon sorbet shades of the poppy,
50:52it's the company they keep that makes them seem so bright.
50:55You see, they rub shoulders with silver foliage plants
50:59and it's such a simple trick to copy,
51:01really bringing out the yellow, making it glow.
51:04But the real genius of this garden
51:06is the backdrop below all the plants,
51:08the mulch, the gravel, the stones.
51:10It all comes from the same quarry and that makes it the same colour.
51:14It really does add value, particularly to yellow plants,
51:18because it transforms yellow into gold.
51:26If you want an outdoor space to relax in,
51:29the Boodles Rain Dance Garden is packed with inspiration
51:33and colour plays a big part in why it feels so laid-back and chill.
51:38The borders are filled with pastel-coloured flowers.
51:41Pastels are blooms suffused with white.
51:44They're softer shades and unlike reds and yellows,
51:47if you put these round your seating area,
51:49they don't shout for attention.
51:51Rather, they harmonise with their backdrop,
51:53harmonise into the garden and create that relaxing vibe.
51:57They're also good for brightening up a garden.
52:00You see, this one is under the dappled shade of trees
52:03and in the corner it's particularly dark.
52:05But thanks to the whites and the pink,
52:07these are colours and blooms that lift the gloom.
52:10An easy trick to copy.
52:12Now, the pastels here, they seem to float
52:15and they float above a tapestry of green.
52:17You can't see a single inch of soil
52:20and that means no heat is reflected back from the ground
52:23and even with the sunny weather we've been having,
52:26that makes this garden feel cool.
52:28But it's the pastels that make it look so cool.
52:38The garden for the future is a different type of space.
52:41It's smaller than the other plots
52:43and although it has no deliberate colour theming,
52:46the flowers that provide the colour, they're very interesting
52:49because most of them are plants that garden themselves,
52:52i.e. flowers that self-sow.
52:54They move around on their own.
52:56There's brilliant examples for the veg plot,
52:59the phacelia, smells of Bakewell tarts,
53:02love-by-bees, for under hedges there's cranesbills,
53:05brunnera and foxgloves.
53:08And these plants are brilliant if you go to nurseries and garden centres
53:12because if you stick in some foxgloves or some valerian in your garden,
53:16the plants will grow up, they'll flower, they'll set their seed
53:20and they'll come up in the most unlikely places,
53:22bringing colour to places that are impossible to plant
53:26or even get a trowel in.
53:28And best of all, they'll do it for free.
53:33Thank you so much, Toby.
53:36Now it's time to open our Chelsea Garden Clinic
53:39and today Frances is here to answer your questions.
53:43Are you ready for this, Frances? I think so.
53:45Shall I go with the first one? Let's do it.
53:47Sue has sent in a photograph of her Magnolia Susan.
53:49She says it's done really well this year
53:51and is currently on its second flowering.
53:54But it's now so big it's taking up the last bit of evening sunlight.
53:59When and how can she prune it, please, to reduce its height?
54:03Magnolias can get to be quite big trees
54:05but they have such a lovely, graceful habit
54:07so I'm always very careful about pruning them.
54:09Make sure you do a good job, get an expert in if you're not sure.
54:13You can take them back, and now is a good time, so summertime,
54:16but when you bring them back, don't just cut them back like a topiary
54:19or else you'll get a very bushy tree.
54:21Instead, take the branches right back to a main trunk
54:23for a nice, clean, sharp saw
54:26and then hopefully you'll have a nice, graceful, open habit and keep that.
54:29Lovely. There you go, Sue.
54:31Right, Angelica.
54:33I've got John and Sophie here. It says happily married couple on my card.
54:36What's your question?
54:38Thank you, Angelica.
54:40Hello, Frances.
54:42We'd love some suggestions for a shady part of our garden
54:46to have some colourful shrubs or perennials, if you can think of any.
54:51That is always a challenge, I think.
54:53First, you have to establish what kind of shade you have.
54:56If it's a north-facing wall, you'll probably have constant shade all year.
54:59If it's underneath some deciduous trees,
55:01then you might have sun in the winter or in the early spring.
55:04In that sort of situation, things like bulbs, bluebells, wild garlic, if you can.
55:08It spreads quite far, though.
55:11Establishing that, also think about paler colours
55:14because they actually look better where there's dull light.
55:17Foxgloves, lots of geraniums, geranium fiam, that brings some colour.
55:20So there is a bit of a range, things like periwinkle,
55:23but it's a challenge, always.
55:25Thank you very much.
55:27A challenge, that's what they're going to take, aren't they?
55:29Susie says, have you got any idea why the leaves on my bay tree are turning brown?
55:34It's situated in a very sunny courtyard.
55:37Okay, well, it's probably drought in this spring that we've had very little rain.
55:42So give it a water, first and foremost,
55:45and always, actually, with anything like that,
55:47if it's a box or if it's a bay, if it's a ball or a lollipop or a pyramid,
55:51even if it's had rain, sometimes that doesn't penetrate through the evergreen leaves.
55:55So in a pot, particularly, always be making sure that you're giving a water
55:59to those sorts of evergreen shrubs
56:01and a bit of a feed every few weeks as well, throughout the summer months.
56:04Does that go for all trees?
56:06Especially evergreens, because the leaves are always there,
56:08blocking the rain from accessing the root ball at the bottom.
56:11Of course, of course.
56:12Okay, Kathleen's with me. You've got a question about strawberries, haven't you?
56:15I have. I love strawberries.
56:17How can I increase my yield on strawberries on a day like this?
56:21Yeah, well, plenty of water.
56:23Protect them from slugs and mice, who always eat mine on my allotment.
56:27But what you want to do with strawberries is keep them up off the soil,
56:30so straw is the traditional way of doing that.
56:33Plenty of water, a bit of feed,
56:35but take the runners when they throw them out at the end of the summer,
56:39pop them up, and then every few years,
56:41replace your plants with fresh, more vigorous plants.
56:44Cut the foliage back at the end of the summer as well,
56:46can get the buds some sun,
56:48and that will get flower buds and fruit buds forming for next year.
56:51Lovely, thank you.
56:52Time for one more?
56:53Yeah, shall we do one more?
56:54Frankie!
56:55Hi, hi, hi, hi.
56:57I'd like to plant a tree in a pot.
57:00I wondered what you'd recommend on decking.
57:03Sure.
57:04Well, if you're having a tree as big a pot as you can possibly fit
57:07is always a good idea, because then you have plenty of compost,
57:10plenty of resources,
57:11but you'll have to make sure that you water it and feed it fairly regularly,
57:14and remember that whatever tree you pick will be kept slightly smaller
57:17just because it's in a pot, but you should be able to do that easily.
57:20Have you got any ideas for a tree you like?
57:22Well, I think earlier I heard hazel.
57:25Hazel's a really good tree for a pot,
57:27because you can coppice it and keep it small.
57:29Yeah, keep it small.
57:30That sounds great.
57:31We're encouraging everybody, if they can, to plant trees in any way you can.
57:34If you've got a small space, there is a tree for you, isn't there?
57:37I love trees. I'm a big fan.
57:39I have a tiny garden.
57:40I've already planted four trees in it.
57:42Oh, really?
57:43Yeah, but I love them so much.
57:44And I've got a pot ready for a tree.
57:46You've got a whole garden ready to be done.
57:48I know.
57:49So all these tips.
57:50I know, all these tips and inspiration.
57:52Thank you so much for joining us today.
57:54It's a pleasure.
57:55We really appreciate it.
57:56Now, we love to hear from you,
57:58so if you have any questions to put to our experts in our Chelsea Garden Clinic,
58:03go to our Facebook page.
58:05That's all we've got time for today.
58:07We'll be back at 2 o'clock tomorrow with tips on how to make the most of your garden on a budget.
58:12And there'll be big excitement as we launch the BBC RHS People's Choice Award.
58:17We'll have all the details on how you can vote for your favourite garden.
58:21Oh, and don't forget, Monty and Rachel will be back tonight on BBC Two at 8 o'clock
58:26when they'll be revealing the winner of the RHS Chelsea Garden of the Year.
58:30Yes.
58:31Can't wait.
58:32Bye for now.
58:33Bye.
58:37.