Gardeners World episode 17 2012: It’s August, the sunshine month, and Monty will be surrounding himself with summer’s sweetest smells when he shows us what to plant for fragrance in his walled garden.
Rachel too will be in search of intoxicating scent on a visit to RHS Harlow Carr, seeing fabulous displays of philadelphus, night scented stocks as well as reveling in the fantastic fragrance of their sweet pea collection.
Carol returns to her native Lancashire and discovers aromatic roses thriving in the wild. She also seeks out some of the best-scented garden roses on a visit to Dutton Hall in the picturesque Ribble Valley, which has a collection of over 200 species. And back at Longmeadow, Monty will be in his herb garden cutting back marjorman, rosemary and thyme to ensure abundance for the rest of the summer, as well as sharing tips on how to propagate culinary herbs.
Gardeners World episode 17 2012
Herb garden maintenance
The Mediterranean herbs in Monty Don’s herb garden are not doing well. These lovers of sun and well-drained soils have been sitting in wet soil for weeks causing dieback. Other herbs have taken advantage of the extra moisture and grown with vigour shading out smaller plants. Monty has a clear out and takes semi-ripe cutting material from thyme, sage and rosemary to increase his stock of plants.
A continuous medley of aromatic, fresh herbs are easy to grow and harvest, adding vibrant flavours and texture to any meal.
Blue mint beetle
Blue mint beetle has reached our shores. The principal scientist of plant health at RHS Wisley, Andrew Halstead, tell us what to look out for and what to do should we find it in our gardens. Chrysolina coerulans, arrived from Europe and was found breeding in a garden in Kent last year. It’s spread and the impact it may have in our gardens is being monitored at Wisley.
