Gardeners World episode 29 2019

Gardeners World episode 29 2019 : in this special programme, Gardeners’ World takes a close look at the role that plants and gardening are playing in our mental and physical wellbeing, exploring the idea that gardening is good for you. At Longmeadow, Monty Don plants shrubs and bulbs for spring and catches up on some seasonal tasks.

Arit Anderson travels to a medical centre in Kent where gardening is prescribed by doctors to help patients cope with long-term mental and physical problems. She meets author Florence Williams, who has investigated the science behind the power of the natural world to improve health. Adam Frost is at a community garden in Oxfordshire, which has been created to provide ongoing support for sufferers of Parkinson’s disease.

Gardeners World visits the spinal injuries centre at Stoke Mandeville hospital in Aylesbury, where Joe Swift’s challenge is to design an accessible garden for the wellbeing of the patients. And in Essex, the programme finds out how planting a garden full of roses has contributed greatly to the mental wellbeing of the garden owner.

Gardeners World episode 29 2019

Growing yew

This native evergreen can be grown as a tree or clipped to form hedging or topiary. As a hedge, large or small, it can provide a dark green backdrop to borders or form a sturdy sheltering screen along boundaries. Its dense growth and red berry-like fruits provide valuable shelter and food for wildlife. Yew tolerates most soils including those containing chalk. It is, however, sensitive to soil compaction and waterlogged growing conditions. Once established, yew will even grow in dry soil and shade and can grow more quickly than anticipated.

Growing hydrangeas

There are a number of different hydrangea types but they all enjoy similar growing conditions. They vary in size from small shrubs to sizeable, almost tree-like specimens so check the plant label when buying to get one that is suitable for your space. Which hydrangea you choose will likely depend on your preferences for flower colour and/or shape.

Plant your shrubby hydrangea soon after purchase. The best time to plant is in spring or autumn. Containerised plants can be planted all year round as long as the soil is not frozen, too wet, or excessively dry in summer (but you can water them well if you really want to plant them then).