Many of us have experienced the surge in powdery mildew, ushered in by the hot, dry summer we’ve had. To find out more about this unwanted fungal force and how to manage it, we’re speaking to RHS Senior Plant Pathologist Dr Jassy Drakulic. Late summer is also the perfect time to prune your wisteria to ensure the best blooms next spring. We’re speaking to this custodian of Wisley’s Wisteria Walk, Liam Anderson to pick up his top tips for success at home. And Nick Turrell returns with a curious question. He’s shining a spotlight on one familiar feature found in almost every garden in the country, asking us to think about why it’s really there.

Host: Guy Barter

Contributors: Jassy Drakulic, Liam Anderson, Nick Turrell

Links:

Powdery mildews

Pruning Wisteria

This week we are diving into extremes. Tom Hart Dyke shares his amazing story of misadventure in the Panamanian jungle that led him to the brink of death… and to the founding of a ‘World Garden’ deep in Kent. Guy Barter shares some top tips on how to keep your garden looking luscious in the extreme heat and drought we’ve experienced across the UK this summer. And are you gardening on an extreme budget? Nick Turrell from the RHS advisory team has some top tips just for you!

Host: Gareth Richards

Contributors: Tom Hart Dyke, Guy Barter, Nick Turrell

Links:

Lullingstone World Garden

Managing water in your garden

Allotments are powerful spaces of regeneration, nourishment, and community, and this National Allotment Week we’re celebrating these impactful sanctuaries. Mike Farrell, Chair of the National Allotment Society talks us through how they have evolved and why in a fractured world, the diverse communities they serve are more vital than ever. Garden designer and allotmenteer Zoe Claymore explores the versatility of container gardening, and RHS Horticultural Advisor Lenka Cooke shares her hacks for dealing with any invading weeds AND how to feed your allotment at the same time.

Host: Nick Turrell

Contributors: Mike Farrell, Zoe Claymore, Lenka Cooke

Links:

National Allotment Society

Zoe Claymore website

More on homemade fertilisers 

School’s out and summer’s in full swing, which means it’s the perfect time for the next generation of green thumbs to dig in and discover the joys of gardening! The always-inventive Lee Connelly, better known as the Skinny Jean Gardener, joins us with some fantastic garden projects to keep little hands busy. We also hear from keen gardener and parenting podcast host Giovanna Fletcher, who shares how gardening brings her family closer and why her kids love it so much. And for those of you not entertaining children this week, don’t worry – we’ve got something for you too. We’re heading to RHS Rosemoor, where horticulturist Sam Southgate is challenging traditional ideas about formal gardening. He’s passionate about boosting biodiversity, and he’ll show us how to make room for wildlife in even the most polished garden spaces.

Host: Guy Barter

Contributors: Giovanna Fletcher, Lee Connelly, Sam Southgate

Links:

Summer holiday fun at RHS Garden Hyde Hall

Summer holidays at RHS Garden Wisley

Summer holidays at RHS Garden Rosemoor

Summer holidays at RHS Garden Bridgewater

Summer holidays at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

A third of British pollinator species are now in decline — but there’s still hope, and gardeners can be part of the solution. This week, the RHS launched its updated Plants for Pollinators list: over 10,000 plants scientifically shown to support pollinating insects throughout the year. Dr Andy Salisbury, head of plant health at the RHS, will take us behind the science — revealing how smart planting choices can help reverse pollinator decline. Gill Perkins, CEO of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, will bring us into the world of the charismatic bumblebee, shedding light on the growing pressures they face, from shrinking habitats to shifting seasons. And finally, horticulturist Rosie Yeomans will spotlight a pollinator favourite: salvias. After leading a three-year hardy salvia trial at RHS Garden Wisley, she’s here to reveal which varieties truly stole the show.

Host: Jenny Laville

Contributors: Dr Andy Salisbury, Rosie Yeomans, Gill Perkins

Links:

Plants for Pollinators hub

About Plants for Pollinators

Plants for bees

Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Hardy Salvia Trial Results

This week Sam Southgate from RHS Garden Rosemoor is teaching us how to rethink garden waste by transforming it into amazing structures for both you and your garden wildlife to enjoy. Mary Coates who’s doing her summer studentship with the plant health team at the RHS tells us about her research into the dreaded honey fungus, and how you can help her out. And finally we share some love for the mint family, as we dive into this expansive genus with some of the designers of the lamiaceae borders at RHS Hampton Court this summer. 

Host: Guy Barter

Contributors: Sam Southgate, Mary Coates, Gareth Richards, Tom Howard, Marlene Lento, Yvonne Price and Victoria Stanton

Links:

Privet species and honey fungus Survey

Help our research at the RHS

More about Honey Fungus

The Nest at Wisley

Lamiaceae borders at RHS Hampton Court

This week, we’re coming to you live from the very first RHS Flower Show at the magnificent Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire. We’ll be chatting with the rising stars of garden design – young talents competing for the coveted RHS Young Designer of the Year award. We’re also shining a light on some of the North’s finest growers, showcasing their extraordinary plants inside the vibrant floral marquee. And of course, we’ll be exploring the fresh ideas and inspiring themes blooming across the show’s breathtaking gardens.

Hosts: Gareth Richards, Jenny Laville, Mallissa Mabbitt

Contributors: Paul Hervey-Brookes, Luke Coleman, Colin Hickman, Dean Charlton, Mairi Longdon

Links: 

RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse

Nothing captures the spirit of a British summer quite like Wimbledon and the iconic pairing of strawberries and cream. This week we’re diving into the fascinating history of strawberry cultivation with the RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions Fiona Davison, who uncovered a hidden story of pioneering strawberry-focused citizen science. Wisley’s Liz Mooney returns to run us through exactly how to keep on top of the vegetable patch during one of the busiest times in the growing season. And finally, we journey to Somerset to meet Georgie Newbury of Common Farm Flowers. Her cut flower farm is a haven for bees, butterflies, and all things that flutter and buzz.

Host: Gareth Richards

Contributors: Fiona Davison, Liz Mooney, Georgie Newbury

Links:

How the RHS transformed British strawberry growing

RHS Digital Collections

RHS Plant Trials and Awards

Common Farm Flowers

This week, we're coming to you from the stunning RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2025; the UK’s most spectacular summer celebration of all things green, growing, and gloriously garden-inspired! Join us as we dive into the cutting-edge sustainability solutions, and thought-provoking exhibits that reveal how gardening connects us to nature, to each other, and to ourselves. We explore the Healer’s Hollow, where ancient plant-based healing traditions are brought back to life, and visit Surrey County Council’s visionary garden, which imagines a greener, more sustainable urban future. Along the way, we hear from passionate exhibitors and garden designers about how we can support endangered garden wildlife—and they share their top tips for keeping your garden thriving, even in this summer’s scorching heat.

Hosts: Guy Barter, Mellissa Mabbitt, Tom Howard

Contributors: Jude Yeo, Emily Grayshaw, Lilly Gomm, Coralie Thomas, Adrian Thomas, Alan Partridge, Helen Currie, Tom Pilgrim, Laura Strand, Sam Stark-Kemp, Henry T Pope

Links:

Visit RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 

RHS Healers Hollow Garden

RSPB and RHS Swift Garden

Surrey County Council: Reclaiming spaces, creating healthy streets garden

Hot Pocket, City Pocket Planting Garden

Teucer Wilson: Green the Gap Garden, City Pocket Planting

Welcoming Wildlife, City Pocket Planting Garden

This week we’re diving head-first into the long grass, under the flowerpots, and behind the compost bin to celebrate National Insect Week! The Wildlife Trusts’ collaborator and garden designer Zoe Claymore shares her top tips on wildlife friendly gardening. RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones will be busting some myths around one critter which has been dominating our gardens this year – aphids! And another RHS entomologist – Josie Stuart – explains why earwigs are excellent insect predators to encourage into your plot.

Host: Gareth Richards

Contributors: Zoe Claymore, Dr Hayley Jones, Josie Stuart

Links:

Buddleja aphids

Buddleja aphid survey

Aphids

Earwigs