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Diss: Gravel Gardens, Camellia Care and Ways to Weather Drought

Peter Gibbs and Gardeners鈥� Question Time panel visit Diss, where they discuss gravel gardens, camellia care and various ways to weather drought.

Peter Gibbs and the Gardeners鈥� Question Time panel visit Diss, on the Norfolk鈥揝uffolk border, where heavy clay soils meet some of the driest conditions in the country; a combination that keeps gardeners firmly on their toes.

Peter is joined by Bob Flowerdew on his home turf, alongside Christine Walkden and Bunny Guinness as they answer questions from a live audience. They advise on improving your strike rate with cuttings, diagnosing sooty mould on camellias, and deciding whether a bay tree is best kept in a pot, or given room to roam.

Along the way, the panel also explore how to turn a tired lawn into a stylish, drought鈥憆esistant gravel garden, debate whether lavender really needs feeding, and suggest small spring鈥慺lowering trees that can deliver a real seasonal show.

Later in the show, Bob shares hard鈥憌on lessons from gardening in East Anglia, offering practical tips on coping with drought and making the most of every drop of water.

Producer: Matt Smith鈥�
Producer: William Norton

A Somethin' Else production for 91福利社 Radio 4

* If listening on 91福利社 Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.
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42 minutes

Last on

Sunday 14:00
91福利社 Radio 4

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Plant List

Q1 鈥� 鈥淢any years ago, Bob Flowerdew wrote, "The difference between an average gardener and a good one is about two weeks." Is bad timing the reason for my poor strike rate with cuttings?鈥�(01鈥�51鈥�)

Bob Flowerdew

  • Ribes nigrum, blackcurrant

  • Acca sellowiana, feijoa

  • Ginkgo biloba, maidenhair tree

Question context

  • Syringa spp., lilac

Q2 鈥� 鈥淲hat鈥檚 wrong with my camellia leaves, they seem to be coated in a black dust that is spreading from leaf to leaf?鈥�(07鈥�51鈥�)

Christine Walkden

  • Camellia spp., camellia

Bob Flowerdew

  • Dahlia spp., dahlia (context: comparison plant)

Q3 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檝e been given a bay tree, I don鈥檛 want to keep it in a pot. What would be the best position to put it in?鈥�(11鈥�04鈥�)

Bob Flowerdew

  • Laurus nobilis, bay tree

Q4 鈥� 鈥淚 want to create a gravel garden鈥� do I lay gravel direct to soil or use a membrane? Do you. Have suggestions for planting, including a small tree?鈥�(13鈥�47鈥�)

Bunny Guinness

  • Iris germanica, bearded iris

  • Verbena bonariensis, purpletop vervain

  • Kniphofia spp., red hot poker

  • 聽Lagurus ovatus, bunny tails grass

  • Stipa gigantea, golden oats

  • Euphorbia spp., spurge

  • 听颁补谤别虫 spp., sedge

  • 听贵别蝉迟耻肠补 spp., fescue

Christine Walkden

  • Pyrus salicifolia, willow鈥憀eaved pear

  • 听厂迟颈辫补 spp., feather grass

  • Molinia spp., moor grass

  • Libertia spp., libertia

Q5 鈥� 鈥淪hould I feed lavender, or is it not needed?鈥�(19鈥�16鈥�)

Bunny Guinness

  • Lavandula spp., lavender

Feature 鈥� Bob Flowerdew advises on coping with drought - (20鈥�51鈥�)

Bob Flowerdew

  • Pyrus communis, pear

  • Prunus domestica, plum

  • Malus domestica, apple

  • Ficus carica, fig

  • Crambe maritima, sea kale

  • Vitis vinifera, grape vine

  • Pelargonium spp., pelargonium

Q6 鈥� 鈥淧lease could you recommend a smallish spring flowering tree with stunning blossom?鈥�(25鈥�55鈥�)

Bob Flowerdew

  • Cornus mas, cornelian cherry

Christine Walkden

  • Amelanchier alnifolia var. 鈥楶umila鈥� , dwarf alder-leaved serviceberry

Bunny Guinness

  • Mespilus germanica, medlar

  • Malus 鈥楻osehip鈥�, crab apple 鈥楻osehip鈥�

  • Betula spp., birch (context: existing tree)

Q7 鈥� 鈥淢any plants are sold in pots with roots in a tiny mesh pot鈥� should I remove this before potting on?鈥�(30鈥�21鈥�) 聽

Q8 鈥� 鈥淒o you have someone who influenced your gardening, and what plant would you choose as a memorial?鈥�(36鈥�42)

Bunny Guinness

  • Rosa spp., rose

Christine Walkden

  • Ribes spp., currant

Bob Flowerdew

  • Canna 'Oiseau de Feu', Ccanna 'Oiseau de Feu'

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    91福利社 Radio 4

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