Podcasts · Leisure

Gardening with the RHS

Royal Horticultural Society

300 episodes

'Gardening with the RHS' offers seasonal advice, inspiration and practical solutions to gardening problems. Trusted gardening professionals give you the latest horticultural advice, scientific research and tried and tested techniques to bring out the best in your garden.

More about the show

Topics covered include: growing your own vegetables, flowers, garden design, lawn care and gardening with children. Plus expert masterclasses in topics ranging from cottage garden plants, growing orchids, to pest control and eco-friendly gardening.

Plus we’ll have behind the scenes reports from the country’s most prestigious flower shows. There’s something in these podcasts to interest every gardener, whatever your level of expertise.

For more info see www.rhs.org.uk/podcast

A Pixiu production.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. 517: How to feed birds, a turf masterclass, and another essential job for autumn

    · 34 min

    As the weather cools and birds flock back to gardens, many of us enjoy putting more food out for them. But have we been feeding birds all wrong? How can we help our feathered friends without inadvertently endangering…

  2. 516 – Incredible ivy, vegetable folklore and autumn planting essentials

    · 31 min

    Meet one of our most loved and hated native plants. You might think of ivy as a destroyer of buildings or a nuisance weed, but it’s actually just been crowned the most popular flower with pollinating insects in an 8…

  3. 515 - The Plant Review: Waxcap Wonderlands, ancient apples, and your questions answered

    · 27 min

    A new season, and a new edition of The Plant Review, the quarterly magazine published by The RHS that delves a little deeper than the regular RHS Garden mag. If you prefer your plant stories and horticultural…

  4. 514 - Plants for pollinators, dividing perennials, and no more cauliflowers?

    · 34 min

    So many jobs to do at this time of year, but not enough time! As we rush to garden centres and nurseries, you can make it easier on yourself by narrowing down your new plant choices to those which are ultra wildlife…

  5. 513 – Autumn gets real, root cuttings, and what do spiders ever do for us?

    · 30 min

    Head to the bottom of the garden this month and you might end up with a face full of spiders’ webs. Before you run screaming into the house, RHS spider expert Ben Brough offers an insight into why an arachnophobe’s…

  6. 512: Turf wars, houseplant MOT, and a final bulb of the week

    · 33 min

    Many listeners’ turf will have taken a bashing over summer, and now is the time to glow-up the green. RHS Garden Wisley’s Jim Millward shares his tips on how to get your grass ready for autumn. The holiday is…

  7. 511: Saving drought-hit plants, the wildlife wonder of apples, more bulb inspiration

    · 33 min

    Is it dead? Or is it just sulking? That’s what many listeners will be wondering after returning from their summer holidays to find many plants exhausted by hot and dry weather. Horticultural advisor Nick Turrell…

  8. 510: Magnificent mini-beasts, figs, and another bulb of the week

    · 31 min

    There’s a myriad of weird and wonderful beasties out there who feast on flowers, but all is not rosy inside the garden gate. Pollinators are in trouble, and Josie Stuart, RHS Senior Entomologist at RHS Garden Wisley…

  9. 509: Lovely lantanas, deadheading guide and our autumn bulb of the week

    · 32 min

    While many garden plants have struggled for survival this summer, one which has truly thrived is the lantana. Horticulturist David Hurrion was one of the judges of last year's lantana trial at RHS Garden Wisley in…

  10. 508: Seed collecting, apple pruning, and wildflowers

    · 30 min

    Even though it's still August, the signs of autumn are starting to show. False autumn is a survival-driven stress response where trees shed leaves and change colour prematurely due to extreme heat and drought, and you…

  11. 507: Heatwave survival guide for pots and powdery mildew mayhem

    · 32 min

    In a summer of rolling heatwaves, we look at what we can do to help out one of the garden areas most vulnerable to parching - plants in pots. RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell explains what you can do to keep them…

  12. 506: Garden wildlife care for heatwaves: dahlias, cinnabar moths, and more

    · 34 min

    As we experience one of the most extreme summers on record, how can we help our garden wildlife cope with the heat? RHS Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake explains why ornamental dahlias can be an excellent…

  13. 505: Summer SOS: holiday-proof your garden, midsummer planting guide, a giant bug hunt

    · 29 min

    If you’re going away this summer and are worried about your garden RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter shares some top hacks for ensuring your plants survive the heatwaves while you’re away. But if you’re staying at…

  14. 504: RHS Sandringham Flower Show: climate resilient trees, rainwater capture, frogs

    · 31 min

    The team head to North Norfolk to fill their boots with inspiration from the show gardens, floral exhibits, specialist growers, and innovative designs on display at RHS Sandringham Flower Show. Gareth Richards speaks…

  15. 503: Pollinators at RHS Badminton, Elms at RHS Sandringham, and Edimentals

    · 30 min

    It’s time to recuperate and relish one of the best times in the gardening calendar. Taking inspiration from some of the Pocket Planting gardens at RHS Badminton Flower Show, we’re celebrating plants for pollinators as…

  16. 502: RHS Badminton Flower Show

    · 34 min

    Join us at the inaugural RHS Flower Show at Badminton in Gloucestershire! It’s a brand-new addition to the gardening calendar, the next in a massive year of RHS events that celebrate the greatest shows in earth, and…

  17. 501: After the heat, multifunctional fennel, and roses 101

    · 37 min

    This week we’re recovering from extreme heat to get back to what we love best: celebrating the joy of plants, how to grow them, and some tips for doing more in our gardens. Guy Barter emerges from the heat dome with…

  18. 500: Insect week: Beetling about, solitary bees, and summer strawbs

    · 32 min

    Insects are vital ecosystem engineers in our gardens. Small but mighty, they help create healthy, balanced environments where plants can thrive. Of course, not all insects are flying or scuttling above ground all the…

  19. A celebration of British blooms

    · 31 min

    Insects are drawn to them, poets and artists are inspired by them, and without them, much of our agriculture simply wouldn’t exist. Flowers are one of nature’s most remarkable inventions, and in honour of British…

  20. Plants for sunny spots: the familiar and the unexpected

    · 27 min

    In this summer edition of the Plant Review podcast special, we get stuck into the plants which love to bask in the sun. Journalist Phil Clayton shares his tips for success with bearded irises, and tackles one of the…

  21. June in the kitchen garden

    · 28 min

    June is when many kitchen gardens begin to hit their stride. Horticulturist, author, and YouTuber Huw Richards joins us to explore the joys of growing your own food, the benefits of self-sufficiency, and why gardens of…

  22. Heatwaves, houseplant hacks, hot new hostas, and more!

    · 32 min

    As the UK experiences some of the hottest May weather on record, we share practical tips for helping your garden cope during heatwaves. And if the soaring temperatures have you seeking shade indoors, we’ll hear from…

  23. The best of RHS Chelsea Flower Show

    · 29 min

    The highlight of the horticultural calendar is back. This week, we’re bringing you the very best of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We speak to designer Darren Hawkes about The Lady Garden Foundation’s 'Silent No More'…

  24. Chelsea’s gnome battle, marvellous mulleins and free plants with hidden costs

    · 32 min

    Love them or loathe them, garden gnomes are back… and this time, they’ve even got royal approval as they’ll be appearing in the Kings Foundation garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which returns next week. Fiona…

  25. Moths, hydrangeas and a royal flourish at Chelsea

    · 29 min

    We’re diving into the fascinating lives of moths with RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones. She tells us what sets them apart from butterflies, and how to set up nighttime nectar bars to give them a helping hand.…

  26. Wild about gardens: from birds to blossom

    · 35 min

    Today we’re getting wild in the garden and taking a look at some of the abundance that's on display as spring hits its peak. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh joins us to unpack the results of this year's Big Garden Birdwatch,…

  27. Alternatives to wildflower meadows, supercharge your garden with leftovers, cultivating unusual crops

    · 33 min

    To celebrate Earth Day, we’re looking at how we as gardeners can make small changes to benefit the world around us. Nick Turrell and Jenny Laville will be digging into the topic of food waste, exploring how composting…

  28. Helping hedgehogs, DIY potting mix, and crispy cabbages

    · 32 min

    This week Grace Johnson from the Hedgehog Street Campaign joins us once again to tell us more about what we can all do to support the recovery of hedgehog populations, right where they need it most: in our gardens. RHS…

  29. Spring’s hidden heroes: comfrey, carrots, and hedgehogs

    · 32 min

    This week, we’re shining a light on some of the plants and creatures that play a vital role at this time of year: the ones that truly make spring what it is… starting with an often overlooked but invaluable contributor…

  30. Climate resilient gardens, lettuces, and gladioli

    · 31 min

    This week we head to RHS Wisley's Hilltop where the science and advisory teams are working tirelessly to come up with solutions to some of the biggest pressures facing horticulture and gardeners today, and few are…

  31. Resilient gardens, blossoming trees & growing cucumbers

    · 30 min

    This week we’re embracing the arrival of spring in the garden. RHS horticultural advisor Jenny Bowden applies a right plant, right place approach in her sandy, drought-prone garden in southeast England. Embracing…

  32. An ode to home grown

    · 34 min

    This week, we’re focusing on the edible garden, and the simple yet radical act of growing your own food in an age of convenience. Food writer Nancy Matsumoto explores how our globalised food system is impacting both…

  33. Spring into wellbeing: primroses, pollinators, and peas

    · 35 min

    With the first glimmers of spring starting to show through, this week we’re diving into the theme of wellbeing – both for us and our garden wildlife. RHS Science & Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake joins us to explain…

  34. Learning From The Wild

    · 37 min

    This week, we’re leafing through the pages of The Plant Review to explore a simple question: what can we learn from the wild? American plantsman Daniel J. Hinkley reflects on a lifetime of exploration that has taken…

  35. Rethinking rose pruning, self-sufficiency, and ornamental grasses

    · 32 min

    This week we join gardener and biologist Benny Hawksbee in his rose beds to find out how one small adjustment to the traditional rose pruning method can create vital habitat for a key aphid predator. RHS Garden…

  36. Wet winter gardening, woodland walks and pruning wisteria

    · 31 min

    This week, we’re heading to RHS Garden Wisley to discover how its horticulturists are turning one of the wettest starts to the year on record into a garden that’s primed for spring. Team leader Helen Bensted-Smith…

  37. The wildlife wonders of hazel, the science of winter wellbeing and hot crops from Wisley

    · 35 min

    This week, as its delicate catkins unfurl on bare branches, Digital Science Editor Olivia Drake introduces this month’s RHS Wildlife Wonder plant — the hazel – which not only supplies queen bumblebees with much needed…

  38. Planning the perfect veg plot: heirlooms, tomatoes and what lies beneath

    · 35 min

    Now is a great time to start planning what to grow, and this week, we’re diving headfirst into the seed catalogues for inspiration! We’re exploring some of the tastiest, and most eye catching, additions to the veg…

  39. Beyond peat

    · 29 min

    This week we’re telling the story of peat: from the value of this amazing otherworldly habitat, to the threats facing these rare landscapes and work being done to protect them, and how growers and horticulturists are…

  40. Wildlife-friendly gardening: winter edition

    · 33 min

    This week we’re rolling up our sleeves to look at how we can support our garden visitors, while also preparing for the burst of life that spring will bring. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh is back to share how monitoring…

  41. Feathers, Fruit and Fascinating Plants

    · 28 min

    Today, we’re joined by the RSPB’s Emma Marsh, who shares how she has made her garden into a haven for birds. We’ll also conclude Nick Turrell’s countdown of the most influential plants that have shaped human culture,…

  42. Midwinter Gardens: Influential Plants, Christmas Trees and New RHS Gardens

    · 27 min

    The new year has arrived with an Arctic blast, and so it feels like the perfect moment to retreat indoors and let the garden live in our imaginations for a while. Nick Turrell joins us to continue his countdown of the…

  43. A Year in the Garden: Hellebores, Hoverflies and Temperate Rainforests

    · 30 min

    As 2025 comes to a close, host Nick Turrell looks back on a year of discovery in this special end-of-year edition of Gardening with the RHS. From the quiet resilience of winter-flowering hellebores with plantsman John…

  44. A Quiet Beauty: Plants That Carry Us Through the Cold

    · 39 min

    Oh the weather outside is frightful but there’s still plenty of wonder to be found out there. James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, joins Gareth Richards to reflect on the quiet beauty of the resilient plants…

  45. At the Turning of the Year: From Great Dixter to Tomorrow’s Gardens

    · 26 min

    This week, we honour the stillness of winter and the returning promise of light as we mark the winter solstice. At this turning of the year, we reflect on the people, plants and initiatives that this new light brings…

  46. Garden Books We’re Obsessed With This Year

    · 42 min

    This week, RHS Head of Libraries Fiona Davison, garden designer Zoe Claymore and RHS Gardening Advisor Nick Turrell gather to share their must-read gardening books of 2025. Along the way, they explore what really makes…

  47. Atomic Gardens and Other Remarkable Histories

    · 33 min

    December is the perfect time to take stock of the garden and dream of the seasons ahead. With this in mind, this week we’re bringing you some extraordinary stories from horticulturists past and present. Fiona Davison…

  48. The Power of Trees: Wellbeing, Wildlife and the Future of Our Woodlands

    · 34 min

    It’s National Tree Week, and we’re heading into the woods to celebrate the trees that shape our landscapes, enrich our lives, and quietly support the world around us. We’re joined by Sally Bavin from the Woodland…

  49. When seasons slip: How to maximise your garden for plants and wildlife

    · 36 min

    As frosts arrive across the UK – later than usual this year – we’re exploring how to give nature a helping hand when the seasons fall out of step. In this installment of our wildlife ponds mini-series, Helen…

  50. Tiny Wetlands, Big Impact: The Wildlife Power of Garden Ponds

    · 35 min

    All life begins with water — and in gardens across the UK, ponds are becoming vital sanctuaries for wildlife. Now is an excellent time of year to create one, and RHS expert Helen Bensted-Smith walks us through…

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