Christmas thank you

The last episode of the year, so David and Peter say thank you and share a few things about the events of 2025.We also update you on <a href="https://www.buckinghamgardencentre.co.uk/christmasopening2025.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christmas Opening times</a>.

Week 52 In the Garden

Peter chats with Pam about reforesting, and the work Ripple Africa are doing in Mwaya

In this Episode Peter Chats with Pam Haig from <a href="https://rippleafrica.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ripple Africa</a>. Ripple Africa have been working in Mwaya and surrounding areas in Malawi since 2003, helping communities to achieve a sustainable future by giving a helping hand rather. We learn of the deforestation issues facing Malawi, its consequences and how their <a href="https://rippleafrica.org/tree-planting-in-malawi-africa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tree planting program</a> has helped reforest large areas. Since 2004 Ripple Africa has planted 26.5 Million trees, helping reduce erosion, restore forested areas, help nature and provide firewood and lumber and a source of income in the future. Malnutrition is one of the problems in Malawi and <a href="https://rippleafrica.org/agriculture/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ripple Africa</a> has been working very hard showing communities and farmers how to grow different crops to diversify their diet. Now they are growing Sweet Potatoes, Fruit trees and chickens and vegetables.The Chagu chagu moto is another very successful cook stove project. Its simple design using locally sourced materials, reduces the demand on firewood for cooking helping families save time, it provides a stable structure so is far safer than the 3 stone fire and has 2 burners so allows for 2 pot cooking.We also touch on <a href="https://rippleafrica.org/education/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">education</a> as this is another arm of the charity, and learn of the schools that they have helped to build.Our thanks to &nbsp;<a href="https://www.chilternmusictherapy.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chiltern Music</a> for providing the title music.

Ripple Africa with Pam Haig

David and Peter Chat about Houseplants, National Robin Day, Raspberries and a something to do in London next year

With the heating going on indoors, we also chat about houseplant winter care — how to stop your plants drying out when the radiators fire up, simple ways to boost humidity, and why a quick “seasonal reset” can save your favourite foliage.With <a href="https://www.songbird-survival.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/national-robin-day/national-robin-day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Robin Day</a> coming up, Peter and David talk about how to help garden birds through winter, from offering <a href="https://www.buckinghamgardencentre.co.uk/shop/Peckish-Complete-Bird-Food-1kg-p66197579" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">high-energy food</a> to keeping bird feeders clean and disease-free.&nbsp;We take a look ahead <a href="https://londongardenstrust.org/whatson/london-open-gardens-2026/participating-gardens/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">to London Open Gardens 2026</a>, a weekend where more than 100 hidden gardens across the capital will open their gates — definitely one for the diary.There’s also discussion on the latest <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/articles/peat-free-nutrition" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RHS</a> peat-free trials, which show that more fertiliser isn’t always better, plus the key findings from Thompson &amp; Morgan’s 2025 survey revealing how British gardeners are adapting to hotter, drier summers.Finally, we round things off with a spotlight on <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/?target=search&amp;mode=search&amp;substring=raspberry&amp;including=all" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">raspberries</a>, covering the difference between summer- and autumn-fruiting types and some of the bare-root varieties now available at the Garden Centre.

Week 50 in the Garden

The Christmas season is upon us and David and Peter share some care suggestons for your Christmas tree, Poinsettias and Amaryillis

In this episode David and Peter talk about Christmas! How to care for your cut Christmas tree, or if you have a live one the best temperature and how to look after it during the festive period. We discuss the joys of the Amarylis bulb and how to get them to last more than one year. And the other Christmas favourite the Poinsettia, where to position it and what it needs to do well. Peter talks about the Spathiphllum wallisii as his go to houseplant due to its forgiving nature and ability to survive without the greatest amount of care. The 2026 Garden Centre Calendar has been released, so come in and buy something to get your free copy (whilst stocks last). This year’s edition features amazing photos of trees, shrubs and unusual plants, monthly tips and space for you to write your appointments on.We also talk about a recent Podcast with Pauline Brown and hedging and go over the importance of preparing the ground and cutting back your new plants if you want to have a thick and bushy hedge. If you need to work out how many plants you need for a new hedge use our <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/mixed-native-hedging" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hedging Calculator</a>. We also discuss the skills of laying a hedge, how severe and harsh it looks and the benefits of reviving an old hedge, watch some old video footage from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoprVhpOKIk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Youtube</a>Peter shares a trick to get woody stems to grow new leafy shoots on a Laurel which he used after cutting his laurel hedge back very severely.

Week 49 in the Garden

Peter and David discuss places to plant trees, what's going on in Horticulture and the recent rains.

In this episode David and Peter chat about the recent rain and the problems this has caused across England including <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/gallery/2025/nov/16/monmouth-cleans-up-after-storm-claudia-floods-in-pictures" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Monmouth</a>. It's National Tree Week this week so get out and plant a tree! This event is organised by the <a href="https://treecouncil.org.uk/seasonal-campaigns/national-tree-week/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Tree Council</a> and it's partners. Oxford University Parks Arboretum <a href="https://treecouncil.org.uk/event/oxford-university-parks-arboretum-explorer-map-launch-and-tree-planting/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Explorer Map Launch and Tree Planting</a>, Thursday, November 27 @ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, Join Oxford University Parks and Professor Martin Maiden, Professor of Molecular Epidemiology and Head of Biology in celebrating the launch of it's new online&nbsp;Arboretum Explorer Map&nbsp;by planting a tree. Following the planting ceremony, Sam Prior, the University Arboricultural Manager will do a guided walk introducing some of the more interesting trees throughout the parks. Do you want to learn how to weave words with the willows, then head outside and join a group from <a href="https://www.cambridgelivetickets.co.uk/events/weaving-words-with-willows-free-interactive-storytelling-sessions#main-content" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Crofters</a> Café, Cambridge,&nbsp;CB2 1RB. Book tickets in advance for a guided walk. Or maybe you want to grow a willow tree or a hedge <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/?target=search&amp;mode=search&amp;substring=willow&amp;including=all" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buckingham Nurseries</a> has lots of different varieties for you to plant. Aquifers across the country have started filling up again, Yorkshire still has a hosepipe ban and the Environmant Agency is concerned there may be another shortage next year as we have not had as much rainfall as usual. Frances Tophill designs her first Chelsea show garden for The King's Foundation's Curious Garden exhibit, joining her from the King's foundation will be Sir David Beckham, and from the RHS and King's Foundation Alan Titchmarsh CBE. A large part of the Charity's work is learning to live within nature and learn from it. It also offers <a href="https://www.dumfries-house.org.uk/education" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">courses</a> from it's Headquarters in <a href="https://www.dumfries-house.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dumfries House</a>, Scotland. A rare <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yp21j5n25o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">orchid</a> has been brought back from the brink of extinction and we discuss dividing <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/?target=search&amp;mode=search&amp;substring=strawberry&amp;including=all" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Strawberries</a> and it's nearly time for planting. Follow us @buckingham-nurseries find our website at <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hedging.co.uk</a> and our special thanks to <a href="https://www.chilternmusictherapy.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chiltern Music Therapy</a> for supplying the music.

Week 48 in the Garden

Peter chats with Pauline Brown about Buckingham Nurseries and Garden Centre's evolution, when and where to plant a hedge, some of the different types and benefits and how to prepare, care and grow them.

In this episode Pauline and Peter talk about Hedging.Our <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hedging business</a>, was started by John Brown on a small plot of Land in Harrow on the Hill, but due to a lack of space the business was moved to our present location by his son Richard back in 1970. With a vast range of Hedging, Fruit and Ornamental trees on offer and being one of the oldest Mail Order specialists in the country in this episode we learn a little more about the changes that have happened over the last 75 years and reasons why <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buckingham Nurseries and Garden Centre</a> is one of the best places to get your new hedge from.&nbsp;We sell most of our hedging plants in the winter when the plants are dormant. We also sell pot grown hedging which is available all year round. Before getting your hedge, it is best to prepare the soil in advance. Dig the area your hedge is going to go in before your new plants arrive, incorporate some well rotted manure or slow release <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/accessories/fertilisers_rootgrow/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fertilizer</a> like <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/bonemeal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bonemeal</a>, or <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/accessories/fertilisers_rootgrow/vitax-q4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vitax</a>. If drainage is an issue incorporate some grit. Once the plants arrive, plant them with Mycorrhizal fungi like <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/accessories/fertilisers_rootgrow/rootgrow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rootgrow</a>, keep watered if needed for the first year or two to help them establish. Keep the weeds down with <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/weed-control-landscape-fabric--heavy-duty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Landscape fabric</a>. If you are wondering what hedges will do best for you, have a walk around your neighbourhood and see what hedges are doing well in your local area as the likelihood is you will have a similar soil type to your neighbours, so what they can grow well hopefully you will be able to do to.We also discuss some of the different types of hedges we sell from <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/mixed-native-hedging" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Native</a> hedging to Peter’s pet hates <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/rose-rugosa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rosa rugosa</a>, and <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/berberis-julianae" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Berberis</a> as they are painful to pack but great for creating a very secure, impenetrable hedge great for deterring burglars and trespassers who you don’t want on your land.Pauline gives us some help and guidance on how to plant a hedge, care for it, from the moment it arrives to getting it established over the first couple of years, growth rates and how often you might need to cut it. Pauline also explains how the business has evolved from simple lists of plants being advertised in National Papers to more modern methods like our website and more recent advertising campaigns through the likes of YouTube and social media. Over the years our shop has gone from a simple shed with tools, fertilizers and a small range of sundries through to today’s large modern shop, including our very popular Restaurant, with all the different departments from Houseplants, &nbsp;Cookshop and Foodhall, Giftware, Christmas and all the other departments that make up a modern destination Garden Centre worth a visit.

Creating your perfect hedge with Pauline Brown

David and Peter chat about Gardeneing News, upcoming events and the start of the Christmas tree season

In this episode of Dig it we chat about <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/news" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RHS Chelsea 2026</a> and some of the show gardens planned for next year. The <a href="https://phsonline.org/the-flower-show" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philadelphia flower show 2026</a> celebrates 250 years of American independence at it's 197th show. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/nov/09/could-urban-farming-feed-the-world" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Urban farming and Food insecurity</a> is discussed in an article in the Guardian by David Farrier, that provides some interesting facts about where we are now and how, with a growing population, we will need to grow significantly more food than we currently are and how this might happen.As Autumn gets colder and Winter is nearing, we need to think about expanding our range of bird feeders and what we are feeding our garden birds to help the weaker species get food at our feeding stations and we hear recomendations from Honeyfields recent article in <a href="https://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/1i360in2zxh?lang=en&amp;a=1&amp;p=66104122&amp;t=20355035" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GTN</a>.

Week 46 in the Garden

David and Peter chat about stories from the news, gardens to visit and jobs to do. 

In this Episode Peter and David discuss the upcoming RHS Glow Gardens, and Blenheim and Waddesdon winter lit gardens. We discuss some jobs for the week and what you can plant.

Week 45 November '25 in the Garden

October is coming to a close so David and Peter chat about what they have been up to and a few jobs, and ideas for things to do.

In this episode David tells uu about cropping his Christmas potatoes, Peter discovers what his compost heap has been up to and we go through a few jobs.The Garden Museum in London has a new exhibition on showing works by <a href="https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/rory-mcewen/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rory McEwan</a> one of the 20th century’s most celebrated botanical artists. We discuss the <a href="https://www.thenma.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Memorial Arboretum</a> in StaffordshireWe discuss compost heaps and how long they take to turn garden matter into compost, David reminds us to collect leaves we suggest cleaning patio slabs to get rid of slippy algae build ups and if you are thinking of planting a <a href="https://www.hedging.co.uk/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20789667080&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwx-zHBhBhEiwA7Kjq6yXMcr-zljHRTgTLIbNvGDdNdOjJIRdNa693epjiWIlAWYfUMyhgCRoCd9QQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hedge or some bare root plants</a> we suggest to get the ground prepared now ready for winter planting.

End of October '25 in the Garden

Informal and lively discussions on gardening.

Chris Day and Peter Brown from Buckingham Garden Centre talk about their gardening experiences, what to do in the garden, seasonal gardening advice and interviews with horticultural experts.

Dig It - Discussions on Gardening Topics

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