Gardeners' Corner

• What to do in the garden this Easter, grow your own soap and the sensory garden in an industrial estate?

  In this Easter edition of Gardeners’ Corner, there is double the gardening inspiration and know-how as two expert guests join David Maxwell in studio. Rosie Maye will be singing the praises of home grown rhubarb and Colin Agnew’s Easter basket is not full of eggs but succulent plants. Also on the programme, a San Francisco listener on how to grow your own soap and a visit to the Delta Sensory Gardens in County Carlow. The 2.5 acre site is located in an industrial estate and boasts 16 unique gardens that are used and maintained by adults and young people with disabilities. Email the programme at [email protected]

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• The surprising secret to naturalistic planting…get the kids to do it and building community with big containers

  With the sunny spring continuing, Gardeners’ Corner visits a 19th century walled garden in Maghera. Once connected to the local rectory, it is now run by the council, and it features several distinct spaces including a large glasshouse and a wildflower meadow. Roy Clark, who knows the garden well, says their secret to planting spring bulbs in a naturalistic way is to get children to do it! The good weather has also lead to increased demand for compost and this week presenter David Maxwell is on the factory floor of one of the biggest suppliers in the country. Also on the programme, a charity in Ballymoney that is building good community relations through growing and Ann FitzSimons will join David in studio to answer questions. Email the programme at [email protected]

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• How to create your own spring spectacular, lessons from life with a living wall and Adam Frost’s shrub of the month

  David Maxwell heads to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens where nearly 20,000 spring bulbs are blooming. Head Gardener, Claire Woods shows off the large collection of daffodils bred in Northern Ireland and gives some tips on getting the best out of these bulbs. Ann FitzSimons explains what she’s learnt after living with a living wall for 2 years and Adam Frost reveals his shrub for April (Euonymus nanus var. turkestanicus). In studio, David is joined by Anna Hudson, who will suggest what we can all sow now for a home grown harvest later this year and, with David, she’ll take questions from listeners including suggestions for a shallow planter and how to cure an unhappy looking holly tree. Email the programme at [email protected]

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• The family adopted by bees, how to care for Camellias and what to grow under a hedge

  What do you do if you’re adopted by bees? That was the Watson family’s question when the insects started making honeycomb in their compost bin. Now with two hives, mum Julietta is always thinking how she can make her County Down garden a haven for both her family and the wildlife on the doorstep. With Magnolias and Camellias blossoming across the country, David rejoins John Anderson for a woodland walk in the 35 acre Savill Garden near Windsor where the collection includes, Camellia ‘ Cornish Snow Winton’ and the very popular Camellia ‘Donation’. Also on the programme, Brendan Little joins David in studio to answer questions including what to plant under an established hedge. Contact the programme. Email the programme at [email protected]

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• Colour combinations at Castle Ward, are heathers back in fashion? And plantsman Jimi Blake on his latest obsession with alpines

  Autumn planting is rewarded with Spring colour and at Castle Ward the formal bulb display of hyacinths and primroses is at its height. David meets gardeners Searcha Kelly and Judy Walsh who, with the help of volunteers, keep the gardens of this National Trust property looking good. Could heathers be coming back into fashion? Long lasting colour and a winter food source for bees mean they are high on the list for new plantings at The Savill Garden in Windsor. Keeper of the Gardens, John Anderson also shows David some other plants used as valuable ground cover including various types of Ophiopogon. Plantsman Jimi Blake reveals his latest interest is alpines – but will he get the new borders ready before his Huntingbrook garden opens for the season? Claire McNally joins David in studio to answer questions. [email protected]

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