Two Good Gardeners

• Demystifying Orchids with Rose Armstrong

  Dan and Julia talk to Rose Armstrong of McBeans Orchids, one of Britain's oldest and most illustrious nurseries. Your hosts discover what makes orchids such a vast and successful plant family and what's needed to grow and propagate them successfully at home. Before you ask, rainwater IS required, so get collecting now! Later in the episode, Julia explains how to overwinter your favourite chilli plants, and Dan describes the difference between bypass and anvil secateurs. As always, there's a handy reminder of the jobs you can be doing in your garden over the next fortnight to round off.Jobs for the fortnightMulch around the base of plants and over empty beds and borders. Over winter, worms will busily pull the organic matter into the soil, improving its structure. Collect leaves and add them to your compost heap, or pack them into jute sacks. They’ll slowly decompose to make leaf mould—one of the most precious ingredients in good compost. Shredding them will make them break down faster.Brush paths with coarse sand or use a jet washer to remove moss and algae, which can become slippery when wet or icy.In exposed gardens, reduce the height of tall shrubs such as roses, buddleia, and lavatera to prevent them from rocking in high winds. For the same reason, newly planted trees should be staked low down.Turn off the water supply to outdoor taps and drain hosepipes before storing them. Install a water butt if you need a ready supply of water over winter.If you’ve experienced blight, black spot, rust, or mildew this season, it's essential to remove and destroy any infected plant matter. Cutting off this year’s hellebore leaves is a good idea, allowing an uncluttered view of the nodding blooms in spring.Take a walk around the garden and inspect the large shrubs and trees, noting any branches that appear as if they might fall. Remove them yourself using loppers or a pruning saw if you feel able. If in doubt, call an arborist for a second opinion and to carry out the work. Do the same exercise for fences, garden buildings and ornamental structures, such as pergolas. Give the lawn one last cut, avoiding emerging bulbs - some early-flowering varieties can appear above ground well before Christmas.Order and plant bare-rooted plants. This is one of the cheapest and most environmentally friendly ways to create a hedge, rose garden, orchard or woodland area. Website links:Dan Cooper GardenDan's Calendar of EventsParker's PatchMcBean's OrchidsExpertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Mad About Maples with Miles Hayward

  In this episode, your hosts quiz Acer expert and Vice Chair of The Maple Society of Britain & Ireland, Miles Hayward, on how to grow acers in your garden, creating unparalleled colour and form year-round. They find out how to pick a top-notch plant, learn the best way to plant it, and discover which other plants acers associate well with. Later in the show, Julia shares a clever way to use up excess chillies before ending with suggestions about what you can do in your garden over the next fortnight:Jobs to do in the garden over the next fortnight:Keep picking dahlias. Watch out for mildew as nights become colder.Take hardwood cuttings from flowering shrubs such as Cornus, Hydrangeas, and Philadelphus. These can be rooted directly in the ground - it's easy-peasy.Plant amaryllis bulbs for Christmas, keeping two-thirds of the bulb above the compost. Water sparingly until the leaves appear.Lift and store bananas, cannas, tender salvias & ginger plants BEFORE they get frosted.Do the same with dahlias once the first frosts have appeared. If you live in the southeast, you can leave them in the ground under a decent pile of mulch. Repair damaged lawns. Scarify and aerate with a garden fork. There's still just enough time to reseed if you're quick about it, but don't delay.Cut back the asparagus fern once it turns yellow.Sow broad beans either directly or under cover in deep pots to be planted out next month.Sow onion, garlic and shallot sets from now.Continue to pick up fallen fruits, store and leave a few for wildlife to help themselves.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenDan's Calendar of EventsParker's PatchMiles Japanese Maples InstagramThe Maple Society of Britain & IrelandContact Miles by email: [email protected] Miles by phone: 01798 688123Expertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Skateboarding into Horticulture with Toby Shuall

  In this episode, Dan and Julia chat with Toby Shaull of Zophian Plants about his journey from pro-skateboarder and carpenter to specialist plantsman and pioneer of alternative growing mediums. Toby is part of a new generation of nurserymen gently nudging small-scale, commercial horticulture into the 21st Century.Toby will be offering plants for sale at these forthcoming events;Plant Fairs Roadshow at Mount Ephraim Gardens, Kent - Sunday, 28th September 2025Great Dixter Plant Fair - Saturday, 4th and Sunday, 5th October 2025Jobs to do in your garden this fortnightKeep deadheading dahlias and give them a potassium-rich liquid feed to boost flower production; this will also help maintain their vibrant colours as the weather cools.Prepare hyacinths and narcissi for Christmas by potting them up in peat-free compost before popping them in a cool, dark place until new growth is 5-6cm long.Bring houseplants inside that were evicted for the summer. Remove dead or damaged leaves and check underneath the pots for slugs and snails.It’s your last chance to cut topiary and hedges before winter.Order overwintering onion sets and plant them this month or next. Nudge them into the ground with their tips just protruding.Remove greenhouse shading.Tidy tomato plants by cutting off leaves that shade any fruits still left to ripen. It’s still relatively warm, so tomatoes will continue to grow if they receive enough light.Freeze any excess fruit if you are short on time; tomatoes and berries can be frozen whole.Divide older or very large rhubarb crowns to create new plants; this will also rejuvenate the existing crowns.Order sweet pea seeds, these can be sown in the autumn or next spring, often, the best varieties sell out quickly.Dan's featured products:Signature Potting Trowel - perfect for filling pots with compost and a lovely gift for keen propagators.Signature Slim Transplanting Trowel - ideal for moving self-seeders and planting small bulbs. Minimises disturbance of neighbouring plants.Signature Disc Weeder - a round 'Hori Hori' for cultivating, weeding, scraping off moss, clearing gutters and removing weeds from cracks in paving.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenDan's Calendar of EventsParker's PatchZophian Plants InstagramExpertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Reflections on a Long, Hot Summer

  Dan & Julia kick off the new series of their podcast with their reflections on the long, hot summer of 2025, comparing notes on how it's impacted their gardens and their plans for the future. Also in this episode, your hosts share simple recipes that helped turn a glut of courgettes into tasty and crowd-pleasing meals, plus a list of jobs you can do in your garden to keep it beautiful and bountiful through early autumn.Garden jobs for the fortnightWatch out for powdery mildew, which takes hold when a plant has dry roots and wet foliage. It’s prevalent in autumn. Spray the leaves of vulnerable plants with a solution of bicarb dissolved in water - a teaspoon should do. Or invest in a mildewcide such as SB Plant Invigorator.Keep deadheading dahlias and make sure they’re firmly staked.Watch out for Asian Hornets and report sightings to the UK Centre for Egology and Hydrology Start planting spring-flowering bulbs. Daffodils and snowdrops in particular will start producing roots as soon as the first autumn rain has fallen.Box moth caterpillars will be starting their last lifecycle before winter, so don’t stop whatever preventative treatments you’re using until October.Direct sow hardy annuals, including wildflower seeds, into prepared seed beds. Resist the urge to scatter seeds among grasses or established plants; the competition will be too much for your seedlings.Start making space in your greenhouse, conservatory or garage for tender plants that need winter protection.Continue sowing salads, such as lettuce, rocket, and mizuna.Find a good pair of gardening gloves that will help you work in wet weather. We’ve just discovered Niwaki’s fleece-lined rubber gloves and love them!Start to store fruit, namely apples and pears, slightly under-ripe, with no soft or damaged fruit. Store in a cool place in trays that allow air to circulate.Website links:Dan Cooper GardenDan's Calendar of EventsParker's PatchReport an Asian Hornet SightingExpertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Architectural Plants With Guy Watts and Jason Gilford

  In the last episode of this series, your hosts, Dan Cooper and Julia Parker, talk to Guy Watts and Jason Gilford of Architectural Plants about what makes the perfect sculptural specimen, the challenges of running a nursery during a heatwave, and how much risk to take when choosing borderline hardy plants. Julia shares her favourite architectural edibles, and Dan recommends mini shears for creating prize-winning Niwaki - all will be revealed when you listen!Two Good Gardeners will return in Autumn 2025 for a sixth series - subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts for updates and special bonus episodes.Website links:Architectural Plants WebsiteDan Cooper GardenDan's Calendar of EventsParker's PatchBook Tickets to listen to Julia in conversation with Marian Boswall on 22nd JulyExpertly produced by Scott Kennett at Red Lighthouse Local Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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