Postbag Edition: RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q - Why have my 10-year-old Camelia gotten developed smaller flowers this year? (02'05")

Q - Has my very large sycamore tree been stunting the growth of my old flowering cherry tree?  (04'32")

Q - I wondered if I could plant that’s low level and creeping, which would reduce weeding and could cope with occasionally being walked on? (09'20")

Joe –

Mentha requienii, corsican mint

Thymus vulgaris, common thyme

Wild carrots

Poppies

Pippa Greenwood–

Armeria maritima, thift

Kirsty Wilson-

Erigeron, fleabane

Thymus 'Jekka', thyme ‘jekka’

Dr Chris Thorogood –

Atriplex halimus, tree purslane

Q – I’ve been experimenting with a variety of annuals, small trees, herbs, strawberries, and tomatoes. Should I be replacing all the compost in the tubs?  (12'45")

Feature – Peter Gibbs visits the ‘Save For A Rainy Day” garden, where he speaks to garden designer Baz Granger (15’55”)

Baz Granger –

Stachys byzantine, lamb’s ear

Achillea millefolium, common yarrow

Oreomecon nudicaulis, Icelandic poppy

Linum perenne, perennial flax

Q- I got a puppy last August and I want to redesign my garden this year to be dog friendly. What advice can the panel offer? (22'30")

Q - We've had sporadic appearing orange patches. They’re now a permanent feature of the lawn. Any ideas on what could be causing this? (24'35")

Feature – Hospitalfield Arts Garden, where he meets celebrated garden designer Nigel Dunnett for a conversation on art, ecology, and sustainable planting (26’24”)

Nigel Dunnett-

Gypsophila repens 'Rosea', creeping baby’s breath ‘Rosea’

Arrhenatherum elatius, false oat grass

Q- We have a raised bed in our back garden, about 30 meters long with mature trees – what could grow here? (32'06")

Kirsty –

Spinach

lettuce

radishes

Bunny Guinness-

Polystichum setiferum, soft shield fern

Valeriana officinalis, common valerian

Euphorbia, spurge

Chris Thorogood-

Salvia yangii (Pe), Russian sage

Iris germanica, bearded iris

Iris 'Superstition' (TB), iris ‘Superstition’

Q - What advice could you give to supermarkets to keep their plants fresh and saleable? (37'00")