Chelsea Flower Show 2026 - Postbag

Q1 – “I have a lot of moles in my garden… I absolutely welcome them, but what should I do with the molehills where I need to mow? Will I end up with dips or even a sinkhole because of the amount of soil they bring up?” ()

Matthew Wilson

• Salvia spp., salvia

The RHS and the King's Foundation Curious Garden with Frances Tophill (5’46”)

Mentions:

·       Nepeta Six Hills Giant

·      Lavandula buchii var. buchii, jagged lavender

·      Allium Sativium, Garlic

Q2 – “My front garden is very sunny but exposed to strong south‑westerly coastal winds. What vegetables could I successfully grow in raised beds in these conditions?”

Frances Tophill

• Solanum lycopersicum, tomato

• Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla, chard

Pippa Greenwood

• Spinacia oleracea, spinach

• Allium porrum, leek

Matthew Wilson

• Crambe maritima, sea kale

• Crithmum maritimum, rock samphire

Q3 – “My nephew is getting married in August — what should I grow now to make dried flower confetti for the wedding?” (10’59”)

Frances Tophill

• Ranunculus acris, meadow buttercup

• Rosa spp., rose

• Consolida ajacis, larkspur

Pippa Greenwood

• Matricaria chamomilla, chamomile

Q4 – “We need trees along a busy road boundary, ideally something fast‑growing that can be kept bushy rather than tall, and that also produces fruit we can eat or turn into alcohol. What would you suggest?” (12’45”)

Matthew Wilson

• Mespilus germanica, medlar

• Malus toringo var. sargentii, Sargent’s crab apple

Pippa Greenwood

• Prunus domestica subsp. insititia, damson

Frances Tophill

• Rosa spp., rose

 Peter explores the Great Pavilion (16’25”)

Sight Savers Garden with designers Sarah Fisher and Janice Molyneux - Sensory planting in containers (19’29”)

• Foeniculum vulgare, fennel

• Anethum graveolens, dill

• Stachys byzantina, lamb’s ear

• Heptacodium miconioides, seven‑son flower

Q5 – “I have a palm tree in a large pot, and I’ve planted ivy and trailing nepeta with it. They look good, but they’re very vigorous, could they damage the palm?”  (21’58”)

Janice Molyneux

• Begonia spp., begonia

Q6 – “My aeonium was growing beautifully, but after winter in the conservatory it keeps dropping leaves and looks dull, while the others are recovering. Can I still save it?”  (23’31”)

Bethan Cullerton

• Aeonium spp., aeonium

Pippa Greenwood

• Vine weevil - pest reference

Q7 – “I have two large south‑facing planters by my front door, but everything I plant in them dies… What easy, low‑maintenance plants would survive there?” (26’13”)

Sarah Fisher

• Philadelphus ‘Belle Étoile’, mock orange ‘Belle Étoile’

• Viburnum × burkwoodii, Burkwood viburnum

• Osmanthus × burkwoodii, Burkwood Osmanthus

Matthew Wilson

• Salvia rosmarinus ‘Britannia’, rosemary ‘Britannia’ (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)

• Tropaeolum majus, nasturtium

Q8 – “I planted Euphorbia wulfenii three years ago. It looks healthy but has never flowered. It’s in full sun and sheltered. What might be wrong?” (28’24”)

Matthew Wilson

• Euphorbia characias, Mediterranean spurge

• Euphorbia amygdaloides, wood spurge

• Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Red Wing’, wood spurge ‘Red Wing’

• Euphorbia schillingii, schilling’s spurge

• Euphorbia polychroma, cushion spurge

Peter explores the Great Pavilion pt.2  (30’04”)

 The Children Society Garden with designer Patrick Clarke (33’57”)

Q10 – “I have a shaded area near the house where I’d like to plant ferns with some colour. Which ferns are non‑invasive and suitable, and what can I mix with them?” (36’09”)

Patrick Clark

• Polystichum setiferum, soft shield fern

• Digitalis purpurea ‘Sutton’s Apricot’, foxglove ‘Sutton’s Apricot’

Matthew Wilson

• Dryopteris erythrosora, copper shield fern

Pippa Greenwood

• Asplenium scolopendrium, hart’s‑tongue fern

Bethan Cullerton

• Linaria spp., toadflax

• Lunaria annua, honesty

Q11 – “My front door faces north and has reflective glass panels where seagulls keep pecking at their reflection. I want to block the view with an upright evergreen shrub for shade in a container, what would you recommend?” (38’31”)

Bethan Cullerton

• Bamboo spp.

• Mahonia spp., mahonia

Patrick Clark

• Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Soft Caress, Oregon grape 'Soft Caress'