Gransnet forums

Chat

Why is Gardener's World rubbish now?!!

(210 Posts)
Ilovedogs22 Sun 16-Mar-25 00:11:09

Watching Gardeners World, what a load of complete rubbish!
What do others think please or am I just ratty?? 🄓

Allira Sun 16-Mar-25 23:00:25

Oh yes, that balcony was amazing, Kandinsky.

Allira Sun 16-Mar-25 22:59:39

I enjoyed it this week after not watching for ages.
It makes me think of what I could be doing to make my garden beautiful (but don't!).

Kandinsky Sun 16-Mar-25 18:57:00

I love it, and think Monty is great.
I really like seeing other people’s gardens and how they go about creating something wonderful ( in often not ideal circumstances ) this week. we saw a council flat balcony transformed, and a terraced house with a completely concrete back yard brought to life with pots - it was amazing!
Best part of the show for me.
As someone up thread said, you can google anything these days so don’t really need someone on the telly teaching you.

Skydancer Sun 16-Mar-25 18:44:24

I always look forward to GW. Seeing the lovely flowers and gardens really cheers me up. I do enjoy seeing other people's gardens as they give me ideas. For me it's one of my favourite programmes. I do think though, as others have said, that Beechgrove is more informative.

Washerwoman Sun 16-Mar-25 18:38:07

As a previous poster said you can see instantly online any job you want to do now and I do.Should I prune my dogwood now?How to make compost ?Will this plant like my sunny border ?I just instantly Google
I agree Beechgrove is more instructive but I still love GW for a gentle watch and inspiration. I never would have visited some glorious gardens had I not seen them on GW.I can only see how to layer bulbs and pruck out seedlings so many times.Plus I love seeing some of the urban and unusual gardens Agree that much as I like Monty it's nice to see Adams comparatively modest garden.

knspol Sun 16-Mar-25 13:54:12

Used to be a real fan but not anymore. As others have said, I want practical advice and tips and don't want to see various presenters swanning around other people's gardens. Bring back the old format that I found informative, helpful and entertaining.

Allsorts Sun 16-Mar-25 13:51:17

I love gardening but rarely watch any programmes now, love food but never watch a food programme anymore unless it’s Jamie as his food is easy and tasty. As for Masterchef is life that long to faff like that.

foxie48 Sun 16-Mar-25 13:38:48

I use the end of my finger!

Allira Sun 16-Mar-25 12:08:24

Last night Monty showed how to lick the end of a pencil to set a tomato seed in the correct place. Handy tip and in no way advanced!
I thought that was a good tip
šŸ˜€

Allira Sun 16-Mar-25 12:06:30

Fleur20

foxie48

I never watch it now, too much froth and no substance. I don't think it's aimed at proper gardeners. After such a wet winter I'm battling moss in my borders, it's really bad this year. I'm scraping it off with a hoe, we have a huge garden and it's hard work as it needs picking up, it's also around plants which are growing through it. Any tips Gardening Grans

My garden is completely covered in moss every year at this time.. north west Scotland. And I ignore it completely. By mid April it dries out and disappears!
The only place I remove it.. every year.. is my driveway, which gets slippy underfoot.

The lawn's full of moss but it must be drying out in other places in the garden, on the roof or gutters because the birds keep taking it for their nests but dropping pieces all over the front drive and back patio.

merlotgran Sun 16-Mar-25 11:05:24

Netherbyg84

Bring back Alan Titchmarsh please. Wonderful down to earth gardener, and a nice voice. He really understands that working people - especially with young families - might be too tired at weekends to do all the advanced stuff that Monty Don recommends.

So there is to be nothing for knowledgeable gardeners who enjoy seeing the achievements of other like minded enthusiasts?

Last night Monty showed how to lick the end of a pencil to set a tomato seed in the correct place. Handy tip and in no way advanced!

What more do you want? šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸŖ“šŸŒ±šŸ…

Netherbyg84 Sun 16-Mar-25 10:39:31

Bring back Alan Titchmarsh please. Wonderful down to earth gardener, and a nice voice. He really understands that working people - especially with young families - might be too tired at weekends to do all the advanced stuff that Monty Don recommends.

merlotgran Sun 16-Mar-25 10:22:56

I love Gardeners’ World and Monty and Ned and dare I say that I don’t really watch it for instruction but more for inspiration. How else are we going to see the stunning gardens that are privately owned like the retired farm manager and his wife who sourced no end of recyclable objects to turn into structures and ornaments?
Like Jaxjacky, I live on the south coast, opposite the IOW and was keen to see the item on Ventnor Botanic Garden and the effects of climate change on the way we will need to garden in the future. There is always much to learn!

I agree that Beechgrove Garden is more instructive and I enjoy seeing a garden that couldn’t be much further from mine.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 16-Mar-25 10:19:05

I use my grandfathers week by week gardening book and his notes - published in the 1920s, for my go to, although it has some very alarming tips relating to chemicals😮.

He was a large country house estate gardener in his youth before the 1st world war, and just like so many didn’t go back after the war was ended.

I dip in and out of gardening programmes. After nearly 80 years in the garden, first as a child with grandad and later in my own garden, every year follows the same rhythm adjusted for the weather.

What I would like are ideas for planting schemes - I am always open for ways to mix colours etc. There was peach/pale blue/oranges border I saw. I would love a planting scheme of that.

Churchview Sun 16-Mar-25 10:13:52

I was a gardener before I retired. I enjoy Gardeners World and have watched it religiously for decades, Beechgrove too.

I don't think GW needs to do the technical advice stuff any more now that you can look any gardening query up on line and watch a million 'how to' videos at the touch of a button . In fact, I zone out when Monty does the same "Here's how to chit potato" or "How to plant a rose" type article year in year out. I much prefer the inspirational garden visits. People who make a jungle on a balcony or an oasis in a courtyard are much easier to relate to for me and I guess most viewers.

Much as I love Monty, I do think it's time for him to hand over to new blood. Adam's great and Frances is wonderful.

joannapiano Sun 16-Mar-25 09:41:18

We are also on heavy clay. We are very tired of nearly every plant shown on the programme liking ā€œ free draining soilā€.

foxie48 Sun 16-Mar-25 09:34:00

I used to but with the wetter summers we've had recently it hasn't disappeared just got more invasive but I fear I'm losing the battle. We're on heavy clay so the soil is difficult to say the least.

Visgir1 Sun 16-Mar-25 09:33:06

Love GW it's so gentle and easy to watch. I totally agree not many tips these days, so many New to Gardening would appreciate it and what could be achieved.
Some of his Plants he plants in bulk would cost a small fortune at the garden center, the average gardener probably couldn't justify the cost.

Barleyfields Sun 16-Mar-25 09:32:51

I usually watch it, but it’s recorded so I can skip the bits I’m not interested in. There’s so little ā€˜proper gardening’ nowadays. I like Adam and keep hoping he will take over and that the format will return to something nearer what it used to be. I very much liked the presenter who died unexpectedly and whose name I can’t recall at present - very hands on and full of money saving ideas.

Fleur20 Sun 16-Mar-25 09:26:06

foxie48

I never watch it now, too much froth and no substance. I don't think it's aimed at proper gardeners. After such a wet winter I'm battling moss in my borders, it's really bad this year. I'm scraping it off with a hoe, we have a huge garden and it's hard work as it needs picking up, it's also around plants which are growing through it. Any tips Gardening Grans

My garden is completely covered in moss every year at this time.. north west Scotland. And I ignore it completely. By mid April it dries out and disappears!
The only place I remove it.. every year.. is my driveway, which gets slippy underfoot.

karmalady Sun 16-Mar-25 09:20:57

Percy Thrower was the best, I used to watch him when I was a child, learnt so much from him but now Charles Dowding on youtube

Harris27 Sun 16-Mar-25 08:48:11

I still watch it and enjoy it I think it’s moved with the times. Alan Titchmarsh was a better presenter but can put up with Monty don. Think Adam frost will take over when Monty gives in. I do like seeing other peoples gardens though.

Casdon Sun 16-Mar-25 08:42:35

I agree Grandmabatty. Beechgrove is much better for practical tips, and as our seasons in the mountains of Wales are similar to Scotland, I tend to follow that and do tasks when they do. Gardeners World is more for looking at beautiful gardens for inspiration, including Monty’s. Beechgrove should be back on TV shortly.

foxie48 Sun 16-Mar-25 08:39:49

I never watch it now, too much froth and no substance. I don't think it's aimed at proper gardeners. After such a wet winter I'm battling moss in my borders, it's really bad this year. I'm scraping it off with a hoe, we have a huge garden and it's hard work as it needs picking up, it's also around plants which are growing through it. Any tips Gardening Grans

Grandmabatty Sun 16-Mar-25 08:33:04

I watch it most Fridays to enjoy looking at other gardens. Living in Scotland, the growing season doesn't coincide which is when Beechgrove comes into its own