To love your garden...

My husband always says give it a year and it will be completely overgrown - some are just too high maintenance. Neither of us like gardening - I put bedding plants in pots each year and they look lovely but we never sit outside so I only see them when I'm washing up!

Yes, some are a bit fanciful. I have to say, though, that some look gorgeous.
They are makeovers rather than gardening programmes though, aren't they? Gardeners World and the Beechgrove garden programme are proper gardening programmes. ( Will add, though, their gardens are on a much bigger scale than mine) ?

I agree with previous posts, and try to avoid watching.
It really annoys me when they plant unsuitable plants, out of season plants in full flower and vegetables such as Aubergines, outside.
It really does not do much for Alan Titmarsh’s credibility as a gardener to be associated with such a programme.
One I watched, in an idle moment, had sand as the non planted area. I wonder what the garden owner thought when it was walked all over the place and all the cats in the area had used it for a toilet?

Yes I love Gardeners world too! It would be interesting to revisit the gardens on Love your garden..say,a year down the line!!!

Ethel if ever you find these magical plants please let us know!

I don't like the programme either. It involves a total reinvention of a garden that's a complete mess. None of the people involved seem to be gardeners, they just want an ideal garden - usually for very good reasons. I am not sure many of the recipients of the makeovers really appreciate the planting and care needed to maintain their lovely new gardens.

The gardens all cost a fortune to transform as well. It's not the sort of thing the average gardener can undertake or afford. We are fans of Gardeners' World and Beechgrove Gardens. Give us compost, seeds, cuttings and dividing clumps -practical stuff we can appreciate.

I too adore gardeners world and monty. I was mortifies to see i had fallen asleep last night and missed it and had to watch it on catch up today. I can nevet afford any of the big stuff on tv in my little garden. I would just like to find plants that dont shed leaves or drop seeds and flower all year round

Agree Gardeners World is the only gardenering programne for the true gardener, the rest are usually 'quick fix' gardens.

I love my garden.
We have plenty of colour.
Wildlife and butterfly friendly.
I would love to have raised beds at some point.

But with 3 little grandsons, running up and down having fun in the sandpit and paddling pool is our priority at the moment.

Planning some seed planting with the little ones quite soon.?

I also like the Beechgrove Garden which I think will be back at the end of April. The growing conditions in their part of Scotland couldn't be more different than my mine but I find it interesting and informative.

I agree, they are mainly about hard landscaping, and Gardeners World is the only one worth watching.

I do watch these programmes, but they are often not practical for the users. And they never replace the washing line!

I stopped watching these programmes ages ago. They have no bearing on most people’s reality! Every year I have great plans for my garden and I say “This will be the year we will do battle and I will win!” I turn my back and hear it tittering behind me!

I think these are shortened repeats of a series that was on last year. I won't watch them though because I end up yelling at the telly.

Most of the planting plans are high maintenance and will end up being neglected so really it's just about the hard landscaping which is ridiculously expensive.

Gardeners World returned last night so a weekly dose of Monty and his lovely dogs will be good for the soul.

I love mine too but don't have the ability or money that these programs require to prettify the gardens. OH isn't a gardener and I have just shrubs and bulbs and pots that I can manage. Don't watch gardening programs as it makes me sad I can't do any of it.

I love my garden but it’s not sophisticated and I don’t love many of the programmes as they do such major things with expensive plants, trees and loads of pergolas, pathways, fountains, summer houses, seats etc etc so avoid them