Love your garden programme

Have not watched Alan Titchmarsh's garden makeovers for several years now for the very reasons everyone is complaining about although we have been watching Your Garden made perfect with Angel Scanlon which makes interesting viewing for all the wrong reasons. I have got really fed up with seeing so many Tree Ferns used in garden designs now when there are indigenous alternatives but I suppose it is "fashionable" and will eventually die out (probably literally).

I watched Charley Dimmock and the Rich bros yesterday the overall plan was nice and the couple wanted a pond but enclosed so their small child was not able to get to it without an adult opening a locked gate. It was lovely till the Rich Bros planted a huge 8’ Pyracantha beside the pond even showing the inch long spikes. It never occurred to them that a child of 2/3yrs might bump/fall into it. They do do some silly things that won’t work in reality in these shows.

I tend not to watch these programmes as they annoy me. I’ll watch Monty Don and Carole Klein though.
But if they get the younger generation interested in growing, that’s a good thing. Times change and they will do things differently.

Garden makeover programmes always annoy me. Everything looking so good at the time it’s planted - what about the rest of the year? And you just know the owners of the gardens aren’t going to maintain them.

I’ll watch any gardening programme ! But the amount of raised beds annoys me ! Plant the veg in the ground ! Or plant them in planters , no timber wasted
I was thinking that those bamboos will be taking over last night
It’s the Landscapers that make the garden , the plants are thrown in at the end , usually in a downpour!

I do love the programe and Alan Titchmarsh he seems a very generous and kind man. I do juts wonder that each of these people say they haven't had time to garden as they are doing their work but who will maintain this garden when the team have gone home. Be good to go back and see how the gardens have fared over time. I do think he spends far too much money as well -I know he gets it all as a promotion for the companies but its still unnecessarily extravagant I feel.

I don't watch Alan's show any more as they always seem to go into the garden, let off a massive money bomb and then leave with no thought as to how the garden will mature or be maintained. That's just not how most gardeners work. Most people don't start with a blank canvas, unlimited funds and no need for the garden to evolve through the seasons.

There's no mention of improving the soil, suiting the conditions or aspect. It's decorating outdoors really, not gardening. I suppose they are entertainment shows really, not gardening shows.

I'm always surprised at the amount of bamboo that gets planted.

Cringe* not grunge, although grunge might be appropriate ?

Totally agree Merlotgran. I love gardening and also grunge at some of the planting, especially fashionable plants such as eucalyptus. Lovely to look at, but grow so fast, unless you prune regularly. I grow mine and Bamboo in planters so they can be used in flower arrangements. Also they plant forced flowering plants so it looks colourful, but in reality those plants would not be all flowering at the same time.
As you say, Monty’s gardening makeover programme was the best.

I have watched lots of the make over programmes with the Rich brothers, Charlie Dimmock or Arit Anderson. I cringe when they make 'turf mounds'. How on earth are people supposed to mow them? Also when they plant Mexican daisies. In a couple of years that's all they will have.

I think the gardens are all too tidy looking. I prefer things looking more natural.

Love Monty Don.
I will contact them and pass on our thoughts but doubt it will do any good. Let you all know if I get any feedback!

I’m glad you’ve started this thread, Willow. Love Your Garden usually has me shouting at the telly and last night was no exception.

AT’s gardens are always high maintenance and although the finished effect was stunning I doubt it will remain so. People who have never previously put any thought or effort into their plots are not going to turn into enthusiastic gardeners overnight. It’s not just about sitting outside with a glass of wine and four dogs will soon do their worst.

I much prefer programmes where presenters like Monty Don visit people over a longer period offering help and advice as they tackle their makeovers themselves.

I bet the neighbour welcomed the improvement from their upstairs windows though. ?

I can see your point here. I have watched a few of this series and usually the gardens are fairly small so intrusive trees could cause a real problem a few years down the line. Could you e-mail them about this? It is a good point.