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GQT at Ö÷²¥´óÐã: Creeping Thyme and Chimney Pot Design

Peter Gibbs hosts the horticultural programme featuring a group of gardening experts.

Peter Gibbs hosts the horticultural programme with Pippa Greenwood, Matt Biggs and Christine Walkden.

This week, the panellists get imaginative with planting ideas for a chimney pot garden feature. They also take on an unruly Jasmine, and suggest some fence climbing plants that will help attract wildlife.

As autumn is approaching, Ashley Edwards explains how to bring in houseplants that were taken outside over the summer. Meanwhile, Matthew Wilson helps demystify all things plant food.

Producer - Jemima Rathbone
Assistant Producer - Aniya Das

A Somethin' Else production for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

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

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Q – I’ve acquired a 1.2m (3 feet 9 inches) chimney pot which weighs 46kg (7 stone 2 lbs). It has 8 vent channels. What plants could I grow through the top and lower vents?

(1 minute 20 seconds)

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Matt –

Begonia sutherlandii

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Christine –

Alchemilla

Phlox diffusa

Phlox douglasii

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Pippa –

Houseleek

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Q – I have a 40+ year old Jasmine on a south-facing wall. It has over-spread and rooted across the wall. How do I restrain it?

(5 minutes)

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Q – I have rescued a rubber plant, which is 5 feet (152cm) tall, with 3 healthy leaves at the bottom, and 3 at the top. I have removed rotten leaves and the stem has rotted half way through. How can I help it recover?

(7 minutes 16 seconds)

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Q – I was given a garden bouquet with two white Hydrangea blooms on woody stems. After the flowers died I left the stems in water. After some time, little green buds with roots seem to be growing on them. Is it possible that these plantlets will grow?

(11 minutes 13 seconds)

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Feature – Ashley EdwardsÌýexplains how to move your houseplants back indoors this autumn.

(14 minutes 58 seconds)

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Q – What could I plant on a south facing 1.8 metre (5 feet 9 inches) high, 3-4 metre (10-13 feet) long wooden fence that would be attractive for small birds to nest in, as well as being an interesting plant and a wildlife food source.

(18 minutes)

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Matt –

Hedera helix, Common ivy

Hedera helix ‘B°ù´Ç°ì²¹³¾±è’

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Christine –

Clematis montana

Clematis vitalba, Traveller’s joy
Honeysuckle

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Pippa –

Clematis tangutica

Honeysuckle ‘Graham Thomas’

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Q – I’m thinking of turning my dry, sandy terrace garden into a gravel garden to reduce maintenance. If I want to suppress weeds, a membrane under the gravel is suggested. Will this result in the soil becoming sour and unoxygenated?

(25 minutes 15 seconds)

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Matt –

Euphorbia myrsinites

Eryngium, Sea Holly

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Q – I had two potted Heucheras which got eaten by small, brown, orange-faced hairy caterpillars. This was followed by slugs and snails. How can I prevent them attacking again? And should I change the soil in the pot?

(28 minutes 32 seconds)

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Feature – Matthew Wilson gives us his ultimate guide to plant feed

(32 minutes 5 seconds)

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Q – We dug up our grass garden and have replaced it with Creeping thyme. Should we cut it back now or leave it?

(35 minutes 42 seconds)

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Q – My oak tree seems to be making a clicking noise, what could it be?

(38 minutes 30 seconds)

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