Master My Garden Podcast

• - EP293 Perennial Grow Along September 2025. What You Will Need To Grow Your Own Perennial Border. Seed to Border: The Perennial Grow Along Project

  Imagine transforming your garden with a beautiful perennial border—all grown from seed at a fraction of the cost of buying established plants. This episode kicks off our exciting Perennial Grow Along project, guiding you through the entire journey from seed to spectacular flowering plants.Growing perennials from seed isn't just economical; it fills gardeners with immense pride. There's something truly special about nurturing a tiny seed into a magnificent flowering plant that will grace your garden for years to come. Whether you're planning to expand your borders, add color to new areas, or simply experience the joy of growing, this project offers something for everyone.We break down exactly what you'll need to get started: perennial seeds of your choice, suitable growing media, seed trays (or improvised containers), and labels. You'll learn about selecting the right varieties for your conditions, including both cultivated flowers and native wildflowers. Featured plants include English lavender, Verbena bonariensis, Salvia 'Blue Queen', Rudbeckia, Lupins, and more—each offering unique colors and characteristics for your garden.The grow along follows a simple structure. Starting with a comprehensive sowing demonstration on YouTube (September 15th), we'll progress through germination, pricking out seedlings, growing on through winter, and finally planting out next summer. Live Q&A sessions will address your specific challenges, ensuring everyone succeeds regardless of experience level.Don't miss this opportunity to create something beautiful and lasting for your garden while developing valuable skills. Subscribe to Master My Garden on YouTube to catch all the videos, and send your questions to [email protected] for our live sessions. Join us as we grow together and transform our gardens one seed at a time!The perennial seed I will grow in this challenge are:Achillea millefolium 'F2 Summer Berries' Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' Salvia x superba 'Blue Queen' Lupinus x russellii ‘The Pages’  Verbena bonariensis  Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Nora Barlow' Gaura lindheimeri ‘Emmeline Pink Bouquet' Erigeron karvinskianus 'Profusion' Echinacea hybrida 'Paradiso Tall Mix' Lavandula angustifolia 'Lavender Vera'Native Oc Eye DaisyNative St.John's WorthNative MarjoramNative Birds Foot TrefoilNative Greater KnapweedNative CampionSubscribe to Master My Garden on YouTube for updates https://www.youtube.com/@mastermygarden9542/featuredSupport the showIf there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: [email protected] Master My Garden Courses: https://mastermygarden.com/courses/Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

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• EP292- How To Move Plants Within The Garden: Moving Plants Without Trauma. Listener Question Answered.

  Gardening isn't static—it evolves as we learn, as plants grow, and as our vision for our outdoor spaces changes. Today's episode tackles the art and science of moving plants within your garden, a skill that frees you to redesign without starting over or breaking the bank.We begin by exploring the foundational principle of "right plant, right place" that should guide your initial planting decisions. Understanding your garden's conditions and matching them to plant requirements can prevent the need for transplanting altogether. But gardens change, and sometimes plants need to find new homes within our spaces.The timing of transplanting proves crucial for success. The dormant season—November through February—offers the ideal window when plants are less susceptible to shock. Perennials like lupins, verbena, and geraniums can be easily moved during this period, while larger woody plants require more careful consideration and technique.Mycorrhizal fungi emerges as the secret weapon for successful transplanting. This natural ally forms a symbiotic relationship with plant roots, increasing their ability to absorb water and nutrients. Applied at planting time, it significantly improves establishment rates and helps mitigate transplant shock.For larger specimens like trees and shrubs, we delve into specific techniques to preserve as much of the root system as possible, reduce top growth to decrease demands on the compromised roots, and provide proper aftercare. Container plants present their own challenges, particularly when root-bound, and we cover how to correct circular root patterns before planting.Whether you're making minor adjustments to perennial placement or undertaking the significant challenge of moving a mature magnolia, understanding these principles and techniques will transform your approach to garden design. Your plants deserve this second chance, and with our guidance, they'll thrive in their new locations.Support the showIf there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: [email protected] Master My Garden Courses: https://mastermygarden.com/courses/Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

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• EP291- What To Sow In September & Other Gardening Jobs. Maximising Your September Garden: What to Sow Now Before Winter

  Wondering what to plant as summer wanes? Don't put away those seed packets just yet! September offers the perfect conditions for establishing winter-hardy crops that will provide fresh harvests throughout the coldest months.This episode explores the often-overlooked opportunities of September sowing, focusing on crops that thrive when planted now. While the list may be shorter than spring and summer guides, these strategic plantings deliver exceptional value. Discover which lettuce varieties withstand winter conditions, why you can sow more generously now than in summer months, and how oriental greens establish beautifully in cooling temperatures. We cover specific varieties like Arctic King, Winter Density, and Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce that are particularly suited to this transitional time.Beyond salads, we explore herbs that establish quickly before winter's darkness slows growth, winter-hardy spring onions that provide continuous harvests, and how chard becomes a garden superstar during the colder months. For polytunnel and greenhouse growers, we reveal additional possibilities including early brassicas for spring harvests and autumn onion sets that will deliver your earliest allium crop next year.The episode also addresses crucial seasonal maintenance as autumn rains return after summer drought. Learn why trees may be dropping leaves earlier than expected, how to prevent fruit rot in increasing humidity, and the importance of greenhouse cleanliness as insects seek winter shelter. We also emphasize the value of maintaining soil biology even in unused growing spaces to ensure a healthy start next spring.As this marks our final sowing guide of the season, we're transitioning to a community perennial grow-along project in upcoming episodes. Join us as we demonstrate how easily you can grow beautiful perennial flowers from seed for next year's garden. Subscribe now, share your gardening journey with us on social media, and discover how September planting extends your growing season well into winter!Support the showIf there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: [email protected] Master My Garden Courses: https://mastermygarden.com/courses/Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

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• EP290- Fill Your Spring Garden With Colour By Planting Bulbs now!! Dig, Drop, Done: Why Lazy Gardeners Love Bulbs.

  Spring flowering bulbs are gardening's ultimate return on investment. Planted from September through November, these botanical powerhouses burst forth from winter's grip with waves of colour that evolve from the first snowdrops after Christmas through magnificent tulips and alliums in late May.What sets bulbs apart from other garden plants is their remarkable ability to naturalize—multiplying year after year with zero additional effort. Plant a single daffodil bulb this autumn, and next spring you'll have your first golden trumpet. By the following year, you might have two or three flowers, and within a few seasons, a magnificent clump that can be divided to spread beauty throughout your garden.The sheer versatility of spring bulbs makes them indispensable for gardeners of all experience levels. They thrive in sun or shade, containers or borders, under trees or naturalized in lawns. Their only nemesis is waterlogged soil, making proper drainage their sole critical requirement. Planting couldn't be simpler—just dig a hole roughly three times the bulb's depth, place it pointy-side up, and let nature handle the rest.For container gardeners, "lasagna planting" offers extraordinary value, creating months of continuous blooms from a single pot. By layering different varieties at varying depths—typically with late-flowering alliums or tulips at the bottom, mid-season daffodils in the middle, and early crocuses near the surface—you create a self-sustaining display that evolves from February through May.From dramatic alliums with their perfect spherical blooms to vibrant tulips, cheerful daffodils, delicate muscari, and unusual fritillaria, the diversity of spring bulbs offers something for every garden aesthetic. Whether you're seeking high-impact displays with colour-coordinated combinations or rare collector varieties with fascinating histories, autumn is the time to plan and plant.Don't miss this opportunity to create a self-perpetuating display that delivers maximum joy when gardens need it most. The bulbs you plant today truly represent gardening's highest impact for lowest input—they're the gift that keeps on giving for years to come. Ready to transform your spring garden? Start planting now!Listen back to EP199 with Dave & Jules from Esker Farm Daffodils https://www.buzzsprout.com/857398/episodes/13849995Support the showIf there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: [email protected] Master My Garden Courses: https://mastermygarden.com/courses/Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

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• - EP289 Watering Tips & Keeping Plants Looking Great In This Dry Spell: The Watering Wisdom You Desperately Need

  Water might be the most overlooked factor in garden success. As temperatures soar and rainfall becomes scarce across the UK and Ireland, understanding proper watering techniques has never been more crucial for garden survival.This episode tackles the surprisingly complex art of effective watering. While not the most glamorous gardening topic, it addresses the root cause of numerous garden problems listeners have been experiencing recently. From struggling roses to disease-prone hedges and undersized fruits, water stress weakens plants' natural defenses and opens the door to numerous secondary issues.We dive into optimal watering timing (early morning wins, midday loses), proper techniques (target the root zone, not the foliage), and essential strategies for container plants (regular, consistent moisture prevents compost from drying out and shrinking). Discover why grouping containers creates beneficial microclimates and how mulching dramatically improves moisture retention during drought conditions.The episode also explores how this year's abundant fruit set is being compromised by insufficient ground moisture, particularly for apples which require significant water to size properly. Learn why Portuguese laurel hedges are increasingly susceptible to fungal issues during drought stress, and why liquid seaweed extract is your secret weapon for rejuvenating stressed plants.Whether you're facing hosepipe bans or simply want to maximize water efficiency, these practical watering insights will help your garden thrive through challenging conditions. Apply these techniques to keep your plants vigorous and resistant to pests and diseases through the remainder of summer and into autumn.If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email:  [email protected]   Master My Garden Courses: https://mastermygarden.com/courses/Check out Master My Garden on the following channels   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/  Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/   Until next week  Happy gardening  John  Support the showIf there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know. Email: [email protected] Master My Garden Courses: https://mastermygarden.com/courses/Check out Master My Garden on the following channels Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/ Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/ Until next week Happy gardening John

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