512: Turf wars, houseplant MOT, and a final bulb of the week

Head to the bottom of the garden this month and you might end up with a face full of spiders’ webs. Before you run screaming into the house, RHS spider expert Ben Brough offers an insight into why an arachnophobe’s worst nightmare is a fantastic garden ally. Want more plants for next spring without the cost of buying? RHS Garden Wisley’s Sam Gallivan teaches us how to take root cuttings and instantly multiply your plants for free. Last week we ended our series looking at bulbs to plant now for spring interest, and today we begin a new series of serious jobs for serious gardeners throughout a busy autumn, beginning with autumn veg planting with Liz Mooney. Host: Gareth Richards Producer: Dan Cocker Contributors: Ben Brough, Sam Gallivan, Liz Mooney, Melissa Mabbitt   Links: Wildlife gardening advice Plants for bugs Taking root cuttings Grow your own fruit and veg: September Liz Mooney’s allotment life Send your questions to [email protected]

Many listeners’ turf will have taken a bashing over summer, and now is the time to glow-up the green. RHS Garden Wisley’s Jim Millward shares his tips on how to get your grass ready for autumn. The holiday is officially over for our houseplants, time to bring them back inside after enjoying a hot summer. RHS indoor plant specialist Freddy Fuller offers do’s and don’ts for seasonal houseplant success. And to round-off a month of spring bulb suggestions, RHS Wisley’s Jess Jansdotter offers her choice in the final 'Bulb of the Week' of September. Plus, we answer some of your gardening questions. Host: Gareth Richards Producers: Dan Cocker Contributors: Jim Millward, Freddy Fuller, Jess Jansdotter, Melissa Mabbitt Links: Lawncare advice Autumn houseplant advice: Snowdrops Send your questions to [email protected]

Is it dead? Or is it just sulking? That’s what many listeners will be wondering after returning from their summer holidays to find many plants exhausted by hot and dry weather. Horticultural advisor Nick Turrell provides a dose of reality – and some much-needed hope – when it comes to saving, or binning, the hardest-hit perennials. Presenter Gareth Richards speaks to RHS science editor Olivia Drake about this month’s Wildlife Wonder plant - apples! There’s more to this popular fruit than meets the eye. September is the month for bulbs, and RHS Wisley’s James McDonnell offers his pick for the next instalment of our Bulb of the Week series - Ipheion. Plus, we answer some of your gardening questions. Host: Gareth Richards Producer: Dan Cocker Contributors: Nick Turrell, Olivia Drake, James McDonnell, Melissa Mabbitt Links: RHS Climate Change Survey  RHS Ipheion trials  Wildlife Wonder plant: Apple Send your questions to [email protected]

There’s a myriad of weird and wonderful beasties out there who feast on flowers, but all is not rosy inside the garden gate. Pollinators are in trouble, and Josie Stuart, RHS Senior Entomologist at RHS Garden Wisley shares some unexpected ways home gardeners can help pollinators thrive, no matter the size of your plot. Horticultural specialist Jim Arbury offers expert advice on a hot topic many RHS website visitors want to know more about: figs. Which variety should you choose? How do you get started? And how do you grow them successfully? As September brings cooler temperatures and an increasingly autumnal feel, RHS Wisley’s Claudia Connal offers her pick for the next instalment of our Bulb of the Week series - the mysterious and beautiful Turk’s cap or martagon lily. Plus, we answer your gardening questions on dealing with tomato gluts, growing echinaceas, and pruning hydrangeas and evergreens. Host: Gareth Richards Producer: Dan Cocker Contributors: Josie Stuart, Jim Arbury, Claudia Connal Plants mentioned: Turk’s cap lily (Lilium martagon); lilies 'Claude Shride’, ‘Golden Morning’, ‘Pink Morning’ and ‘Albi Morning’. Hoop petticoat daffodil (Narcissus bulbocodium), Crocus ‘Vanguard’. Figs ‘Brown Turkey’, ‘Little Miss Figgy’ and ‘Brunswick' Links: Find information on all the topics covered at rhs.org.uk Send your questions to [email protected]

While many garden plants have struggled for survival this summer, one which has truly thrived is the lantana. Horticulturist David Hurrion was one of the judges of last year's lantana trial at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, and he joins us to share his takeaways of growing these eye-poppingly colourful bedding plants, and some of the standout cultivars.  Deadheading is a practice key to ensuring repeat blooms throughout the summer, and RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell shows us how to do it properly. And finally, as we enter autumn, we’re kickstarting our bulb of the week series with horticulturist Gemma Burr who shares some favourite coronet tulips from another recent RHS Plant Trial. Plus answers to listener questions on bay trees, lawns from seed and Salvia 'Hot Lips'.  Host: Gareth Richards Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring Contributors: David Hurrion, Nick Turrell, Gemma Burr Links: Lantana trial results Deadheading Send your questions to [email protected]

Even though it's still August, the signs of autumn are starting to show. False autumn is a survival-driven stress response where trees shed leaves and change colour prematurely due to extreme heat and drought, and you may find yourself doing the autumn jobs a little early this year.  We dive headlong into seed collecting with RHS horticulturist Lucie Rudnicka, plus find out how best to prune your trained apple and pear trees with RHS Garden Wisley’s fruit tree expert Jim Arbury. And finally, we relish in the joy of wildflowers with our very own Gareth Richards, as today sees the publication of RHS Wildflowers: A Pocket Guide. Plus we answer questions from the listener inbox on late sowings of salads, raspberry pruning and hornets. Host: Gareth Richards Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring Contributors: Lucie Rudnicka, Jim Arbury, Jenny Laville Links: Seed: collecting and storing Apples and pears: pruning RHS Wildflowers: A pocket guide Send your questions to [email protected]

In a summer of rolling heatwaves, we look at what we can do to help out one of the garden areas most vulnerable to parching - plants in pots. RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell explains what you can do to keep them alive and thriving as temperatures soar. The heat and high humidity this summer have provided the perfect conditions for fungal plant diseases to spread like wildfire. RHS Plant Pathologist Dr Jassy Drakulic tells us about powdery mildew, and shares what you can do if your plants have succumbed. And finally, our Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter sheds some light on how we can make the  most of this summer's most precious resource, when rainfall finally arrives where you are. Plus some listener questions answered. Host: Gareth Richards Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring Contributors: Nick Turrell, Jassy Drakulic, Guy Barter Links: Drought resistant plants for pots Powdery mildew Send your questions to [email protected]

As we experience one of the most extreme summers on record, how can we help our garden wildlife cope with the heat? RHS Science and Horticulture Editor Olivia Drake explains why ornamental dahlias can be an excellent late summer food source for pollinators, while RHS entomologist Josie Stuart introduces us to the striking cinnabar moth and its close relationship with drought-resistant ragwort. We also visit Where Magic Grows, a new family-friendly immersive exhibition at Leeds’ Thackeray Museum of Medicine, exploring the connections between plants, folklore and medicine, in collaboration with the RHS. Plus, we answer some of your top gardening questions of the week. Host: Gareth Richards Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring Contributors: Olivia Drake, Josie Stuart, Jack Gann, Holly Tomlinson Links: Dahlias for pollinators Exhibition: Where Magic Grows Lavendars Plums Grey Water Plants mentioned: Dahlia merckii https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/5296/dahlia-merckii-b/details    Dahlia 'Tangerine Gem' https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/510690/dahlia-tangerine-gem-sin/details  Dahlia australis https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/181404/dahlia-australis/details   Dahlia Pretty Woman https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/282403/dahlia-pretty-woman-vdtg43-pbr-dark-angel-series-sin/details  Veronicastrum virginicum 'Lavendelturm' https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/111539/veronicastrum-virginicum-lavendelturm/details Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/97048/achillea-millefolium-cerise-queen/details Email your questions to [email protected]

If you’re going away this summer and are worried about your garden RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter shares some top hacks for ensuring your plants survive the heatwaves while you’re away. But if you’re staying at home and feel inspired to give your garden a revamp for all those summer BBQs, RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell explains what you can still plant in high summer for maximum impact. If you’re entertaining children this summer – or you’re still full of wonder for the natural world – David Wembridge from The People's Trust for Endangered Species’ talks about a nationwide search for the gentle giants - stag beetles. And finally, the jobs – we’ll share key things you can do in the next week in the garden. Host: Gareth Richards Contributors: Guy Barter, Nick Turrell, David Wembridge Producers: Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring Links: PTES the Great Stag Beetle Hunt Info on powdery mildew Drought resistant gardening

The team head to North Norfolk to fill their boots with inspiration from the show gardens, floral exhibits, specialist growers, and innovative designs on display at RHS Sandringham Flower Show. Gareth Richards speaks with Catherine MacDonald, who designed The RHS Royal Legacy Garden in collaboration with King Charles III, with a special focus on climate resilient trees. Jenny Laville catches up with designers Joe and Laura Carey in their playful Pollywiggle Garden, designed for amphibians. And producers Poppy and Dan glean some top tips from the growers and nurseries in the Floral Marquee. Hosts: Gareth Richards, Jenny Laville Contributors: Catherine MacDonald, Laura Carey, Joe Carey, John Cullen, Louise Batchelor, David Reynolds, Paul Dibley, Dan Cocker, Poppy Waring Links: RHS Sandringham Flower Show Plants: Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Rubylace' Gleditsia triacanthos 'Rubylace' | thorny locust 'Rubylace' Aeonium ‘Pink Witch’ Aeonium 'Pink Witch' (v) Rosemary-leaf willow - Salix rosmarinifolia Salix rosmarinifolia L. | rosemary-leaved willow Achillea ptarmica ‘Peter Cottontail’ Achillea ptarmica 'Peter Cottontail'PBR | sneezewort 'Peter Cottontail'