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The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.
681 Episodes
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David Maxwell visits the historic Annesley Walled Garden in Castlewellan Forest Park as it reopens to the public. The garden, which dates back to the mid-18th century, has been closed for two years while £1.3 million of improvement works were carried out. Head gardener Alwyn Sinnamon shows David the work done to the long borders and the gleaming glasshouses, restored to their former glory. David also explores the rediscovered Bog Garden and Rhododendron Wood. Adam Frost reveals his bulb for March, and there’s a visit to the Alpine House in Kew Gardens, which is celebrating its 20th birthday. In the studio, gardening expert Claire McNally joins David to answer questions, while wildlife expert Katy Bell uncovers the secret world of dragonflies. Contact the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
With spring just around the corner David Maxwell heads to a community garden in Strabane, County Tyrone which will be getting quite the facelift this year. As it operates a Trussell foodbank, it has been selected as the permanent home for the charity's show garden at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. David meets some of those who use the garden space and he chats to designer Rob Hardy about his plans. Also on the programme, a visit to Ballyrobert Cottage Garden where spring flowers and bulbs are announcing a change of season and Rosie Maye joins David in studio to answer questions and provide some inspiration for the season. Contact the programme - gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
As Chinese New Year begins, presenter David Maxwell encounters an orchid covered dragon at the 30th annual Orchid Festival in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He chats to Soléne Dequiret in the Princess of Wales Conservatory about what it takes to create this giant display with over 3000 orchids. Gardening writer Julianne Robertson reveals what it takes to keep moth orchids happy in our homes. Nicola Kenny visits a new community garden taking root in north Belfast thanks to funding from Kew and Amy Kelly explains how to kick-start early seed sowing with the help of propagators and heated mats. Anna Hudson joins David in studio to answer questions and bring some seasonal inspiration from the garden at Ballywalter. Contact the programme gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
Helen Mark explores the little, and large, gardening tasks that can keep you busy, especially when the weather doesn't want to cooperate. Joy Caskie shares her garden oasis near Limavady and Conrad McCormick adds a personal touch to a Valentine's bouquet. Also, Helen catches up with Frank McCooke at Slemish Market Garden for a look at how they're preparing for the year ahead. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
David meets up with Oliver Schurmann in the old abandoned quarry that's the new home for Mount Venus nursery. After 25 years in a walled garden, the new location is a magical place reclaimed by nature. Adam Frost chooses his bulb of the month (Crocus tommasinianus) and a dream comes true for some residents in Culmore near Derry as a brand new allotment site gets going. Also on the programme, Amy Kelly on getting your seeds going early and Colin Agnew joins David in studio to talk about creating a home for alpines and they answer listener questions. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
With snowdrops in bloom across the country Gardeners' Corner heads to an event for fans of the flower in County Carlow. The snowdrop gala celebrates the hundreds of varieties of these bulbs sought after by so called 'galanthophiles'. Among those attending the event is John Massey of Ashwood Nursery near Birmingham. John tells presenter David Maxwell about his life with plants and a pruning technique he was taught by a princess. Also on the programme, Robert Millar gives a tour of the snowdrop collection at Altamont Gardens and remembering the world famous Daisy Hill Nursery of Newry, 30 years after the gates closed for the last time. Claire McNally joins David in studio to answers questions of climbers and figs. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
A year after Storm Éowyn wreaked havoc across Ireland David Maxwell visits the gardens at Mount Stewart on the Ards peninsula where thousands of trees were lost. He meets volunteers planting oak and pine trees which will form a new shelter belt for the garden in the decades to come. At the other end of the garden, the Winterwatch team have been broadcasting the programme from Northern Ireland for the first time. Chris Packham explains the vast range of habitats that exist around this historic garden. Also on the programme, a visit to the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin and questions on muddy lawns, growing olives outdoors and what to do with a stem of rose hips that has unexpectedly rooted. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
A garden that has to look good in every season is the Horatio’s Garden at Musgrave Park Hospital in south Belfast. Two years after it was planted up, David Maxwell chats to head gardener Matthew Lee about how the garden continues to change, and about the great groundcover plants that help keep weeding to a minimum. Adam Frost begins his new ‘Bulb of the month’ series with the common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. Ahead of the Big Garden Birdwatch, the RSPB’s Claire Barnett visits David’s garden to find out what’s coming to his feeders. In studio, gardener Anna Hudson, brings some seasonal highlights from the Ballywalter and answers questions live. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
As the film Hamnet goes on general release, David Maxwell chats to herb expert Jekka McVicar about the role she played in advising the production on Elizabethan herbs. In Ratoath, County Meath, nursery owner John Lord is finding new opportunities in a garden he’s developed over 30 years. He explains how it’s become a playground for plants that serve to inspire both expert and novice gardeners alike. Listener Michael McLean gets a visit from Gardeners’ Corner – he invited the programme to see a garden he’s lovingly creating over a lifetime on a hillside above Newcastle. Also on the programme, a tribute to the late Seamus O’Brien who was head gardener at the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow and widely regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest plantsmen. Ann FitzSimons joins David in studio. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
As one year gives way to the next, join David Maxwell on a journey through the seasons with highlights from the last 12 months of Gardeners’ Corner. From clearing up after Storm Éowyn to pristine show gardens, from celebrities to school children and with callers from Ballyclare to San Francisco, David sums up the joy of a programme that celebrated 40 years on the airwaves in 2025.
In this episode of Gardeners' Corner, David Maxwell visits what some call 'Ireland's secret garden' - Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow. The site became part of the National Botanic Gardens in 1996 and since then a restoration programme has been underway. Leading the tour of the gardens, which boast a vast plant collection, is head gardener Seamus O'Brien.
From a 'Peter Pan' tree which thinks it's a child but is over 100 years old to a plant which traps animals so their decaying bodies give it food. Seamus is also continuing the work of the Victorian plant hunters. He has gathered plants from Chile, China and Tasmania on his own plant hunting expeditions. Also joining the tour of the gardens is Neil Porteous from Mount Stewart. The two gardens cooperate in the work of creating a 'Noah's Ark' of endangered southern hemisphere plants in the temperate Irish climate.
Join David Maxwell and the gardening gang for a very festive Gardeners’ Corner Christmas special from the National Trust’s Rowallane Gardens in Saintfield, County Down. The team leave behind their dirty denims and don their festive finest for an outdoor gathering around a crackling fire. With mystery seeds in crackers, Secret Santa silliness, and festive food from the garden, all washed down with some seasonal gardening know-how – this is one Christmas Special you won’t want to miss. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
With the festive season in full swing, David heads to Montalto Estate in County Down for a winter walk with head gardener Lesley Heron. While Storm Bram has created some extra work, there’s still plenty to enjoy, including plants that bring colour and structure to the darkest months of the year. Also on the programme, David chats to Brendan Gilsenan at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin about mistletoe — the seasonal plant romantics seek out at this time of year — and Maeve Bell explains why every garden should make room for a mahonia. Back in the studio, David is joined by garden expert Brendan Little, along with Katy Bell for her winter wildlife update. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
Need help picking your Christmas tree? Gardeners’ Corner can help! Tony Johnston from Peartree Hill Christmas Tree Farm shares excellent advice on keeping yours looking its best.
David visits Bob Hamilton at Dunsany Estate, Co Meath to see how they’ve rewilded 750 acres of the estate.
Ruth Bramley talks about keeping indoor plants at the office and makes suggestions for gifting houseplants for Christmas. Adam Frost picks his final shrub of the month for 2025.
Rosie Maye joins David in studio to answer listeners’ questions and bring some seasonal gardening inspiration.
Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
In this week’s programme, David Maxwell travels to Kerrykeel in Donegal where Brendan Little is preparing his backyard garden for winter. In Spa, County Down, Thomas McCaw and Thomas Raju sing the praises of heather for late autumn and winter colour. At Ballyrobert Cottage Garden, Maurice Parkinson reveals some of the grasses that stand well over the colder months and dazzle in frost and low sun. A caller asks if tree stumps should be removed from the garden or if it’s okay to plant around them. John wants rid of his hairy bittercress weed – is the answer to eat it? And expert Claire McNally joins David in studio with seasonal inspiration on what we can be doing in the garden during the precious hours of daylight. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
This week, David visits Rosie Maye’s garden near Slane and hears about her love of Inter-planting and underplanting. Prolific Irish garden designer Mary Keen chats about new autobiography, Diary of a Keen Gardener, and why even with her long career and expertise, she’s always learning and experimenting as a gardener. Pupils from Hezlett Primary School and National Trust volunteers help plant ferns and unveil a new water bowl at Downhill Demesne, Castlerock. Gardening expert Neil Porteous joins David in studio to help caller John, who’s worried about cutting his holly tree and Pearl, who’s wondering how best to overwinter potted gladioli. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
On a very wet week, David visits Mount Stewart to see how storm-felled trees are given a new lease of life in the sunken garden. Urban spaces are reimagined with innovative native meadow cubes and Maurice Parkinson explains why now is a good time to sharpen tools. Gardening expert Colin Agnew is in studio to answer caller’s questions.
Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
Autumn is far from over, as David Maxwell discovers with Maurice Parkinson at Ballyrobert Cottage Garden. A fine collection of maples—perfect for a cold climate and heavy soil—thrives there, putting on quite the autumn spectacle. In Hillsborough, head gardener Claire Woods is preparing pots for tulip bulbs. She explains how to extend the display by choosing varieties timed to follow one another. With its many mature trees, Hillsborough is also the perfect place to learn about making leaf mould—sometimes known as gardeners’ gold. In Dromore, Julietta Watson uses summer strawflowers to craft baubles for Christmas and pots up colourful containers for her windowsills. Also on the programme, Anna Hudson joins David in the studio with seasonal inspiration and answers to listeners’ questions. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
This week, Helen talks about how to balance tidying up the autumn garden with giving nature a home for the darker months. She joins Graeme Cross at Magilligan Community Centre to learn about pruning apples in winter and visits Darren and Victoria Colville at Iona Garden near Greyabbey.Ann Fitzsimons is live in studio with expert advice on all your gardening questions. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
In this autumn special, Gardeners’ Corner celebrates our relationship with trees. David Maxwell returns to his childhood home to revisit the trees he grew up with. Tree expert Tony Kirkham introduces some of the trees grown in London’s Chelsea Physic garden which may prove more resilient than our natives as the climate changes. The myths and legends linked to trees are something that fascinates storyteller Vicky McFarland – she reveals tales of love and death. In Rostrevor, County Down, former carpenter Paul Clerkin knows the trees of Kilbroney Park better than most. Now a public park, it was once a grand estate where exotic trees were planted as status symbols. Amidst the beauty of the season, the programme also explores how trees continue to help us by cooling our cities, preventing floods and removing pollution. Email the programme at gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk
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