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.

With another new year stretching out ahead, David Maxwell is joined in studio by Brendan Little for the first live programme of 2024. They’ll be chatting about preparing for the year ahead and what’s looking (or smelling) good in the garden in January. Also on the programme, David heads to Rowallane Gardens in Saintfield where Claire McNally is pruning roses, Ann Fitzsimmons is considering building a fruit cage in her County Down garden this year and Philip Stewart in Magherafelt is turning what was a tropical themed border into a feast for the eyes through the coldest months. Contact the programme by email - gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Gardeners' Corner

How to prune roses, plants for winter interest and preparing the garden for 2024

In the garden we are often thinking of the seasons to come, but it can also be useful to look back and take stock at the start of a new year. This week, David Maxwell leads us through the seasons with Gardeners’ Corner, from a huge snowdrop collection at Altamont Gardens in County Carlow to the quiet retreat for a Limavady gardener who’s been living with cancer. From the razzmatazz of garden shows in Antrim, London and Dublin to the serenity of a poet’s garden in County Laois. Join David for Gardeners’ Corner: Season by Season. gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

Gardeners’ Corner: Season by Season

Join David Maxwell and the gardening gang for a festive fireside chat at Kilcoan Gardens in Islandmagee. With home grown and handmade seasonal treats, four experts brave the winter weather for a fun filled Christmas get together. Ann Fitzsimmons and Mary Doris use fresh garden herbs and Christmas leftovers for a fuss free holiday meal, while Brendan Little and Cherry Townsend tour the gardens picking foliage for some last minute Christmas decoration. Also on the programme; Una Quinn introduces us to a Sweet Chestnut tree on the north coast which may have found its way to Castlerock because of the Spanish Armada, Amy Kelly on gifts to buy the gardener in your life and no prizes for guessing Jekka McVicar’s herb of the month for December!

Gardeners’ Corner at Christmas

With the leaves gone it’s all about colourful stem colour on Gardeners’ Corner this week. David meets artist Heather McDermott who loves willow more than any other plant and works with it every day. She thinks more of us should have our own ‘Salley’ gardens so we have this useful crop which can be used to make free plant supports and fences. Also on the programme, how a handful of soil has more life in it than there are people on the planet and celebrating Garvagh man Andrew McClarty who has been using gardening to raise funds for charity for 25 years. Ann Fitzsimmons will join David live in studio to answer questions. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

BBC Radio Ulster

Gardeners' Corner by BBC Radio Ulster

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