Spalding: Ant Infestation, Pot-Bound Olive Tree and Watering Seedlings

Spalding: Ant Infestation, Pot-Bound Olive Tree and Watering Seedlings

July 10, 2026 · 42 min

About this episode

The episode features a panel of horticultural experts answering gardening questions from a local audience in Spalding.

Gardeners’ Question Time visits the stunning Springfields Festival Gardens in Spalding, 15 acres of beautifully designed and diverse planting, created for visitors of all ages to explore and enjoy. Peter Gibbs is joined by a panel of horticultural experts - Matthew Wilson, Christine Walkden and Bunny Guinness - to answer questions from an enthusiastic audience of local gardeners. Together, they tackle a wide range of gardening dilemmas, from reviving a pot-bound olive tree to dealing with ants that have taken up residence in an exotic potted palm. The panel also offers practical advice on watering seedlings effectively, encouraging a mature philadelphus to flower, and successfully overwintering hollyhocks. Also, Grow Your Own expert Julia Parker shares her top tips for successional planting, helping gardeners enjoy a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. Producer: Dominic Tyerman Producer: Matthew Smith Producer: Rahnee Prescod Assistant Producer: William Norton A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4.

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