Autumn colour arrives, what to grow now and the backyard bargain garden

Autumn colour arrives, what to grow now and the backyard bargain garden

Author: BBC Radio Ulster October 4, 2025 Duration: 56:28

With warm colours all around, Gardeners’ Corner celebrates the arrival of autumn. At the National Trust’s Rowallane Gardens, David meets head gardener Claire McNally for a walk in the woods where Acers, Sorbus, Birch and Enkianthus are stealing the show. As this year’s harvest is gathered in, Amy Kelly is thinking ahead to what can be planted now for early crops next year. In Moira, David discovers a secret courtyard garden beside the oldest house in the village and he chats to Mary Reynolds about her journey from being the youngest ever winner of a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show to the founder of the ‘We are the ARK’ movement which campaigns to restore nature through native planting. In studio, David is joined by Mary Doris who has made best use of the apple and pear harvest. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk


Tune into Gardeners' Corner from BBC Radio Ulster for a weekly dose of practical wisdom and quiet inspiration rooted in the soil of the province. Host David Maxwell guides each episode with the ease of a knowledgeable friend, sharing the latest horticultural advice and seasonal news you can actually use. This isn't just theory; the podcast actively explores, taking you on audio visits to thriving plots and personal havens, from expansive estates to modest backyards, revealing the unique stories they grow. You'll hear firsthand from those who tend them, gathering tips that work in real gardens. It’s a consistent resource for anyone with a trowel and a bit of earth, whether you're nurturing a windowsill herb box or planning a perennial border. The conversation is always grounded, focused on the tangible joys and challenges of growing things. Listen for a genuine connection to the gardening community and a deeper understanding of your own patch, all delivered with the trusted quality of BBC Radio Ulster. Each episode feels like a welcome break, a moment to think about what's possible just outside your door.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Gardeners' Corner
Podcast Episodes
Sunken gardens, city sanctuaries and sodden shoes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:24
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 expla…
Must have maples, tulip time and making gardeners’ gold [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:07
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 s…
Gardeners' Corner special: The wonder of trees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:08
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 gr…
Jane Austen’s gardens: A Gardeners' Corner special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:34
Where did the world-famous author Jane Austen find inspiration for her classic novels? Two hundred and fifty years after her birth, Gardeners’ Corner presenter David Maxwell explores the outdoor spaces closely linked to…