Must-have heathers, Brendan’s back yard and coming up trumps with stumps

Must-have heathers, Brendan’s back yard and coming up trumps with stumps

Author: BBC Radio Ulster November 29, 2025 Duration: 56:34

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


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
Season by Season with Gardeners’ Corner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:15
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 celeb…
Kilmacurragh and the Plant Hunters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:13
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 restorat…
Gardeners’ Corner Christmas Special 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:50
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 th…
Merry Mistletoe, must have Mahonia and a winter walk at Montalto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:18
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, includi…
Mary Keen, children who are keen and everything in between [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:23
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 w…
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…