19 hours Ago By Matt Jackson,Padma Murughappun
Monty Don has candidly spoken about the "great trouble" experienced at his home, as he grapples with a persistent issue. The celebrated green-fingered expert, aged 69, has raised concerns about the UK's erratic weather patterns, pointing out that these "extreme" conditions have become a significant "problem" for gardening enthusiasts across the nation. He emphasises the necessity for more resilient plants to withstand the weather's challenges.
From his Longmeadow residence in Herefordshire, Monty recounts battling against floodwaters. Earlier in January, he and his wife Sarah revealed they were trapped by the encroaching floods, rendering them unable to leave their home. While featuring on the Talking Gardens podcast, Monty touched upon the adjustments gardeners must consider in response to climate changes.
He observed: "It's the extremes of weather rather than the weather trends that are the problem, so we are getting very wet weather, very dry weather, very cold weather and very hot weather." He continued to discuss the evolving demands placed on horticulture: "And we're in new territory, we've all been brought up and trained to find plants that fit niches. But increasingly we want plants that will adapt to extremes and that's testing everybody.
", reports Gloucestershire Live . He also delved into the uncertain outcomes arising from this new horticultural era: "And I would challenge anybody who says they knew how that would pan out and we're all working that one out for better or for worse. I think more interestingly is to what extent we try and mitigate it.
I mean, in my own garden we've put in big drains this year, at great trouble and expense to try and take some of the water away in winter." Monty Don has shared his concerns about the changing conditions at Longmeadow, the garden he acquired in 1991, which is prone to flooding due to its location on a flood plain. He's particularly troubled by the "saturation" of the soil, causing "puddles bubbling out of the ground.
" He elaborated on the challenges: "The problem is, I can plant for wet conditions, that isn't a problem, but we've also had some very dry summers. I think the interesting thing is to what extent plants will adapt themselves." Monty pointed out the resilience of the hosta plant, which seems to be adapting well to drier summers as long as it receives sufficient winter rainfall.
He noted the importance for gardeners to cultivate soil that can retain moisture yet provide "reasonable drainage." The beloved gardening guru has previously voiced his alarm over the increasing instances of flooding across the UK. In a discussion with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he observed: "Flooding has always been part of life, you know, forever, but it's definitely got worse.
" He added from personal experience: "It's got more frequent. And, I mean, I've lived where we have for 34 years, and I've just observed that." Monty first graced television screens over three decades ago with a gardening segment on This Morning in 1989.
He cemented his status as a national treasure in 2002 when he succeeded Alan Titchmarsh as the lead presenter of Gardeners' World. Gardeners' World is set to make a comeback on BBC Two at 8pm tonight (April 18). Monty will guide viewers on how to maximise their plants' potential, including dividing and sowing seeds to ensure a vibrant garden in the summer.
Monty will also give viewers a tour of his RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, which he created with his golden retriever, Ned. In addition, Carol Klein will be offering advice on creating colourful and intriguing beds and borders..
