I'm afraid I missed it tonight, partially deliberately, Monty Don has managed to irritate me already, lol! I saw him plant a clematis some weeks ago and then erect a wigwam of thin tree trunk sized sticks for it to climb up - what I thought, they're way too thick for a clematis to twine around - and then, 3 weeks ago, one of his 'jobs of the week' was tying in the clematis to the thick sticks - with nary a word about using thinner supports, thus saving yourself all that effort. Don't mind me, I'm a purist and intensely practical, drives me bonkers when people don't give all the info they should. Perhaps I should look at the Iplayer to see what he said about it the Chelsea chop... but there's a risk I'll be irritated again, lol;-)))

The garden centres had better stock up with secateurs to meet the sudden demand !!!

Yes I did. I've been meaning to do it to an aster so it's a timely reminder as I usually forget. Might try it on a couple of sedums as well to see how they react

Is this the same Chelsea chop that's been around for a couple of years, or a new version of, Scotkat? If its the same old Chelsea chop, I'll not be doing it this year - keeping up with the watering is difficult enough currently, but having to supply even more plus feed because of the Chop will make life impossible this year. I guess if you're not in drought its worth a go...

same thing, hack the tops off and then see how they do later in the season. personally I cant bring myself to do it.

I'm not keen myself, Seaburngirl - I choose taller perennials because I want them that size, so having them shorter with smaller flowers wouldn't be the effect I'd be after...

Exactly Bamboo, why go to the trouble to get a tall perennial then reduce it by 50% of size? If you want tall then buy it, don't cut it to the same size of a medium perennial.

I get the idea but the logic fails me.

I do not chop in an organised fashion, but the bits that I do manage I like later in the flowering season - I find that otherwise there's a boring spell after the flowering has finished. Made me smile this question - so many Fridays lately I've missed GW cos out pottering in the garden.

To balance the view, we think Monty's lovely, tho I bow to greater wisdom on clematis bcos I'm ignorant on those. He is crumpled & scruffy, gentle, non-condescending and very encouraging. A genuine enthusiast, and more of a champion of realistic, normal gardens and gardening than some other presenters.

My new sedums were treated to the Rabbit Chop a few weeks ago - they're only just recovering.
Can't comment on Gardeners World, I stopped watching TV about 2 years ago.

I asked this last year as I am a great believer in the CC. But this year the early heat in April and the on going drought mean I will not really be doing it this year, so much has set seed that they have been cut much earlier and I dont want to stress others. I to didnt see GW I stopped watching. Bamboo its an an old nurseryman's trick for unsightly perennials that had finished flowering and were unsaleable were given a trim the Edwardians certainly did the CC and could then sell the plants when they flowered, it was done in late May just after the CFS and thus became the CC

There are some plants that I will be cc'ing this weekend, but not as drastically as on GW last night. I will remove about 40% of the plants, like sedums, phlox,
Nepeta, and other such plants.
On a note on GW............. I agree with Bamboo..........
I'm getting irratated with MD, but especially the bits with RDT. I can't help it, she makes my hair stand on end.

next friday Alan Titchmarsh is on itv for 30 mins at 8pm.

no clash with GW now that is a result.

monty leaves me a little cold but the programme is watchable.

I too like Monty's enthusiasm, but I have to accept I'm somewhat pedantic - enthusiasm's all very well, but accurate information is worth its weight in gold... I'm still trying to work out who RDT is, mentioned by 2ndhand above...

So am I Bamboo then remembered Rachel de Thame?
MD was a jeweller for many years and when that failed popped up as an expert gardener on the TV, but I just find him dreary in his over the topness!

I know his gardening credentials are less than perfect, and I've never found his style particularly appealing, but it is the lack of accuracy that drives me bonkers - I also watched him planting a rose a while back now, picking up some bindweed root and telling you what it was and to dig it out, and then he proceeded to plant the rose in a hole with what was obviously masses of bindweed root sticking out. Thanks for the Rachel de Thame - must be her, can't think of anyone else with the same initials.

:))

I rarely watch GW but I did last night and was bemused at MD re-potting a citrus tree where he had to trim the roots in order for it to fit in the new pot, wouldnt it be more desirable/practical to put it in a bigger pot ??

'Bemused' now there's a good word - just about covers what I feel when I watch him - did he make any explanation as to why he was not using a larger pot, or cutting back the roots? (Root pruning is done on specimens in large pots to avoid putting into even larger ones, but I'm wondering if he explained why he was doing it ...)

Hm, it does rather sound as if he's lost the plot then with all these weird incidents. I didn't enjoy the Italian series recently - no flowers, what did they mean, a garden?! - sorry purists but honestly. However, that was more the different garden design style than MD. I think I could watch him taking the bins out or cleaning the bath and still be content. Probably our motives are different from yours.
RDT - no thanks.
Alan Titch - just a queasy garden gnome. I'm at a loss as to what his appeal is. He once recommended scrubbing birch bark with a broom - ?? The mind boggles.
I have a lot of time for Carol Klein though. She seems to know her stuff and is constantly cheerful.

Please don't complain about GW until you have watched Beechgrove Garden... our equivelant up here...their coverage of Gardening Scotland made me cringe!!!
if I remember correctly didnt Monty first start making TV appearances on This Morning with Richard & Judy...that might explain it!!!
Carol Klein is great, her show last year was very good and quite informative for the likes of me (beginner)

Poor Carol Klein is lovely, but at 63 is out of the running to be GW presenter, we know what the BBC are like re age and females.
RDT (yes Rachael) drives me scatty. Patronising old bag! But where ever Monty is, so is she. I'm surprised that Sarah Raven hasn't made appearances. But atleast, once you get used to the voice, she can be quite interesting.
And the thing that annoys me, is that so far Monty appears to have had an awful lot of new plants for an established garden, that 'apparently' had to be cleared because of the bind weed. License fee going up to pay for all those pots. :-)
I must admit, I miss seeing a garden on GW that can be altered and enhanced with new features. Geoff H's, Alan T's and Toby's programmes atleast had that. Long meadow isn't about new features but replacing old.
And besides, who the heck grows 60 Toms in their greenhouse. I usually grow 20 made up of all sorts of varieties, but then I do sell produce over the gate.
OK SOAP BOX GOING BACK IN SHED NOW. Sorry to be boring, but I got it off my chest.

Has GW has has its day? Does the whole idea of gardening on TV needs a complete rethink?
However, I do recognise that the gardening programmes I watched in my early days as a green gardener went largely unchallenged by me whereas today after many years of gardening I feel I can challenge the content and do.
So If our demands change as we learn to garden perhaps future gardening programmes need to reflect this?
Perhaps taking an idea from Childrens TV where there are programmes to suit all ages/stages - preschool's do not watch what teenagers watch.

Carrying on from the point Drc just made - maybe, as you are now an experienced gardener, you require less from these programmes, so its not that they have had their day, its just that there is less for you to be gained from them ?? Possibly it is catering for newer less experienced gardeners of which it seems there is an endless stream.
Perhaps they should say who the programmes are targetted for and have a couple or three levels of gardening programmes as Drc suggests.

In answer to Bamboos earlier question - he was saying that you should re-pot every 5 years and his was overdue. He wheels it into his potting shed talking about why you should re-pot, talking about the planting medium he uses, then trims the roots to make it fit the pot - I dont recall any explanation other than trimming the roots to fit the new pot....

Hi Paulr Like any occupation one is only knowledgeable in what one does/grows!
I would argue the more I garden and learn the more I want from TV gardening. I would like to see, beginners, intermediate and advanced levels on TV in defined progs. I dont see how you can retain the viewers understanding/interest if a programme jumps from sowing carrots to Pleaching in 1/2 an hour.

Good point re the jumping from one subject to another but this could equally apply to a programme aimed at experts eg an in-depth bit about acers followed by detailed section on caring of a species of exotic plant - you may have an interest in one but not the other - please note I am agreeing with you.

With so many Tv channels available and some dedicated to food or home furnishings etc, maybe its only a matter of time before a gardening only channel appears ?? - as long as its not hours & hours of old GW programmes eh ?

I agree that, as we get more experienced, Gardener's World generally isn't going to cut the mustard with us - but for those just starting out, it'll be useful. Or would be, if only Monty was explaining what he's doing and why properly, which is precisely why I got so irritated by the clematis support and the rose planting in bindweed - he talks about bindweed as if you can actually get rid of it with a bit of digging, when we all know you can't, and never a mention about what kind of support would be better for clematis, so for someone who's a beginner or just learning, not terribly useful, is it. WE know there's a lot he's not saying, but learners don't, do they... if your intention is to inform, then you should do it accurately and clearly.
As for what more experienced gardeners might want to watch, for me it'd be a section or a short programme about, for instance, newly introduced plants, perhaps a bit of redesign of small areas or difficult gardens (sloping, narrow, whatever), ideas for front gardens, latest info on pesticides/insecticides and organic treatments for plants, plus info on the latest in terms of pests and disease, effective soil treatments where there are problems, latest info on ecology, the environment and gardening combined, impact of climate change and evidence of change for same, that kind of thing. So I guess a sort of magazine style thing keeping us up to date really. Don't want much, do I, lol!

All day gardening on TV would surly just become fillers Paulr? as its too expensive to do properly that way. I think you put it very well Bamboo - but I dont see it happening while all these gardening personalities rule!

all day gardening wouldn't work - be like rolling news, you end up not bothering because it's the same old, same old, round and round...

Well! Lots of brilliant ideas here re a kind of tiered approach to the programmes, but I agree it probably wouldn't happen, the producers aim for a quick-fix, can't-risk-anyone-changing-channel approach, what a shame.

and yes, in a fair world Carol Klein would definitely be in charge. Probably she's head and shoulders above the rest really.