Former Gardeners’ World host, Alan Titchmarsh, has shared his top tip for growing plants in ‘dry, sandy soil’. In the latest issue of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine, he highlighted a common issue with these conditions: “Dry, sandy soils are every bit as difficult. They are easy to cultivate after heavy rain, being rapidly free draining, but they cannot hold onto moisture or nutrients.”
However, he reassured gardening enthusiasts that ‘dry, sandy soil’ can be improved by adding ‘organic matter’, which will help sustain new plants.
He advised: “Again, the addition of organic matter – well-rotted garden compost or manure – will improve their ability to sustain plants, but such amelioration needs to be continuous, and you would be better advised to select plants which, once established, are used to drought.
“And that spot in dry shade – the ultimate double whammy? Yes, there are plants that will grow here, even though your choice will be more limited than usual. Above all, don’t lose heart,” reports the Express.
“Remember the old saying: ‘Right plant, right place. Again, the addition of organic matter – well-rotted garden compost or manure – will improve their ability to sustain plants, but such amelioration needs to be continuous, and you would be better advised to select plants which, once established, are used to drought.
“And that spot in dry shade – the ultimate double whammy? ” The beloved broadcaster also recommended his favourite plants to add to your gardens this autumn, cautioning against trying to grow ‘brilliant summer bedding plants in deep shade’.
He suggested that gardeners should consider planting: “Spring flowers such as snowdrops, bluebells and wood anemones have adapted over thousands of years to bloom early and take advantage of the available light before the overhead leaf canopy is fully developed, by which time they will be making seeds before they die down and enter summer dormancy.”
As reported by the Daily Express, during a chat with Stephanie Mahon on the Talking Gardens podcast, he revealed the two plants he would ‘banish’ from gardens: ‘pampas grass’ and ‘large flowered gladioli’. He described pampas grass as looking ‘like a collection of feather dusters sticking out of a mountain of grass’ and cautioned that removing it is a significant challenge.
Alan first graced our television screens on BBC’s Nationwide and later became the face of the Chelsea Flower Show in 1983. His career has flourished since he began hosting Gardeners’ World in 1996, although he stepped down from the show in 2002.