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Becontree Estate: Postbag Edition

Peter Gibbs and the panel are at Becontree Estate answering your gardening questions.

Peter Gibbs and the panel are at Becontree Estate answering your gardening questions. Joining him this week are regular panellists Matt Biggs, Christine Walkden and Matthew Wilson.

To celebrate Becontree's 100th birthday, community gardener Carole Wright shows Peter and the panel what the local community have grown on this otherwise urban estate.

As they explore the estate, the panel answer questions from listeners, including how to grow a healthier Photinia and how best to cut back an unruly rose shrub.

Producer - Daniel Cocker
Assistant Producer - Aniya Das

A Somethin' Else production for ±«Óãtv Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

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Q – We have a Ceanothus that is still in flower. They usually stop flowering in the summer. Is this a further sign of global warming?

(4 minutes 13 seconds)

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Q – I have two variegated evergreen shrubs in my front garden planted at the same time. They are slow growing, but one is smaller than the other. Why could this be?

(6 minutes)

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Q – I was given a Poinsettia in a pot last year. It’s now over 3 foot (91cm) tall still in its original pot, I’d like to give it a bit of care.

(9 minutes 18 seconds)

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Q – I have a large shrub rose ‘Portland Jacques Cartier’ on the verge outside my house which has now overgrown and overhanging the pavement. How can I prune it back and when?

(12 minutesÌý 50 seconds)

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Q – We moved into a house with a tree in the back garden. The previous owner told us it was an Apricot tree planted as a privacy barrier. How can I promote more leafy growth?

(15 minutes)

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Matt –

Prunus ‘A³¾²¹²Ô´Ç²µ²¹·É²¹â€™

Hoheria ‘Borde Hill’

Acer campestre 'William Caldwell'

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Christine –

Amalachier '°¿²ú±ð±ô¾±²õ°ì’

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Q – I have two standard Photinia on an east-facing wall. One is now looking unwell. What’s wrong with it?

(21 minutes 10 seconds) M

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Q – When cutting a Laurel hedge, will the fumes harm other plants?

(24 minutes 15 seconds)

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Q – My Boston ivy is not going red. What’s going wrong?

(26 minutes 20 seconds)

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Q – We have just planted garlic and they have already started to sprout. Will they survive the winter?

(37 minutes)

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Q – I have 2 free hanging bird feeders. I recently found a huge slug on it. How could it have reached the feeder and why has it travelled so high to find food?

(38 minutes 28 seconds)

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