Bunny's Top Tips on how to SAVE TIME on the more mundane gardening tasks. Leaving you More time to enjoy the finer moments. And a chance of getting on top of it all.... #timesaving #hack #gardening
I did do 3 series of 12 programs with Carlton tv many years ago, but now just do Gardeners’ Question Time on BBC radio 4. Most of my time is spent designing gardens though 🐇
Top tip. If you don't have space or time to propagate your own shrubs and you want dense planting as Bunny suggests with minimal costs, look carefully when at the garden centre. A common horticultural industry trick is to plant multiple cuttings into one pot to make it look as though it's one large plant & charge a higher price accordingly. So I actively & purposefully look for & choose these then split them up when I get home, either for repotting or directly planting out. Recently bought TWO pots of Azaleas but ended up with TEN plants for £8•00. Bargain. Same with Phormiums (Flax) & Cordylines. They divide fairly well so if requiring multiple plants look for a larger more expensive pot that's got well established side shoots with their own nascent root systems, divide & plant out. Heuchera & many other herbaceous or perennial plants can often be chosen & treated in the same vein saving money by buying one specimen rather than several. Just carefully & gently tip them out of the pot to check for strong root systems before purchasing.
Thank you. I think you are right to keep it to two days a week. I have noticed that some people over-tend their gardens and lawns, even daily. I remember as a child we had a next door neighbour who put much work and effort into his lawn and it did look nice, yet my father noticed the man seemed a bit green (as in envious) of our lawn which my sister, friends and self ran all over and was never given any feeds and mown only when needs must. My father believed it was the droppings from the two pet rabbits 😊
Thank you for stressing that digging is harmful to soil health. This fact is becoming common knowledge thanks to the quality gardening content like this one xxx.
Yes very difficult to convince those that have done it for years, they just will not accept that putting organic matter on the top will become naturally incorporated with the soil. Would love to know if there has been any research proving this to convince them. 🐇
You always have great advice Bunny!!!! Your property and gardens are just stunning! I enjoy watching you from Richmond Virginia! I am an avid gardener too! 🌼🌺💕
I’ve only recently discovered your channel and I’m so glad I did! I believe it is so important now more than ever that we all plant a sustainable garden for climate change while helping wildlife. I’ve created a (now mature) garden 10 years ago that has evolved to support that. I’ve removed all grass and replaced it with gravel and let plants self propagate. This has had incredible benefits as not only has cut down on buying more plants, I’ve also “acquired” new ones through birds dropping seeds etc. I have an entire bed of columbines now that covered a trouble spot with my row of cedars. The best pasty is- I never bought a single plant! They germinated all by themselves! You are an inspiration! Keep up the amazing videos!
You are a very unique garden presenter. I am subscribed to quite a few garden channels and I have to say - even though your videos are few - they are extremely chock full of non stop valuable info and tips. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and I look forward to your next class!!!
I used to blow all the trimming bits and fallen leaves and such into the lawn, then mow over it where most of it ended up in the bag ... of course I wouldn’t do that with large cuttings or large amounts... but that was a real timesaver... I had been blowing bits into the driveway then I’d sweep up for years until I saw landscapers blowing the stuff into the lawn... what a difference
Hi Bunny! Thanks for making this - it's a really useful video. We've recently bought our house with a one acre mature garden which I love, but which is MAJOR high maintenance. I'm slowly rationalising things to make it more manageable, and your video really shows that you can own a large garden and stay on top of it. Thanks!
:)) They have anti-theft features. They scream bloody murder if they are being removed from their home. And you can set the perimeter for them, of course.
@@ralugator I wish they would have moved it so we could hear it screaming. I have 2 acres, it would take that thing 3 days to mow, it takes me 2 hrs on a rider.
This is really the first time in my life I'm getting a bit envious... What an inspiring paradise your are sharing with me. Thank you for putting in so much effort. It's a pleasure to meet you through your video.
Mulch mower is great. We’ve used one for 20 years and created about 6 inches of humus top soil. If we leave it too long between mows I just mow it the next day and mulch up long cuttings
Ohh yes! I had forgotten about that. I used to listen to it every time and now you mention it I remember Bunny was my favourite then. I only just stumbled on the channel.
Your gardens are fantastic! I always learn something new from your sharing! Thank you! Here in Virginia, US box is beloved. So wonderful to see how well yours do.
Another great video, thank you. Usually I have gardening videos or podcasts on in the background, your video’s catch my attention and I have to go back and watch them in bits so I don’t miss any great information. The bottomless pots have been a game changer. I don’t have large estate pots but I applied the concept to every pot I had that was on the ground, the plants are so much happier. I even cut the bottoms off nursery cans when I bring something home but am not quite ready to plant it. I’ve lost fewer plants.
I do love Bunny but she lives in a world estranged from most of us. “Middle range borders in areas you don’t see that often.” 😆 Ah yes those borders - the ones I see about twice a year when I peruse the bounds of the estate with my steward! The average garden in the UK is about 180 metres sq!
Even in a smaller garden you do see some borders all the time and some are less ‘in your face’ especially if you divide your garden up - possible even in small garden, so I do think some borders are more prominent than others! But thanks for your comment🐇
@@bunnyguinness That’s absolutely true, especially if your garden is a bit Jekyll-esque in terms of ‘rooms’. I was being a bit mischievous in that comment - sorry if it came across a bit mean x
I really enjoyed this, great tips. Just a couple of notes: most robotic mowers have performed poorly in their ability to detect and avoid wildlife (such as hedgehogs). There are some that are better than others and I would encourage everyone considering gettting one to do their research before buying one. Imagine being asleep in the grass and to be woken up by a machine cutting you to bits, it doesn't bear thinking about. So many hedgehogs are killed and maimed by strimmers each year too, and there is no excuse for that because we should be checking before using them. The second note is that sheep are herd animals and would be miserable on their own, so a group would be a good idea becuase a solitary sheep would be sad and depressed on its own.
Thank you..you have given me so many tips..all about timing I say.. Your garden is stunning... the natural meadow to the formal hedging that is high maintenance..but you have good tips to make that less of a burden..happy days to you in your garden.🌳🐞🌲
Yes that mower saves hours and I think there is more wildlife on the lawn especially birds. Maybe because there are always grass cuttings rotting down which increases worms etc🐇
A very helpful video. The only recommendation I would question is planting densely as I’ve found in the past you will need to split and divide often as they outgrow their space so quickly. I tend to buy 9 cm plants now rather than 2 litres which are more established. I suppose it depends on how big your borders are. The advise on a limited palette is great as I think less is more.
Greetings and congratulations on your very well put video. Although this video is my first encounter on your channel, I have a feeling that any other entries are of a similar calibre. Having viewed 100s of garden videos, I must say that your content is succinct, refreshingly layered, and original- from the perspective of someone who resides in the US and encounters few English videos. Please continue to share these delightfully informative clips that show your passion for gardening. If you would, please add more content on the in’s and outs of sheep keeping for the smaller acreage. Have a pleasant summer and God bless you.
Great video! Can you please put a link in the description of your video about getting rid of perennial weeds as I can't find it on your channel and would love to see your advice. Many thanks!
Hello, I am enjoying your videos! This one, where you discuss making paths with concrete and fine gravel…how would I adapt this to New York State zone 5, where winter temps can go to around -20°F? Those paths are just what I want! ❤️
I so enjoy your videos and your expert advice. But I live in Mallorca where gardening is a special challenge. My question is about not tilling up the soil. Here they say you must do it so that water can penetrate. You can always tell when it is going to rain because the locals are all on their tractors tilling up the soil.
Just came across your channel, and found great information and have now watched as many as I can find. I have a large garden in Canada, just wish it looked like yours, but still working on that. My question is about a large perennial bed I have that had been neglected due to family issues. Now I am trying to recover it. I grow most of my perennials from seed, and so have a lot of flowers and shrubs in this bed, along with a lot of weeds. I try to pull rather than dig, but now find I have an infestation of bindweed. I did try individual spraying, but it is everywhere. I agree with you about a no-dig method but have also considered when spring comes on removing my flowers one by one and laying out on a tarp so I have a clear run at spraying the weeds, but I realize how hard it would be to keep the plants nourished and safe while this is going on. Do you have any other suggestions? I am a senior and quite fit but even so, this is a huge project.
Interesting that the fresh chippings are thought now to not rob the soil of nitrogen - I’ve often wondered about that and been reluctant to use it - now I will.
Thank you for your abundance of knowledge that you lovingly share. Do you do any virtual consulting? I reside in Healdsburg, CA. Graciously gardening, Kellie Barrow
Sadly I find it really difficult if I am not actually in the space to see the best approach, a bit like designing with your eyes closed. Many thanks for your comment though 🐇
I love your channel and your knowledge. I only would like to ask that you could list the spelling of the plants that you talk about. I think one of them was comfrey, hickup blue and pink. Not sure. I would like tho try this in the border on my woods. Lots of other plants you have mentioned too is hard to know the spelling of them. Thanks and I hope to see lots more of your videos.
Many thanks! Yes that is an excellent point. We are updating my website bunnyguinness.com and are hoping to put up info sheets with each video. The plant you are referring to is Symphytum ‘Hidcote Blue’. It romps everywhere but is curtailed by the mower. It flowers early so the bees love it and is pretty much evergreen in the uk , East Midlands. Hope this helps!
Oh how I need you in my garden, I’ve spent thousands and thousands over 23 years ...and still it’s all wrong, Also, is it true that the robotic mowers have killed hedgehogs? Or is my husband trying to stop me buying one😂
Excellent video. What plants/ shrubs do you recommend for a border in the bottom corner of my garden that is shady and heavy clay soil ? Prefer some with height.
I'm happy your channel popped up a few days ago. I'm watching all of your videos and I love everything you do. I'm learning so much from you! I already have plans to use your method of bottomless pots at the entry to my house where I've struggled for a few years now over just how to enhance the look by using pots, but I just wasn't sure how to do it. Now I know :)
Hi Bunny, I see you are revamping a few of your garden areas. The comfrey meadow and the area you mentioned in this video. Would you ever give design advice to your viewers ? I have purchased 12 acres and am lost !
Hi, we have started a design series 'Sorting the Spaces' is one that may apply to you, also the video of my garden, 'A garden for My Family and Other Animals' may help. We have a similar sized space and the majority is meadow grazed by hardy rare breeds such as Soay sheep (no shearing needed and an extremely healthy breed that lamb with no help, Dexter cattle and Oxford Sandy and Black pigs (in the woodland which I planted). We have them at very low stocking rates so we don't buy much food in and they are not stressed. I regard them as mobile sculptures - they really add to the look of the land and you interact with them on a daily basis. The garden I manage on two days work a week and grow loads of veg and fruit. Hope this helps, you need to dec die what you want them land to do for you first and how much maintenance you want to put in.
You are amazing ! I just bought a 24 box Olive Tree that I would like to put in a planter but I am having a problem finding one. Do you know of a company I could purchase one from?
I must be strange because I can't stand the smell of cut grass. I don't even have hay fever! I also hate the smell of coffee. I don't think there is any hope for me. 🤦♀️ Nevertheless, I've subscribed. 😁
If you put the compost on the top you will increase the worm population far more than if you work it in. I am sure you will have some worms you just have not seen them. They will definitely arrive if not!🐇
That is a comfrey, Symphytum Hidcote Blue. It competes well with any weed and forms extensive sheets of green if allowed. I control it by mowing it out if it starts to grow into the lawn. . It can spread by seed to. I have huge sheets of it in my orchard instead of grass and as it flowers in very early spring it is great for bees.it is a bit of a thug but a useful one.
The lawn-roboter can be really harmful to wildlife, for example hedgehogs. I have seen severely injured animals that have been cut by the mower. Cut off legs, cutted faces and bodies. The animal rescue in my town has shockingly growing numbers of injured animals due to robotic mowers every year. It's heart breaking.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and I set my robotic mower to come out in daylight. Have never had a problem with it injuring any animals - only tennis balls. And yes we do have hedgehogs in the garden. A big predator of hedgehogs apart from cars are badgers.
Everybody's got a different take on the subject of lawn mowing but for me if supporting wildlife is an important part of your gardening agenda as is increasingly the case for many gardeners, mow less often, don't scalp the lawn to within an inch of its life, and, in doing so, you'll have daisies & dandelions etc to feed the bees. Supporting our 🐝 populations supports the food supplies of not only ourselves, but the rest of nature as well. Also, for those of us who haven't switched to electric yet, you'll be creating far less fossil fuel emissions & reducing your carbon footprint.
This year, I missed a few mowing of the lawn believing I was helping the pollinators and wild life. Sadly my hitherto beautiful lawn is a mess. Dandelions are the devils own weed. I am thinking seriously about digging it all up.
@@emiliarose18 I guess it depends on how important a pristine lawn is to you. It might help to remember that lawns as we traditionally think of them tend to be deserts botanically & biologically speaking. If dandelions drive you nuts there are alternatives. Wildflower plugs can be either purchased online or homegrown & planted straight into your lawn & or, mow & scarify the area's you want more diversity, sow a wildflower seed mix making sure that the seeds come into close contact with the soil. With careful selection a succession of flowers can carry the season for longer. Also there's no reason not to try mowing pathways and say, a square or round patio style shape into the lawn for everyday use & let nature take care of the rest. Just some thoughts. Happy gardening. 😀
Mulch can and will get dry out looking old and battered. You have to refresh Mulch. Having it a year and half I don’t recommend Mulch . I’m currently removing all of mine. It’s easier to rake dirt and just pull your weeds using a small rake. I have gardener who would turn soil over but the messy part is left for me to fix. I allow him to cut grass , trim bushes that’s it.
