Monty Don, the beloved presenter of BBC’s Gardeners’ World and one of Britain’s foremost gardening authorities, recently shared a candid reflection on a significant setback at his cherished Longmeadow garden in Herefordshire.
Despite decades of expertise, Monty experienced a “pretty big disaster” when his garden fell victim to box blight, a fast-spreading fungal disease that attacks the leaves and stems of box plants. This unexpected challenge provided him with a crucial insight into gardening resilience.
On the BBC Gardeners’ World podcast, Monty emphasized the importance of growing plants suited to their environment. “I don’t try and grow anything that doesn’t want to be there. I think that’s really important,” he said, explaining how he and his partner Sarah choose plants compatible with their garden’s specific soil and climate conditions.
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He elaborated, “We don’t want anything in our garden that doesn’t want to be there. For instance, our garden has heavy clay soil and wet, cold winters, so plants requiring sandy soil or mild dry winters simply won’t thrive here. We have neutral soil, which favors plants leaning towards alkalinity rather than acidity, meaning camellias, rhododendrons, and pyrrhus don’t do well for us.”
Monty also reflected on the filming schedule for Gardeners’ World at Longmeadow, expressing relief that the filming has concluded for the year. While he’s accustomed to working under the camera’s gaze, he appreciates the break from the additional pressure and scrutiny it brings.
“Should we be filming all of this? Probably. I wouldn’t mind at all, but filming definitely extends the work and adds scrutiny we’re happy to avoid during these winter months,” he wrote in his BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine column. Filming will resume in spring, giving Monty and his team a much-needed pause.
He acknowledged that some fans might find the seasonal breaks frustrating but explained that program scheduling has remained consistent for over 20 years and is unlikely to change soon.
Monty’s candid reflections serve as a reminder that gardening, no matter the experience, comes with its ups and downs—and that understanding and respecting the natural needs of each garden is key to success.