Gardeners’ World star Monty Don has shared the ‘pretty big disaster’ that struck his beloved Longmeadow garden and his crucial advice for avoiding similar problems
Robin Cottle Assistant Editor Trendswatch
19:00, 28 Nov 2025
Monty Don issued a ‘really important’ warning(Image: Getty Images)
Gardening legend Monty Don has shared a crucial warning for green-fingered Brits after revealing the “pretty big disaster” that hit his cherished Longmeadow garden.
As one of the nation’s most respected horticultural experts and main host of BBC show Gardeners’ World since 2003, Monty is well-versed in cultivating stunning outdoor spaces.
However, even the professionals can encounter setbacks, as he explained when discussing a significant problem that struck his renowned Herefordshire property.
He described how the garden was hit by box blight, a rapidly-spreading fungal infection which targets the foliage and stems of box plants.
Whilst Monty insists he doesn’t believe it was down to him as “everything had a box hedge”, the experience taught the veteran presenter valuable lessons about “avoid disasters”, reports Wales Online.
Monty Don shared a ‘pretty big disaster’ at Longmeadow(Image: PA)
Speaking on the BBC Gardeners’ World podcast, he explained: “I don’t try and grow anything that doesn’t want to be there. I think that’s really important.
“Sarah and I always say, we don’t want anything in our garden that doesn’t want to be in our garden. What that means in practice, it needs a very sandy soil, and we have a heavy clay soil, or it needs mild dry winters, we have wet cold winters, or it needs very alkaline soil or very acidic soil.
“We have pretty neutral soil. On the whole, that means we can grow more plants that need alkalinity rather than acidity. Therefore, camellias, rhododendrons, pyrrhus, they’re never going to do well for us.”
This follows Monty revealing his relief that Gardeners’ World has wrapped up filming at Longmeadow for the year.
The television presenter acknowledged that whilst he’s accustomed to the schedule, he welcomes the opportunity to work without the cameras watching his every move.
Monty Don(Image: Getty Images)
In his BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine column, Monty revealed that production teams won’t be back until spring and the “lack of pressure” provides a much-needed respite.
Monty commented: “Should we be filming all of this? Probably. I would not mind at all, but there is no doubt that filming would make it all take twice as long, and add a level of scrutiny and pressure that we are happy to do without for a few winter months before the filming circus returns all too quickly next February.”
The host confessed the seasonal timetable can frustrate some of the programme’s most dedicated fans. He continued: “This timetable has remained constant for the past 20 years or so, although I suspect that most viewers would like us to carry on throughout winter.
“However, the commissioning and scheduling of programmes moves I mysterious ways so it is unlikely to change in a hurry.”
The first Gardeners’ World Winter Specials show airs on BBC Two tonight (Friday, November 28) from 8pm to 9pm.
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