His journey began when Alan embarked on an apprenticeship with his local council after leaving school. He then transitioned into editing gardening books before establishing himself as a TV and radio presenter. Alan’s love for gardening took root during his childhood, when he would spend his pocket money on seeds from Woolworths. He now balances tending to his Hampshire garden with his presenting responsibilities.
However, there is one tree that Alan insists will never feature in his garden. Speaking on his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh YouTube channel, he disclosed his dislike for the weeping birch.
This tree is often chosen by gardeners with limited space because it “stays small” and has branches that “come down”. Alan stated: “Personally, I don’t like it very much, but if you like it and you want a birch, Young’s weeping birch for a tiny garden, but jacquemontii for anything of reasonable size.”
The betula utilis jacquemonti, or silver birch, is more appropriate for larger gardens as it can grow up to 12 metres high. Alan suggests it is a favourite among gardeners due to its “light and feathery canopy” that doesn’t cast “too much shade”.
But there is one characteristic that particularly catches the eye once winter arrives that Alan truly values. He said: “What it does have, when its leaves have all fallen in winter, is this glorious silvery bark.”
The silver birch isn’t the only tree that Alan says gardeners should consider. He also enjoys the eucalyptus gunnii, known as cider gum, an evergreen tree that retains its foliage throughout the winter months.
Alan however acknowledges the tree is an “acquired taste” and one gardeners will have to be “wary” of. He said: “It will make a massive tree and eucalyptus is really quite fast growing.
“It is really quite hardy despite the fact it is from Australia. If you want to grow this because you love the foliage for flower arranging, you can chop it back hard every spring, right down to a foot or so and it will sprout out from the base.”
Alan however warns it will “eat you out of house and home” if you only have a small garden. He recommends a winter-flowering cherry or crab apple tree as alternatives for people with more modest plots.
For those with considerably more space, Alan advocates for a beech tree, which he says can reach heights of 20 or 30m. However he notes gardeners with ample room can also establish a row of beech trees and maintain them as a hedge.
“Beech tree hedges are delightful,” Alan said. He highlighted the “fresh lime green” growth in the spring and the crisp, browns of the winter.
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