Monty Don has revealed three things gardeners need to do before April (Image: BBC Studios)
Monty Don has shared three things gardeners need to do before April arrives – and they may not like the result. During Friday’s visit (March 27) to Longmeadow, the 70-year-old gardener discussed some of his best tips for making the most of Spring weather this year. The beloved presenter was supported by his four-legged friend, Ned, as he journeyed through his sprawling land, advising Gardeners’ World fans on what flowers and fruits are in season as the warmer months roll in.
But minutes before the BBC Two show came to an end, the veteran presenter gave fans three jobs to complete this weekend ahead of the Easter holiday. He jokingly announced: “Here are your jobs for the weekend,” which included tying back roses, sowing broad beans and pruning early flowering shrubs.
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The presenter urged fans to tie back their roses before stormy weather hits (Image: BBC)
Beginning with the roses, he advised: “If you’re growing climbing or rambling roses and you haven’t tied them in, then do so now. Otherwise, the new growth will be damaged by the wind, and this will, of course, restrict flowering.”
Moving on to his planting recommendation of the week, he urged fans to sow their broad beans this weekend to ensure fast results in a matter of days. He explained: “Now’s the time to sow broadbeans, not least because they are one of the seeds that will germinate at lower temperatures than most.”
Demonstrating his best technique, the dad-of-three pulled out a wooden board as he planted new seeds into his vegetable patch. Don went on: “A double row is best, with the rows spaced about a foot apart.
“I use a board to space them, and then the beans are three or four inches apart along the length of the row. Just push the seeds into the soil so they’re an inch or two below the surface, rake them over so they’re well covered, and mark the spots.
He revealed that broad beans must be planted this weekend for optimal results (Image: BBC)
“If it’s very dry, give them some water, but rain should do the job, and they should appear above ground in a few weeks’ time.” Finally, he urged keen gardeners to prune early flowering shrubs now before they grow out of control this summer.
Don went on: “If you grow the winter honeysuckle like I do, then now is the time to prune it, and this applies to all the early flowering shrubs. Prune them immediately after flowering.
“This is because they produce their new flowers on this year’s growth. It’s a good idea to refresh the plant by cutting out old wood, so get right in there using a saw or strong loppers, cut the oldest growth down at the base of the plant.”
Anticipating that some gardeners may be put off by the idea, he insisted: “It may look dramatic, but it will let light and air in and encourage the new shoots to grow more vigorously.”
It didn’t take long before viewers flocked to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their joy as the credits rolled on the latest episode of Gardeners’ World. One user gushed: “Thank goodness for Gardeners’ World,” as another agreed: “Your spring garden is being shaped right now. Gardeners’ World 2026 is a masterclass in timing, patience, and smart planting decisions.”
A third chimed in with: “Thank you team Gardeners’ World for another great programme tonight. I’ll tie my climbing roses in this weekend! There was a lot of interesting things in tonight’s show, good hints and tips, and lovely gardeners. Keep gardening!”
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