Ground Force and Gardeners’ World launched the careers of many TV gardeners (Image: BBC)
As the warmer months roll in, fans can finally tune in to some well-deserved gardening shows that have been bereft over the winter period. There’s a whole swathe of incredible gardening programmes out there, with the Beeb alone offering hundreds of episodes to catch up on – and pretend it’s already summer and the flowers are blooming. From Gardeners’ World and Ground Force to Love Your Garden and The Great Chelsea Garden Challenge, there is plenty to get your teeth stuck into this spring.
Whether you’re a bona fide gardening pro or an aspiring gardener in the making, you can be sure to trust your garden space with these green-thumbed presenters. So as we pull out our trusty gardening gear and spruce up our outdoor space, let’s take a look at some of the best TV gardeners to catch on the box.
From veteran horticulturists like Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh to up-and-coming gardeners like Sue Kent and Jamie Butterworth, there are plenty of wise faces to choose from. But what do you think? Who is the best TV gardener on the box? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments section. Can’t see the poll below? Click here.
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Gardeners’ World is a staple must-watch for any green-thumbed enthusiast, having launched the careers of many TV gardeners up and down the country. The first episode aired in January 1968 with more than 30 seasons of the popular programme and some 18 hosts, including Percy Thrower (1968 – 2007) and Geoff Hamilton (1980 – 2007).
More recent presenters who have won over the nation are Alan Titchmarsh (1996 – 2002) and, more recently, Monty Don (2003 – present), who has been hosting from his home at Longmeadow since 2011. Before Alan found fame on the BBC programme, he also fronted the popular makeover show Ground Force alongside Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh, which ran from 1997 to 2005.
Since leaving Gardeners’ World, Alan has moved over to rival channel, ITV, where he hosts his weekend show, Love Your Garden, which is the perfect comfort watch for a Sunday morning. It blends the format between Ground Force and Gardeners’ World, giving practical tips for gardening and treating deserving members of the public to a glow-up in their back gardens.
Another up-and-comming gardening programme which is a must-watch for enthusiasts is Garden Rescue, which launched back in 2016. This BBC tea-time show sees Charlie and lead designers, including the Rich Brothers and Lee Burkhill, make over outdoor spaces for homeowners across the UK. They take neglected, unloved or empty plots and transform them into magical wonderlands on a budget.
Monty Don won over the hearts of the nation when he joined the BBC gardning show in 2003 (Image: BBC Studios)
One show to add to the watch list is The Great Chelsea Garden Challenge, which is presented by Joe Swift, another alumnus of Gardeners’ World. This show follows a similar formula to other successful BBC competition shows like The Great British Bake Off, pitting talented gardeners from the public against one another in a good-natured gardening competition. They all battle it out for a prime spot at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the grand prize.
While this, on paper, doesn’t offer viewers quite as much practical gardening advice as other shows, the mentoring from Swift, as well as judges and co-hosts Ann-Marie Powell and James Alexander-Sinclair, still provides key tips and tricks for gardeners and landscapers alike.
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