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But over the years there have been a few gardening show fails, too.

Viewers have been left with a sour taste after witnessing a disappointing transformation, while gardening expert Monty Don has himself confirmed that gardening telly makes for “terrible gardening”.

Monty Don’s British Gardens – 8.8 stars

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Gardeners’ World fans might be surprised to discover that the beloved BBC programme doesn’t come out on top. 

Instead, it’s Monty Don’s British Gardens that claims the top spot on our list, with an average IMDb rating of 8.8 stars out of 10. 

The official synopsis for the BBC show reads: “The nation’s outdoor home. From the humble backyard to the grandest of grounds, what do Britain’s gardens tell us about our culture, climate and history?”

The show is currently free to stream on iPlayer.

(Image: Getty)Gardeners’ World – 8.4 stars

Gardeners’ World - 8.4 stars

Gardeners’ World fans will be thrilled to know that it’s ranked among the best on TV, with an average rating of 8.4 stars out of 10. Running since 1968, the programme helped catapult stars like Geoff Hamilton, Percy Thrower and Monty Don to fame.

But over the years, some fans have grown “bored” of the quintessentially British show, with one viewer moaning: “Get back to the basics! Gardeners’ World used to be the best show on TV. 

“The episodes were full of educational gardening knowledge presented in a relaxed and enjoyable fashion. I would keep a notebook beside me while I watched to record the useful information provided.

“A typical episode has devolved into social media influencer home videos, stories pushing culture agenda, possibly a tour of a garden, and 10 minutes of either Monty or Adam gardening.”

Someone else said: “I always used to enjoy Gardener’s World, but now I don’t watch it anymore. Every programme shows reports on gardens in southern England on a grandiose scale. Do people in the midlands, the north of England and Scotland not have gardens?”

(Image: BBC)Beechgrove Garden – 8.1 stars

Beechgrove Garden - 8.1 stars

Celebrating Scottish horticulture and growing conditions, Beechgrove Garden features Jim McColl, Chris Beardshaw and George Barron among its presenters, and proved an instant hit with fans.

Its host Carole Baxter had “no idea” the show would go on for more than 40 years when she started.

Sadly, Jim McColl died at the age of 89 in 2024, with his family stating: “He will be hugely missed not only by us, but by his friends, colleagues and a nation who he shared his passion for gardening with over four decades at The Beechgrove Garden.”

(Image: BBC)Love Your Garden – 8 stars

Love Your Garden - 8 stars

Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Garden – which sees him travel the country with a team of experts to find the “dream garden” for viewers and showing them how to replicate it for themselves – was popular enough to inspire his weekend spin-off show Love Your Weekend.

With an eight star rating on IMDb, one viewer said: “It’s an interesting series and since there are almost no other gardening series on Netflix, I’ll have to stick with this one. But I would wish for more tips on gardening than just to see shocking before and after results.”

Someone else complained: “I watched seasons 2012 and 2013. I was expecting a program along the lines of Garden Rescue but this was more like those HGTV million dollar dream home makeovers. There is very little garden design and horticulture information provided.

“I found myself starting to fast forward through most of the episodes.”

(Image: ITV)

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