Hello, Alexandra! Thank you for another informative and entertaining video. I have watched every one - today's is number 209! - sometimes twice. As winter approaches, I hope you will persevere with a very early morning to photograph frost covered gardens. The ones you did 2 years ago are among my favorites. I also want to thank you for reviewing gardening books. I bought 'The Living Jigsaw' by Val Bourne and began reading it yesterday so today's video is an excellent companion to the book. I have a favor to ask. Could you please consider scent in the garden for a video. The other year, I began buying roses based on scent; what a pleasure to have a bouquet on my bedside table. This fall, I am planting scented daffodils, so I'm really looking forward to spring. 'Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities' by Kim Smith (an amazing woman!) details the development of her garden based on scent. Either book would make a wonderful gift for a gardener.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, and scented gardens is an excellent idea. Funnily enough, I was just thinking about how to do a frosty garden this winter - always assuming we get a frost. It's so mild so far.

@Ekaterinamail

2 жыл бұрын

Any advice how to attract wild life into your garden, except snakes??

When wildlife come into my garden I consider it the greatest of compliments. 🦋

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

It really is!

@adrabruzzese7610

3 жыл бұрын

It is, that means you have provided a beautiful home for them.😊

@thebastardgift

3 жыл бұрын

@@adrabruzzese7610, my indoor cat don't like them but thank you!

@thebastardgift

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden, after viewing this video I went out and purchased some water balls that hang from trees that are in my garden to provide water for the wild birds. I appreciate your channel!

My father is building up my wildlife garden, thanks for the tips.

Thanks for the wild garden video. I feel that the wildlife in my garden is at least 50% of what brings me joy from my garden. The other half would be the plants.😁

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Well said!

I have over 55 water bodies in my 29' x 29' back yard. I use no chemicals, not even chemical fertilisers. I have frogs, tadpoles, I've seen four different types of lizards. Slugs and snails and a myriad of spiders, insects, ladybirds, birds etc., and I love it. My garden is less than four years old and completely full with several hundred pot plants of all sizes. I really am extremely grateful to God for His provision. When I'm not moving things around in my garden I am either watering it or sitting here looking out at all the gorgeousness from twilight to dark. I am so blessed... Praise God and Jesus my Savior x

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

That sounds beautiful

@debcambria665

Жыл бұрын

I want to see!

@blue2mato312

6 ай бұрын

What does your water bodies consist of? Just wondering how I can bring more water both to my little balcony garden and at a cottage plot with no soil to dig ponds.

@kerryjean2223

6 ай бұрын

@@blue2mato312 mostly clay pots without drain holes. Flat saucers and some quite large above ground ponds. I grow a lot of a type of Elephant Ears, water Talo which is an awesome plant grown in water pots. The growth size depends upon the size of the container from very tiny to very large.

@blue2mato312

6 ай бұрын

@@kerryjean2223 Thank you very much! I will definitely try to have water in different pots and saucers in spring. I already have bought a large plastic pot (thick builders container) to make an above ground pond. Everything is deeply frozen now in my part of the world ❄️

So nice that gardeners and gardens are becoming more eco friendly 💕💕💕

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Thank You Thank You Thank you for this video~ I would add one more thing... native plants and trees are very important to diversify insects and wildlife creatures even in a small garden. Love your channel

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, native plants are hugely important, I agree. Thank you!

@simonoconnorable

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Brilliant video. Just to add one other thing. It's much better to grow plants for the garden from seed, cuttings or organic nurseries due to the heavy pesticide use on garden centre plants including those labelled pollinators friendly. Levels harmful to pollinator life cycle present on virtually all garden centre plants.

Great video and like the tips on developing and encouraging wildlife in the garden. And thank you for the important reminder to have different levels in ones pond for access and a safe retreat for the creatures using it.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

I have been wildlife gardening for years. I can't stand formal gardens. I loved watching Mary Reynolds come to understand this. I'm in zone 3a sadly, but I carry on. I love your channel. Keep going.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Thank you for all your wildlife friendly advice. I’d love to see more.

Only just found your channel Alexandra and I love it! Your message is so important. I'm English by birth and moved to South Australia when I was twenty nine. Our winters are more like the English summers I remember in the 60's and 70's (well it does get bit colder as winter progresses and yes, I feel cold!) but summers are brutal - yesterday was 38 C !!! and we don't get much rain so that can be a great challenge. I try to leave straw and other mulches around but I'm also very aware that South Australia has some pretty deadly snakes - haven't seen one yet TG (and I hope that I don't meet one!)

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. 38C is really hot for us English, although my Australian sister-in-law says it's just a nice temperature. Hope the snakes stay away, I don't see them when I go to Australia either but always dreading the time I do.

Inspirational! Fern's garden is beautiful, thank you so much for creating this video.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@SMElder-od5cl

3 жыл бұрын

I'd like to see Fern's garden in the summer!

Love hearing about wildlife gardens

Lovely garden

@Cassieskins21

3 жыл бұрын

Are you partially sighted?

Wild gardens are wonderful ❤️❤️

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Yes they are!

Enjoy your tips

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Thank you for this. Beautifully wild, less work for me, happier creatures are my garden goals!

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful!

Oh I love this post ! So informative and kind to nature.. it's lovely to raise this awareness ❤️

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Great video. I'm all for becoming more eco friendly.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Wonderful video. You’re a great speaker and teacher.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 😃

Thank you, love your videos. The coming spring will be the third at my new house. I have a lovely entry garden that I keep very manicured. The rest of it- anything goes! We have large old trees for shade, a thick vinca foundation planting that praying mantis love, a small pond safe for small animals, a long old lilac hedge that I blow the fall leaves into, and compost piles. Today I trimmed back sunflowers and echinacea (we've had a hard frost) and wove the stems into our back fencing for the birds. Gardening is such a joy and so rewarding. I've been gardening for 50 years now and I'm 53! I'll never give up!

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

That sounds delightful.

I always love your videos. Thank you.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Great video - I'm doing a native garden in Trentham especially to try and encourage native bees - i hope it works and it's not too cold for the little guys! I think this is a big part of the future for gardens, especially one aspect you mentioned and that was about paving everything. I'm still working on your other idea of a dead hedge made of branches. 👍

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Excellent!

Really enjoyed this topic. Thank you for this valuable information.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

This is one of your best! Thank you.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

The large spiral topiary looks fine in the corner with the wall as back drop. This was a good, thought provoking video, thank you.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you.

Very informative, thank you👌

Beautiful

Very interesting video, you have given me some good ideas to improve our garden, thank you.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Great video Alexandra! And great tips as always. I have 3 of the prickly Mahonias in my garden but I would really love to incorporate one of the soft caress ones also. They look beautiful, almost tropical.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

I'm hoping to buy one myself as they do look lovely.

You are always so informative!

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Always great to watch and l’ve been learning everyday! Thanks for sharing!

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

We really try to do our part in the yard& gardens for all wildlife i donot.use chemicals & i.do a think.call Chop and Drop it feeds the plants & helps the soil .iam glad others are thinking.diffrent . I.love theses wonderful VIDEOs.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

💕💕💕💕 thanks for the bit on winter flowers. This is my first season gardening outside of what my landscapers do and needed to understand what was proper to plant for winter zone 7-8 USA. Thank you!!

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! If a few plants die over a winter, don't feel its all your fault. Every top gardener I talk to has admitted to having plants die on them!

Thank you, Alexandra, for another great video. I love this topic and would be happy to see more videos on native gardening, especially on care. I have no idea if native plants should be left to fend for themselves totally or should be tended in some ways. For instance, l wonder should some plants be pruned, thinned periodically, or cut back at certain times? I would also enjoy more on wildlife garden design. I know you have shown some gardens with a mix of native and cultivated plants. The dos and don'ts of mixing would also be welcome. Actually, I welcome all your videos, whatever the topics.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, and I'll bear all that in mind. In terms of native plants and their care - treat them as you would any other plant in your garden. If they seem to be getting too big cut them back, thin them or prune them (you can usually find instructions for each different type of plant on the internet). There is quite a lot of debate on what 'native' and 'non-native' means, and people have different definitions, so you need not worry too much about mixing them. If you're interested in supporting wildlife then avoid double-flowered plants because bees can't access the pollen, but otherwise studies show that both native and non-native plants and flowers benefit the environment. I hope that helps.

@margiemaclin4119

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, again!

Thank you Alexandra! It's so important to understand how bad pesticides are. I have never used any and I do not have pests. Maybe a few nibbles on my hostas here and there.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Hostas get nibbled so easily! Thank you.

Great video Alexandra, lots of great tips. Many thanks :0)

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

It was an amazing and excellent talk. I felt that when I can sit in front of u and talk to u for hours to gather 😊👍

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

These are some great tips!

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great information.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Many thanks great gardening tips mgt

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Well said.

Good video and good info on "pests"! I collect the snails and slugs for "my" hedgehog. Allways put out water for them, and higher up for birds/bats, but do clean those out every day. In this aspect: stop buying grit for cattoilets; whole regions in Eastern-Europe are destroyed for that. Better to buy recycled woodpallets. I do not agree at all on on the advice on bird/batboxes. Our new houses are build in such a way that swallows, a lot of other birds, and bats can not find shelter.

Thank you for your content! New subscriber here :)

Good observations...Greetings from Italy (like n.470)

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

Great episode, Thankyou, i have been trying to get hedgehogs in my garden, as yet to no avail, anything wildlife friendly will be helpful.

@qualapec

3 жыл бұрын

Keep trying Rachel, these lovely creatures need all the help we can give them. Have you tried looking on Hedgehog street website for some good information?

@rachelhoward334

3 жыл бұрын

@@qualapec not heard of that, will look today. I've put food out for them hoping they can smell it. X

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Hedgehogs need at least an acre to roam in, which doesn't mean you need an acre, but that they need to be able to escape into neighbouring gardens or open space, usually through little low gaps in the fences at ground level. We have a walled garden and it's not big enough for hedgehogs to roam in, although our predecessors tried to introduce them several times.

What about slugs and snails ? Snails I pick up in an open tub and relocate to my local park. Slugs I scoop and tip over the back of my fence. Caterpillars I let be , I enjoy seeing them wiggle around haha .

Can you provide a link for fern?

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

2 жыл бұрын

She's moved away from the area. If you email me on alexandra@themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk, I can try to find a forwarding address.

Plants which are native to the UK and specifically to your area are the only plants that your native wildlife can use.

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

2 жыл бұрын

That's not in fact correct according to research by the RHS and others. Here is a round up from the RHS based on several pieces of research they and others undertook, where non-native plants and flowers performed as well as native in terms of supporting wildlife in various areas. There are also issues with the differing definitions of native - how long they have grown in the area (10k years/before the last ice age etc) and whether plants native to northern europe can be considered native to Britain as it's so easy for birds and insects to cross over. The RHS recommends that you plant as wide a range of plants and flowers as possible, including non-natives: www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife/native-and-non-native-plants-for-pollinators

I really like encouraging birds into the garden but unfortunately the cats distract them . We also suffer with 3 foxes digging and at least 4 grey squirrels . People encourage them with tit bits

@TheMiddlesizedGarden

3 жыл бұрын

Oh, yes quite a problem. My dog also goes after birds.

Gardeners minimising use of chemicals? Using fewer chemicals? How about the most sane approach -- namely none at all? Give exception to household vinegar and salt, and a drop of gentle washing-up liquid in water as a spray.

@SueSeacooks

3 жыл бұрын

Agree with the washing up liquid, but learnt something watching Bunny Guiness "top 10 garden mythbusters" about salt and vinegar.

@Stettafire

2 жыл бұрын

Salt and vinegar are both really bad for the the soil