The Hour

With the snowy and icy wintry conditions making it difficult to venture out into your garden, The Hour’s gardening expert Pete Jackson believes the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens is a great place to start planning your garden.

“This is a great place to draw inspiration from, maybe even plan your garden for the new gardening season ahead.”

Hosting a wide range of plants from all over the world, the Botanic Gardens can stimulate some wonderful ideas and themes for your spring garden.

Leaning on the inspirational surrounding, Pete began to make his own plans for a themed spring garden.

“I am getting lots of fabulous new ideas and also I am really excited to be inspired by lots of other people who share the beauty and love for plants.

“What I really like to do is create a very simple planting plan and a rough sketch of any new part of my garden. This year I am planning to create the perfect wildlife haven, attracting wildlife in.”

Louise, one of the supervisors at the indoor gardens is a firm believer that this summer will be full of lemons and oranges. 

“They are easy to grow and they flowers and fruits all through the year. If you plant one now you could have a gin and tonic by the summer.”

So it seems that 2010 is all about simple planting: “Take time out and think about the new season that is just around the corner, pick up those seed catalogues and before you know it spring will be with us,” Pete added.

For more gardening tips, visit Pete Jackson's website