Spring has officially arrived — the air smells sweeter, flowers like daffodils and bluebells are popping up everywhere, and the sun is finally doing its job.
But even with all that, some gardens still feel… a little flat. Sound familiar?
If your green space isn’t quite giving “spring wonderland,” don’t worry — Alan Titchmarsh, beloved gardening guru, has a simple solution that can breathe new life into your garden without blowing your budget.
The Easy Monthly Habit to Keep Your Garden Blooming
Alan’s tip is wonderfully straightforward: visit your local garden centre once a month, every month.
Instead of just splurging in May or June like most folks, buy one or two hardy, in-bloom plants during each monthly visit.
That way, you’re always adding a little seasonal flair.
According to Alan, this keeps your garden looking fresh and full of interest all year long.
“It’s such an obvious thing to say,” he shared, “but it’s a lovely, easy way of making sure that you always have colour in your garden.”
Boost Your Soil, Boost Your Blooms
Of course, keeping a garden vibrant isn’t just about pretty flowers — it’s also about what’s happening underground.
Alan emphasized the importance of feeding your soil with organic matter like blood, fish, and bone, and using mulch to keep everything thriving.
Why these materials?
Because they take time to break down, giving plants slow-release nutrients while helping your soil stay alive and healthy.
It’s nature doing its thing — sustainably.
Gardening for Joy and Nature
Alan believes gardening should be a balance: personal joy mixed with responsibility for the environment.
“Being a good gardener today means enjoying your own style, while still being wildlife-friendly and mindful of the environment,” he said.
One key part of that is embracing biodiversity — having a mix of flowers that offer various kinds of pollen, nectar, and habitats.
And don’t worry too much about whether a plant is “local” or “foreign” — bees, he pointed out, aren’t picky about a flower’s passport.
They just care if it feeds them.
The Controversy Over Plant Origins
On the topic of “horticultural appropriation” — the idea that growing non-native plants could be culturally insensitive — Alan shared a practical perspective.
He believes collecting and redistributing plant species has actually helped preserve many of them.
Rather than rewriting history, he feels we should focus on protecting what we have now.
A Frightening Childhood Memory That Shaped Him
In a much more personal moment, Alan also reflected on a terrifying childhood experience that he said left him feeling “lucky to be alive.”
Back when he was a boy, he and a friend named Mickey tried to recreate a scene from a cowboy movie — you know, the kind where the hero is tied to a chair with a fire underneath.
Only, their version used actual flames.
Unlike the movie magic where the hero always escapes, their reenactment went terribly wrong.
Just as the fire was about to catch his trousers, the chair leg snapped, and Alan tumbled backward — thankfully out of harm’s way.
More Than Just a Gardener
From gardening advice to personal resilience, Alan Titchmarsh continues to inspire.
He’s more than a TV presenter — he’s a storyteller, a passionate environmentalist, and someone who’s learned to find beauty in life’s messy, fiery, and flowering moments.