The James & Joe Garden Show

Scribehound
  • 4.9 (15)
  • HOME & GARDEN

Welcome to The James & Joe Garden Show - the podcast that rips up the horticultural rulebook and plants something far more entertaining. Join James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift every week where they tackle a garden topic, from the sensible to the completely ridiculous, armed with sharp opinions, 40 years’ worth of stories and a habit of wandering wildly off-topic. Listeners can also send in their weird and wonderful garden questions for the chance to win our treasured mascot - the Scribehound gnome, Jekyll. Our only two rules? No dead plants and no dull questions. As part of The Garden Collective - a place where leading experts share unfiltered gardening wisdom every single day - you can subscribe to get ad-free listening, bonus episodes, special access to live events, written articles from garden experts and so much more. Got a burning garden question, or a bizarre problem you just need to share? Email us at gardening@scribehound.com and we’ll get stuck in. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠

  1. 1H AGO

    Anna Greenland: Gardening with mini dictators

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    11 min

  2. 4D AGO

    The Big Tree Chat

    With James & Joe away, we are diving into a topic AND questions episode, prepared in advance by your delightful hosts so you NEVER miss out on your weekly content... What starts with school detentions and gardening-as-punishment quickly escalates into chainsaws, harnesses, cowboy tree surgery, Viking arborists, and the strange satisfaction of watching branches fall into a chipper. James confesses to some deeply questionable early career decisions. Joe admits a lifelong obsession with people who climb trees for a living. Along the way they explore: – Why gardening should never be a punishment – The difference between tree surgeons and arboriculturalists – Why good tree surgeons are artists, athletes, and engineers – Tree Preservation Orders and why you can’t just “have a go” – Planting trees you later have to manage – the long game of gardening – Why trees matter more than ever as the climate heats up There’s storms outside the window, Olympic-level tree surgery fantasies, and a surprising amount of respect for people who willingly climb oaks in high winds. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/  About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠Contact us⁠.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min

  3. FEB 17

    Ask James & Joe: Younger Gardeners, Missing Hori Hori & Gardening Gospel

    It’s Ask James & Joe time – the episode where your gardening questions get answered with maximum charm, minimum restraint, and a suspiciously high chance of gnome-related bribery. James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift lay down the only two rules: no dead plants and no dull questions. In return, you get: – A surprisingly deep dive into how to design an Arsenal-inspired garden without turning it into “blood and bandages” – Botanical tattoos, family poppies, pirate-era decisions, and whether young people are about to go off tattoos entirely – A full-on debate about how to pronounce Latin plant names without sounding like a posh idiot (or doing accidental Italian cosplay) – The real talk on getting younger people into gardening – and why gardeners should be paid properly – Tool bags vs buckets vs belts, the tragedy of the missing hori hori, and the underrated genius of painting your tools bright yellow Plus: a reminder we’re going LIVE – 10 March, 7pm, - Nicholson’s Nurseries (West Oxfordshire). Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠. ⁠Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min

  4. FEB 10

    The Secret Language of Flowers

    This week, James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift rip up the Valentine’s rulebook and dive into The Secret Language of Flowers – aka the Victorian-era “Snapchat” where you sent a single bloom instead of a message you’d regret. We cover: – Birth-month flowers and what they supposedly say about you (James gets Hawthorn + Lily of the Valley – “humility” and “sweetness”… apparently) – The dangerous art of sending the wrong flower (yellow blooms, narcissus, and accidental insults) – Why Valentine’s Day roses can feel like the least romantic thing on earth – The grim reality of petrol-station romance – miserable roses, nylon teddy bears, and out-of-season strawberries – James’s most unhinged romantic flex – 200 red roses delivered in full kilt-era confidence – And the modern reboot – if plants could send texts, what would you post through the letterbox? Plus: a reminder we’re going LIVE – 10 March, 7pm, - Nicholson’s Nurseries (West Oxfordshire). Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠. ⁠Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  5. FEB 3

    Ask James & Joe: Rogue Pruning, Talking Plants & Gardening Heresy

    It’s time for Ask James & Joe – where listener questions meet gardening rebellion, unexpected sermons, and the occasional Victorian murder mystery. This week’s postbag takes us everywhere from “should you really wait a full year before changing your garden?” to whether plants gossip about us when we’re not looking. James confesses to breaking his own rules, Joe defends gardening instinct over perfection, and both agree that courage – not calendar dates – is the real secret to success. Along the way we cover: – Why waiting a year isn’t always the right advice – Late bulb planting and breaking gardening “rules” – Pruning roses with a hedge trimmer (yes, really) – Storm damage, fallen trees, and why gardens always recover – The most poisonous plant you probably already grow – Which plants would be terrible witnesses in a Victorian crime – Whether plants feel loved, threatened, or quietly judgemental – Why gaps in gardens are actually a gift There’s theology (again), questionable accents, plants on the run from the law, and a reminder that gardens are resilient, optimistic, and never finished – much like the people who love them. Plus: news of James & Joe’s first ever live podcast, coming this March. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/  About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe now⁠.⁠ Follow James & Joe on ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠. ⁠Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min

  6. JAN 27

    Are Green Roofs worth it?

    Are green roofs worth it – and are green walls actually… terrible? James pulls no punches on vertical planting, explaining why most green walls fail, why irrigation systems are their Achilles’ heel, and why a humble Virginia creeper might be the smartest choice you’ll ever make. Joe plays devil’s advocate, defending green walls as horticultural art rather than practical gardening – before both agree that maintenance is where the dream usually dies. From there, things get serious (well, serious-ish). Green roofs, however, are declared a resounding triumph. James argues that every flat roof in the country should be green – by law, citing biodiversity, insulation, cooling, habitat creation, and sheer joy when opening the bedroom blinds to a roof buzzing with bees. There are stories of flamingos on London roof gardens, Zandra Rhodes’ exotic pots, rogue designers ignoring planning law, and a surprisingly educational trip through the history of turf roofing – plus a promise of a future deep-dive with green roof expert Kay Davies for those who want the technical stuff James and Joe gleefully avoid. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.  This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/  About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠. Follow James & Joe on Instagram. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram. Contact us⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min

  7. JAN 20

    Ask James & Joe: Weeds, Wisteria and What to Do When It Snows

    James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift open the inbox and dive headfirst into your gardening questions – with plenty of digressions along the way. They tackle the eternal dilemma of self-seeders – when a “generous volunteer” quietly becomes a full-blown marauder – before heading into snowbound survival tips, from sharpening secateurs with camellia oil to designing gardens from the sofa. There’s advice on wisteria – where it really works, how much pruning is too much pruning, and why cherry pickers should come with a health warning – plus a surprisingly strong opinion on crazy paving, recycled materials and when a project just isn’t worth the angle grinder dust. Along the way there are accents, Belgian cyclists, robot mowers wintering in Magaluf, and a reminder that if you enjoy the podcast, a nice review goes a very long way. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
  8. Inside the 2026 Gardening Calendar

    JAN 13

    Inside the 2026 Gardening Calendar

    James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift ease into 2026 with a wide-ranging, laugh-out-loud look at what the year ahead holds for gardeners – and for them. From judging garden shows in Japan and chasing cherry blossom to building kitchen gardens, new garden structures and a suspiciously expensive shelter designed entirely for a cat, they talk travel, home projects and why resolutions don’t really work in gardening (or January). There’s plenty of chat about the big flower shows too – Chelsea, Hampton Court’s move to Badminton, Sandringham and what it means when shows start touring the country. Along the way they reminisce about formative gardens, design heroes and why we’re still talking about drought, water and climate thirty years on. YOU too can put your questions to James and Joe in real time by subscribing to the Garden Collective for just £1. Follow, rate and subscribe on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by Kress, leaders in robotic lawnmowing and battery landscaping tools. Learn more here: https://www.kress.com/en-gb/ About our hosts James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Joe Swift is a familiar face on television as a presenter of BBC TV’s Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. Support James and Joe by becoming a member of The Garden Collective - a community for anyone who loves plants, gardens and sharing what they love - a place where experts and fellow gardeners all come together to inspire, entertain and keep us company whilst we’re weeding (or staring out of the window at the rain). You'll get access to articles written by some great gardeners, live Q&A sessions, livestreams, podcasts and loads more.It’s more than a platform - it’s a place where we can answer questions, offer biscuits and share our triumphs and disasters.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe now⁠: https://join.scribehound.com/gardening?ref=share&sharer=uu4ouXbbErgc54CBD&shareType=SbzpSgeEBK&channel=gardening%E2%81%A0 Follow James & Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesandjoegarden/ Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garden_collective_/ Contact us: ⁠gardening@scribehound.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min
See All (45)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Welcome to The James & Joe Garden Show - the podcast that rips up the horticultural rulebook and plants something far more entertaining. Join James Alexander-Sinclair and Joe Swift every week where they tackle a garden topic, from the sensible to the completely ridiculous, armed with sharp opinions, 40 years’ worth of stories and a habit of wandering wildly off-topic. Listeners can also send in their weird and wonderful garden questions for the chance to win our treasured mascot - the Scribehound gnome, Jekyll. Our only two rules? No dead plants and no dull questions. As part of The Garden Collective - a place where leading experts share unfiltered gardening wisdom every single day - you can subscribe to get ad-free listening, bonus episodes, special access to live events, written articles from garden experts and so much more. Got a burning garden question, or a bizarre problem you just need to share? Email us at gardening@scribehound.com and we’ll get stuck in. Follow The Garden Collective on ⁠⁠Instagram.⁠⁠

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