Heading away for the holidays but worried about your plants?

In this episode of Dig It, Hester Macdonald shares practical ways to keep your garden thriving while you’re enjoying a well-earned break.

Discover simple and affordable watering solutions, from DIY plastic bottle systems to traditional clay ollas, and learn how drip irrigation and mulching can dramatically reduce water loss during hot weather.

Hester explains how to test and fine-tune these methods before you leave, making life easier for both your plants and anyone looking after them.

As Dig It takes its summer break until September, this episode offers plenty of ideas to help your garden survive the heat and welcome you home looking its best.

Learn how to match herbs to the right conditions, prepare the soil for success and harvest without weakening your plants.

Hester explains why basil loves warm, free-draining soil, why parsley and coriander appreciate a little shade, and how to deal with common challenges such as slugs, heatwaves and sudden flowering.

Whether you grow herbs in pots, raised beds or directly in the ground, these simple techniques will help you enjoy fresh flavours throughout the season and keep your herb garden productive all summer long.

From towering ramblers to compact patio varieties, she explores the incredible diversity of roses and shares practical advice on choosing the right plant for your garden. Discover why disease resistance, fragrance and colour all matter, and learn how to avoid misleading “blue” or “black” roses. 

Hester also highlights some wonderful places to enjoy roses in Switzerland, including the Botanical Garden of Geneva and the beautiful rose garden at Parc de la Grange. 

Whether you grow your own or simply admire them, this episode is an invitation to slow down and enjoy the beauty and fragrance of roses.

Discover plants chosen to engage all five senses, from the soft leaves of lamb’s ears and fragrant lavender to colourful herbs and edible mint varieties perfect for curious young gardeners.

Hester shares practical ideas for involving children in planning, planting, and caring for their own sensory spaces while encouraging pollinators and wildlife at the same time.

Learn which plants work best in small spaces, how to combine texture, scent, taste, and sound, and why herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage make ideal sensory garden additions. A creative episode full of inspiration for gardening with children.

From slugs and snails attacking tender seedlings to vine weevils damaging container plants, Hester shares practical ways to identify and control some of the most common garden invaders in Switzerland.

Learn how copper tape, gravel, pheromone traps, and nematodes can help protect your plants naturally, and why early detection matters.

Hester also explains how to spot the destructive lily beetle, including its surprisingly clever defence mechanisms, and what to do before your lilies are stripped bare.

Whether you garden on a balcony or in a large outdoor space, this episode is packed with realistic pest-control advice for healthier summer plants.

With frost risks mostly gone below 600 metres, it’s the perfect time to help houseplants enjoy fresh air, stronger natural light, and healthier growing conditions outdoors.

Hester shares practical advice on acclimatising plants gradually to avoid sunburn and leaf scorch, plus placement tips for everything from succulents and snake plants to pothos, peace lilies, ferns, spider plants, and orchids.

Learn which plants thrive in sun, shade, or hanging baskets, and how to protect delicate species from pests like slugs.

Whether you have a balcony, terrace, or garden, this episode will help your indoor jungle flourish outside this summer.

First, she explores Ripe Tomato Revolution by Frank Hyman, a practical and entertaining guide packed with clever tomato-growing advice, DIY planter ideas, and humorous observations from an experienced gardener with a scientific mindset.

Then, Hester turns to the floral world with Pretty Dirty by celebrated florist Melanie Stapleton, a beautifully photographed book covering flower growing, seasonality, composting, and the creative community behind modern floristry.

Whether you’re planting tomatoes, dreaming of cut flowers, or simply looking to expand your gardening library, this episode offers fresh recommendations for gardeners and book lovers alike. Listen again at WRS or follow Dig It! on social media.

Learn how to identify Asian hornets versus native European hornets, why they pose such a serious danger to bees, biodiversity and pollination, and what to do if you discover a nest. 

Philippe shares practical advice for safely dealing with small nests before they become a much larger and more dangerous problem requiring specialist removal. 

The episode also explains where hornets commonly build nests and why early detection is critical at this time of year. 

Plus, discover the official Swiss reporting platform for sightings and expert guidance on next steps.

Following the Ice Saints discussion, she explains how Mediterranean vegetables like tomatoes, aubergines and peppers thrive in warm, sunny conditions and well-drained soil.

She shares tips on feeding, composting, and choosing fertilisers to boost healthy, productive plants throughout the season. From seeds via Samen Mauser and Sainte Marthe to plants sold at Schilliger, she compares varieties such as Sweet Million, Trilly, Ravi and Banana Legs.

For beginners, she recommends easy, reliable cherry tomatoes like Sweet Million and Trilly, ideal for balconies and terraces. It is a practical guide for home gardeners wanting flavour, resilience, and abundant harvests from their own plants this season.

These days are linked to the risk of late frosts, which can damage tender plants like tomatoes, peppers and basil.

Drawing on guidance from MeteoSwiss, Hester shares practical advice on protecting vulnerable plants, choosing what to plant safely outdoors, and managing changing spring weather conditions.

A helpful guide to navigating one of the trickiest moments in the gardening calendar.

Discover the Coppet Garden Show, the vibrant sale at Jardin botanique de Fribourg, and Geneva’s charming Petit Marché aux Plantes.

Plus, enjoy a guided lilac tour at the Arboretum du Vallon de l'Aubonne.

Whether you’re shopping for plants or seeking ideas, there’s something here for every garden lover this spring season.

Learn how to assess pots, declutter unused containers, and decide which plants need repotting, care or replacing.

Discover how to refresh tired soil, add compost, and choose effective fertilisers, including slow-release and organic options.

Hester also explores simple design tweaks to adapt your space to changing surroundings, helping you create a healthier, more enjoyable balcony garden for the season ahead this year.

Featuring insights from French biologist Marc-André Selosse, they look at the living systems that support plant growth, from microbes to roots, and why healthy soil matters for every gardener. Selosse explains what’s really happening underground and how gardeners can care for their soil more responsibly.

Hester also shares where to learn more about sustainable gardening through courses at the Swiss Gardening School.

From balcony basics like a good hand shovel, secateurs, and watering can, to versatile favourites such as the Japanese Hori Hori knife, she shares what’s worth investing in.

Hester also highlights clever finds like the lightweight Hachiman Garden Beetle watering can and reusable Velcro garden ties.

Whether you garden on a balcony or in a larger space, discover practical kit that makes gardening easier and more enjoyable.

Hester met up with Jean-Luc Pasquier, author of « Little Green Fingers », published by Felco, to get some inspiration for projects to do with children in the garden. They explore simple ways to involve children outdoors; encouraging curiosity, observation, and hands-on discovery. 

What small gardening jobs can they help with, and how can families enjoy the changing season together in the garden?

As a judge for the show gardens, she shares highlights before the crowds arrived: dramatic trees under the theme “The Tree – the Soul of the Garden,” an unforgettable horizontal Scots pine that won its category, climate-resilient pines throughout, and the return of Phillyrea angustifolia as a hedge alternative.

Expect pink everywhere too - from Cercis blossoms to carpets of Tiarellas in award-winning displays.

As days lengthen, it’s time to check plants after winter: clean dusty leaves, watch for pests like spider mites or mealybugs, and trim damage. It’s also the perfect moment to repot overcrowded plants with fresh compost.

With a little care now, your indoor jungle will soon burst into healthy new growth.

Listen now for practical tips and simple plant care advice.

Apartment dwellers can use grow kits with artificial light, like Click and Grow, for herbs, lettuce, chillies, or lavender. Balconies and windowsills allow seed starting for chillies or chives, which also attract pollinators.

Swiss chard, especially the colourful “Bright Lights” varieties, grows well in pots or garden beds and can be harvested year-round.

More hot tips from Hester here... 

Bare-root shrubs with winter flowers, like Viburnums, Sarcococca, or Daphnes, give nectar to waking bees.

Birds benefit from reliable food and water; apples, berries, and crabapples are perfect.

Hester is creating a nectar bar at the Swiss Gardening School.

Explore parks, gardens, or your own garden to spot these hardy, cheerful plants that brighten the grey winter months and visit Schilliger for a taste of the tropics this February. 

From bold shrubs like Mahonia, winter jasmine and fragrant honeysuckle in parks, to hellebores perfect for pots and balconies, she shows that winter doesn’t mean flower-free.

These tough, early bloomers offer fragrance, nectar for bees and welcome colour, encouraging listeners to get outside and enjoy Switzerland’s winter gardens.

From messy seed bombs made with clay and seeds, to jam jar gardens growing bulbs or microgreens on windowsills, these simple projects cost very little and offer hands-on learning.

Perfect for all ages, they encourage curiosity, creativity and patience while bringing a little green joy indoors during winter.

From buying ready-planted pots to bargain bulbs, she explains easy balcony-friendly choices like crocuses, dwarf daffodils and miniature irises, bringing early colour, scent and joy to pots while winter lingers outside and spirits lift.

She encourages gardeners to take stock of the past year - noting what flourished, what struggled, and why. 

According to Hester, winter is the perfect moment to start a garden journal and observe your space while it’s bare of leaves and shrubbery, helping you see its true structure and potential. 

Whether you’re working with a full garden, a small balcony, or a simple window box, Hester explains how to set realistic goals, make thoughtful choices, and design a space that supports your planting ambitions for the year ahead.

Katt and Hester begin with thoughtful gifts for children, from Felco’s beautifully crafted kid-sized tools and Jean-Luc Pasquier’s Little Green Fingers activity book, to practical starter kits, raised beds, and easy indoor growing systems like Click & Grow.

Next, they explore gifts for adults, including budget-friendly Secret Santa options under 10 CHF, clever accessories from Esschert Design, and quality tools and gloves available across Switzerland and the UK. For something a little more special, they highlight elegant indoor watering cans, classic Haws pieces, and beautifully made dibbers from trusted brands.

Book-lovers are spoiled for choice this year with standout titles on greenhouses, water-wise gardening, seasonal tasks, roses, and sweet peas—ideal additions to any gardener’s library.

Finally, they look at the best last-minute and virtual gifts, from garden memberships and magazine subscriptions to flower delivery services and practical gardening courses, including workshops from the Swiss Gardening School.

Whether you're gifting a seasoned gardener or inspiring a young one, this guide has something for everyone.

Discover which plants give the longest-lasting colour, how to choose healthy specimens, and creative ways to mix foliage, flowers and berries for texture and impact.

Hester shares expert advice for small spaces, tips for indoor displays, and her favourite shrubs, from hardy cyclamen to radiant camellias and dogwoods.

Plus, listener questions, rose talk, and what’s blooming across Switzerland this November.

A cheerful, practical episode bursting with colour and inspiration!

In the garden, Hester highlights new dogwoods like Cornus Miracle and Nightfall. 

Listener questions include child-safe, mordant-free dyes and caring for stressed corn plants.

Upcoming events: Chestnut Festival in Fully (11–12 Oct) and the Apple Market at Hallwyl Castle (18–19 Oct). Courses at the Swiss Gardening School in Nyon round out the month.

Hester reminds us that late summer is the perfect time to keep gardens thriving: deadhead geraniums, dahlias, and salvias to encourage fresh blooms, and give lavender a light prune to enjoy its fragrance indoors.

Regular watering and mulching help lock in moisture, while quick liquid feeds provide a seasonal boost for annuals and veggies. Sow radishes, spinach, and salad leaves now for harvests well into autumn.

For instant colour, try Nerines, Sternbergia, cyclamen, or echinacea to brighten beds, borders, or balconies.

Smart watering systems, thoughtful plant choices, and mulching not only extend the summer vibe but also prepare gardens for next year’s heat.

Hester joins Katt Cullen on the WRS Breakfast Show for Dig It!

Hester also brings back the latest trends from the Chelsea Flower Show, including the vibrant Babylon Beats installation, a Victorian Arid House packed with dramatic cacti, and the immersive TerrariRoom.

Plus, we answer listener questions - from keeping houseplants alive while traveling, to choosing statement plants for darker rooms, and kid-friendly terrarium alternatives.

Whether you're new to indoor gardening or a green-thumbed veteran looking for fresh inspiration, this episode is packed with helpful advice, creative ideas, and expert recommendations. 

Mint is essential for mojitos - choose spearmint or Mojito mint over peppermint for the best flavour. You can mix different mints, just watch the vigorous growers. Other great mints include lemon, apple, pineapple, chocolate, and Moroccan.

Grow strawberries for daiquiris - varieties like Gariguette and Mara des Bois are flavourful and easy in containers. Mediterranean herbs like sage, thyme, and lemon verbena also do well in pots and add aromatic depth to cocktails and syrups.

Want to preserve herbs? Make a syrup or shrub. Hester shares her tips! Which herb would you like to try first?

*Please note: the competition mentioned in this podcast is now closed.*

With alarming global declines in wildlife, such as a 68% drop in vertebrate populations since 1970, small-scale actions matter more than ever. Urban residents can create green corridors using vertical planting, nectar-rich herbs, and insect-friendly flowers, even in containers. Adding insect hotels and water dishes further supports pollinators.

Garden owners can boost biodiversity by building hedgehog highways, installing wildlife shelters, and avoiding harmful chemicals.

In larger spaces, leaving lawn areas unmowed, creating log or stone piles, and even establishing small ponds or marshes fosters habitats for a wide variety of species. Compost heaps also offer vital shelter and food sources.

No matter the space, there’s a way to make a difference - each garden can become a haven for wildlife and a step toward ecological balance.

Explore the options today with Hester Macdonald and Katt Cullen on Dig It! 

We begin by discussing how to reduce our ecological footprint in the garden; cutting down on chemical sprays, focusing on soil health instead of fertilising plants, and reducing water usage. Next, we dive into reusing materials like compost, second-hand tools, plus ways to swap and propagate plants. We also cover creative recycling ideas, such as repurposing pallets, wine boxes, and creating egg shell planters, and even discuss handy tool libraries as an alternative to buying new.

Finally, we share eco-friendly gardening tips for everything from daffodils to nettles, answering listener questions on repurposing old hoses and growing acidic-loving plants like rhododendrons.

Tune in for practical ways to green your garden, reduce waste, and contribute to a healthier planet!

If simply having the plants around isn't enough, we look at the plants that support digestion. From mint and fennel to sage and rosemary, these plants not only enhance your meals but also provide relief from common digestive issues like bloating, constipation, and indigestion.

We'll even take a look at plants that improve blood flow, featuring beets, garlic, and leafy greens. These nutrient-rich plants support heart health and circulation, offering an easy way to boost your cardiovascular system.

If that's not enough, how about plants that help stress reduction and improve sleep quality and overall mood?

Tune in to hear listener questions, upcoming events, and more plant tips to support a healthy lifestyle!

*The competition mentioned in this podcast has now closed and the winner has been notified.*

Hester and Katt look at gifts for those gardeners in your life; from amazing plants to gift, to coffee-table books, to Christmas cards, and even experiences and botanical garden memberships. 

Our garden designer and green-thumbed plant expert Hester Macdonald takes a look at the things to consider when planning to integrate plants into your space, and then how you can use plants tactically. For example, why not use plants as a screen between your balcony and a neighbours, what plants would be best for this, or, if space is really tight, what will actually grow in an egg-cup? Is it possible to grow things you can eat in small spaces? Hester says 'yes!'

From Japanese maples, to miniature roses and dwarf pomegranates, Hester tells us what to buy, and how to make it thrive. 

The competition in this podcast has now closed. 

Thanks to Schilliger Garden Centre for sponsoring Dig It!

Hester Macdonald has some tips for replacing some of these invasive species if you find them in your gardens, and Mr Min Hahn from the Federal Office of the Environment explains the classifications and whether more are expected to be added to the list in the future. 

Hester challenges us to rethink our definition of a weed, where possible. Otherwise, she has some top tips and reviews the top tips of WRS listeners to determine whether we're all following some good advice so far. Does vinegar work? What about boiling water? How should we discard weeds (spoiler: compost is not a good idea) and how do we best deal with neighbours who don't share our garden vision? 

She also has some great ideas for free or very low price gardening activities, including the Morges Tulip Festival (now through mid-June), visit Pontus Wallstén Plants (appointment only), Coppet Garden Festival* (in May) NB - Coppet Garden Festival has a ticket price of CHF 10 for adults (day pass), and free workshops once you're inside. 

The competition mentioned in this podcast is now closed. 

The competition mentioned in this podcast is now closed. 

Dig It is sponsored by Schilliger Garden Centre

Dig It is sponsored by Schilliger Garden Centre