Dig It!
Dig It! is a vibrant and inspiring weekly radio show hosted by Hester Macdonald, dedicated to celebrating the very best of gardening, plants, and landscape design that Switzerland has to offer. Whether you’re tending to a charming balcony filled with pots and planters or cultivating a sprawling wildlife-friendly garden, Hester brings expert advice, creative ideas, and seasonal tips tailored to every type of green space.
Each episode is packed with practical guidance, plant recommendations, and design inspiration to help you make the most of your garden - no matter its size.
Hester also opens the floor to listeners, answering your gardening questions on-air. If you’re looking for advice, simply send your queries to studio@worldradio.ch with “dig it” in the subject line, and you might hear your question featured on the show.
Also, Dig It! regularly offers exciting prizes for garden lovers, so be sure to tune in each week for your chance to win something special.
Dig It! is proudly brought to you by Schilliger Garden Centre, supporting gardeners across Switzerland with quality plants and expertise.
To learn more about Hester’s work or to get in touch directly, you can contact her through HM Garden Design and the Swiss Gardening School, where she shares her passion and knowledge with gardening enthusiasts of all levels. 🌿
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Episodes
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Gadgets for gardeners
Monday, 30 March 2026
Hester Macdonald explores useful gardening tools, clever gadgets, and what’s truly worth splashing out on.
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Spring gardening with children
Monday, 23 March 2026
How can children explore gardens in spring? What sparks curiosity - seeds, soil, insects - and simple shared garden moments?
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The best of Giardina
Monday, 16 March 2026
Hester Macdonald reviews Giardina 2026, the indoor garden show in Oerlikon, Zurich—trees, trends, and pink planting.
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Houseplant spring cleaning
Monday, 9 March 2026
Discover how to refresh your houseplants this spring on Dig It! with Hester Macdonald.
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Ready, Steady, Plant Veggies!
Monday, 2 March 2026
Grow chives, chillies, Swiss chard - Hester's growing veggies in small spaces!
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Dig It! Winter wildlife
Monday, 23 February 2026
Compost heaps, perennial stems, nectar bars and more...
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Fun things to do in the holidays
Monday, 16 February 2026
Including a free tropical experience at Schilliger
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Hester's buying seeds in Switzerland
Monday, 9 February 2026
What to look for when you're planning your garden, starting from a packet.Â
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Best Plants in Parks and Gardens in February
Monday, 2 February 2026
Hester explores the beautiful winter plants to enjoy outdoors and in pots.
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Fun Garden Activities with Kids
Monday, 26 January 2026
Fun, cheap January gardening activities to entertain curious kids indoors.
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Microgreens for Taste
Monday, 19 January 2026
Hester explores an easy winter alternative to growing herbs indoors.
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Spring Bulbs for Balconies
Monday, 12 January 2026
Is it spring yet? Absolutely not. But it's just the right time to prepare your perfect spring balcony
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New Year, New Garden
Monday, 5 January 2026
Garden Designer Hester Macdonald has the essential advice when it comes to your garden goals in 2026
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Christmas Gifts for Gardeners
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
We know it's better to give than to receive, so we're looking at how to give the gift of gardening to those we love...
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Autumnal Colour
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Hester Macdonald shares vibrant, practical ideas to fill autumn pots and gardens with lasting colour.
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Painting with plants
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Hester explores using plants for dyes and paints
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Squeezing every last drop out of summer
Wednesday, 3 September 2025
Extend summer gardens: deadhead, prune, water, mulch, sow, and add colour.
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Terrariums &Â Bottle Gardens
Wednesday, 4 June 2025
Terrariums, tips, and trends with Hester and Katt - your guide to lush, low-maintenance houseplants.
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Mojitos on the balcony
Wednesday, 7 May 2025
Growing cocktail ingredients in small spaces.
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Biodiversity - why and how
Thursday, 17 April 2025
We explore how gardens of all sizes - from balconies to large plots - can support biodiversity; pollinators, earthworms, hedgehogs and more
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Reduce, re-use, recycle in the garden
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Learn sustainable gardening tips: reduce, reuse, recycle, eco-friendly practices, and creative solutions for a greener garden.
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Healthy Plants for Healthy People
Friday, 21 February 2025
Discover how plants improve air quality, digestion, blood flow, and health.
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Getting ahead in the garden
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Hester talks about getting ahead in the garden now with bulbs, seeds and planning the veggie garden
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Christmas Gifts for the green-thumbed
Thursday, 5 December 2024
Hester looks at gifts you can make from your garden, as well as great ideas to give to those who love gardens
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Balcony Babies
Thursday, 7 November 2024
Small plants for small spaces
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When is a hedge a hedge?
Wednesday, 9 October 2024
When it comes to fencing off your boundary, Hester has some interesting alternatives to the recently banned laurel
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The plants that Switzerland banned
Wednesday, 4 September 2024
The Swiss government has just banned some plants. Here's what to do if you have them in your garden...
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Roses a-go-go !
Wednesday, 5 June 2024
Roses are blooming beautiful. Hester shares her top tips to go see them in full bloom and grow your own.
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Winning with Weeds
Wednesday, 8 May 2024
Hester challenges us to rethink our definition of a weed, where possible.
