There's no doubt that television provides gardeners with inspiration, tips and good ideas, that's why we're all looking forward to new programmes and the return of old favourites during 2019.
As the year progresses, this blog will be regularly updated with dates and times for your TV gardening programmes plus any information we have on features and personalities.
Monty Goes To Japan
First off the blocks this year is a two part series 'Monty Don's Japanese Gardens' on BBC2 at 9.00pm on 15 & 22 Friday. It's a tough job but someone has to visit the Orient to trace the history of Japanese gardens up to the modern day. Monty visits a Buddhist temple and zen gardens on the way, learns stonemasonry, how to drink tea and arrange flowers.
RHS Shows
You'll continue to enjoy marvellous coverage of major Royal Horticultural Society shows this year, as the BBC have a contract until 2021 to broadcast programmes from not only Chelsea (21-25 May) and Hampton Court (1-7 July) but the Malvern Spring Festival (9-12 May) and the flower shows at Chatsworth (5-9 June) and Tatton (17-21 July).
Cameras will also follow the development of the brand new RHS Garden Bridgewater due to open in 2019. At 154 acres, this is the largest gardening development in Europe including an 11 acre walled kitchen garden and a Learning Centre.
Gardeners' World
RHS activities will also be highlighted on the new series of Gardeners' World which, like sunshine follows rain, returns to BBC Two in March, with the weekly hour long programmes at 8.00pm once again revolving around the ubiquitous Mr Don, his Herefordshire garden and two dogs who get more fan mail than Monty.
Love Your Garden
Alan Titchmarsh and his team, David Domoney, Katie Rushworth and Frances Tophill will return to our screens in the summer. Repeating the successful formula of Garden Force, neglected outdoor living spaces and bedraggled gardens are transformed while the owners, who have a deserving or inspiring back story, are away from home. The owner's friends and neighbours are roped in to help out, and helpful gardening tips and advice are passed on to viewers along the way before the final reveal.
Garden Rescue
Charlie Dimmock's Garden Rescue will also be back on BBC at various times throughout the summer. Working on a restricted budget, gardening's one time pin-up girl and the gold medal-winning Rich brothers will again be vying for the householder's thumbs up before going ahead with one of the two designs that are presented.
The Beechgrove Garden
North of the border you will be able to watch yet another series of this hardy annual, normally scheduled every Thursday evening but down south you have to set the alarm for an early start on a Sunday morning.
Produced by the BBC in Aberdeen and taking on its current format in 1996, the programme is packed full of practical hands-on advice covering everyday gardening topics particularly those encountered in Scotland. There's always a feature on 'problem' gardens and another that celebrates the best Scottish gardens and gardeners.
