Alan Titchmarsh has named the one plant he "hates" in his new garden, having previously joked he was searching for his axe to remove it from his front lawn. The gardening expert and television personality, who recently moved to Surrey, shared his frustration while reflecting on 22,300 horticultural photographs on his phone's camera roll.
Writing in his Tales from Titchmarsh column in BBC Gardener's World magazine, Titchmarsh explained how looking back at garden photos can bring both pride and regret. "Photos of a garden's development are a way of encouraging your endeavours," he wrote. "'Can you believe it actually looked like this when we took it on?' you crow to a friend who gasps at it's beauty. Those memories also evoke feelings of shame."
Photinia 'Red Robin' under threat
He continued: "You will also spot things that could be better. Why did I plant that there? Do I really like that shrub that gives it's all for a week and then sits there like some dull dumpling for the rest of the year?"
The plant in question is the Photinia, more commonly referred to as Red Robin. Titchmarsh questioned his own dislike, writing: "Do I really hate it that much? After all, it is red of leaf only for a couple of months of the year and after that it is a really good evergreen that shows off the plants in front of it."
Earlier this year, the 77-year-old disclosed he was considering removing the plant altogether. In an interview with Country Life, he said: "I've put in seven Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' to offer me vertical sentinels and will brood further as to what will go between them. Then there is the Photinia 'Red Robin' in the front garden. Where's my axe...?"
Weeping birch 'not liked'
Regarding trees, Titchmarsh has previously identified one variety he maintains he will "never have" in his garden. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he told viewers he is not particularly keen on the weeping birch.
This tree is frequently selected by gardeners with restricted space because it "stays small" and features branches that "come down". "Personally, I don't like it very much, but if you like it and you want a birch, Young's weeping birch for a tiny garden, but jacquemontii for anything of reasonable size," he said.
The betula utilis jacquemontii, or silver birch, is better suited to more spacious gardens as it can reach heights of up to 12 metres. Titchmarsh indicated it is a popular choice amongst gardeners owing to its "light and feathery canopy" that doesn't create "too much shade".
However, there is one feature that especially stands out once winter sets in that he genuinely appreciates. He said: "What it does have, when its leaves have all fallen in winter, is this glorious silvery bark."
The silver birch isn't the only tree that Titchmarsh suggests gardeners ought to consider. He is also fond of the eucalyptus gunnii, commonly called cider gum, an evergreen species that keeps its leaves all through the winter period.
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh airs this Sunday (August 23) at 9:30am on ITV.
