Garden Television
There’s a discussion winding down at Garden Rant about television programming at HGTV and like a lot of things, I’m curious about how folks see gardening television. I’ve done several kinds of garden tv (guest shots, studio work, my own cable show ) and that medium is an interesting one. But I confess that I’m sometimes a little confused by how gardeners see shows about gardening.
So when I’m curious – I usually ask my readers. I’m going to do this exercise here on my blog and in my newsletter because I really want to know what makes good gardening television for you folks.
Design The Perfect Gardening Television Programme
I know that there isn’t likely going to be one format that works for everyone. That different gardeners will have different needs – but I suspect there are some common core elements to great gardening television.
So what are they?
Here’s how to do it
First - feel free to use the comments or use the contact me form so your answer will go directly to my inbox and will be tagged as a television project answer. I don’t want to lose these thoughts. And if you send it via the contact sheet, nobody but me is going to see it.
Second - the question or challenge is to tell me what would be the core elements, what kinds of things do you want to see on a gardening television show?
What kinds of things do you hate to see?
Give me the good, the bad and the downright plain ugly.
What would make a perfect garden tv show?
Where’s this going?
Darned if I really know. But like a lot of things, I tend to gather information and then let that information brew for a bit – then launch projects that meet the needs my readers have identified as important. From articles to blogs to newsletters to forums to seminars – that’s how this entire gardening project has developed. One reader input at a time.
So if I get some good ideas – you can assume I’ll be working behind the scenes to do something with them.
Hey Doug-
Good question! I’m interested in watching inspiring gardening shows about the “eden-makers” (gardeners), their gardens, clever ideas, plants- how they grow, how to maintain them, garden travel, garden lifestyle stories, eco-therapy, interviews, garden talk show, garden products, how much it costs to put a garden together, I have a long list but this is a start.
Shirley
Here’s my list:
Green gardening with practical garden advice
Gardener’s mistakes and how to avoid them
Regional gardening – the why as well as the methods
Real gardens as well as research and trial gardens
Integrated Pest Management
Bio-diversity
Soil management and compost
Gardening practices from around the world
The list is almost endless.
Isn’t that why we read blogs? HGTV would be wise to read a few blogs.
Maries last blog post..HGTV
@Marie -
And you’re right – we read blogs to get info and share gardening “stuff”. I’ve been thinking about TV in any case – and how we might do something like that – lots of ideas but I’m learning a lot from the lists that folks are sending along and sharing.
Hi Marie – thanks for the great plug on your blog – and that’s quite a shopping list
What an interesting question!
Good, bad and ugly, huh? Let’s see.
Good would be (Note: would be, not is) an informative show that would inform, advise, guide and confirm what we are doing or want to learn.
The English shows do tend to be more informative and down to earth (pun intended). That type has been around for donkey’s years.
The real bad shows are the ones where they do a makeover and have ditsy hosts spending thousands of dollars with no regard for the plants needs – they just do it like a decorating assignment. The result may make a good photograph, but that is about all it is good for.
My garden is one that looks nice (most of the time), can look after itself during the times when I can’t, is somewhere for hubby and me to sit and enjoy and a place where the grandkids can play ball and the family can play bocce. All these things at any time of the season and especially somewhere I can lose myself in weeding, planting, fertilizing, watering, transplanting……..and on and on and on.
In other words make it real.
@Fate -
Fate – loved the “keep it real” – that seems to be consistent theme and an interesting observation on current programming
I hate the makeover shows. They either short cut too much or spend too much and in all cases seem to end up with a space that isn’t so much garden as it is, well, I don’t know what it is, but it is a stretch to call them gardens in many cases. And most of them seem to take place in southern California, or it seems that way to me, and not much of what they do there applies where I live.
I bought a DVD once called “Secrets of the Rose Gardener” and I liked the style of it… they followed the head rose gardener at a public garden as she tended roses through the seasons. Someone more or less off camera asked some questions, but the focus was clearly on the gardener, who talked about what she did, why she did it, and they showed how she did it. I don’t grow a lot of roses, but after seeing that video, I felt like I really knew how to. That’s the kind of show I’d like to see. Real gardeners showing how to really garden.
And I like to see real gardens, in the style of “A Gardener’s Diary” and like many I wish I had the cable stations to see some of the British gardening shows, which are often held up as “the way to do it”. I’ll hold my opinion on that until I see more of them!
Good discussion questions!
Carol, May Dreams Gardenss last blog post..Wind at May Dreams Gardens
@Carol, May Dreams Gardens -
Carol – “some” Brit tv is pretty darn good – I remember the Victorian garden series from 10 years or so ago – wonderful and very much like what you’re describing. A year in the life of a walled estate garden. Don’t get your hopes up too much though – a nation of gardeners indeed and far above US standards of general gardening but still having to deal with the reality of modern life.
Hi Doug,
I love gardening shows, all of them. I’ll take notes to remember what and what not to do. Most of my “what not to do’s” have come from the make-over shows. But, I’ve watched some who’ve had tips that totally stunned me from their simplicity and ignorance. If I had a lot of money to make-over my back yard, look out ya’ll.
I would like to see more regional gardening tips and not just for the generalized area. I live in the TX. PANHANDLE and want to see something for the TX Panhandle, not for mid-west area. I, like all gardeners, feel like we are an unique area. We have specific needs,
wants etc. We don’t have soil like Oklahoma or for that matter, N., S., E., or W. Texas.
That’s what I would like to see on a gardening show.
*Good gardening ideas no matter where one lives
*Dollars and cents issues
*Ideas for little ones
*What to do with pets
*How the problem is totally solved – pests, weeds, wild bermuda(my bane),etc. Tell me what was used; if it was good; little or a lot of work; expense.
*Direct answers for direct problems.
What I “don’t” want to see more of:
*How to plant rocks, stones or stepping stones
*Unique pots
*Someone else’s cute kids or grandkids..everyone knows theirs are the cutests
That’s it for now. I know there’s more. Thank you for allowing a Texan to be part of your idea list. LOL!
Karen
Hi Doug, I would love to follow a garden show on television. Yes I rely on the internet for gardening information. Sometimes I go to youtube. There are times where i go to a forum and post questions. TV is convenient, because i can work in the kitchen and watch at the same time. It would be great if there was a gardening show all day LOL.
I would love to see private gardens, public gardens, and master gardeners, or just backyard gardeners talk about their gardens and plants etc.
jeanniethedreamers last blog post..It’s Time to…
Doug, THAT’s a realy good question.
First of all I’d love a tv show that at least had a segment on Vegtebales. growing your own food is becoming more and more popular But there aren’t very many tv shows left that still focus on vegtables. There used to be a wonderful show on PBS about square foot gardening all about vegtables but that’s no longer around.
Besides veggies I just want to mention that a lot of the gardening shows that are out there vist great gardens around the country but the rarley tell you how to grow your’s I want the down to earth basics on how to grow a garden. Another thing is that garden shows are usaly geered towards beginers I wish there was some more in depth info out there. I want somthing I can use to grow better plants.
Finally although I know this is jumping ahead If and when you do get a tv show (I hope that happens soon) please make a free podcast online for anyone who missed your show. In my case sunday morning is really the only time for me to be able to see your show if you don’t happen to have it then I’d miss it almost every week. What a disaster!
if each show was thirty minuets long you might try having three 10 minuet segments
you could start with a segment on things to do in the garden that week have another were you feature different plants and finally end with a segment on vegtables.
I’m sure thats not how you’ll end up doing it but I hope there decent guide lines.
The two most important things to me and I know this is true for sevral others
are 1 that you please set up a free podcast of the show for everyone who can’t see it at it’s airtime. and 2 I’d love for you to talk about vegtables there just isn’t enough info out there.
Hi Doug – just one word about TV gardening shows – it ‘SUCKS’. The best show ever was ‘Calling All Gardeners’ with Kathy Renwald. It was on HGTV a few years ago and covered all aspects of gardening. New products, speakers on all topics related to gardening, it was the best.
the HGTV channel should re-name their site to a ‘real-estate’ one, I seldom watch it anymore. Even PBS Victory Garden runs many repeats now. Best of luck Doug, hope it comes to fruition. Regards, Jean
What I would like to see in a gardening show would be information directed to more regional plantings to assist gardeners in knowing what plants thrive in their area along with cost information and ideas that are manageable for individuals who cannot devote hours of time daily to the project. The ability to see and view public gardens is nice but private gardens would be more useful to me since I don’t have a staff of gardeners to maintain the beds. Information on keeping the garden “green” with regard to pests, fungus, and other disease would also be helpful.
Doug: I almost faithfully watch Gardening By The Yard on HGTV and liked it a lot better in the early years of the show when he seemed more oriented toward the real gardner, not the showy one. I want, as do many others, something aimed regionally to let me know what grows well where I live and also what I can probably get by with. I love how you garden…not hidebound by rules, and respecting the soil and insects and bugs that help us.
There are no good tv garden shows at present with, maybe. the exception of “Gardening By the Yard” However, it is on at a time that I cannot watch and I forget to tape it so … The OLD Vicotory Garden was fairly good till it got more into cooking and visiting Italian villas, etc than good gardening advice.
PS What I would like to see – besides all the good suggestions seen here- is how plants look “out of their season” Sometimes it’s a big surprise to find out what happens by mid or late season!
I would like to see brief “hands on” demonstrations of digging, planting, pruning, etc with voice over telling us the value of the procedure. When plants are shown or discussed, their name clearly displayed on screen for enough time to jot it down quickly, and for me closed captions please, so I can do more than watch.
A pet peeve is makeovers, where overplanting looks great, but I would prefer to see the correct distances between plants and show ideas for filling in spaces while they mature.
I liked David Tarrant(sp) from UBC because I hope to learn from Gardening shows, and also enjoyed Mark Cullen’s programs. As for Gardening Shows from the UK, wonderful for viewing large estates etc, but the climate is too different for us to adapt their growing schedules and most of their plants in Canada…..perhaps regions should be noted as acceptable or not.What I most like about shows is the enthusiasm shown for tackling hard work in the garden and tips on how to manage it successfully. Hope you do a show Doug, and let us folks in cold regions know more about your deep planting technique.
Sheila
One of my favorite HGTV shows is Gardening by the Yard with Paul James. He is very entertaining (!), and he offers an array of good, solid, practical advice. However, I’ve not seen it for a long time (it used to be on Saturday mornings). I see it is now on Sunday mornings, sometimes at 7:00 A.M. and other times 7:30 A.M. CT… rather impractical for me. Another garden show that would be fun to watch is Gardeners Diary with Erica Glasener, however I will not be up at 6:00 A.M. CT on Any day, just to watch television! I do try to catch Curb Appeal, just because I always like to see what gets done in a short amount of time. Now, if that would only happen here! ha.
We could switch some of those house shopping shows to those early hours!! ha?
Okay, wish list… composting, plants and special needs, planting helps, general easy, helpful tips, tools, dealing with pests, recommendations about feeding plants, fall getting-ready-for-winter tips (regional), inspiring gardens, just about anything anyone might enjoy seeing and/or need to know!
Thanks, Doug!
Shady Gardeners last blog post..Would you like to see what happened at my Parents’ home?
What I would look for in a good gardening show, would be a personable host, giving sound practical advice and demonstrations for the average home garden, not just the basics for beginners. Tips on improving soil, composting, pruning, planting containers, and things we can all use. Perhaps with a question answering segment from garden-variety viewers.
What I am not interested in are the current make-over programs, phone in shows with repetitive questions, a condescending host/hostess, touring vast gardens maintained by gardeners in exotic locations, or programs which are totally regional.
Timing is unimportant to me, as programs can be taped or recorded.
Thanks for asking!
April
Your website is amazing. You have a very open, funny style, and you seem to know everything about gardening. I no longer seek out books, or any other web pages. Make the show you!
Hey Doug.
Great post. You should read the emails I’m getting! Very similar to what you are getting here. People want more garden TV! I can’t wait to compare notes with you at GWA this weekend. Too bad I’m flying in just as you are giving your presentation on blogs Sunday morning. You’ll see me on the tour though.
Looking forward!
Shirley
Doug,
I agree also w/the comment to “make it real’ as opposed to the makeover shows that fast -action the before/aftermaths of garden makeovers and also use an army of workers to accomplish the job. (I’m an army of one, most of the time)
One show titled “A Gardeners Diary” on HGTV appeals to me because it showcases a garden tour with the gardener talking and describing different aspects of his/her work.
You get a good visual of the garden and insights from the actual creator. I like listening to other gardeners “interpret” their gardens and how they went about making them.
This type of show is especially inspiring during the winter months….
I also like “Gardening by the Yard”- the host is a bit goofy at times, but that’s part of his enthusiasm and success as a gardener. And the show conveys good practical info.
One thing I’ld like to see is a garden revisited over the period of years – “reality show for gardens”. This way one would get a true sense of what happens as gardens develop over time. And the show could deal with approaches to different problems or successes that result over a garden’s life.
i WOULD LIKE A SHOW WERE THEY SPENT MORE THEN 2 SECONDS ON EACH PLANT. i ALSO AGREE WITH ANOTHER PERSONS COMMENT ABOUT MORE HANDS ON DEMONSTATION. iT WOULD BE MORE CLEAR TO MOST GARDENERS TO SEE HOW TO DO SOMETHING PROPERLY ,THEN JUST TOLD HOW IN 20 WORDS OR LESS.
The thing I like about your newsletter is that you have strong opinions and attitude. Most garden TV is so benign, just a stack of fact with no point of view. TV must force the host into their format formula. In short, what I like about the newsletter is Doug. I would be afraid that TV would not let the attitude come through.
Dear Doug! That would be just absolutely wonderful to have a really good gardening TV program—-for long winter evenings to review……..and ones that can be put on a podcast for later panicky moments in the summer—- one that shows up close methods of pruning grape vines, identification of insects, the color and the glory of flowers and the realistic boo-boos that we’ve all experienced and some solutions that work in every zone!!! Thank you for being Doug!! I dig Doug dug….now maybe that’s phoney!!! Just had to give it a try….
Doug,
After reading the above reply’s is seems you have quite a format to come up with to have a “GOOD” Gardening Show.
I have watched many of the gardening shows over the years starting with the original “Crockett,s Victory Garden”. At present I enjoy “A GARDENERS DIARY” and “GARDENING BY THE YARD”. A GARDENERS DIARY is very good for seeing how others have done their gardens. There must be hundreds more of gardens that can be shown. GARDENING BY THE WARD has been informative but at times a little skimpy on the details.
One that I liked and did not see it mentioned above is people places & plants “THE GARDENING SHOW” It ran for 46 episodes and each episode included a segment on People, Places and Plants all related to gardening.
Lots of good information and enjoyable to watch. I did not see many of the episodes on TV because I was in a Boating mode at the time, I did purchase a full episode volume on DVD and have watched is several times.
I believe it can still be purchased on Amazon.
I think the formats that you follow now in your writing, blogging and on the website would make a good basis for a TV show. Keeping it simple, informative and enjoyable.
In summing this all up you have quite a pallet to come up with. The show has to be informative, not boring, interesting to all viewers, available on TV at times other than peek gardening hours, covering many aspects of gardening, very specific and detailed at times and it must have the appeal to attract the TV producers and advertizer’s with the pizazz they think will attract viewers so the will give you air time.
Keeping in mind that a “GOOD” GARDEN SHOW on TV will increase the activity on your website, blogs and forums adding additional work load to them.
That’s it for now,
John
To get me to watch garden TV, or to watch garden video content, it would have to focus on excellent plants, regionally specific, that showed me examples from real gardens.
I’m interested in learning about the diversity of gardens, gardeners, and plants from around the world (of all sorts), not just what might grow in my own garden.
I’m pretty neutral about a gardening techniques segment – personally I’m not interested in watching spots about pruning, “garden maintenance”, or dividing perennials.
I want to learn more about plants, where they come from, and their heritage.
I’m not a TV/video person, so would be hard to entice to a gardening show, in any case, but I’m certainly NEVER going to watch anything lightweight about gardening makeovers, or ‘Steps to a perfect garden’, etc.
Best,
Lisa
I agree with a lot that has already been said, especially spending more than 2 seconds describing a plant and what it does, or needs to do. I like to see other people’s gardens, but prefer advice for my own. Regional plantings that work in my area, the “generic” names for plants-ones we know and understand helps too. Which plants need deadheading is a big one for me as certain parts of my flower garden are large, deadheading can take days. I would also like to know flowers that are heat/drought tolerant. Perennials that flower all summer, not just in the spring or fall. I have seen Gardening by the Yard and enjoyed it very much. However, they have moved it around so much that it’s now impossible to predict when it will be on.
I also agree with the whole “gardening makeover” themes. The flowers and plants that they talk those poor people into are typically ones that either don’t do anything, or will grow into a monstrous plant in years to come, ruining their little landscape.
Keep it real, that’s the best idea!
Surely if you are spending time in the garden you shouldn’t be wasting it away by watching TV! Get some herbs planted or something!
@Carol, May Dreams Gardens – Hi Carol There is one show “The Carefree Gardener” The show with a heart and pretty good design.It takes place throughout the US with some of it in the desert areas ( one area hardly ever seen) It use to be on in the hour format and the teaching was great. But since it went National and international the series was cut to 1/2 hr formats and the teaching is limited to 2 or 3 items. Here’s the website
Hope you can find it and enjoy the series
Thanks
Jim
I like garden shows that give ideas on different types of plants,what will work well together-soil type, water, sun, and care. I like “A Gardeners Diary”, “Gardening by the Yard”, and “Rebecca`s Garden”, these types of shows are informative for the everyday gardener. We need them on at more reasonable hours, such as afternoon or evening. We`ve had enough home makeovers, remodeling programs, and landscaping (that has nothing to do with real home gardening).
@Charlotte Smith -
Sorry Charlotte – you’re never going to see that timing (economic reality talking) but wait a bit and you’ll be able to find much of what you’re looking for on youtube.
I have written to HGTV and suggested they change their name to HLTV (L-for landscaping). I have written to them more than once about this. I also told them they are off the mark considering how many thousands of new food gardeners there will be this year.
There are virtually endless topics to discuss about food gardening. Just a few would include botanical discussion so people know what to grow where and when. That could be several shows in itself, right there.
Also, container food gardening (for city dwellers) as well as community gardens could make a few interesting shows.
Covering certain groups of food plants such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, and so on, which are all in the same family.
Digging techniques could be a great show. Some people have sandy, clay, or other soil types that need help to get the soil suitable for growing food.
Seasonal gardening and regional gardening are other topics. Winter Sowing (outside) and getting started indoors, as well as techniques to extend the gardening season could really work well.
I have many other ideas: edible landscaping, seed saving, seed swapping & ordering from catalogues, landscaping for wildlife, or livestock, caring for fruit trees, berry-producing plants, foraging, herb gardening, perennial food plants, using what you grow. I could go on…
As for Victory Garden, they have forgotten why there were Victory Gardens in the first place: to provide food for the families who grew them (during & after war-time). I don’t know of any Victory Garden growers going to Italy to see & admire the vistas and verdes. Gardening was a serious thing then.
The back to the land movement in the 70′s also was a great time for food gardening.
Anyway, I told HGTV I would no longer be a viewer until there was an honest G in HGTV.
Robin
@Robin282 -
Robin – I wrote about the current state of garden television right here I stand by what I wrote there.
Check out the post today on Garden Rant
“Gardeners Protest Vanishing G on HGTV”
http://gardenrant.com
John
John at JWLWs last blog post..TEST Email Notice
@John at JWLW -
Saw it John – I still stand by my comments on this post. The world of garden tv is changing – like all other forms of media distribution. It just ain’t your grandma’s media world anymore (wait, I’ve said that before too)
Doug; you are right about the garden tv changing. Wonder where it will end up ? Blogs and Web sites are having their effect.
John
John at JWLWs last blog post..TEST Email Notice