AGP Executive Report

Seasonal Garden Jobs: November is a good time to aerate lawns with a fork or aerator to improve drainage and protect roots; Monty Don recommends planting paperwhite bulbs now for Christmas blooms. Water-Wise Growing: With dry conditions raising concerns, gardeners are urged to reuse suitable household water carefully, while rain barrels are helping a Charlotte landscaper keep gardens going under restrictions. Wildlife and Research: New York student Violet Clinton recorded 11,377 moths in seven months, studying how habitat and weather affect their numbers. Garden Culture: Srinagar’s new chrysanthemum garden has opened with more than 70 varieties and millions of blooms, bringing a major floral attraction to autumn. Gardening on Screen: UK viewers will soon be able to watch a dedicated Gardeners’ World channel on Freely, part of a rollout of 12 free streaming channels.

Native Gardening: Virginia Beach advocates are collecting and sharing native seeds this fall, highlighting plants that support pollinators, filter runoff and need little watering once established. Fruit Trees: Gardeners are urged to order bare-root apples, pears, peaches and cherries early; planting season runs from late fall into early spring. Texas has also named the low-maintenance Oriental persimmon its newest Superstar plant. Community Growing: Geneva will turn smashed Halloween pumpkins into garden compost at a free Nov. 7 event. In Jakarta, residents collect kitchen scraps from 100 households each day and turn them into compost for vegetables, fish and bonsai. Wildlife: A New York teenager has catalogued more than 11,300 moths in a study that could help protect the insects and the plants they pollinate. Seasonal Tips: October is a good time to plant spring bulbs and trees, but experts advise leaving hydrangeas unpruned to protect next year’s blooms. For winter herbs, separate plants in small pots and give them a bright spot indoors.

School Gardens: A housebuilder’s £1,000 donation is helping a Flintshire school expand outdoor learning, with new gardening tools, a rainwater butt and a place for pupils to work outdoors. Wildlife and Community: Newbury residents are invited to plant a wildflower area at Lock Island, while Taos beekeepers are breeding queen bees with resilience in mind. Greener Schoolyards: Pupils in New South Wales have planted about 1,000 native plants for a tiny forest, bringing back species affected by the 2020 bushfires. Gardens for Wellbeing: A Tasmanian garden is helping people with dementia live well, and volunteers are sought to support a healing garden in Idaho. Nature Under Pressure: Stressed trees are shedding leaves early after England’s scorching summer, while a report warns invasive species are spreading across Ireland amid an inadequate response. Autumn Care: Gardeners are being advised to leave hydrangeas unpruned in October, as cutting them back now can remove next year’s blooms.

Gardening for Wellbeing: A dementia-inclusive garden in Hobart is helping participants find joy and connection through time outdoors. Growing for Survival: In Namibia’s Mpola area, eight relatives grow food to feed their households and earn income, but need better water supplies and fencing to protect crops from elephants. Young Green Thumbs: Two-year-old Barrett Sears grew the 280-pound pumpkin that won at Hysham’s Fall Fun Festival, sharing the family’s gardening tradition with his siblings. Community Harvests: A Pennsylvania ministry’s first garden has supplied hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to families facing food insecurity. Autumn Garden Jobs: Fall mulch can protect many perennials, but keep it away from tree trunks; fallen leaves can also enrich soil or shelter beneficial insects. Growing Together: Applications are open for North Dakota’s 2027 Master Gardener program, which trains volunteers to share gardening knowledge.

Community Growing: Urban Seed volunteers in Michigan donated a record 2,037 pounds of produce this year from two community gardens, continuing a neighborhood food-sharing effort. Bloom & Conservation: Stonehouse won Gold, Best Small Town and the overall title at Britain in Bloom 2026; judges praised its volunteer-maintained gardens and community arboretum. Autumn Garden Jobs: Fall is a good time to test soil before spring planting, clean secateurs ahead of pruning season and give lawns an autumn feed suited to colder weather. Gardens Around the World: Kashmir has opened a chrysanthemum garden to draw autumn visitors, while RHS Bridgewater’s Chinese Scholars’ Garden offers inspiration for creating a tranquil retreat at home. Planting Ahead: Gardeners are putting spring bulbs in now, and experts recommend fall tree planting with wide holes and root balls kept level with the surrounding soil.

Water Restrictions: Two UK water companies have sought rare non-essential-use bans as reservoirs run dangerously low; commercial gardeners could be affected if ministers approve the measures. Winter Prep: New Hampshire horticulturists advise clearing diseased plants from raised beds and topping up soil with compost. Fallen leaves can also be shredded into lawns to return nutrients. Seed Saving: An Idaho workshop showed gardeners how to collect and store seeds suited to local conditions, helping preserve biodiversity. Invasive Plants: Goutweed is under growing restrictions in parts of Canada and the US; experts urge gardeners to keep the aggressive weed away from natural areas. Storm Care: UK gardeners are being told to support vulnerable plants and check drainage as Storm Austen brings heavy rain and strong winds. Garden News: Monty Don says he’s stepping down from Gardeners’ World after 23 years, explaining that the job followed him home around the clock.

After Halloween: Gardeners can give pumpkins a second life as bird feeders, saving and drying the seeds for bird food. Remove the pumpkin before it goes mouldy. Storm Prep: A few quick steps can limit garden damage: bring small pots indoors, group larger containers in a sheltered spot and secure loose items. Planting for Spring: Autumn is a good time to plant long-lived perennials, while gardeners are also urged to leave some stems standing to support native bees. Garden Tourism: Kashmir’s new Chrysanthemum Garden, featuring 350,000 flowering plants, is drawing visitors for the autumn season. Growing Food at Home: In Pakistan, simple protected kitchen gardens using tunnels or shade nets could help households grow vegetables through difficult weather and improve local food security.

Affordable Growing: Kuwait’s Al-Omariya Nursery is offering more than 500,000 locally grown plants this winter, with prices starting at 50 fils. The range includes herbs, vegetables, flowers and fruit trees, as growers turn to local production amid import difficulties. Native Plants: A $51,363 grant will help Cape Cod growers research and produce more native plants for home gardens and public spaces, supporting local wildlife. Gardens for Wildlife: A York library garden has been transformed to welcome visitors and wildlife, while a separate community garden has received funding for renewal after more than 20 years. Gardening & Wellbeing: The UK’s first “Flower Pharmacy” has opened, matching customers with bouquets intended to lift their mood. Food Education: Oregon’s SNAP-Ed program has closed after federal budget cuts ended its roughly $9.5 million in annual funding; the program had shared gardening advice and food resources with communities across the state.

Nursery Milestone: Ireland’s Future Forests marks 40 years, growing from a West Cork home nursery into a nationwide plant and timber business. Autumn Bulbs: Tulips need a sustained cold spell to flower well; many hybrids require 16–20 weeks at or below 45°F, and warm autumn swings can interrupt dormancy. Before Winter: Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing them. Hold off on most fruit-tree pruning until dormancy to avoid encouraging tender new growth. Houseplant Care: Indoor heating and dry air can help spider mites thrive as plants come inside; raise humidity and clean leaves. Community Growing: A York library garden has replaced ageing raised beds with climate-resilient plantings. In Nigeria’s Ebonyi State, more than 1,000 women received vegetable seeds and growing advice to support nutrition and food security. Wildlife-Friendly Gardens: An Essex gardener is reusing demolition waste to shape varied habitats, showing how garden structure—not just plant choice—can support biodiversity.

Community Planting: Volunteers in Wansboro Park planted 3,000 bulbs, including bluebells and crocuses, for spring colour and early food for pollinators. Garden Awards: Stonehouse won the UK’s largest community gardening competition for its town-wide arboretum; 49 trees have been planted, with a goal of 30% tree canopy by 2040. Local Gardening: Steele County commissioners restored funding for their Master Gardener coordinator after volunteers argued the role is vital to the growing program. Climate-Ready Gardens: Rain gardens can capture runoff, filter pollutants and help reduce flooding around homes. On Screen: Monty Don’s departure after 23 years hosting Gardeners’ World has prompted tributes from viewers and fellow broadcasters.

Garden Tourism: Suncheon Bay National Garden has topped 3 million visitors for a third straight year, thanks to year-round displays and the work of about 100 gardeners preparing each season’s blooms. Autumn Garden Jobs: Gardeners can start a spring-ready bed with sheet mulching: overlap plain cardboard, wet it, then cover it with compost and mulch so the layers break down over winter. Save seeds from healthy plants, too, for next year’s garden. Pollinator Planting: Flowering herbs such as basil can feed bees and butterflies; experts suggest planting extra and letting some plants bloom rather than pinching every flower. Seasonal Colour: Compact fuchsias are among the shrubs recommended for autumn colour and fragrance in pots. Community Growing: A coalition is seeking to establish 200 new gardens to improve access to fresh food.

Community Growing: West Dayton’s Greater Edgemont coalition plans 200 new gardens over five years to improve food access, with options such as container gardens and windowsill herbs for residents short on space. Allotments: Singapore is offering 500 new community garden plots across 13 sites, expanding opportunities for residents to grow their own food. Pollinator Care: Seven North American champions were honored for work ranging from native seed production to community habitat projects and pollinator education. Autumn Garden Jobs: As gardeners tidy up for winter, experts advise leaving some plants standing to shelter birds and other wildlife. Seasonal Harvests: Watertown’s farmers’ market is nearing its seasonal close, with shoppers making the most of late garden produce.

Growing Through Crisis: In Gaza, small-scale garden and farming projects are helping families restore food production despite destroyed farmland, shortages and soaring costs; one initiative has supported about 100 projects. Water-Wise Gardening: Hyderabad plans to require treated wastewater for construction and landscaping from Nov. 1, aiming to save groundwater as dry conditions loom. Community Gardens: Singapore is opening 500 allotment plots across 13 sites, while San Jose’s 27-year-old Race Street Garden has been given 20 days to leave its site after a sale to a developer. Gardens for Everyone: A Rotherham charity has opened an accessible garden for people living with dementia and their carers. Across the U.S., Farm to School Month spotlights school gardens and local food, with schools reporting $1.8 billion in local purchases. October in the Garden: Seasonal advice focuses on protecting plants from frost and wildlife, preparing beds for winter and planting long-lived perennials for future blooms.

Garden Leadership: Yew Dell Botanical Gardens’ executive director Paul Cappiello will retire in early 2027 after 24 years, during which he helped build the Kentucky garden into a horticulture and education destination. Community Gardens: Singapore is opening applications for 500 new allotment plots on Oct. 20, while Minneapolis garden groups are urging the city to protect climate-program funding that supports their work. Greener Streets: Volunteers in Glenwood are pushing for a new plan to fix downtown planters and hanging baskets, citing unreliable irrigation and lost trees. Seasonal Advice: Missouri gardeners are being urged to prepare for frost, with a 50% chance it arrives by Oct. 23 in mid-state areas; tropical plants should be brought indoors. Garden Recognition: Norwich’s balcony “sky garden” has earned national attention, and Jasper received the top five-bloom rating in Alberta’s Communities in Bloom awards. Wildlife-Friendly Planting: Delaware’s Mt. Cuba Center is highlighting native goldenrods for their benefits to pollinators.

October Garden Jobs: Gardeners are being urged to hold off pruning most trees, while October is a good time to sow hardy flowers and save seeds from beans and squash for next year. Community Gardens: Volunteers are being invited to help restore a St Helens park landmark, while Wales in Bloom celebrated communities that kept displays thriving through a hot, dry summer. Wildlife & Nature: Sir David Attenborough has encouraged people to help hedgehogs in their gardens as sightings decline. Heritage Crops: An Austrian retailer is bringing back two rare historic apple varieties, supporting interest in local food and crop diversity. Garden Getaways: Seoul’s Silver Grass Festival at Haneul Park features illuminated fields, seasonal gardens and performances through October 23.

Orchid Watch: Tasmanian conservationists are enlisting photographers to help document native orchids, while warning that repeated visits to popular spots can damage vulnerable plants. October Garden Jobs: Cooler weather is a cue to ease back on orchid watering and move plants somewhere brighter. It’s also a good time to plant perennials and spring bulbs, whose roots can settle in before warmer weather returns. Winter Prep: Experts advise finishing the lawn’s last cut before temperatures stay below 7°C, while leaving some perennials and ornamental grasses unpruned until spring to shelter wildlife and protect plant crowns. Growing Together: A Camden community potluck will bring neighbors together to discuss food gardening, rewilding and local climate resilience.