Gardeners' World's Joe Swift gives crucial tip for planting hedges as 'best time approaches'

Gardeners' World star Joe Swift has given some important tips for what hedges Brits should plants with the "best time" approaching in late autumn and the winter

Gardeners' World presenter Joe Swift has given green-fingered Brits crucial advice for planting hedges in their gardens.

The TV star says late autumn and winter is the 'best time' to plant certain hedges - and he had some tips about which choices to make.

He told the Times: "We're fast approaching the best time to plant bare-rooted hedging and topiary plants (November to March), which works out much cheaper than pot-grown.

"I don't plant box any more as the dreaded box caterpillar and box blight is everywhere."

The gardener, who has been involved with Gardeners' World since 1998, also revealed what he is hoping to do with his own garden.

The 59-year-old has some specific things he wants to do with his hedges.

Joe added: "In my new garden I'm looking to grow some large, low, soft mounded shapes to tie in and mimic the soft shapes of the hills beyond, which will help connect the garden to its surroundings.

"I've been mulling over my options but think I'll go for hornbeam, as I love its autumnal tones and can get cheap bare-rooted whips (I'll need hundreds, spacing them about 40-50cm apart and paying about £1 each) in the winter months."

It comes after Joe let slip that his wife "hates him" because he's banned a specific colour from their garden.

On the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Podcast aired on September 26, Joe discussed his commission by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to design a pollinator-friendly garden inspired by a bee's wing.

During the podcast, Joe revealed that he steered clear of one particular hue. He later admitted that this colour is "demanding" and can lead to a certain "route" in gardening that he prefers to avoid.

Joe remarked: "I basically said to the nursery guys, 'Just get me anything you can in flower that's great for bees that I can get in flower for the Chelsea Flower Show', because I wasn't being judged.

"It didn't have to be 100 percent horticulturally correct, apart from soft pinks was the only colour I avoided, but this doesn't quite show how much colour there was in their garden."

Explaining his choice to exclude soft pinks, Joe added: "I've got a thing about soft pinks. My wife hates me for it, but I like strong pinks."