Alan Titchmarsh admits he's told off by his wife for one thing on ITV's Love Your Garden

Alan and Alison Titchmarsh
-Credit: (Image: (Image: Getty))


Alan Titchmarsh, renowned as the nation's favourite gardening guru, continues to inspire with his horticultural creations on ITV's Love Your Garden. Despite his expertise, there's a crucial element he often omits in his designs, much to his wife Alison's chagrin.

On the Queen Bees podcast with Jane Horrocks and Ester Coles, Alan shared a humorous insight into domestic life, revealing: "My wife tells me that the fairies washed all the clothes again."

Alison's role at home also influences her critique of Alan's garden designs, as he admits: "I get it in the neck from my wife."

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She pointedly questions the practicality of his layouts, with Alan revealing: "When we designed gardens on Love Your Garden, we'd do these wonderful gardens and she'd say, 'Excuse me, where's the rotary dryer?'."

The issue is particularly relevant in the UK, where many homes lack the space for a full-length clothesline, making rotary dryers an essential feature for compact gardens.

A recent survey highlighted potential health concerns, with nearly eight out of 10 respondents believing that drying clothes indoors could be problematic.

Alan recounts that when faced with Alison's queries about the missing rotary dryer, he reminds her that while he planned for one to be included in the garden, the actual installation didn't happen until after the cameras stopped rolling.

For those starting from scratch with a new garden, but without the benefit of Alan and his team doing all the hard work, there's one key tip that can save a lot of heartache further down the line.

Alan advises: "It's such an obvious thing to say,...but the thing to do is to go and look at the gardens that are nearest to you. People will be keen gardeners in the same street, or a street away. Look what grows well in their gardens.

"It's not just down to them being good gardeners. Some of it will be, obviously, but it's also what suits that area.

"If you spend all your time trying to get rhododendrons and camellias to grow, and there aren't any in your area, the chance are it's chalky soil and they don't grow there."