The City Gardener is a gardening television series, produced by Twofour and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK and on HGTV in the US.
The show is hosted by Matt James, who is billed as "a genuine, 21st-century tree-hugger". The show is targeted at urban city dwellers that might otherwise overlook their potential gardens due to a busy schedule, small garden area or not enough do-it-yourself knowledge.
In each episode Matt James visits a home located in the city, which usually contains a dilapidated and/or tiny garden area that needs major renovation. The home owners decide on a budget for their new garden and are consulted on their preference of garden style, features, plants, and maintenance requirement. The space is surveyed and Matt develops a design for the garden in keeping with the homeowner's usually modest budget.
In order to get the most out of their money, the home owners usually invite friends and family to help with manual labour. This can include breaking concrete, removing bricks and stone, tearing up grass and topsoil, or even completely removing existing soil in favor of soil that will be more suitable for sustaining plant life.
Matt James pays particular attention to the types of plants that are used in each garden, utilizing his seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of each plant species and providing useful gardening tips geared towards gardening in the city. The viewer gets the impression that he has a profound love for gardening and for plants in particular.
Best Episodes of The City Gardener
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Worst Episodes of The City Gardener
Not enough show information to display worst episodes.
The City Gardener Episode Guide
Tackling a Weedy Garden
S1 Ep1
1.0
1st Apr 2003
Expert city-gardener Matt James travels to Southampton to help his friend convert an empty garden into a lush city hideaway. Weeds soon give way to new plantings. Among the new plants are a fall-blooming Higan cherry, lavender yarrow and plenty of ornamental grasses.
A Low-Maintenance Redo
S1 Ep2
8th Apr 2003
Host Matt James heads to London to meet Tom, a gardening novice who is in desperate need of some horticultural help. His garden has been totally neglected and its only striking feature is a large old shed. James transforms this deserted London suburban garden into a lush art-deco retreat that will be easy to maintain.
A Water Feature and More
S1 Ep3
15th Apr 2003
With their Birmingham address, Rob and Kay live as far from the sea as you can possibly be in the U.K. The challenge to host Matt James is to create a modern oasis in their cluttered garden--and include a water feature. But there's a slight catch: first he has to recycle some of the rubbish in their garden to make his masterpiece.
A Pet-Friendly Entertaining Space
S1 Ep4
22nd Apr 2003
Danny wants his small, square space to serve a dual purpose--an area for entertaining and a place for his dog to play. Host Matt James creates a gorgeous Romantic secret garden that doubles as a space for Danny's beloved pooch.
A Wheelchair-Friendly Victorian Garden
S1 Ep5
29th Apr 2003
Artist Juliet needs help with a rather awkward town garden--it's a peculiar L-shaped space that is home only to lots of weeds and a stagnant, smelly pond. Host Matt James comes to the rescue, transforming the area into a classic Victorian retreat.
Transformation of a High-Rise Balcony
S1 Ep6
6th May 2003
The owner of a high-rise apartment, Julia craves an outdoor retreat in which to escape city life. Using plants that are able to cope with the pollution and smog of London, host Matt James creates a cottage-style garden for Julia to enjoy.
Secret Hideaway
S1 Ep7
12th May 2003
Frasier and Nicky's garden is just like all of the other drab gardens in the neighborhood. Host Matt James wants to transform their deserted garden into the perfect hideaway. He also wants to come up with design ideas that will mask traffic noise so that Fraiser and Nicky can enjoy their garden in peace.
A Garden Designed for Dining
S1 Ep8
20th May 2003
Tori and Ogden are fed up with their small town garden in London. With the help of host Matt James and some helpful lodgers, they transform their drab garden into a luxury eating area. The finished garden features an incredible design inspired by another funky London garden.
Decluttering a Backyard
S1 Ep9
27th May 2003
Host Matt James meets Londoners Lisa and Paul, who have recently bought a new house in Northwest London. After forcing hoarder Pete to get rid of the junk in their cluttered backyard, James makes the most of their small space, creating a large seating area for the couple to relax in.
Masking an Unpleasant View
S1 Ep10
3rd Jun 2003
Host Matt James creates an entirely natural garden out of a weedy area. One of the challenges of the project is to camouflage a neighboring building site using only natural materials. Matt fulfills the goal, and Chris can now enjoy a green and very gorgeous garden.
