As many dog owners can testify, dogs and gardens can sometimes be an awkward combination. Dogs, with their unwanted digging, can ruin a neat lawn or rip up prized plants.
But now gardener and known dog lover Monty Don will design a garden dedicated to dogs for the Chelsea Flower Show.
The veteran Gardeners’ World presenter’s garden, the RHS said, will be aimed at the nation’s dog owners wanting beautiful spaces for them and their furry friends, and inspire the millions of dog lovers at home to create green havens for them and their pets.
Monty Don has commented on the efforts of fellow garden designers at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) event for two decades. And while the garden will not be entered in the competition – to compete for the coveted Best in Show award – other garden designers will no doubt relish the opportunity to pass judgement on Don’s efforts.
Readers of Monty’s columns in the Daily Mail will know of his deep love of dogs. He currently owns two: Ned, a Golden Retriever, and Patti, a Yorkshire terrier.
Monty Don (pictured) will design a garden dedicated to dogs for the Chelsea Flower Show
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has teamed up with the Gardeners' World Monty Don for his first Chelsea garden, which aims to give green-fingered dog owners ideas for creating a haven for themselves and their pets at the show next May
Monty Don with female guide dog puppy in training, Chelsea, on the Guide Dogs 90th Anniversary Garden, at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
On Sunday, he posted a picture of his old dog Nellie on Instagram, who died last year, writing: ‘Nellie died a year ago today and I remember her not with sadness but gratitude for the way she enriched my life. No other dog I have owned was so in tune, not just with me but with the whole family.’
Monty wants the garden, created in a joint initiative with Radio 2, to be an exemplar of all the things that dogs love – regardless of horticultural fashion – and a beautiful space that any dog owner would love.
He said yesterday: ‘Along with the superb team headed by Jamie Butterworth we shall be making a garden that is inspired by [his own garden] Longmeadow and my own dogs, but above all a celebration of the way that so many of us share our gardens with our canine companions.’
At the centre of the garden will be a neatly mown lawn, which ‘is essential for canine sprawling, sleeping, rolling, flopping, itching and chasing balls’, and a large tree will cast shade on the grass, so dogs can stretch out on a warm afternoon.
The lawn will drift into longer grass planted with ornamental spring flowering bulbs to create more of a tameflower meadow than a wildflower meadow.
Brick paths run straight creating vistas – a touch of Longmeadow – with one providing the route through the garden for visitors and another at right angles to this leading to the summerhouse.
Monty wants the garden, created in a joint initiative with Radio 2, to be an exemplar of all the things that dogs love
On Sunday, Don posted a picture of his old dog Nellie on Instagra , who died last year, writing: ‘Nellie died a year ago today and I remember her not with sadness but gratitude for the way she enriched my life'
Monty Don pictured with two of his dogs Nigel and Nell
Monty Don has commented on the efforts of fellow garden designers at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) event for two decades
To reflect the special place dogs hold in our hearts and our gardens, the paths will be inscribed with the names of dogs belonging to Radio 2 presenters and RHS ambassadors, as well as of course Monty’s beloved dog Ned.
As Patron of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where the Garden for Dogs will live on after RHS Chelsea, Her Majesty The Queen’s adopted Jack Russell Terriers, Beth and Bluebell, will also feature on the path.
Within the The RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden a sectioned off area will be a place for humans to enjoy a beautiful tapestry of plants to raise awareness of certain plants that are toxic to dogs and other pets. Here there will be a mixture of planting of familiar yet favourite plants, as well as a distinct theme of balls with lots of alliums and topiary balls of different sizes and kinds.
The public will not be able to bring their pet dogs to see the garden though as they are not allowed at the Flower Show, apart from guide dogs.
After RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the The RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden will live on just across the River Thames at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for all the rescue dogs and the people who work and volunteer there to enjoy.
Clare Matterson, RHS Director General, said: ‘Nothing lifts us like a beautiful garden, and then, for a little bit of extra joy, we’ve added some wagging tails.
‘Over 2025 we really want to celebrate how we’re here for all gardeners; dog lovers, families, keen cooks, houseplant fanatics, everyone, and this garden is a great example of how individuals can all bring to life their passions in their outside spaces.’
