What does Monty Don think is the "most stupid thing" anyone can say about a garden?

Monty Don believes the idea of a "finished" or "done" garden is the "most stupid thing anyone can ever say about a garden."

How long have Monty Don and his wife Sarah been co-creating the Longmeadow garden?

Monty Don and his wife Sarah have been co-creating the famous Longmeadow garden for over 30 years since they moved to their home in Ivington, Herefordshire in 1991.

What does Monty Don say he focused on in his younger years instead of watching Gardeners' World?

Monty Don says that in his 20s, instead of watching Gardeners' World or reading the magazine, he "visited gardens obsessively" and recommends this to anyone interested in gardening.

Home / Lifestyle / Monty Don: "Finished" Gardens Are the "Most Stupid" Idea

Monty Don: "Finished" Gardens Are the "Most Stupid" Idea

10 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Monty Don says the idea of a "finished" garden is the "most stupid" thing anyone can say
He believes gardens are constantly changing, fluid, and never truly "done"
Monty and his wife Sarah have co-created the famous Longmeadow garden over the past 30+ years

Monty Don: "Finished" Gardens Are the "Most Stupid" Idea

As of November 10th, 2025, renowned gardener Monty Don has shared a surprising insight about what he considers the "most stupid thing anyone can ever say about a garden." Don, who has been the lead presenter of the BBC's Gardeners' World since 2003, believes the idea of a "finished" garden is completely misguided.

In a recent interview, the 70-year-old gardening icon explained that gardens are inherently fluid, changeable, and never truly "done." He stated, "The thing I love about gardens is they don't stay the same, ever. The most stupid thing anyone can ever say about a garden is 'oh we've finished it,' or 'it's done'."

Don and his wife Sarah have spent over 30 years co-creating their famous Longmeadow garden, which he says is always evolving. "Longmeadow is not my garden, Longmeadow is our garden and she and I did it together," he shared. While Don focuses on the overall design and structure, his wife Sarah excels at the finer details and color coordination.