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BBC Morning Live AI Avatar 'Ava' and gardening expert Mark Lane
BBC Morning Live
Thursday 5th March 2026
BBC iPlayer
As part of BBC AI Week, gardening expert Mark Lane went head to head with an artificial intelligence chatbot on BBC Morning Live to answer viewers' questions about their gardens.
AI assistant, "Ava", gave its digital response first, then Mark tested the advice using practical demonstrations and hands-on gardening knowledge.
The friendly face-off explored how AI suggestions compare with real-world experience in the garden, before Mark gave his verdict on whether technology poses any threat to his job.
For completeness, we've detailed the correct information on each of the topics that we put to our chatbot in this article.
Knowing your soil type helps you choose suitable plants and manage watering and drainage. Most garden soils fall into six main groups including clay, sandy, silt, loam, peat and chalky.
You can often identify your soil by touch or with simple tests. Sandy soil feels gritty, clay feels sticky, and chalky soil may react when mixed with vinegar or bicarbonate of soda.
Knowing your soil type helps you choose the right plants and manage watering, drainage and nutrients more effectively.
Most garden soils fall into one of six categories: clay, sandy, silt, loam, peat or chalky soil.
Loam is often considered ideal garden soil. It is a balanced mix of sand, silt and clay which provides good drainage while still retaining moisture and nutrients.
Chalky soils are rich in calcium carbonate and tend to be alkaline. They can be either light or heavy depending on their structure.
Silt soils are made of medium sized particles. They tend to be fertile and hold moisture better than sandy soils, although they can compact easily.
Clay soils contain more than 25% clay particles. They hold nutrients well but also retain a lot of water, meaning they drain slowly and warm up later in spring. When dry they can crack and become hard.
Peat soils contain large amounts of organic matter and hold significant moisture, though they are rarely found in domestic gardens.
Sandy soils contain a high proportion of sand and very little clay. They drain quickly and are easy to work with, but they dry out faster and nutrients are often washed away by rain.
The simplest way to identify your soil is by touching it.
Sandy soil feels gritty and will not hold together when rolled in your hands. Clay soil feels sticky when wet and can be rolled into a smooth sausage shape. Silt feels soft and slightly slippery.
Another quick test involves placing a small sample of soil in a jar and adding vinegar. If the mixture froths or bubbles, it suggests the soil contains chalk or limestone.
Conversely, mixing some soil with water an adding bicarbonate of soda can reveal if you soil is acidic, suggesting sandy soils or organic-rich peat soils.
Several strongly scented plants are often used to help keep flies and other insects away from the home. Many herbs contain aromatic oils in their leaves which insects tend to avoid, and lightly brushing or crushing the foliage releases more of that scent.
Some strongly scented plants are widely used to discourage flies and other insects around the home.
Many herbs release aromatic oils from their leaves which insects tend to avoid. Brushing or crushing the foliage can make the scent stronger.
Mint, basil and sage are among the most common examples. These plants are widely used in cooking but are also often placed on windowsills or near doors where insects enter.
Rosemary produces a strong woody fragrance and is sometimes grown near vegetables such as carrots or cabbages to discourage pests.
Lavender is another widely grown plant. Its scent is often used around the home and is commonly associated with deterring insects such as moths, although larger exposures can cause vomiting or nausea in dogs and cats and concentrated oils carry higher risk.
Lemon balm, which belongs to the mint family, releases a citrus scent when its leaves are crushed. People tend to enjoy the fragrance while some insects avoid it.
Bay laurel and citronella grass are also often mentioned as part of planting schemes aimed at reducing insect activity. In pets, ingestion can lead to digestive upset, and citronella can cause stomach irritation in dogs and cats.
Pennyroyal is often cited as a strong fly repellent because of its pronounced mint like aroma, but it is toxic if ingested and should be kept well away from animals.
Some gardeners also grow carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps, sundews or pitcher plants. These species trap small insects, although they will only remove limited numbers of flies.
Barley and wheat grains are sometimes included in bird seed mixes, but they are not ideal if you want to attract a wide range of garden birds.
These grains are mainly eaten by larger ground feeding birds such as pigeons, doves and pheasants. Large numbers of these birds can discourage smaller species from visiting feeders.
If you want to attract a broader mix of birds, higher oil foods tend to work better.
Sunflower seeds are one of the most popular options and are taken by many species. Black sunflower seeds contain more oil, while sunflower hearts offer a no mess alternative.
Peanuts are also high in fat and are eaten by species including tits, greenfinches, nuthatches and great spotted woodpeckers. They should always be unsalted and suitable for bird feeding.
Millet often attracts house sparrows, dunnocks and finches, while flaked maize is readily taken by blackbirds.
Nyjer seeds are especially popular with goldfinches and siskins, although they require a specialist feeder.
Suet balls and other fat based foods are particularly useful during colder months, and mealworms are frequently eaten by robins, blue tits and blackbirds.
Whatever food is used, experts recommend keeping feeders and bird baths clean to reduce the spread of disease among garden birds.
We know the concept of AI can be daunting and confusing, so BBC Bitesize and BBC Ideas also have lots of brilliant resources and how-to guides to help you get started.
Plus, there's lots of special content digging into exactly how AI is changing the way we live, work and learn across BBC TV, radio and online.
To find out more visit BBC AI Unpacked
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