War time Gardening went through a crisis with two world wars, which resulted in lower-maintenance gardens. But when the call went out from Mr Middleton to 'Dig for Victory', the nation responded.

In this article

Timeline Gardening during the war years

War time gardening characters War time gardening themes

1914 to 1918
Many gardeners went off to fight in World War I, abandoning their gardens. The garden staff of many stately homes was severely depleted when men went off to fight.

1918 to 1921
Large gardens were expensive to run, so many people were forced to divide them up.

1919
The ninth Duke of Devonshire blows up the glasshouse at Chatsworth House. The greenhouse became too expensive to run due to wartime fuel shortages and high maintenance costs.

1926
Andreas Stihl develops the first chainsaw.

1927
The first case of Dutch elm disease is recorded.

1930s
Vita Sackville-West and her husband buy Sissinghurst Castle and start to transform the gardens.

1934
Lawns were dug up in World War II to grow crops for rations.

1939
Mr Middleton begins to broadcast his 15-minute gardening series on the radio.

1941
A million acres of potatoes were grown to help the war effort.

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