February 2014 News from the Nursery

There is no disguising the reality of our prolonged wet and windy spell of weather. Due to the mildness of this winter, we have not had to take plants in because of the cold freezing the compost solid, but more to dry them out and reduce root death from waterlogging.
Thankfully unless a garden is flooded, once in the ground the roots cope well with wet spells. When exposed to extreme windy conditions and wet soil, shrubs and trees can be blown over and need straightening up, firming in and re-staking where needed. Cover any exposed roots and its a good idea to check tree ties.

Any herbaceous and grasses not pruned down are now looking rather the worse for wear and need cutting down before the new shoots emerge and get damaged in the process.
Some plants like Helleborus orientalis, Pulmonaria Blue Ensign and Sissinghurst White are coming into flower, what a welcome sight they are.

I can't wait to start splitting things up and getting on with potting, but I must confess the miserable weather puts a damper on things.

There are plants that bring scent as well as colour into the garden at this time of year like Coronilla valentina glauca, with its deep yellow clusters of flowers, flowering for months and giving wafts of its fruity scent. Planted in a sunny position it really performs.

My clump of Iris unguicularis has been good this year and due to the battering weather I have been picking the flowers. They last well in water and can be picked in bud and then they unfurl indoors.

I have been writing these notes to the background noise of a chainsaw, as another casualty of the weather is dealt with. A large Hawthorn, which made a bushy tree prized by us as part of the sheltering boundary on the windy westerly side of the nursery. We now have a gaping hole in our defences and a favourite nesting site for our birds is no more. We do fortunately have an inner defence of some Griselinia littoralis, which we will allow to grow up higher in front of the gap.
In coastal areas Griselinia is much used as it is tolerant of salt air and windy conditions. Its smooth, glossy lightish green leaves always look good. Another storm proof hedging plant for coastal and other areas is Elaeagnus x ebbingei, which has a darker leaf – silvery underneath and small highly scented flowers in late summer.
The large growing Fuchsia riccartonii is also very tolerant of coastal and other windy conditions and although not evergreen gives good shelter as it filters and slows the wind down as well as flowering for months.

December 2013 News from the Nursery

We would like to thank all our customers for the orders they have sent us during the year – much appreciated in what has been a challenging year for sales. Can the weather for 2014 be any more challenging – I hope not!

At the moment, as I sit at the kitchen table writing this, we are having gentle December weather, light wind – dry – and on the verge of sunny. Ideal for doing jobs that would be unpleasant in rain or snow. The blackbirds, many are new arrivals from Scandinavia and Germany, insist on scratching and pecking all the old leaves out from under my Bay Laurus noblis onto the path, which will become slippery when wet. I think I shall brush them up and tuck them behind my Camellias where they can root through them for food without making a mess. The annual invasion of continental birds have eaten lots of the berries in the garden. We do still have some autumn colour on deciduous plants, but leaves are falling quickly as we have now had a few frosts.

The evergreens are becoming more noticeable now and proving their worth in the winter garden. There still plants that flower in these winter months that give fragrance above flamboyance.
Sarcococcas are very fragrant and prefer shade. Viburnum x bodnantense Dawn have flowers on and off for months and smell good. Correas which are selling well are unfortunately not fragrant but have nice neat evergreen leaves and flower over a long period – they need a position out of cold drying winds, but are well worth growing. They can also be grown in a container for a cool conservatory or sheltered porch.

Rosemarys are also plants that flower intermittently through the winter and early spring months. We have Rosmarinus officinalis Haifa starting to flower now. This is a low growing variety for trailing down walls and banks or over a big pot. Rosemarys need sun and good drainage.

For a Christmas gift to a gardener who would like to browse our site and chose their own plants, we have our Gift Vouchers. Delivery can be arranged for when the recipient is ready to take the order.

Happy Christmas and A Prosperous New Year

November 2013 News from the Nursery

To say its wet around the nursery would be an understatement and we have more forecast in the form of weather fronts approaching from the Atlantic. Because plants in pots are more prone to staying too wet we have been taking some into tunnels with net sides with plenty of ventilation things like lavender, agapanthus (which also get root damage in pots from hard frosts) some of the Salvia's we grow also have to be taken in for the winter. If they were planted in a well drained sunny site in the garden they would be fine and shot away in spring but being in a small cold pot on a windy exposed nursery bed is quite different. So we put Salvia Phylis's Fancy and Wendy's Wish inside and some of the shrubby ones like Pink Blush and Christine Yeo if we have room, as they get so battered on the outside beds, if we don't have room we prune them down when they make new growth and they quickly regenerate. Last winter I lost my Salvia Wendys wish, it was shooting out from near the base in spring and then was killed by late very cold weather. This time I shall try and remember to protect it with fleece or mulch over the shoots.

The gales of late have unfortunately broken some plants down that would have normally given many more weeks of interest in the garden. Herbaceous and grasses might look better if damaged and askew to be cut back now. Any shrubs that have had damage should definitely have broken shoots/branches removed cleanly. Trees might require professional attention especially if any danger of damage to property.

Ensure planted up tubs have a space between ground level to allow water to drain away. Buy pottery feet from garden centres or improvise with stones or pebbles or half bricks for large containers.

Apart from it being a bit wet and windy now is an excellent time for planting as the ground is warm. Use boards to avoid compacting soil if working on the borders. The plants will develop a root system over the autumn and winter and grow away quickly next year.

October 2013 News from the Nursery

At this time of year much of the colour in the garden is from evergreen foliage or coloured stems. Shapes of plants and sculptured shapes in hedges and topiary also become more prominent and important.
The froth of gardens in the summer months gives way to a more calm and sleek effect.
Not only are plants in one form or another important, but any hard landscaping can compliment the sharper look in winter.
When winter strips the garden to its bare bones, pathways, walls, features like large tubs, pergolas and seating areas can make the garden come to life as the shadows of low winter sunshine hit a strategic feature for example an urn.
Evergreen grasses are good for winter in these sorts of situations.

September 2013 News from the Nursery

From June this year we have been potting everything on the nursery in peat free compost.
For 2 years we have been using a biological (instead of chemical) control against vine weevil grubs, incorporated in the compost by our supplier. So far the results are good and we have had no species of plants take a dislike to it.

The coming winter will complete the first season of peat free, so all the results will be in by then. We are pleased so far and the nursery is full with late summer perennials and flowering grasses. Best of all heaving with butterflies including Clouded Yellows of which we had none last year and moths. The migrant Silver Y and Humming Bird Hawkmoth are back again in some numbers.
Huge bumblebees are a bit of a hazard - they object to dead heading and get flustered if thrown into a pile of almost over flowers and get buried!

Sales have been good for July and August althou gh they usually drop due to a) holidays
and b)the garden was pepped up in the spring after any winter losses or just an inspirational ''its spring'' sort of urge.

Although the weather is still lovely the lawns seem to have recovered, so we must have had sufficient rainfall to satisfy their thirst.
Borders can be dry though and perhaps some nice gentle rain would be welcome.

The shrubby Salvias are flowering well and will continue until it gets into winter.
Some varieties we have available in 2 litre pots and others like the delicious dark red Dyson's Crimson are in 9cm pots ready to pot on, plant out or put in a tub for late colour.

July 2013 News from the Nursery

With the weather forecast predicting 30° C, summer must be here. The gardens are looking good and the aroma of barbecues is in the air.

To maximise sitting in the garden as opposed to working in the garden - why not plant ground cover plants. Not only do they suppress weeds, they also stop the moisture evaporating.
Hardy geraniums are easy and flower for long periods, growing well in sun or partial shade.
Ajugas are good early flowering plants and provide early nectar for bees.
Nepetas are good coverers and look great billowing along the edge of pathways. - Plant a couple of feet in to allow for growth, especially varieties ''Walkers Low'' and ''Six Hills Giant'' - ''Kit Kat'' is smaller and more compact.
For a sunny spot Helianthemum Georgeham - deep pink - makes a lovely low mound and will also trail down a wall or bank.
Fuchsias - still some available in 9cm pots - are amazing value flowering until winter in sun or partial shade.

May 2013 News from the Nursery

We are enjoying a lovely spell of weather and gardeners are at last being able to be in the garden in these pleasant conditions.
Growing plants has also become easier with higher temperatures and better light levels.
Every year the transformation of deciduous shrubs into garden beauties is fascinating.
The fragrant Ribes odoratum has sat patiently until the time was right and is now looking and smelling great.
Pretty Lonicera syringantha is just coming out - the fragrant clusters of pink flowers are complimented by the shrub's small leaves.
Viburnum sargentii Onondaga is another spring delight, the bronzy foliage is looking lovely and the flat flower heads are about to open.
Talking of fragrant plants, the climbing Loniceras (Honeysuckle) are looking good. Very useful for clothing fences, pergolas or growing up in a tree. They are good nectar plants for insects.

For summer tubs in hot places, like a paved terrace, why not try Pelargonium Lady Plymouth or Pelargonium Royal Oak the scented leaves and mauvy-pink flowers make a nice combination.
Lavender makes a good tub filler for warm spots and we currently have a range in 9cm pots - just right to fill a container.Once again these fragrant plants attract butterflies and insects.