The Crab Apple – one of the best small garden trees. Considered by many to be one of the best small garden trees, the crab apple provides a mass of late spring blossom which rivals that of the Japanese Cherry, with a variety of very attractive, often edible fruit. One of our favourites is the […]
Monthly Archives: January 2018
Callicarpa Bodinieri var Giraldii Profusion AGM really is the most beautiful shrub which really comes into its own during mid to late Autumn. The bright purple berries stand out like jewels in these dull days of Autumn bringing much wanted colour to the garden. At one time the Bodinieri species lost popularity mainly due to […]
Paeonia’s make a fantastic addition to any garden Flowering in a variety of rich colours through spring and early summer, Peonies are hardy, adaptable and prefer to grow in full sun. Although they will grow in light shade, they will produce fewer flowers even though they do tend to bloom for longer. The single flowered […]
What to do when my garden has been flooded? The severe flooding experienced across Cumbria in 2015 left many Cumbrian gardens with heavily water logged soil and has led to the loss and damage of a number of trees, shrubs and perennials. How do plants drown? As the floods begin to subside, gardens which are […]
Article written by Robin Lane Fox and appeared in the FT Weekend, House and Home section In wind and heavy rain the recent splendour of asters, dahlias and late-flowering salvias has been reduced to sodden brown pulp and blackened stems. Beauty has to be found elsewhere and I am finding it where many other gardeners […]
Which plants will give Autumn Colour in my garden? LIQUIDAMBAR: If you are looking for a flush of Autumn colour to brighten up your garden why not consider a Liquidambar – or Sweetgum as it is commonly known. With their large, maple like leaves which burst through in long-lasting colours of scarlet, purple orange and yellow […]
The beautiful, long flowering Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ Awarded Chelsea 2011 Plant of the Year’, Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ is a stunning introduction by Elizabeth MacGregor. The large white flowers 7 to 9 cm across, have a distinct blue banding on the reverse and are held above attractive green foliage. Opening throughout the day, the flowers close to bells […]
Why should I plant a Cornus in my garden? A genus worthy of consideration for almost any garden is the Cornus family particularly the more hardy cornus kousa cultivars. These are mainly slow growing small trees or in some cases large shrubs. As gardens get smaller with ever increasing pressure for housing our gardens are […]
What is an Inkarho Rhododendron? An inkarho Rhododendron is a new lime-tolerant rhododendron rootstock which has taken over 20 years to develop and on to which many different and popular rhododendrons are being grafted. Where is the best place to plant a Inkarho Rhododendron? Although they appear rugged in the landscape, rhododendrons have a delicate root […]
Fear not, the Chelsea Chop is not the latest must-have hairstyle straight from one of London’s trendy boroughs, but is in fact a method of pruning where you limit the size of your late-flowering hardy perennials and have more control over their flowering season. It’s called the Chelsea Chop because it usually happens at the […]