What does ‘stepover’ mean? Cultivated since the Victorian times, a ‘stepover’ tree is the smallest of all fruit trees, and is described as a low growing tree which has been trained horizontally and can literally be stepped over. How high are ‘stepovers’ kept? ‘Stepovers’ are traditionally kept to 12 to 18 inches in height and […]
By mid-March the long wait for spring is usually over and, as the warmer weather arrives, there are lots of jobs to be getting on with in the garden: get a head start by hoeing weeds as they appear in the borders order seeds and make a plan for sowing watch out for slug damage […]
If you are growing, or planning to grow box plants, particularly for topiary or parterres, be vigilant for the fungal disease known as box blight. It can lead to brown leaves, bare patches and die back on your garden plants and can appear at any time of the year, although it is most active in […]
On milder days, February is a good time to get your garden tidied and organised ready for the growing season ahead. The following gardening jobs will give you a good head start. We have our huge, new selection of roses now in stock in the nursery. Whether you are looking for a rambler, climber or […]
A new year means new beginnings, reinvigorated purpose and the gradual lengthening of days, the ideal time to begin planning for the growing season ahead. A little thought and preparation at this stage of the year is the perfect way to ensure fantastic displays in your borders, and achieve enviable success in the vegetable plot. […]
There are many plants that provide striking ornamental bark during the winter months, many of which create wonderful, structural form too. If you visit the nursery at this time of year, you will spot several of them planted in our borders, their stunning colours a sight to behold against a cold winter backdrop or beautiful […]
If you are tidying up your leaves, watch out for hedgehogs! A pile of tightly compacted leaves, moss and garden debris at the base of thick hedges, under bramble bushes, shrubs or among piles of leaves may mean that you have a hibernating, spiky friend in your garden. Hedgehogs are fantastic friends to gardeners as […]
The dark nights, colder temperatures and stronger winds begin to arrive in November but there are still several jobs that can be done in the garden this month. Protect outdoor container plants by raising them off the ground using bricks or special ‘pot feet’ available at the nursery. Insulate outside pots by wrapping them in […]
Hedging has fabulous practical and aesthetic purposes in the garden and, as the risk of frost passes and the ground becomes more workable, it is a good time to get planting one. Hedges can be used to mark boundaries and add definition to your garden; they can provide frame and focus, guiding the eye to […]
One of the questions we are often asked in the nursery is when is it the best time to plant. It can come as a surprise to discover that autumn is one of the best times to plant a perennial. Regardless of the temperature above ground, the soil is actually quite warm at this time […]
