News - Page 39

During winter, brighten up your home with Orchids to add a splash of colour from the tropics on a  grey day...

It is time to plant Skimmia for winter interest and keep your garden looking full of colour and berries in the cold months of the year. Skimmia is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves, bright winter berries and then white flowers in late spring. They give a great deal to each season in the garden and also look good in pots and containers plus they can be planted at any time of the year as long as the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.

Lighting adds something extra-special to every garden. Whether it’s making long summer evenings even longer or adding festive cheer to dark winter nights, with a few well-placed garden lights, it’s easy to create the mood you want. With so many different types of garden lighting available, we’ve put together a few ideas on how to use them.

You can never have too many spring bulbs. With their fabulous flowers turning spring into a riot of colour, the only problem is finding space to plant them all. The solution? Lasagne bulb planting.

It is time to start planting new garden plants as the summer comes to an end and we move into Autumn. You’ll notice the beautiful changing of the leaves, the drop in temperature and as the harvests may continue there will be plenty of clearing up to do in the garden and on the allotment. This time of year is great for reflecting on what you have grown, what you loved in the garden and what you might want to plant for next year. During Autumn, before it gets too cold, is the ideal time to plant out some perennials, shrubs and trees as it allows them time to settle in before the colder months and they will be ready to grow the following year. So, what do you consider when planting new plants at this time of year?

No matter what size garden you have, perfect garden plants for patios can be useful information to know. If you have a more extensive garden, you will likely have a deck where your pots will be full of plants. If you have a smaller space, such as a patio without any other garden or a balcony, you might want to make the most from your area and create an impact on containers. Many plants will grow on a patio, too many to list here but we’ve picked a few we think you will love and that will enjoy a patio pot.