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Seasonal planting ideas, flower inspiration and practical gardening advice.

10 Lovely Flowering Plants for Winter Colour

Don’t let the grey skies of winter get you down. Try planting some of these lovely winter plants to bring some colour and joy to your garden.

Facts About Begonias and how to Grow Them

Begonias are tender perennials that will flower in UK summer time. They come in a variety of colours, mainly pinks and reds as well as some yellows, giving them a beautiful traditional appearance. Begonia bulbs can be grown out of doors, in containers and hanging baskets as well as in borders – different varieties lend themselves well to different growing locations. Begonias might also be grown as ornamental house plants in colder climates, though if they are planted at the right time of year, they can grow very well in the UK.

Five Excellent Conservatory Plants

The orientation and nature of conservatories make them excellent for receiving and retaining sunlight and heat, so you can typically grow plants that would not normally grow in a British climate. This means that full sun, heat loving and dry condition plants can often do quite well in conservatories.

How Growing Flowers in Your Vegetable Garden Can be Beneficial

Also known as “companion planting”, mixing certain flowers and herbs in with your vegetables can have multiple benefits! Certain flowers can help deter unwanted pests, add valuable nutrients to the soil, whilst others can attract pollinators, which are necessary for growth.

How to keep cut flowers looking good longer

There is nothing like fresh and beautiful flowers placed in gorgeous vases around your home. They make any room smell fresh and feel homely. Sadly, the life expectancy of cut flowers isn’t as long as most of us would like.

Predicted Flower Trends for 2017

New years always mean new trends, especially in floristry. In 2016, we have seen many flowers come into popularity with perhaps one of the most prominent trends being for seasonal blooms and wildflowers. We have been closely monitoring the trends to bring you our top predictions for flowers in 2017:

Six Winter Container Plants

To keep your garden looking alive and vibrant during the winter months, why not prepare yourself some container plants.

Some Ideas for your Wedding Bouquet

It’s one of the most important and memorable days of your life: you wedding day. Brides dream of what their day will be like from such a young age, so it has to meet your expectations. Of course, the flowers are one of the most important elements – they tie the colour scheme together, help show off your dress, and there’s always the memorable bouquet toss. It’s never too early to start thinking about the wedding flowers you want, so here are some of our favourite ideas:

The main benefits of stinging nettles

Stinging nettles are a weed with quite a bad reputation, aside from the painful sting they can give you they are difficult to remove. They grow very quickly and have deep roots so can become a nuisance but they do have some great health benefits that many aren’t aware of.

Tulip Bulbs to Brighten Up Any British Garden

As the warmer weather is finally here, it is the perfect time for gardeners across England to turn their thoughts their much-loved gardens. Tulips are the ideal addition to any garden or planter. This colourful plant with slender stalks and beautiful, dishes like flowers has been winning over hearts for ages now. For the professional horticulturist or the first-time gardener, planting of tulip bulbs is one of the most enriching activities that are assured to produce a spectacular result once the flowers bloom in spring. They appeared in the middle of the 16th century and quickly gained popularity amongst the royalty. Tulips are not indigenous to our region but are for sure well-acquainted with the English gardens. The tulips were first cultivated in the area of present day country of Turkmenistan in Central Asia and were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. They soon became the indicators of riches and thus, in the 1630s, led to what came to be known as ‘Tulip Mania’ in the Netherlands. Before long, these valued flowers reached out to the other side of the North Sea and have since been appreciated in England. How to Select the Tulip Bulbs Things are pretty easy as far as the choice of the tulip bulbs is concerned. Here are a few popular options to consider. - Darwin Hybrid Tulips: These are characterised by their big and brightly coloured flowers and thick stalks making it ideal for growing flowers with an intention of achieving bulk dyes. - Lily-Flowered Tulips: These tulips bring the sophistry of neatly pointed petals to the garden borders. - Triumph Tulips: These tulips which grow up to medium height have a very large colour range, and they are suitable for borders and containers. - Species Tulips: This option is perfect for the rock gardens or naturalising in the lawns since they are small and delicate like the natural tulips. Generally, the bulb size dictates the size of the flower, so do not think that buying better quality bulbs are a waste of money. Planting Your Tulip Bulbs In England, it is advised that tulip bulbs should be planted during October and up to the December only. This later planting helps the bulbs to avoid fungal diseases that are likely to attack bulbs planted on warm soil. Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure your tulips get off to the best start: Select the well-lit and warm area that has begun to dry out after watering, which means the drainage should be sufficiently good. Tulips hate heavy clinging soil and will rot if waterlogged, so for heavy clay soils incorporate some grit if necessary. Plant bulbs in small 15-20 cm deep holes and set them 10-15 cm from the other. Position bulb with its tip uppermost in water. Sow lightly in soil and this one requires good watering. If squirrels or mice are a pest in regard to your garden, then, one should cover the planted areas with chicken wire till spring. Caring for Your Tulips Indeed, tulips are rather easy to maintain after planting, they do not need much attention. They will just sleep right through the winter providing you with the burst of activity in the other seasons. When the first signs of shoots, watch out for slugs and snail since tulip’s new leaves are one of their favourite meals. Once flowering has occurred, it is recommended that the foliage of the plant to be left to die off. This process enables the bulb to accumulate energy for the subsequent year’s display of the Christmas trees. It is okay to lift and store the bulbs after the leaves have wilted or, leave the bulbs to grow in the ground if the soil is free draining. Beyond the Bloom Tulips are of course beautiful on their own but are even more beautiful when complemented with other flowering plants. Use them with daffodils for that classic spring planting, or with forget-me-nots for that cute cottage garden look. For a more modern appearance, mass plant single colours in groups or sweeps. It is also worthwhile to mention about the application of tulips for growing cut flowers as well. Cut just a few stems when the buds are showing a hint of colour, and you will be able to flood your home with the fragrances of spring while the flowers continue to open in a vase.

Understanding Sharpening Methods for Your Gardening Tools

Keeping your gardening tools clean and sharp is not only the best way to protect yourself from injury, it is also important for ensuring your tools are the most effective and efficient as they can possibly be. If you are looking to invest in a sharpening tool, here is a bit of information into what and how each of these tools are used for.

Wholesale Tulip Bulbs and Hyacinth Bulbs Bring Life to Your Garden

Hyacinths and tulips are one of the most popular flowers for gardens. They are representative of spring and add beauty and life to any green space. Planting wholesale tulip lamps or hyacinth bulbs will bring you a smile for the season when they blossom. If you need bulbs of good quality, you should look for online offers.

Wildflower Bouquets – Choosing the Right Selection

Wildflower bouquets are perfect for any occasion, from weddings and christenings to parties and birthdays. There are many different flowers you can use together that will look stunning, giving the essence of a typical British garden or suggesting something entirely more exotic. Here are some ideas for wildflowers that will look beautiful in a bouquet: