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<p>Scent is one of the most evocative senses we have. Just a hint of fragrance can transport us back to a memorable summer, a special holiday or a beloved childhood garden. Whether your garden is big or small, adding a few <strong>scented plants</strong> allows you to revive old memories and create beautiful new ones.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our scent is one of the most evocative senses we have. Just a hint of fragrance can transport us back to a memorable summer, a special holiday or a beloved childhood garden. Whether your garden is big or small, adding a few <strong>scented plants</strong> allows you to revive old memories and create beautiful new ones.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Best scented herbs to plant</h2>
<p>As well as adding flavour to our favourite dishes, herbs are some of the best plants for scent. There are so many, it’s hard to choose between them, but these three are an excellent place to start:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Lavender</strong> – one of the most popular and well-known scented plants, with beautiful purple flowers that bees love as much as we do. Grow it in a sunny spot, in well-drained soil.&nbsp; Dwarf lavenders like ‘Munstead’ and ‘Imperial Gem’ are perfect for pots.</li>
<li><strong>Rosemary</strong> – plant this tasty cooking herb next to a sunny bench so that you can sit and appreciate the wafts of scent in summer.</li>
<li><strong>Mint</strong> – Plant mint in a pot to keep it from spreading out of control, and pinch a leaf when you pass, crushing it to release its delicious fresh fragrance.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Scented plants for small spaces</h2>
<p>Scented plants have double the impact in small gardens, where walls and fences enclose the fragrance, making it more intense. You’re closer to the plants in a small garden too, so it’s easier to appreciate their perfume. Here are three compact plants to try:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Dwarf sweet peas</strong> – ideal for pots, dwarf sweet peas have beautifully scented flowers, and cutting them for vases will encourage the plants to produce more.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Scented petunias</strong> – if you only have space for one pot or hanging basket, fill it with scented petunias for fragrance and flowers all summer long. Not all petunias are scented, so check the plant details before you buy.</li>
<li><strong>Daffodils</strong> – for a welcome waft of fragrance in spring, plant scented daffodils in pots or borders near the house. Narcissus ‘ Yellow Cheerfulness’ and Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’ are just two of several scented daffodil varieties available.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Scented plants for shady gardens</h2>
<p>Shade-loving scented plants can take you by surprise, with unassuming flowers that produce the most sensational scents. Here are three of our favourites:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Sweet box (Sarcococca confusa)</strong> – in the depths of winter, this evergreen shrub has tiny white flowers with an incredibly sweet scent. Plant it near a path or a doorway to appreciate the fragrance as you pass.</li>
<li><strong>Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)</strong> – the fresh green leaves make good groundcover for shady areas, with sprays of fragrant white flowers in spring.</li>
<li><strong>Honeysuckle ‘Serotina’ (Lonicera periclymenum)</strong> – this vigorous climber grows well in dappled shade, producing pink-and-cream scented flowers in late summer. Bees love the flowers.</li>
</ul>
<p>Scented plants bring a garden to life, and we have a fantastic range of shrubs, perennials and bulbs to suit every space. Visit us to find the perfect scented plants for your garden.</p>

Scented plants for every garden

<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">It is great fun <strong>decorating jar lanterns</strong> because not only is it a really nice DIY project to enjoy but it also means you end up with some personalised and pretty jar lanterns to use in your home or garden. They look stunning in the evening, especially if you are sitting outside enjoying the night sky or if you need to light the way when you have friends and family over. We have put these ideas together of ways you can make and decorate your lanterns, but if all else fails or you have little time, there are plenty of lovely lanterns to purchase all ready to light up in your garden.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">It is great fun <strong>decorating jar lanterns</strong> because not only is it an excellent DIY project to enjoy but it also means you end up with some personalised and pretty jar lanterns to use in your home or garden. They look stunning in the evening, especially if you are sitting outside enjoying the night sky or if you need to light the way when you have friends and family over. We have put these ideas together of ways you can make and decorate your lanterns, but if all else fails or you have little time, there are plenty of lovely lanterns to purchase all ready to light up in your garden.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">Decorating jar lanterns with fairy lights&nbsp;</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df" style="font-weight: normal;">Decorating jar lanterns with fairy lights</span> is one of the easiest but most effective ways to jazz up a jar lantern.</p>
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><span>Find a mason jar and some fairy lights of any colour you would love to see the light up the pot.</span></li>
<li><span>Then place the lights inside, make sure they wrap around the inside of the jar and are not all squished at the bottom, then put the lid on.</span></li>
<li><span>Battery operated fairy lights make them easy to turn on and off and they look great at any time of year.&nbsp;</span></li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">Tissue paper can be used for decorating jar lanterns</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">Another easy and fun idea, especially if you are doing this with children is to cut out lots of different shapes and colours of tissue paper. Use a mix of water and glue to put them on the outside of the jar and watch as the colours all run together and create a unique effect. You can use any jar from masons to jam, and you’ll need a paintbrush for the water and glue mix along with some scissors to cut the tissue paper. Don’t forget the candle inside or even fairy lights.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">Decorating jar lanterns with a coastal feel</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">For a simple jar lantern with a feeling that you are by the sea, put stones into the bottom or sand or even a mix then stand your candle inside. Why not hang it up or make a few of them and hang all of them up together. You’ll feel like you’re hanging out at the beach in your own garden. Decorating jar lanterns is a festive activity with friends and family, too. If you invite friends or family to come over, get all the needs for an afternoon full of decorating. At the end of the day, everyone has its jar lantern decorated, and you turned your garden into a beach bar full of lights.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">Get festive when decorating jar lanterns&nbsp;</span></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">If you are decorating your own lanterns you can theme them any way you would like, so why not be festive? Grab your chosen jar and place some small pieces of conifer or fir into the bottom before placing your tea light on top. Then on the outside tie a festive ribbon around the jar. Why not use a red silk ribbon or a silver festive patterned one.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee70782e-7fff-809f-58c3-90ae2854e5df">Come in store to visit us and see what you can find to decorate your jar lantern.</span></p>

Decorating jar lanterns

<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Helping <strong>allergies caused by pets</strong> is imperative if you love your furry friends but can’t get too close because of allergies. There are a few options to ensure you can cuddle your favourite pets without sneezing, sniffing or breaking out in a rash so don’t give up hope until you’ve tried some of these ideas. It is essential to get allergies to pets under control when needed so you can visit family and friends who have pets or even have some pets of your own. If you also suffer from hay fever, these approaches could also help.</p>

<p>Helping <strong>allergies caused by pets</strong> is imperative if you love your furry friends but can’t get too close because of allergies. There are a few options to ensure you can cuddle your favourite pets without sneezing, sniffing or breaking out in a rash, so don’t give up hope until you’ve tried some of these ideas. It is essential to get allergies to pets under control when needed so you can visit family and friends who have pets or even have some pets of your own. If you also suffer from hay fever, these approaches could also help.</p>
<h2>Anti-allergy tablets for allergies caused by pets&nbsp;</h2>
<p>One of the quickest ways to get an allergy under control is by taking anti-allergy tablets, nose sprays and eye drops. There are many available, so you will need to find the ones that work for you and follow the instructions for dosage. They can also help with hay fever and other allergies, so if you are prone to any of these, this is a good option. However, you might not want to take them every day forever, so it is always best to see your doctor first to discuss what will be best for you. There are other longer-term options, such as injections and steroids.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Cleaning and dusting can help allergies caused by pets&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Keeping your home clean and well dusted can help to control allergies. Dander from pets is microscopic flakes of skin and proteins from saliva which gets the allergy going. It can be tough to keep on top of but clean fabrics, carpets and polishing surfaces can help. Also, keep your pets bedding area washed and cleaned as well. This approach, along with antihistamines, will go towards seeing an improvement.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Allergies caused by pets can be limited if you chose your pet wisely</h2>
<p>If you are looking for a pet because you love animals and want an addition to your family, check out pets that don’t cause allergies. Gerbils, Hamsters and Mice while still furry are considerably smaller than a Dog or Cat and therefore less likely to cause severe allergies. Also consider Fish, Birds and even dogs and cats that are known to cause fewer allergies such as Bichon Frise, Poodle and the Sphynx cat.</p>
<h2>Choose anti-allergy bedding for allergies caused by pets&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Why not make sure that all of your bedding, throws and cushions are also anti-allergy. Many people who have allergies to pets are also allergic to other things, including dust from fabrics in the home. Anti-allergy bedding, pillows and other soft furnishings can help to control how you feel as no one wants to be sneezing all of the time. Hopefully, these ideas will help you enjoy yours and your family and friends pets.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Check out our pet department for your next furry family friend.&nbsp;</p>

Allergies caused by pets

<p>The much-loved <strong>Hydrangea for the garden and home</strong> comes into its own at this time of year. Many will have been flowering for months at this point, and many will also just be turning into those beautiful late summer toned down flower heads. They look both fantastic in the garden and the home placed in a vase. Get the best from your Hydrangeas with our ideas below.</p>

<p>The much-loved <strong>Hydrangea for the garden and home</strong> comes into its own at this time of year. Many will have been flowering for months at this point, and many will also just be turning into those beautiful late summer toned down flower heads. They look both fantastic in the garden and the home placed in a vase. Get the best from your Hydrangeas with our ideas below.</p>
<h2>Hydrangeas for the garden and home all year</h2>
<p>Make the most of your Hydrangeas and snip some of the colourful blooms for the vase. Whether the flowers are blue, pink, white or green a single stem in a long thin vase can look exquisite. If you have a lot of Hydrangeas, why not snip a whole bunch and put on a show-stopping display. When Autumn comes around, and the flower heads are turning to the well known brown tones with translucent petals, those can also be cut for the home.</p>
<h2>Leave outside Hydrangeas for the garden and home</h2>
<p>If you don’t want to cut them for the home vase, the flower heads give stunning structure in the colder months of the year and can be a home for insects and other wildlife at a time when there is little else available. Leaving Hydrangea heads on can also be really good for the plants overall health, and there is no need to prune them until the following year when you have a tidy up.</p>
<h2>How to display Hydrangeas for the garden and home</h2>
<p>There are lots of ways to show off your gorgeous Hydrangea blooms when you have cut some stems for the home. Remove the foliage and put them into a clear vase with fresh water for a classic coffee table look or why not try them the other way up and dry them hanging upside down tied with string. Why not try a fun project and attach the Hydrangea heads and to some wire to make a pretty hanging wreath for your front door. The petals will fade and look great for a long time.</p>
<h2>Keep cut Hydrangeas for the garden and home blooming a long time</h2>
<p>When your cut flowers start to wilt, there are ways to promote a revival and one of those ways is to put the whole Hydrangea in some water for about 30 to 45 minutes. The entire bloom needs to be under the water. When you remove the cut flower and stem, just recut the stem at the base and dip into a mug of boiling water before placing back into the vase with some clean, fresh water. You will be surprised how quickly the Hydrangea perks up!</p>
<p>From tools to prune and vases for flower displays, we have what you need in store.</p>

Hydrangea for the garden and home

<p>As the days start getting shorter and the leaves blaze red and gold, enjoy the last of the good weather as you wind down the garden for winter. There’s lots to be harvested and plenty of planning to do for next spring. Here are our <strong>top 15 gardening tips for September</strong>.</p>

<p>As the days start getting shorter and the leaves blaze red and gold, enjoy the last of the good weather as you wind down the garden for winter. There’s lots to be harvested and plenty of planning to do for next spring. Here are our <strong>top 15 gardening tips for September</strong>.</p>
<h2>Top 15 garden tips for September</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Harvest French and runner beans frequently to keep them producing more. Once the plants have finished, cut them down at ground level, so that the roots can release their stored nitrogen back into the soil.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Pinch out the tips of outdoor-grown cordon tomatoes once they have 4 trusses of fruit, to focus the plants’ energies on ripening the fruit.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>In the orchard, pick blackberries and autumn raspberries. Cut back the fruited canes of summer raspberries down to ground level and tie in this year’s strong new canes to supports for next year’s crop. Harvest plums, pears and apples.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Harvest the last of the maincrop potatoes. Cut off the foliage three weeks before you harvest, to reduce the risk of blight spores infecting your spuds. Leave the potatoes to dry for a few hours before storing in paper bags or hessian sacks.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Net leafy brassicas like kale to protect them from birds.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>It’s not too late to sow and plant vegetables. Sow spinach and spring cabbage for next year, and have horticultural fleece ready to cover the ground from October to protect the seedlings from frost. Plant onion and garlic sets now for early harvests next year. Choose onions suitable for autumn sowings, like ‘Troy’ or ‘Radar’.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Pot up strawberry runners to make new plants, or cut them off to conserve the plants’ energy.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Sow hardy annual seeds, including nigella, poppies, cornflower and scabious, for next year’s summer display.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If you’ve been growing biennials like wallflowers (Erysimum) from seed, plant them out now so that they can settle in before winter.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Plant up containers with violas, heucheras and heather for autumn and winter interest, and pop in a layer of daffodil bulbs first for spring flowers.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Now’s a good time to plant new perennials and shrubs, while the soil is still warm. It’s also a good time to move existing shrubs and trees.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials like crocosmia.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Keep deadheading dahlias, roses and penstemons, and cut back geraniums and other perennials as they fade.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Raise the blades on your lawnmower, and mow less often. Scarify and aerate lawns, and give them an autumn lawn feed which is high in potassium. Patch gaps in lawns with seed or turf.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Plant spring bulbs, including daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, bluebells and fritillaries. Wait until November to plant tulips, as the colder weather reduces the risk of disease.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>We’re here to help you with your garden all year round, so come and visit our centre to find seeds, bulbs and everything else you need.</p>

15 garden tips for September

<p>For genuinely spectacular flowers in <strong>September</strong>, the <strong>houseplant</strong>&nbsp;<strong>strelitzia</strong> takes some beating. With its tufts of flaming orange petals, like the head of a fabulous exotic bird, it’s easy to see why it’s called the bird of paradise plant or the crane flower. Big blue-grey leaves, like those of the banana plant, add to the tropical appeal of this striking plant. Native to South Africa, strelitzias usually flower in spring and summer, although indoor-grown plants may produce flowers at any time of year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For genuinely spectacular flowers in <strong>September</strong>, the <strong>houseplant</strong>&nbsp;<strong>strelitzia</strong> takes some beating. With its tufts of flaming orange petals, like the head of a fabulous exotic bird, it’s easy to see why it’s called the bird of paradise plant or the crane flower. Big blue-grey leaves, like those of the banana plant, add to the tropical appeal of this striking plant. Native to South Africa, strelitzias usually flower in spring and summer, although indoor-grown plants may produce flowers at any time of year.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Classic strelitzia</h2>
<p>The most readily available strelitzia is the classic orange-flowered Strelitzia reginae. There’s also a yellow-flowered variety called Strelitzia ‘Kirstenbosch Gold’ or ‘Mandela’s Gold’, which can be harder to find.</p>
<p>White-flowered Strelitzia nicolai is called the giant bird of paradise plant because it can grow to 10m (33ft) tall. In a pot, it won’t reach those dizzy heights, but it’s still a plant for a large conservatory rather than a greenhouse.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Growing strelitzias indoors</h2>
<p>Strelitzias prefer a humid atmosphere, so they do better in a conservatory or greenhouse than in a centrally heated house where the dry air can be a problem for them. They are not frosted hardy. In their native environment, where winters are dry, they can cope with the occasional very light frost, but in colder, wetter climates they need a minimum winter night temperature of 10-12ºC (50-54ºF). In summer, ventilate greenhouses or conservatories when the temperature rises above 20ºC, or move your strelitzias outside for the summer.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Tips on caring for strelitzias</h2>
<ul>
<li>Plant your strelitzia in a loam-based compost such as John Innes No.3, with added grit to improve drainage.</li>
<li>Water regularly in spring and summer to keep the compost consistently moist but not soaked. Reduce watering in autumn, and in winter let the compost around the roots dry out between waterings.</li>
<li>Between April and September, feed fortnightly with a liquid houseplant feed.</li>
<li>In spring, remove any tatty old leaves, cutting them off at the base of the stem.</li>
<li>Remove flowers as they fade.</li>
<li>Top dress containers every year, replacing the top 5cm (2in) of compost with fresh, and re-pot plants every couple of years.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What to do if your strelitzia is not flowering</h2>
<p>Strelitzias don’t flower until they are between 6-10 years old, so to make sure yours is old enough, buy one that is already in flower. Alternatively, enjoy your young strelitzia as a foliage plant until it is mature enough to flower.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On mature plants, a lack of flowers is a sign that the plant is not happy with its growing conditions. Make sure it has a humid environment with bright light, and feed regularly.</p>
<p>Watch out for red spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects on greenhouse-grown strelitzias, and treat early with biological controls or pesticide sprays before infestations get established.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Turn your conservatory into a tropical paradise with our range of strelitzias and other spectacular indoor plants. Visit our centre soon to find your perfect plant.</p>

Houseplant of the month: Strelitzia

<p>Spring bulbs are now in stock ! Plant now for a gorgeous display later on . Varieties include Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths and Alliums.&nbsp;</p>

Spring bulbs

<p><strong>Shady gardens</strong> can be beautiful. On blazing hot summer days, what could be better than a comfortable seat in the shade? Flower colours are softer in the darkness, and green foliage takes centre stage, creating a tranquil setting with just a hint of mystery.</p>

<p><strong>Shady gardens</strong> can be beautiful. On blazing hot summer days, what could be better than a comfortable seat in the shade? Flower colours are softer in the darkness, and green foliage takes centre stage, creating a tranquil setting with just a hint of mystery.</p>
<h2>How to choose plants for a shady garden</h2>
<p>To make the most of a shady garden, don’t try to fight it. Sun-loving plants like lavender, roses and dahlias will look spindly and miserable in too much shade – not a recipe for a delightful garden.&nbsp; Choosing plants for a shady garden calls for a change of viewpoint. Instead of brightly coloured flowers, use contrasting foliage colours and shapes to keep things interesting all year round.&nbsp; Lacy ferns and tall grasses look sensational next to bold-leaved plants such as hostas.</p>
<p>And if you crave colour, you can always add it through garden furniture or pots. Red and green are complementary colours, so a red pot will stand out vividly against a green background, while soft blues and mauves harmonise beautifully with dark green foliage.</p>
<h2>Plants for dry shade</h2>
<p>Even the sunniest garden is likely to have some dry shade under trees or near walls. This is the most robust area to plant anything in, but some plants will grow and even thrive under these conditions. To help your plants cope, dig in lots of well-rotted farmyard manure when planting, and mulch annually. Here are a few stalwarts for dry shade:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’</em> – a reliable evergreen shrub with yellow-spotted green leaves and bright red berries in winter.</li>
<li><em>Mahonia aquifolium</em> – a large architectural shrub with holly-like dark green leaves and spires of sensationally scented yellow flowers in late winter, followed by dark blue berries which birds love.</li>
<li><em>Hellebores</em> – the palmate evergreen leaves look good all year round, and the beautiful winter flowers are a bonus.&nbsp;</li>
<li><em>Geranium macrorrhizum</em> – an excellent groundcover plant with aromatic evergreen foliage and bright pink flowers in spring.</li>
<li><em>Dryopteris wallichiana</em> – a deciduous fern with long, elegant bright-green fronds.</li>
<li><em>Epimediums</em> – heart-shaped leaves and tiny, dainty flowers in spring.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Plants for damp shade</h2>
<p>Reliably moist soil in the shade is the ideal situation for a whole range of gorgeous plants, even including a few with brightly coloured flowers. Here are a few to try:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Hostas</em> – bold architectural leaves and lilac or white flower spires&nbsp;in summer. The thicker-leaved varieties are slightly less prone to slug and snail damage.</li>
<li><em>Astilbes</em> – fern-like foliage and plumes of pink, red or white flowers in summer.</li>
<li><em>Primula japonica (Candelabra primula)</em> – tall, upright flower spikes with brightly coloured flowers in summer.</li>
<li><em>Lamprocapnos spectabilis (previously Dicentra, also called Bleeding heart)</em> – arching stems bear pretty locket-shaped pink flowers in spring.</li>
<li><em>Brunnera macrophylla</em> – sprays of blue forget-me-not flowers in spring, and boldly variegated leaves that look good right through to late autumn.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you need some inspiration for your shady garden, visit our centre, where you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in our impressive range of shade-loving plants.&nbsp;</p>

Plants for shady gardens

<p>These <strong>sustainable upcycling garden activities</strong> will help to give you some inspiration for reusing and recycling some of your household or garden items that you might otherwise throw away. It can be really satisfying to up-cycle old goods and can also help to add your own personality into the garden. As well as reducing waste, you can personalise items and make some extraordinary new things for your garden. Upcycling can be a lovely activity to do on your own or with kids.</p>

<p>These <strong>sustainable upcycling garden activities</strong> will help to give you some inspiration for reusing and recycling some of your household or garden items that you might otherwise throw away. It can be really satisfying to up-cycle old goods and can also help to add your own personality into the garden. As well as reducing waste, you can personalise items and make some extraordinary new things for your garden. Upcycling can be a lovely activity to do on your own or with kids.</p>
<h2>Use pallets for sustainable upcycling garden activities</h2>
<p>If you’ve had a delivery and it has arrived on a pallet, don’t throw it away. Pallets are invaluable in the garden for upcycling. You could paint it, line it and plant herbs or strawberries in, you could use it to make a compost bin or even attach it to a wall and have your very own green wall pallet planter full of greens.</p>
<h2>Sustainable upcycling garden activities include a chest of drawers</h2>
<p>It is incredible what can be done with an old chest of drawers, so before you head to the tip just picture your drawers in your garden or on the patio or even at the allotment full of plants! Paint the drawers or leave as they are, open all drawers and drill some drainage holes in the line and plant up! Choose any plants, but they do look fantastic with a mix of succulents and cacti.</p>
<h2>Tyres make great sustainable upcycling garden activities</h2>
<p>There is no need to dispose of tyres when they make the perfect funky garden planters. Paint the tyre and hang from a tree or attach to a wall and plant inside. Pretty Petunias look great and when they have finished flowering for the summer, switch them for some winter Cyclamen for a seasonal look. If you have lots of tyres, why not line your garden path with them and plant them up.</p>
<h2>Turn old footballs into&nbsp;containers as a sustainable upcycling garden activity</h2>
<p>Did you know that old footballs make a great flower pot for garden plants? Cut out some parts of the football and fill the ball with soil and organic matter. Succulents, both as cacti are great for this type of planters. You can even choose to paint your football in a colour you like.</p>
<h2>Use old cutlery for your sustainable upcycling garden activities</h2>
<p>We all forget what we have planted where sometimes. There are many label options available, but why not make your own using your old cutlery? They are hard-wearing, it is better than throwing them away and a sustainable approach to plant labelling. Just grab a hand stamp and stamp the names of your plants on the metal handles. Easy!</p>
<h2>Crockery can be used to make great sustainable upcycling garden activities</h2>
<p>Before you give your old teapot to the charity shop, think about reusing it in the garden in a fun way. They can be used as birds nests or planted up and put on the garden table for a grand centrepiece. Ready to plant your upcycled projects?</p>
<p>Visit us in store for the perfect plants to finish it off.</p>

Sustainable upcycling garden activities

<p>Our <strong>top 5 spring bulbs</strong> to order now will give your garden some pizazz next year, and as ever when gardening, it is always good to look to the seasons ahead allowing your bulbs and plants the time to store nutrients and get ready to bloom at just the right time of year. Try these for the perfect colour next spring.</p>

<p>Our <strong>top 5 spring bulbs</strong> to order now will give your garden some pizazz next year, and as ever when gardening, it is always good to look to the seasons ahead allowing your bulbs and plants the time to store nutrients and get ready to bloom at just the right time of year. Try these for the perfect colour next spring.</p>
<h2>Tulips</h2>
<p>Spring would not be the same without some colourful Tulips in your garden. They grow well in pots and borders, so there is no need to feel restricted by space. There are so very many to choose from so you can mix and match lots of colours from Single, Triumph, Darwin hybrid, Parrot and many more. Or if you’d like a simple colour scheme, why not go for some fresh white Tulips in a big terracotta pot. Simple beautiful.</p>
<h2>Daffodils</h2>
<p>The real sign of spring is when the Daffodils are out in all of their flowering yellow glory! Now is a great time to order them to be ready with a lovely bag of bulbs to plant out in Autumn, giving them enough time to get ready for a spring display. If yellow is not your colour, there are also white and even pink Daffodils available. Don’t forget there are some that you can grow over the winter in seasonal pots indoors.</p>
<h2>Alliums</h2>
<p>Some of the most stunning spring displays and at all of the gardening shows is the globe-shaped Alliums. Allium ‘Christophii’ is a firm favourite with large flower heads made up of lilac star-shaped flowers. Or you could try the taller ‘Purple Sensation’ dotted about in your border. Easy to grow, even the seed heads look fantastic.</p>
<h2>Ranunculus</h2>
<p>The pretty petals of the Ranunculus are some of the most Instagrammable spring flowers! Whirls of leaves make up colourful flowers for spring pots and borders. You can pack a bowl full of gorgeous Ranunculus of many colours, and they will make you smile next spring. Soak the bulbs before planting and pop them in a sheltered space, ready to watch them grow.</p>
<h2>Hyacinths</h2>
<p>For all of the spring bulbs, the Hyacinth is undoubtedly the most fragrant. From pink to white and dark purple, they pop up in spring and surprise everyone with their amazing smell. If you can’t wait that long, you could even go for some forced bulbs and grow them over the winter months indoors. The bulbs can be placed in a bulb vase filled with water, and you can not only watch the flowers grow but also the roots from beneath.</p>
<p>Whichever you decide on, or perhaps you can’t resist and get them all, getting prepared now to order and then plant in Autumn is the best way to ensure a colourful spring garden next year. Grab your spring bulbs from us. We have a great selection available for your garden.</p>

Top 5 Spring bulbs to order now

<p>Want a quick way to feel better? Get yourself a <strong>houseplant</strong> or two.&nbsp;A recent Japanese study showed that taking a 3-minute break from your computer screen to care for or just look at a plant can help to reduce your pulse rate and anxiety levels.&nbsp;Being around plants, even if it’s just a cactus on a desk, reminds us of nature and the outdoors, connecting us to a healthier way of life. Find out anything about&nbsp;<strong>3 houseplants that are good for your health</strong>.</p>

<p>Want a quick way to feel better? Get yourself a <strong>houseplant</strong> or two.&nbsp;A recent Japanese study showed that taking a 3-minute break from your computer screen to care for or just look at a plant can help to reduce your pulse rate and anxiety levels.&nbsp;Being around plants, even if it’s just a cactus on a desk, reminds us of nature and the outdoors, connecting us to a healthier way of life. Find out anything about&nbsp;<b>three</b> <strong>houseplants that are good for your health</strong>.</p>
<p>But of course, the last thing you need is a hard-to-care-for houseplant that just gives you something else to worry about. Staring at a dead plant is not suitable for anyone’s mental health. So we’ve come up with <strong>three low-maintenance houseplants</strong> that will fill your home with greenery and don’t mind a bit of neglect.</p>
<h2>Tips on caring for houseplants</h2>
<p>First, a few general tips on taking care of houseplants:</p>
<ul>
<li>Choose the right plant for the conditions. Some plants will thrive on a sunny windowsill, while others prefer a cool shady spot, so check plant labels before you buy.</li>
<li>Don’t&nbsp;overwater. Overwatering is one of the leading killers of houseplants. As a general rule, very few plants like sitting with their roots in soggy compost.</li>
<li>Avoid putting plants near a radiator, which will dry the air and bake the plants.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Indestructible houseplant #1: the peace lily (Spathiphyllum)</h2>
<p>Elegant and stylish, with large glossy green leaves and the occasional white flower, the peace lily is a perennially popular houseplant. Please put it in bright, indirect light, water it when the surface of the compost feels dry, and wipe the leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to remove dust. Feed monthly with a liquid houseplant feed.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>NB: Peace lilies are toxic to both cats and dogs, so place plants out of pets’ reach.&nbsp;</strong></p>
<h2>Indestructible houseplant #2: the spider plant (Chlorophytum)</h2>
<p>One of the best things about spider plants is that once you have one, it’s so easy to grow more. These low-maintenance plants regularly put out long stems with little tufts of leaves at the ends. Press the leaf clusters into pots of compost, keep them watered for a few weeks while they develop roots, then cut them free from the mother plant and hey presto, you have a whole family of little spider plants.&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Spider plants like bright, indirect light.</li>
<li>Water them regularly enough to keep the compost just moist and feed two or three times between spring and autumn with a liquid houseplant feed.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Indestructible houseplant #3: the snake plant (Sansevieria)</h2>
<p>The snake plant, also rather unkindly known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is one of those permanent plants that will grow practically anywhere. Ideally, it likes bright, indirect light, but it will cope well with low light conditions too. Let the compost dry out between waterings, and feed once a month in spring and summer with a liquid houseplant food diluted to half-strength.</p>
<p>Every house needs a few houseplants, and you’ll find a fantastic range in our centre. Come and visit us to choose your perfect plant.</p>

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News - Page 6

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Top 5 Spring bulbs to order now

3 houseplants that are good for your health