Pick of the plants

If you have chalky soil it’s likely to be shallow, dry, alkaline (or acidic) and nutrient poor! But don’t despair, there are plenty of plants that are up to the challenge.

Full details of Plants for a difficult spot – chalky/limestone soil

All of us have enjoyed a quick kiss under the mistletoe at one time or another, but have you thought about where this tradition comes from? The extraordinary form and growth habit of this partially parasitic plant has inspired myths and traditions for centuries.
Back as far as Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) the mistletoe was [...]

Full details of The magic of mistletoe

While there are plenty of plants happy in moist shade or sunny, dry spots, finding plants which are happy in the combination of both shade and dry soil can be a challenge. These conditions are common in the garden – at the base of north facing walls, under shallow rooting trees or along hedges.
The situation [...]

Full details of Plants for a difficult spot - dry shade

In autumn and winter any flowering plants are precious, bringing a bit of colour into an otherwise dreary scene. So we’ve taken a look at some of our favourite autumn and winter flowering plants and how they got their names.

Full details of The stories behind the names

A north facing wall might not appear to have much going for it as a planting spot. It receives little sunlight and, depending on the direction of the prevailing wind, little water. However it’s often these dreary locations where we want to add a little colour and interest. And if you choose your plants carefully then that’s exactly what you can do.

Full details of Perfect plants for a north facing wall

The names we give plants can be very revealing about their origins, historic uses or mythical symbolism. Here are the stories behind the names of some spring flowering plants…

Full details of How some of our spring flowering favourites found their names

We can all name a few weeds, such as dandelions, bindweed and the dreaded Japanese knotweed. But what makes a plant a weed? Well, really a weed is simply a plant growing in the wrong place. So an errant gladiolus growing in a bed of roses could well be considered a weed, whereas gladioli in [...]

Full details of When is a weed not a weed?

If your summer blooms are fading and the autumn seems to be rather a drab prospect, why not roll out the red carpet for some real star plants? Asters, or Michaelmas daisies, are reliable, mainly perennial plants which provide much needed colour in the late summer and autumn.
To celebrate these late, but very welcome, bloomers, [...]

Full details of The stars of late summer

Forget the veg patch – why not try foraging for food in your ornamental borders?! Edible flowers abound in the garden year round, but the summer is the best time to find little gems to brighten up your salads and other dishes. Here’s our guide to some of the best floral fodder and suggestions on [...]

Full details of Flowers that look (and are!) good enough to eat

On a recent holiday to the Suffolk coast, I assiduously planned the gardens to visit while I was in the area to ensure I received my dose of greenery, despite holidaying by the sea. Well, I needn’t have bothered! I arrived to discover this eastern English coastline to be full of great swathes of plants [...]

Full details of Seaside specialities