seasonal plants
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Plant paperwhite narcissi bulbs now to be in flower for Christmas
With their clear white, paper-thin bunches of flowers and good scent, paperwhite narcissi are a classic Christmas flower for the house. They are easy to force (bring into flower early... Read More -
Plants for your autumn and winter kitchen
Plants in the kitchen are a great way of lifting the spirits in autumn and winter. Something green or even flowering brings cheer into the house in the dark days... Read More -
Four reasons to love sprawling plants in your garden
Sprawling holds just a hint of taking up more space than the rulebook says. And this ‘not quite following the rules’ is perhaps the attraction of sprawling plants. They laze... Read More -
Algerian irises for Christmas and New Year flowers
Algerian irises (Iris unguicularis) bring you sweetly scented and delicate curls of lavender or deep violet throughout the winter. They are gorgeous as cut flowers. I’m mentioning this because September... Read More -
How to grow elegant Japanese anemones
I always think that Japanese anemones are so elegant. These tall plants (60-120cm/2-4ft high) with deeply lobed leaves are in full flower from August through to the first frosts of... Read More -
Focus on fragrant Asiatic jasmine, Trachelospermum asiaticum
These are the months when we spend time relaxing outside in gardens and on terraces, balconies and patios. When the temperature is warm, scented plants really come into their own... Read More -
Focus on fuchsias – at their best now
Fuchsias are coming back into fashion. These are the exotic, hanging bell-shaped flowers that come in so many shades and combinations of pink, purple, red and white. They flower profusely... Read More -
How to grow new strawberry plants for next year from runners
If you followed our step-by-step guide to growing strawberries you’ll probably be picking a few of your very own strawbs about now. And even as you enjoy the fruits of... Read More -
Geums are colourful easy plants to grow and look great
Geums or avens have got so much going for them. They are beautiful. They are slug-resistant. They are almost evergreen hardy perennials that form clumps, providing excellent ground cover and... Read More -
The secrets of growing the perfect red rose
What is the perfect red rose? Well, that’s a bit of a thorny question … but to many people it means the ‘classic’ rose. A rose with a long stem... Read More -
Create a scented patio for the summer
Wherever you sit and relax outside, scented plants add to the pleasure. Here are five suggestions for plants which are lovely to have around in summer. Lilac as we tip... Read More -
Help in the garden: the three sisters and other companion plants
Certain plants growing together - companion planting - can be of mutual benefit and help one other to thrive. It’s a technique that’s been around for years and is certainly... Read More