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Nothing lifts the spirits on a cold day like a garden filled with fragrance. Even in the depths of winter, a few hardy plants carry on flowering, perfuming the air and reminding us that spring isn’t far away. We’ve picked our top five plants for winter scent.

Nothing lifts the spirits on a cold day like a garden filled with fragrance. Even in the depths of winter, a few hardy plants carry on flowering, perfuming the air and reminding us that spring isn’t far away. We’ve picked our top five plants for winter scent.
&nbsp;
<h2>1. Viburnum x bodnantense (arrowwood)</h2>
This gorgeous winter-flowering shrub starts its spectacular show in autumn, when the dark green leaves turn blazing orange and red before falling. Clusters of fragrant, soft pink flowers then appear on bare branches, providing colour and scent right through the winter months.&nbsp;
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is one of the most popular cultivars, happy in sun or light shade and growing into a large, bushy shrub.
&nbsp;
<h2>2. Hamamelis (witch hazel)</h2>
Witch hazels are another group of shrubs that spring into action late in the year, with leaves turning golden yellow and orange in autumn. Scented flowers appear in mid-winter on bare branches, looking like small spidery clusters of orange, red or yellow candied peel. These large shrubs need a bit of space, as well as sunshine and a well-drained, acidic soil, but it’s worth it for that fabulous fragrance.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ has striking burnt-orange flowers and a delicate citrusy perfume. ‘Diane’ has a fainter scent but fantastic vibrant red flowers, and ‘Arnold’s Promise’ produces fragrant, lemon-yellow flowers.
&nbsp;
<h2>3. Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet)</h2>
Wintersweet is perfectly named, producing modest, pale lemon-yellow flowers with maroon markings inside in January and February. And while the flowers themselves may be low-key, their scent is simply sensational. Wintersweet is a large, bushy shrub that will grow in most garden soils, doing best in sunny, sheltered spots. In very cold areas, it’s best trained against a sunny wall.
&nbsp;
<h2>4. Mahonia (Oregon grape)</h2>
Mahonias are the perfect low-maintenance garden plants – evergreen, happy in shade and flowering in winter just when we all need a splash of colour. Their bright yellow flower spires have a delectable lily-of-the-valley scent that’s a welcome lift in cold weather, and the blue-black berries that follow the flowers are very popular with birds.
Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ and ‘Charity’ are both excellent, long-flowering varieties, growing into large, striking shrubs.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>5. Sarcococca (Sweet box)</h2>
Another great plant for a shady garden, Sarcococca is an easy-to-grow shrub with glossy evergreen leaves. Clusters of tiny, creamy-white flowers emerge in winter, hardly noticeable in themselves but so fragrant that passers-by can’t help looking around to find the source of the delicious sweet scent.
Sarcococca confusa forms a large, dense shrub, great for shady borders, while Sarcococca hookeriana Winter Gem is a relatively new cultivar, growing into a compact shrub ideal for smaller gardens.
For a garden filled with colour and scent this winter, come and see our collection of shrubs and other winter-flowering plants. Our staff are always on hand to help and advise.

5 x fabulous winter-scented plants

When the days are short and it’s cold outside, it can feel as though there’s no life left in the garden. But in fact now’s the best time for many gardening jobs, so wrap up warm, grab your gloves and get on out there.

When the days are short and it’s cold outside, it can feel as though there’s no life left in the garden. But in fact now’s the best time for many gardening jobs, so wrap up warm, grab your gloves and get on out there.
&nbsp;
<h2>Sowing and planting</h2>
Even in November, you can still plant things and sow seeds. Get a head start on next summer’s flowers by sowing sweet peas in pots in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse. Soak the seeds in water overnight before sowing to improve their germination rate.
There’s still time to plant spring bulbs – in fact, November’s the ideal month for planting tulips. And don’t forget to fill a few pots with heathers, violas, cyclamens and ivy for gorgeous winter colour.
In the vegetable garden, there’s plenty to do. In mild areas, you can direct sow broad beans outdoors for an early crop next May. Broad bean ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ is an excellent choice for overwintering.&nbsp; Protect your bean seeds from mice with netting pegged down over the soil, or spread a thick layer of prickly holly leaves over them. Plant overwintering onions and garlic, and plant out spring cabbage seedlings.
November’s also a good time to plant soft fruit, like gooseberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and currants.
&nbsp;
<h2>10 gardening jobs for November</h2>
<ol>
<li>Aerate your lawn and clear fallen leaves.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Give your lawn a&nbsp;last cut on a high setting, and trim border edges to give your garden a crisp, neat look for winter.</li>
<li>Clear away any blackspot-infected fallen leaves and burn or compost them.</li>
<li>Cut back herbaceous perennials.</li>
<li>Collect leaves for leafmould.</li>
<li>Move any shrubs that are in the wrong position.</li>
<li>Spread manure on vegetable beds, and leave it to work into the soil over winter.</li>
<li>Prune roses by a third to reduce the effect of wind rock.</li>
<li>Lift dahlia, gladiolus and begonia tubers and store them in a cool, dry place until next spring.</li>
<li>Tidy up strawberry plants by removing old leaves and stray runners.</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
<h2>Protect your garden against the cold</h2>
Cold wet winters can be disastrous for many plants, especially those from warmer climates. A thick layer of mulch on beds will help protect plants against winter wet, as well as improving the soil over time.&nbsp;
Wrap pots in hessian or bubble wrap to insulate them against frosts, and raise them up on pot feet to improve drainage.
And don’t forget your garden wildlife. Birds need all the help they can get in winter, so put up a bird feeder and fill it regularly with high-energy foods like sunflower seeds or suet balls. If you have a birdbath, keep it filled and free of ice so that birds can keep their feathers clean, which helps them to stay warm through icy weather.
For more gardening inspiration, come and visit our local garden centre, where our friendly staff are always happy to help and advise.

What to do in the garden in November? 

As the colder months have arrived&nbsp;and the wet, windy weather is more prevalent than sunny days, it means it is time to get the garden ready for winter. It is really important to prepare everything needed in advance to ensure your plants, accessories and furniture all make it through the cold, wet weather-ready for the springtime and for you to enjoy during the summer. These guide will help you get everything ready in time.&nbsp;

As the colder months have arrived&nbsp;and the wet, windy weather is more prevalent than sunny days, it means it is time to get the garden ready for winter. It is really important to prepare everything needed in advance to ensure your plants, accessories and furniture all make it through the cold, wet weather-ready for the springtime and for you to enjoy during the summer. These guide will help you get everything ready in time.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>What do you need to get ready?&nbsp;</h2>
<ul>
<li>Furniture</li>
<li>Soil&nbsp;</li>
<li>Pots and containers&nbsp;</li>
<li>Plants&nbsp;</li>
<li>Accessories&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>Get the garden ready for winter and protect your furniture&nbsp;</h2>
If you have some garden furniture make sure it gets protected from the elements. If you have space, store your garden table and chairs undercover in a shed or a garage but if you don’t have space, garden table covers can do a great job protecting your furniture. So cover them over and then secure them down so they don't blow off in the wind.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Prepare the soil by getting the garden ready for winter&nbsp;</h2>
It has been a long growing season and your plants will have used up all of those nutrients in the soil to flower. If you rake up all of your leaves and store them in black sacks, with holes in the following year that will turn into a great mulch for your soil. If you use that to replenish the soil and protect your perennials, that will be a great way to get the garden ready. Alternatively, give the soil a good covering of the well-rotted organic garden matter&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Get the garden ready for winter by cleaning your pots&nbsp;</h2>
If you have used pots and containers, give them a good clean with warm soapy water then store them somewhere safe and dry. If you have plants growing in pots and containers, lift them up onto pot feet or bricks to improve the drainage throughout the wetter weather.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Plants need preparing to get the garden ready for winter</h2>
If you haven’t already, make sure your perennials are cut back before the frosts but leave some as they are for wildlife to enjoy the seeds and places to hide in winter. Put the cut off stems and foliage into the compost bin and give the plants a good mulch.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Don’t forget your garden accessories to get the garden ready for winter&nbsp;</h2>
If you have anything in the garden that may blow away or get damaged in the wet, windy weather make sure it is secured down or moved into a safe place. If you have fairy lights up, take them down and store them until next year.&nbsp;
From cleaning equipment to garden furniture covers, we have what you need in-store to get your garden ready for the cold month ahead.&nbsp;

Guide to getting the garden ready for winter

Be trendy and include some artisanal fixtures to your home, giving it a warm feel with exceptional designs. The look goes particularly well in rooms in the house that you spend a lot of time in, so the living room or kitchen for example. Often hand made by someone who has a story behind the creation, artisanal fixtures can give a new dimension to the rooms in your house. Adding a touch of Artisan to your home can give it a unique feel and character.&nbsp;

Be trendy and include some artisanal fixtures to your home, giving it a warm feel with exceptional designs. The look goes particularly well in rooms in the house that you spend a lot of time in, so the living room or kitchen for example. Often hand made by someone who has a story behind the creation, artisanal fixtures can give a new dimension to the rooms in your house. Adding a touch of Artisan to your home can give it a unique feel and character.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Use exposed Edison bulbs as artisanal fixtures in your home</h2>
Lighting is key in a unique and character-filled home. There are many lighting fixtures that can look stunning and eye-catching that have exposed Edison bulbs as a feature. From single cable hanging bulbs to multiple candelabra style lighting fixtures, there are many to choose from. The choice is endless and up to you and the style you would like to create in your home.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Handcrafted artisanal fixtures&nbsp;</h2>
When an item has been crafted by hand with love plus thought and creativity involved, no two pieces can ever be the same. This gives you a great chance to add in some individuality to your own home. From fixed wooden benches and stylish wooden chairs to a one-off table to dine at with family and friends. Look for the piece of artisan furniture that catches your eye.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Artisanal fixtures can include shelves and plants&nbsp;</h2>
Don’t forget your plants! They will need a place in your new stylish home. Try some stepped shelves fixed solidly to your wall and then place your favourite plants on each shelf to decorate. Choose from architectural plants to trailing plants and make it really stand out. You could even frame it with some handcrafted pots and beautiful plants as well.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Soften your artisanal fixtures with accessories&nbsp;</h2>
To finish off the look, remember to add in cushions, rugs and matching curtains. Often bold lines work well or go for colourful patterns if your walls are plain. This can work well with wooden fixtures and cool hanging lighting fittings and those great Edison bulbs.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Enjoy the shopping experience for artisanal fixtures&nbsp;</h2>
One of the great parts of choosing the right fixtures for your home is shopping! Visiting different artisan makers and discovering new designers and creations can be hugely enjoyable and you may end up picking some of the finest pieces of furniture you can imagine.&nbsp;
Come and shop with us for some unique artisanal fixtures for your home and create your own individual style.&nbsp;

Home trends: Artisanal fixtures

If you&rsquo;re short on space, with little time to garden, sempervivums, saxifrages and sedums are the perfect plants for you. Also known as houseleeks, rockfoil and stonecrop, they thrive on neglect and look great wherever they&rsquo;re grown.

If you&rsquo;re short on space, with little time to garden, sempervivums, saxifrages and sedums are the perfect plants for you. They&nbsp;thrive on neglect and look great wherever they&rsquo;re grown.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Growing sempervivums</h2>

Sempervivums are hardy, low-growing succulents, forming geometric whorls of fleshy evergreen leaves. With their striking structure, they make beautiful and unusual pot plants.&nbsp;

Sempervivums are very undemanding, but they do need a very well-drained medium to grow in. A shallow bowl or trough filled with a 50/50 mix of peat-free compost and horticultural grit is ideal. Plant them slightly higher than the level of the compost and topdress with a thin layer of grit or gravel to reduce the danger of rotting. Although sempervivums are very drought-tolerant, they will appreciate being watered during very dry periods, but always let the soil dry out between waterings.&nbsp;

The only snag about sempervivums is that after they&rsquo;ve flowered, they die. Luckily, however, while they&rsquo;re growing they produce little offshoot rosettes, which can be detached and potted on to make new plants.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Growing saxifrages</h2>

Saxifrages are alpines, producing masses of tiny red, pink or white flowers in summer. Some grow into low cushions of small green leaves, while others bear rosettes of fleshy foliage. One of the toughest and best-known saxifrages, Saxifraga x urbium &lsquo;London Pride&rsquo;, will grow practically anywhere, forming a dense mat of green foliage that very few weeds manage to penetrate.&nbsp;

Saxifrages like very well-drained soil, so dig in lots of grit if planting them in borders. They need regular watering in very dry periods.

&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Choosing your plants</h2>

With so many gorgeous varieties available, it can be tough to choose between them, but here are a few names to look out for:

<ul>
	<li dir="ltr">
	Sempervivum tectorum &ndash; the common houseleek, with rosettes of blue-green, red-flushed leaves and pink flowers in summer
	</li>
	<li dir="ltr">
	Sempervivum arachnoideum - the cobweb houseleek, with rosettes of green leaves linked by delicate cobwebby strands, and pink flowers in summer
	</li>
	<li dir="ltr">
	Saxifraga x urbium &lsquo;London Pride&rsquo; &ndash; very tough, with scalloped green leaves and wiry stems bearing tiny pink flowers in late spring&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li dir="ltr">
	Saxifraga fortunei &ndash; happy in shade, producing masses of small starry white flowers in autumn
	</li>
	<li dir="ltr">
	Sedum &lsquo;Sunsparkler Lime Zinger&rsquo;- eye-catching lime-green leaves edged with red.&nbsp;
	</li>
	<li dir="ltr">
	Sedum cauticola &lsquo;Coca Cola&rsquo; &ndash; beautiful ground cover, with blue-green leaves and purple-pink flowers from early summer into autumn.
	</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

If you&rsquo;ve got gaps in your borders or pots that need filling, pop down to our garden centre, where we&rsquo;ve got everything you need this autumn to keep your garden looking great.

Garden plants of the moment: Green Covering

Reuse your garden waste to make a hotel for wildlife!

Today our fun gardening project is &lsquo;Build a bug hotel&rsquo;. You can re-use your outdoor waste to make a five star hotel for wildlife in your garden.

&nbsp;

<h4>Here&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;ll need!</h4>

Wooden pallets (or something else recycled to make layers for the different floors in your hotel).

Swarkestone Nursery nearly always has spare wooden pallets going free, just ask.

To fill in the layers of your hotel: 
&bull; Bamboo canes 
&bull; Paving slabs 
&bull; Stones 
&bull; Sticks, twigs, branches and leaves, fir cones 
&bull; Broken non-plastic plant pots 
&bull; House bricks

For your hotel&rsquo;s green roof: 
&bull; Wooden strips for edging the roof about 3 centimetres wide 
&bull; Galvanised nails 
&bull; Weed control fabric or membrane 
&bull; Multipurpose compost 
&bull; Plants (turf, moss or succulent plants are great)

You may have lots of this lying around in the garden, so check what you can recycle before buying it.

<h3>Instructions:</h3>

<ol>
	<li>Pile up your pallets (or whatever you&rsquo;re using to make the floors of your hotel) on top of each other. Make sure there&rsquo;s space between each floor &ndash; you can use house bricks for creating space between the floors of your hotel if you need to.</li>
	<li>As you pile up your layers get a grown up to make sure each layer of the hotel is stable.</li>
	<li>Fill some of the gaps between your pallets with bamboo canes or twigs. Line up the canes or sticks so the ends face out of your hotel; that way your insect guests can crawl in easily.</li>
	<li>Stuff the other spaces between the floors of your hotel with the different materials you have.</li>
	<li>For your hotel&rsquo;s green roof, nail or fix some wood about three centimetres high all the way around the edge of the top of your hotel.</li>
	<li>Next, line your roof with the weed control fabric or membrane. You should now be in a position to &lsquo;fill up&rsquo; your roof with compost without any spilling out or falling through into your insect hotel.</li>
	<li>Cover the fabric or membrane with a layer of multipurpose compost that comes nearly up to the top of the wood edging of your roof.</li>
	<li>Plant the compost layer with your turf, moss or succulent plants. You&rsquo;ve now got a green roof for your five star bug hotel!</li>
</ol>

News - Page 13

5 x fabulous winter-scented plants

What to do in the garden in November?

Guide to getting the garden ready for winter

Home trends: Artisanal fixtures

Garden plants of the moment: Green Covering

National Children's Gardening Week - Build a Bug Hotel