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<p>Wondering how to <strong>help your garden birds</strong> during the colder months? As the weather changes and many trees become bare, gardens get tidied up, and berries start to disappear. It is more important than ever to make sure your outside space is home to wildlife. Birds will need to store fat to get through the winter, and there are many things you can do to help your feathered garden friends. Here are some tips for a bird-friendly garden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wondering how to <strong>help your garden birds</strong> during the colder months? As the weather changes and many trees become bare, gardens get tidied up, and berries start to disappear. It is more important than ever to make sure your outside space is home to wildlife. Birds will need to store fat to get through the winter, and there are many things you can do to help your feathered garden friends. Here are some tips for a bird-friendly garden.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Make a birdhouse to help your garden birds&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Get creative and have some fun making a birdhouse. Reuse old teapots, books, or wood to build a place of shelter and for nesting in the seasons to come. If you haven&rsquo;t got materials to recycle, why not try a DIY bird box kit or find one ready-made. Either way, your birds will thank you for it, and you will enjoy watching them check out their potential new home in the garden. Make sure it is placed away from where predators such as cats can get to it.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Help your garden birds with supplementary bird food</h2>

<p>While the key to a thriving garden is plenty of diversity, planting for year-round interest and thinking about natural food sources for birds is the most important thing to do, supplementary feeding is still essential, and it is advised to try and help out. If you are in an urban or rural setting, feeding the birds is much needed and will help to keep their energy levels up. There are many types of food available from seed to fat balls and various size and style feeders as well. Keep them away from predators and enjoy watching the birds come in for a feed.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Provide natural shelter to help your garden birds&nbsp;</h2>

<p>One of the best ways to help birds through the winter, along with food, is to provide plenty of shelters.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Plant evergreen shrubs and native evergreen trees so they have plenty of warmth and protection as the weather gets colder.</li>
	<li>Deciduous trees and shrubs are still important, so a mix if ideal.</li>
	<li>Even leave an area in your garden untouched.</li>
	<li>Allow the grass to grow, and leaves to pile up.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>Help your garden birds with diversity in the garden&nbsp;</h2>

<p>For all garden wildlife, it is imperative to create a garden full of life to create a biodiverse space. This means different plants for all year interest, homes for hedgehogs and birds, ponds for amphibians and water for drinking and bathing as well&mdash;the more diverse the garden, the more insects and the more wildlife. Creating a thriving space will also give you so much interest to enjoy in the garden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Visit our pet department for everything you need to help your garden birds this year.&nbsp;</p>

Help your garden birds

<p>Why not <strong>build your own Christmas village</strong> in your home for a great display of festive fun. There are so many options to create a wonderful scene which you can personalise and make your own. From mini houses to cotton wool snow, our tips will help you get started to create your own snowy village scene at home to admire and get you in the festive spirit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Why not <strong>build your own Christmas village</strong> in your home for a great display of festive fun. There are so many options to create a wonderful scene which you can personalise and make your own. From mini houses to cotton wool snow, our tips will help you get started to create your own snowy village scene at home to admire and get you in the festive spirit.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Start to build your own Christmas village with the right surface</h2>

<p>The most important decision to start with is <em>where</em> will you place your Christmas village. Once you have built it, it will need to stay in its position over the festive season, so make sure the space you have suits your plans. It could be a level surface or a cupboard underneath the shelves where you can build your village on numerous levels.</p>

<h2>Houses and structures are needed to build your own Christmas village</h2>

<p>Use books to build different heights for your houses to sit on.</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>Think about alpine houses up snowy mountains and how they are all situated at various levels.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Also, decide on your theme and if you would like other bigger structures in your Christmas village.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Perhaps you have a seaside vision and will need a lighthouse, but whatever theme you choose, you&rsquo;ll need a Christmas tree!</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2>Build your own Christmas village and light it up&nbsp;</h2>

<p>When you have set out your scene with houses, accessories and lights and you are happy with the levels and where everything is placed, it is time to add some lights. Use Christmas lights to light up the homes and streets in your scene.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Don&rsquo;t forget the snow when you build your own Christmas village&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Setting the scene is all about the snow. Now you have your houses and lights the village should be coming together nicely and giving you a fun, festive vibe. You can use many different materials to give the appearance of snow from cotton wool, to cotton drapes and blanket rolls.</p>

<h2>People are essential to building your own Christmas village&nbsp;</h2>

<p>When you have everything ready, the finishing touches will include mini people who will simply bring the whole scene to life. People going about their Christmas shopping, ice skating, being with family. Pop them around your houses and walking in the snow and you will have your very own perfect Christmas village to enjoy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pop in some foliage from our perfect winter plants and pick some up in store.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

Build your own Christmas village

<p>If you&rsquo;re lucky enough to have your own apple trees, autumn is a busy time of year. Delicious crisp, juicy apples are just waiting to be picked and eaten now or made into tasty pies and desserts. Here&rsquo;s <strong>how to make the most of your apple harvest</strong>.</p>

<p dir="ltr">If you&rsquo;re lucky enough to have your own apple trees, autumn is a busy time of year. Delicious crisp, juicy apples are just waiting to be picked and eaten now or made into tasty pies and desserts. Here&rsquo;s <strong>how to make the most of your apple harvest</strong>.</p>

<h2>When are apples ready to harvest?</h2>

<p dir="ltr">If you know what variety your apple tree is, in other words, whether it&rsquo;s a Granny Smith, a Golden Delicious or some other named type, you can look it up and find out roughly when it is supposed to be ripe. Remember though that local weather and microclimates will affect how fast fruit ripens in different areas. If you&rsquo;re unsure, try to pick one or two apples. If they come away easily in your hand, then they&rsquo;re ripe. And if windfalls are dropping from the trees, then it&rsquo;s definitely time to start picking.</p>

<h2>How to harvest apples</h2>

<p dir="ltr">To pick an apple, cup it in the palm of your hand, lift and twist gently. The fruit should come away quickly &ndash; if not, leave it for a few more days. Even on a single tree, apples will ripen at different times. Apples exposed to more sunlight will ripen faster, so those at the top of the tree, and on the sun-facing side, will be ready first. Keep picking as the fruit ripens. Use a ladder to reach the higher fruits.</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;re picking apples for storing, take great care not to bruise them, as one bruised apple can spoil a whole batch. If you&rsquo;re planning on using them straight after picking, however, the odd bruise here or there won&rsquo;t matter.</p>

<h2>How to store apples</h2>

<p dir="ltr">The best apples for storing are the mid- and late-season varieties like Braeburn, Bramley&rsquo;s Seedling, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious. Early-season varieties like Discovery and Ellison&rsquo;s Orange don&rsquo;t store well, so use these soon after picking.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li dir="ltr">
	<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">To store apples, wrap each apple in tissue paper or newspaper and place them in low-sided boxes or trays so that air can circulate. You can also store apples unwrapped, but if you do this, it&rsquo;s vital to ensure that they don&rsquo;t touch each other.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li dir="ltr">
	<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Store your apples somewhere cool, dark and well ventilated. Apples give off ethylene gas, which encourages fruit to ripen and then spoil, so adequate ventilation is essential to stop this gas building up.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li dir="ltr">
	<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Check stored apples regularly and remove any spoiled fruit.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li dir="ltr">
	<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Store different varieties separately, so that you can use up the ones with shorter storage life first.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">We have a great range of apple and other fruit trees in our centre, and autumn is the ideal time for tree planting. Visit us soon to choose the perfect fruit tree for your garden.</p>

How to harvest and store apples

<p>The night&rsquo;s drawing in, and there&rsquo;s a chill in the air. <strong>Halloween</strong> is here! This year, use your creativity to <strong>make your own Halloween decorations</strong> and turn your house into a thrilling, chilling experience for the whole family.</p>

<p>The night&rsquo;s drawing in, and there&rsquo;s a chill in the air. <strong>Halloween</strong> is here! This year, use your creativity to <strong>make your own Halloween decorations</strong> and turn your house into a thrilling, chilling experience for the whole family.</p>

<h2>1. Pumpkin lanterns</h2>

<p>They&rsquo;re the classic Halloween decorations. To make hollowed-out pumpkin lanterns, cut off the tops of your pumpkins and scoop out the flesh inside, then use a sharp knife to cut holes in the skins for eyes and mouths. Or keep the pumpkins intact and use a linoleum cutter to etch faces or patterns in the outer layer of pumpkin skin.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>2. Ghosts and ghouls</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Paint a butternut squash or a pumpkin white, then draw or paint on some scary black eyes.</li>
	<li>Empty tin cans also make very good ghosts.</li>
	<li>Paint the cans white, turn them upside down and draw on some ghostly black eyes.</li>
	<li>Attach lengths of white wool or string so that they dangle from the bottoms of the cans to make floating ghostly bodies, then hang the cans from tree branches to scare your neighbours.</li>
	<li>For a final touch, make up some ghost lollipops to hand out to visitors by wrapping white tissue paper over the lollipop heads and drawing or painting on a pair of spooky eyes.</li>
</ul>

<h2>3. Spooky lanterns&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Fill empty jam jars with black sand, then push a battery-operated candle into each pot so that it stands up securely in the sand. Please put them in your windows or dot them around the garden for some creepy chills.</p>

<h2>4. Bat branches&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Collect bare twigs or branches from your garden. Next, cut out bat-shaped silhouettes from black card and attach them all over the branches. Arrange the components in a vase to make a striking spooky table centrepiece or decoration.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5. Scary spiders</h2>

<p>Gather a pile of conkers and add some googly eyes and pipe cleaner legs to turn them into spiders. Hide them around the house to frighten your family, or hang them from window frames.</p>

<h2>6. Pumpkin party bags</h2>

<p>Take a few sheets of orange tissue paper and cut into squares around 30cm x 30cm (12in x 12in). Scrunch up some newspaper into a ball and mould your tissue paper squares around this to make a round pumpkin shape. Use a couple of layers of tissue paper to give your bag some strength. Remove the newspaper ball and fill the tissue paper bag with M&amp;Ms or other small sweets. And finally, twist the top of the bag and wrap it in green tape to make a stem for your pumpkin.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>7. Pine cone decorations&nbsp;</h2>

<p>For a break from the scary stuff, paint pine cones in the colours of autumn &ndash; glowing orange, golden yellow and vivid red &ndash; and use them to decorate wreaths or fill bowls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;re looking for some extra inspiration to add to your Halloween festivities this year, come and visit us. You&rsquo;ll be amazed at what you can find in our centre!</p>

Make your own Halloween decorations

<p>You can never have too many spring bulbs. With their fabulous flowers turning spring into a riot of colour, the only problem is finding space to plant them all. The solution? <strong>Lasagne bulb planting</strong>.</p>

<p>You can never have too many spring bulbs. With their fabulous flowers turning spring into a riot of colour, the only problem is finding space to plant them all. The solution? <strong>Lasagne bulb planting</strong>.</p>

<p>Lasagne planting involves planting layers of bulbs in pots, just like making lasagne. The latest-flowering bulbs are planted at the bottom of the pot, with layers of earlier-flowering bulbs above them. The result is a pot crammed with wave after wave of spring flowers, giving you colour right through spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Choosing bulbs for lasagne planting</h2>

<p>When planting a bulb lasagne, it&rsquo;s important to choose bulbs with different flowering times for each layer. This will give you a long-lasting display of flowers as the layers bloom and fade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, your lasagne bulb pot could use Iris reticulata or crocuses for the earliest wave of flowers. The next wave could include daffodils or early-flowering tulips, followed by late-flowering bulbs such as lilies or late tulips.</p>

<h2>How to plant a bulb lasagne</h2>

<p>Planting a bulb lasagne pot is very straightforward. Here&rsquo;s how it&rsquo;s done:</p>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p>First, pick your pot. For two layers of bulbs, you&rsquo;ll need a pot that&rsquo;s at least 15cm (6in) deep and ideally a bit deeper, to give your bulbs space to grow.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Put a few crocks at the bottom of the pot to stop the drainage holes clogging up with compost, as bulbs rot easily in cold, wet soil.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Put a 5cm (2in) layer of compost in the pot, then place the biggest, latest-flowering bulbs (e.g. late tulips) in a layer on top of the compost. Space the bulbs about 2.5cm (1in) apart.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Cover the bulbs with a 5cm (2in) layer of compost.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Add another layer of smaller, earlier-flowering bulbs (e.g. daffodils) on top of this compost, spaced about 2.5cm (1in) apart so that the bulbs below can find their way past them.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Cover these bulbs with another layer of compost.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>If you have a deep enough pot, you could put in the third layer of early flowering bulbs, such as Iris reticulata, and cover them with a final layer of compost.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>If you don&rsquo;t want your pots to look bare through winter, you could plant winter bedding in the top layer of compost. Violas are ideal for this, as it&rsquo;s easy for the bulbs to grow through them in spring.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
</ol>

<h2>Aftercare</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Water the pots after planting and in the first few weeks, while the bulbs are putting out roots.</li>
	<li>Put pots on pot feet to improve drainage and, in cold areas, wrap the pots in fleece to protect them from frost.</li>
	<li>Once each layer of bulbs has flowered, deadhead and cut the foliage back to stop it looking untidy.</li>
</ul>

<p>Autumn is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs, and we have a fantastic range for you to choose from. Visit our centre and start creating your own spectacular displays for spring.</p>

How to plant a bulb lasagne pot

<p>It is time to <strong>start planting new garden plants</strong> as the summer comes to an end and we move into Autumn. You’ll notice the beautiful changing of the leaves, the drop in temperature and as the harvests may continue there will be plenty of clearing up to do in the garden and on the allotment. This time of year is great for reflecting on what you have grown, what you loved in the garden and what you might want to plant for next year. During Autumn, before it gets too cold, is the ideal time to plant out some perennials, shrubs and trees as it allows them time to settle in before the colder months and they will be ready to grow the following year. So, what do you consider when planting new plants at this time of year?</p>

<p>It is time to <strong>start planting new garden plants</strong> as the summer comes to an end and we move into Autumn. You’ll notice the beautiful changing of the leaves, the drop in temperature and as the harvests may continue there will be plenty of clearing up to do in the garden and on the allotment. This time of year is great for reflecting on what you have grown, what you loved in the garden and what you might want to plant for next year. During Autumn, before it gets too cold, is the ideal time to plant out some perennials, shrubs and trees as it allows them time to settle in before the colder months and they will be ready to grow the following year. So, what do you consider when planting new plants at this time of year?</p>
<h2>Check the weather before you start planting new garden plants&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Although this time of year is a great time to start planting because the soil is still warm and the weather is wet, it is really important to make sure the soil conditions are right and that frosts are not immediately imminent.</p>
<ul>
<li>Never plant into waterlogged or frozen soil as your plants will struggle to survive.</li>
<li>When you do plant, make sure you give your new plants a good mulch to protect them.</li>
<li>Generally, the right conditions for Autumn planting are up to six weeks before the first frosts.</li>
<li>If the weather is dryer, make sure you water your new plants to help them establish before the frosts.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Bulbs are a great way to start planting new garden plants&nbsp;</h2>
<p>The best time of year to plant our most popular and love spring bulbs is now. Choose from the many varieties of Daffodils available from classic yellow to white and even pink. Also, fragrant Hyacinth, Snowdrops and Bluebells can all be planted in Autumn. Tulips can be left until a little later in the year. Mix and match for a showstopper display of colour in your garden.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Start planting new garden plants this year with perennials</h2>
<p>Perennial plants can be planted out during Autumn, so you can take you can choose your favourite plants and let them establish roots, go into dormancy over Winter and then surprise you with new shoots and flowers the following year. From Agapanthus to Astrantia and Linaria to Lupinus, go with what you would like to see fill your borders and pots for next year.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Enjoy the warmer of the Autumn days, absorb some sunshine and enjoy planting out your new plants ready for next year.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Visit us in store. We have bulbs, perennials and accessories in store for you to starting planting right away!</p>

Start planting new garden plants

<p>It might feel a bit brisk outside this month, but October’s often the best time for beautiful crisp autumn weather. When it’s fine, seize the chance to get out and enjoy some stunning autumn colour in your garden. And while you’re out there, here are our top <strong>October garden jobs</strong> to keep things looking good through winter and get ready for next year.</p>

<p>It might feel a bit brisk outside this month, but October’s often the best time for beautiful crisp autumn weather. When it’s fine, seize the chance to get out and enjoy some stunning autumn colour in your garden. And while you’re out there, here are our top <strong>October garden jobs</strong> to keep things looking good through winter and get ready for next year.</p>
<h2>Garden tips for October</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Cut back herbaceous perennials as they die down, and divide overgrown clumps of perennials such as crocosmia, daylilies and hardy geraniums. Use the sharp edge of a spade to divide woody roots, or insert two garden forks back to back to lever apart fibrous root clumps.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Move tender plants like pelargoniums and citrus trees into a greenhouse or conservatory before the first frosts. Keep citrus trees away from draughts and radiators.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>In cold areas, lift dahlia tubers after the first frost. Let them dry, then store them in a box, covered with dry compost. In milder areas, you may get away with simply mulching heavily.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Plant onion, shallot and garlic sets now for a bumper crop next year.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Sow hardy pea varieties like ‘Avola’ or ‘Meteor’ outside now for early crops next year. Cover the ground with netting or spread prickly holly leaves to protect the seeds from hungry mice.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If you’re growing Brussels sprouts for your Christmas dinner, stake the plants and firm the earth well around the roots to protect them against autumn winds.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Harvest the last of your peas and beans, then cut the plants down to ground level, leaving the roots to release their stored nitrogen back into the ground. Harvest squash and pumpkins before the first frosts.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Pick any unripe tomatoes and peppers and ripen them indoors by placing them in paper bags together with a banana or an apple – these fruits release ethylene which encourages ripening. Check on them regularly and remove any rotting fruits.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Prune climbing roses, and reduce the height of shrub roses by half to protect them against wind rock.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Scarify, aerate and top-dress lawns, then give them a low-nitrogen autumn feed. Repair damaged lawns by laying turf or sowing seed.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Raise pots on pot feet to improve drainage and reduce the risk of frost damage to both pots and plants.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Now’s a good time to move existing deciduous shrubs and trees, and to plant new ones. It’s also the ideal time to plant hedges.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Plant spring bulbs in pots and borders.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Replant pots and hanging baskets with winter heathers, ivy, violas and cyclamens for winter colour. Plant wallflowers now too, for spring blooms.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Plant hyacinth bulbs in pots indoors now to give you flowers at Christmas. Look for bulbs marked ‘Prepared for indoor growing’, which will have been given cold treatments to encourage them to flower early.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>We’re here to help with all your gardening projects, so visit us soon to see what’s in stock this autumn.</p>

15 garden tips for October

<p>No matter what size garden you have, <strong>perfect garden plants for patios</strong> can be useful information to know. If you have a more extensive garden, you will likely have a deck where your pots will be full of plants. If you have a smaller space, such as a patio without any other garden or a balcony, you might want to make the most from your area and create an impact on containers. Many plants will grow on a patio, too many to list here but we’ve picked a few we think you will love and that will enjoy a patio pot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No matter what size garden you have, <strong>perfect garden plants for patios</strong> can be useful information to know. If you have a more extensive garden, you will likely have a deck where your pots will be full of plants. If you have a smaller space, such as a patio without any other garden or a balcony, you might want to make the most from your area and create an impact on containers. Many plants will grow on a patio, too many to list here but we’ve picked a few we think you will love and that will enjoy a patio pot.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Go big with an Olive Tree which is the perfect garden plant for patios</h2>
<p>There is nothing like an Olive Tree for a taste of the Mediterranean in a garden. Not only do they provide shade, but they also have a history in their glorious gnarled bark. You can pick from small trees to specimens that are hundreds of years old in a huge pot. They will thank you for some seaweed feed, but otherwise, they are very easy to look after. Pair it up with Lavender, Russian Sage, Rosemary and any other plants that make you feel like your garden is a holiday destination.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Perfect garden plants for patios include pollinator-friendly wildflowers&nbsp;</h2>
<p>A straightforward but effective way to make your pots look pretty is to sow wildflowers in May or September and let them go wild. This can be great for kids as well but even better for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Wildflowers will produce some stunning colours such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Scabious,</li>
<li>Oxeye Daisy,</li>
<li>Achillea.</li>
</ul>
<p>Keep them watered in dry spells, and you will have many months of flowers to enjoy.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Pick a perennial as a perfect garden plant for patios&nbsp;</h2>
<p>There are so many perennials that grow well in pots, you could create your own display of Hostas or Hydrangeas plus climbing plants from Clematis to Passionflower can be trained up a wall or fence from a pot. The options are endless so never feel restricted by your space.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The perfect garden plant for patios has&nbsp;to be annual bedding</h2>
<p>The classic pot plant has to be the Begonia along with Geraniums and Petunias. They create immediate impact and are easy to look after. Plant a few annuals in a pot, and water as needed along with maintaining deadheading to ensure they flower for as long as possible. There are so very many colours to choose from you can be colour coordinated or go for a happy clash. Try Petunia ‘Queen of Hearts’ or ‘ Night Sky’ or perhaps the lovely pink coloured ‘Pink Lemonade’. Whatever you do decide on, annual bedding never disappoints in a pot.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Plant up your pots with our massive range of plants to choose from in store.&nbsp;</p>

Perfect garden plants for patios

<p>Gardeners will always want to <strong>move perennial garden plants</strong> at some point. Gardens are ever-evolving, and sometimes a shuffle around is needed, maybe due to the design or a new patio or perhaps a new house extension. Maybe it is to make room for even more plants or even because they need to be repositioned as they aren’t happy where they are. Whatever the reason, moving perennials usually works really well as long as it is done at the right time and with care. Here are our tips for moving your plants and keeping them in good condition during the process, so they thrive in their new home.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gardeners will always want to <strong>move perennial garden plants</strong> at some point. Gardens are ever-evolving, and sometimes a shuffle around is needed, maybe due to the design or a new patio or perhaps a new house extension. Maybe it is to make room for even more plants or even because they need to be repositioned as they aren’t happy where they are. Whatever the reason, moving perennials usually works really well as long as it is done at the right time and with care. Here are our tips for moving your plants and keeping them in good condition during the process, so they thrive in their new home.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>When should you move perennial garden plants&nbsp;</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Your garden plants can be moved in the spring or autumn when the plants are dormant, just finished flowering or have only a little new growth.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Moving plants when they are blooming can put the plant under a lot of stress, and its chances of thriving are greatly minimised.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>You can move them any time, but very carefully, so spring and autumn are best.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Also, if the weather is warm, move them on a cloudy day or at least in the afternoon.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Move perennial garden plants the right way&nbsp;</h2>
<p>When you move your plants, make sure there is a little root disturbance as possible unless you are dividing them.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Dig around the root ball and gently lift the plant.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Ideally, you will already have your new planting hole ready to move the plant into straight away and if needed, incorporated some well-rotted organic compost in the hole plus given it a good water.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Move your plant to its new position, fill in with soil and make sure it is well watered.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The water helps the plant to establish better after root disturbance during the move.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>If you do move a plant in flower, cut the flowers off! Use them in a vase indoors and give your plant the best chances of survival.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to care for recently moved perennial garden plants&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Some perennial plants won’t take too kindly to be being moved,&nbsp;and you might see some leaf drop, or it may not flower in the first year after moving, but the majority will soon establish and provide you with some lovely growth. Keep an eye on it, especially for watering because it might need a little more while it is getting used to its new home. Don’t forget to remove any dead or diseased material and if needed, protect them from hot sun or freezing weather conditions. Your plant will soon grow strong and provide you with many more years of lovely growth. Hopefully, it will thank you for moving it!&nbsp;</p>
<p>For garden tools that will help you get the job done easily visit us in store to choose from our range.&nbsp;</p>

Move perennial garden plants

<p>When you’re choosing an <strong>indoor plant</strong>, please take a good look at its <strong>leaves</strong>.&nbsp;Flowers are great, but they come and go, and indoor plants need to look good all year long. Do you want year-round fantastic indoor plants? Choose <strong>indoor plants with fantastic foliage</strong> that last&nbsp;all year. Fortunately, there are plenty of indoor plants with amazing leaves, and here are three of our favourites.</p>

<p>When you’re choosing an <strong>indoor plant</strong>, please take a good look at its <strong>leaves</strong>.&nbsp;Flowers are great, but they come and go, and indoor plants need to look good all year long. Do you want year-round fantastic indoor plants? Choose <strong>indoor plants with fantastic foliage</strong> that last&nbsp;all year. Fortunately, there are plenty of indoor plants with amazing leaves, and here are three of our favourites.</p>
<h2>Growing crotons indoors</h2>
<p>If you like your indoor plants colourful, then crotons are the plants for you. Their leaves can be big or small, rounded, narrow or twisted, and they’re variegated in green, orange, scarlet, purple or even black. Whatever your colour scheme, there’s sure to be a croton indoor plants to suit it.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Care tips for crotons</h2>
<p>Crotons need some sunlight to develop the right colour, but not too much. Give them direct sunlight in the morning or evening, but shade them from the hot midday sun.</p>
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<p>Keep the temperature above 15ºC</p>
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<p>Water when the surface of the soil feels dry, and mist the leaves once a week.</p>
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<p>Feed monthly in spring and summer with a general houseplant feed.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Growing calatheas indoors</h2>
<p>Calatheas, also called prayer-plants, peacock plants and cathedral plants, have leaves that look as though an artist has painted them. Intricately variegated in green and cream, with touches of maroon and pink, they make an eye-catching addition to any room.</p>
<h2>Care tips for calatheas</h2>
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<p>Calatheas do best in warmth and indirect light.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Don’t overwater. Wait until the surface of the soil is dry before watering.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Water regularly in summer, less frequently in winter.</p>
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<p>Mist the leaves from below weekly to increase humidity.</p>
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<p>Feed monthly in spring and summer with a general houseplant feed.</p>
</li>
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<p>Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth occasionally to get rid of dust</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Growing begonias indoors</h2>
<p>You can never get bored of begonias. With over a thousand species and countless varieties, there are begonias of all shapes and sizes. Indoor begonias, including the famous Begonia rex and Begonia metallica cultivars, are grown for their spectacular foliage as well as their flowers. The leaves are often big and bold, with beautiful green, red, purple or silver markings.</p>
<h2>Care tips for begonias</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Begonias do best in bright but indirect light. Keep them out of direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Water regularly, keeping the compost moist but not soggy.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Don’t mist begonias, as this can encourage mildew. To keep the humidity levels around your begonia high, stand the pot on a tray filled with gravel and topped up with water.</p>
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<p>Feed fortnightly in spring and summer with a high-potassium food to encourage flowers.</p>
</li>
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<p>Keep the temperature above 13ºC</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>There’s a fantastic range of indoor plants in our centre, so visit us soon and fill your home with fabulous foliage.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Indoor plants with fantastic foliage

<p>Are you wondering how to <strong>move house without damaging your plants</strong>? It can be a stressful time with all of the packing, unpacking, planning and organising but if you have plants both inside and outside you will need to take a few steps to ensure they will get moved without being broken or even lost. If you plan well in advance, you can tick it off your moving house list and be sure they are in safe hands. Here are our tips to ensure your plants are happy during your move.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Are you wondering how to <strong>move house without damaging your plants</strong>? It can be a stressful time with all of the packing, unpacking, planning and organising but if you have plants both inside and outside you will need to take a few steps to ensure they will get moved without being broken or even lost. If you plan well in advance, you can tick it off your moving house list and be sure they are in safe hands. Here are our tips to ensure your plants are happy during your move.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Dry soil can help you move house without damaging your plants&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Moving plants in pots can be heavy work, and if the soil is wet and the pot is large, you may need two people to lift the pot. If you ensure the plants have been well watered in the run-up to the move but not in the previous three or so days, this should minimise water weight and ultimately accidents from the pots being too heavy. If any of your plants desperately need water, try using a mist sprayer instead.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Move house without damaging your plants by repotting them first&nbsp;</h2>
<p>If any of your plants look like they need more space, going to topple over or in broken pots, make sure they have been repotted and are in good shape before they are transported. This will give them the best chance of survival should there be any accidents, plus it will help them to overcome the shock of moving to a new environment.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Choose a pot that is at least 20% bigger than the current one</p>
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<p>Fill the bottom of the pot with hydro grains</p>
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<p>Add potting soil&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Place the plant in the new pot</p>
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<p>Fill up the pot with more potting soil</p>
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<p>Water&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Pruning will be needed to move house without damaging your plants&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Wayward leaves and stems can get caught on other items and broken so as you repot your plants that is the time to prune them as well. Plants do get shocked when they move house so all of this will put them in an excellent position to thrive when they get there.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Move house without damaging your plants by using old bags&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Try not to lose any soil and avoid potential damage to your plants' roots, but placing the pot into a bag and gently tying the bag up around the stem. This will mean even if they do topple over. You've got it covered with a bag and can put the soil back in the pot when you are in your new home.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Propagate to move house without damaging your plants&nbsp;</h2>
<p>If you have any plants you are particularly concerned about, why not propagate them first to give you plenty of chances to keep the plant growing. Also, if you have plants in the garden that you love or have sentimental value to, you why not take them with you? Dig them up, pot them or divide them, take cuttings or collect seeds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Move house safely with some new pots, compost and propagation tools from our store.&nbsp;</p>

Move house without damaging your plants

<p>Here are <strong>five benefits of joining a local gardening club</strong> to help you decide if you would like to join your local club. Gardeners love to talk about gardening, and many people feel embarrassed to join a club if they have no knowledge of gardening or even experienced gardeners can shy away from a gardening club. Hopefully, we can help you take steps to go along because clubs can be so helpful.</p>

<p>Here are <strong>five benefits of joining a local gardening club</strong> to help you decide if you would like to join your local club. Gardeners love to talk about gardening, and many people feel embarrassed to join a club if they have no knowledge of gardening or even experienced gardeners can shy away from a gardening club. Hopefully, we can help you take steps to go along because clubs can be so helpful.</p>

<h2>1. Meet other likeminded people</h2>

<p>When you attend a gardening club, you will be with many others who love gardening and plants. You&rsquo;ll feel right at home from the moment you step into the room as you meet people who love plants. It won&rsquo;t matter if you are new to gardening or experienced, you will be with people who want to talk about gardening and help out.</p>

<h2>2. Learn from the experts</h2>

<p>For a usually minimal fee, gardening clubs secure talks from some experts in the field. They can be local experts or top names, but you will get the chance to listen and learn from some of the best in their area of expertise. There is no better way to learn than to hear it from the experts themselves.</p>

<h2>3. Enjoy a day trip</h2>

<p>Many gardening clubs arrange day trips to some local and further afield gardens at a discounted cost. Many also provide transport in with the price. So you get to be driven to a garden to meander and learn while being with other people who love gardening. Win-win!</p>

<h2>4. Have some tea, cake and plant sales</h2>

<p>There are not many gardening clubs that don&rsquo;t offer tea and cake. They know how much gardeners need it! There may be homemade cake to cookies and other treats available. So you can sip on a cup of tea, eat some cake while perusing the plant sales - often supplied by members of the club.</p>

<h2>5. Win prizes</h2>

<p>We all love a free plant! Most gardening clubs even put on a raffle, so for a small price, you could win gardening tools, plants or even a bottle of wine! It is all part of the fun when you go to a gardening club! We hope our five benefits of joining a gardening club have helped you to decide to go along to one. It can be terrific fun; you&rsquo;ll get to know the neighbours and learn lots about plants.</p>

<p>Don&rsquo;t forget to visit us and see what plants we have in store. Our friendly staff might even be able to recommend a gardening club for you.</p>

News - Page 2