GardenWild Blog

Plants need water in order to absorb nutrients from the soil. Smaller or newer plants are most at risk because they don’t have the established root network in place to reach the moisture held deeper in the earth.

A plant is established when the roots are well integrated into the soil and it can withstand normal weather conditions.

Normally the advice that give to our clients that the second year will be when your borders will start look their best. However this depends on the plants in the borders and isn’t a hard and fast rule.

Mulch is a material that is spread over the surface of a border or bed a covering. Different mulches have different properties depending on what they are made of.

Any plant can be a weed if it’s running a muck somewhere you don’t want it. However, there are some plants that are considered weeds for a reason. Most of the time it’s because they are more invasive and aggressive than other plants.

It seem stupid considering that in resent years the new has been championing biodiversity by creating heavens for animals in urban areas I am now writing about protect garden from wildlife. As much as we love wildlife and want to encourage it in our gardens, we don’t want our newly planted borders nobble and nibbled back to nothing every year. Animals are smart and they know an easy source of food when they see it and your border can be just that.

The small amount of on-going maintenance involved is why you see more and more gardens giving greater space to this kind of planting. A naturalistic border is even less maintenance than a lawn in a lot of cases. In the growing session a lawn needs mowing every 1 to 2 weeks, an established naturalistic border doesn’t need that kind of attention. We try to add at least some element of this planting style in every planting plan we do.

When planting acid-loving plants it is important to do so with the correct compost mixture. Ericaceous plants are species that love acidic soil and hate lime soils (acid lovers and lime haters). If you have found yourself drawn to a beautiful plant at the garden centre make sure you first find out which type of soil it likes, if you have chosen an acid-lover you should make sure to then buy some ericaceous compost too. 

Apple and pear trees in the UK tend to fall into 6 different pollination groups, according to when they crop.  Unless you live in the middle of nowhere, this shouldn’t be too much of a concern, as there will usually be another tree in a nearby neighbour’s garden that shares your tree’s pollination group. So, as you can see, although you may not necessarily come away with your favourite variety, it is really important to invest in the right tree for your garden, rather than risk your crops failing.

To those of us who would not consider ourselves as having green fingers, growing roses may seem daunting, as they are known for having specific pruning and nutritional needs - however, this is certainly not the case. Not all roses require the same level of attention and some will almost look after themselves, once established.

When we think of roses, we usually imagine the typical Tudor Rose: a sizeable shrub, with large, sweet smelling flowers. However, with now well over 30,000 varieties of rose worldwide, there literally is a rose to suit every garden.

Hydrangeas have long been a much-loved favourite in our gardens, with their large, showy flower heads of tightly clustered florets.  If you’re looking for a shrub that will provide show-stopping blooms, to take centre stage in your garden throughout the Summer, then the Hydrangea never fails to impress.

Bird feeding stations are versatile and effective tools for attracting a diverse range of bird to your garden. By offering various types of bird feed and feeders, you can cater to different species' dietary preferences and behaviours. Whether you aim to entice small songbirds or larger, more robust species, there is a feeding station suited to your needs. Additionally, the flexibility of incorporating multiple stations allows for accommodating various bird populations simultaneously. This is your first step to turning your garden into a perfect environment for bird activity.

The big issue with Yew is that they don't like wet feet - so be careful if you are planting into clay soil, which is notoriously poorly drained. If Yew roots are sat in water they will drown, and the plant will turn brown and die.