Monthly Hints and Tips

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August 2010 Hints & Tips in conjunction with Garden Radio

Roses
Remember to check roses regularly for pests and blackspot and other diseases, and spray if necessary with a recommended fungicide and/or insecticide. And if your garden is in need of some flower power, roses are the perfect solution. We have plenty of quality potted roses in stock. 

Garden games
If your family is already getting bored of the summer holidays, entertain them in the safety of your own garden. We stock an excellent range of garden games and other equipment to turn parts of your garden into a fun playground.  

Pruning
Many summer-flowering plants that have finished flowering can be cut back now and may produce further flushes of flowers. After pruning give the plants a quick pick-me-up by watering on a high potash liquid feed. Don’t forget to pick up any pruning tools you need before leaving. 

Ericaceous plants
Rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas will be setting their flower buds for next year, so it’s important that they never go short of water at this time of year or the flower buds may fail next spring. Feeding will also produce more and better flowers. Mulching with bark or similar products will help maintain soil moisture levels and insulate the roots from damaging high temperatures. 

Watering
Make sure your plants produce a display to be proud of by giving them just the right amount of water they need. Well-established plants may not need regular watering but newly planted ones, bedding plants and plants in containers will need regular watering. Just ask any of our friendly staff for advice on products that will make your watering quick and easy this summer.

Lawn preparation for September 
September is the best time to sow a new lawn or lay turf, but it pays to prepare the area now. To beat perennial weeds, spray with a weedkiller containing glyphosate. Once the turf has been removed, work over the soil to a depth of 9 inches with a fork and spade, removing weed roots and large stones, and incorporating compost or composted bark. Rake and level the soil, walk over it to settle it, rake again and then leave it bare to allow weed seeds to germinate. These can be sprayed or hoed off ready for sowing or turfing next month.

Planning autumn planting
Start planning that new border. Look for plants with a long flowering period and those that have two or more seasons of interest with flowers, fruit, colourful stems and interesting foliage. Choose plants with different foliage colours and shapes, and remember that while evergreens help bring structure and winter interest they may need livening up with deciduous plants. Use winter and spring bedding plants to increase the seasons of interest, and plant bulbs for extra splashes of colour.

Vegetables
The harvesting season is now in full swing now, so make sure you pick crops that are ready. Leave them too long and they’ll lose flavour and tenderness. Now’s a good time to sow endive, radish, spring cabbage for next year, winter varieties of spinach and maincrop turnips. Having spent lots of time and effort growing your fruit and veg to perfection, protect it with fleece or small-mesh plastic netting – or, if you have a large area, put up a fruit cage.  

Pest watch 
Pests and diseases thrive in hot weather, so check plants regularly for tell-tale signs. Mildews and red spider mite are always worse in warm, dry conditions and these can soon get out of control. Earwigs eat the leaves and flower buds on plants like clematis, dahlias and chrysanthemums, and even slugs and snails can be on the prowl at this time of year. If your plants have a problem, just ask one of our friendly staff to help you choose a suitable product to deal with it.

Outdoor living
Gardens are for enjoying – and the summer is the best time to do it. So make sure you sit back, relax and enjoy your garden this year from the comfort of your own garden furniture. Or entertain friends and family with a slap-up barbecue. And if you plan to stay out late add some easy-to-install garden lighting. We have everything you need and plenty of ideas to ensure you get the most enjoyment from your garden this summer – just ask, we’re here to help.

Spring Flowering bulbs
Start planting up some spring bulbs. We have lots in store to choose from, including favourites such as daffodils and crocuses, and something rather grander, such as crown imperials. For colour now, add evergreen shrubs such as rosemary and euonymus, winterflowering pansies and primroses to give you interest through autumn and winter.

Furniture
There’s still plenty of time to really enjoy your garden this summer. Make the most of it by investing in a new furniture set – perhaps you need something with more chairs and a bigger table – or a large parasol to create extra shade. Or how about a swing seat or hammock to relax in? And remember to pick up any care products you need for wooden furniture.
 
Vine weevil
As vine weevil beetles tend to lay eggs in late summer and early autumn it pays to protect vulnerable plants in pots – such as begonias, fuchsias, cyclamen and sedums – with Bio Provado Vine Weevil Killer. A wide range of pests can be controlled by spraying with Ultimate Bug Killer. And check out our range of biological controls for vine weevil and other common pests.

Planted Containers
If your garden’s starting to look a bit jaded, inject some autumn colour with containers. Plant them up yourself with favourites such as pansies, evergreen shrubs such as euonymus, and under planted with spring-flowering bulbs. Or make it really easy by taking home our ready-planted containers.  

Plants of the month
Keep the summer colour going with our plants of the month. There’s plenty to choose from including roses, fuchsias, penstemon, lavatera, hydrangea, caryopteris, phygelius, and perovskia, and dozens of different herbaceous perennials. Ensure your garden’s a riot of colour and get planting today. Just ask any of our plant staff for help, advice and ideas. 

Cuttings 
August is the best time to take cuttings from half-hardy bedding plants such as fuchsias, pelargoniums, marguerites and trailing petunias. Once done, cover the pots with a polythene bag or with a propagator lid and place somewhere warm and sheltered but out of strong, direct sunlight. Don’t forget to pick up everything you need for taking successful cuttings including pots, compost, dibbers, rooting hormone, labels and propagator lids. 

July 2010 Hints & Tips in conjunction with Garden Radio

Cuttings
Now’s the time to take semi-ripe cuttings from some of your favourite shrubs like Hebes, Rosemary, Weigela, Ceanothus and Hydrangeas. Take the cuttings from the current year’s growth just below a leaf, remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the end in rooting hormone. Then insert the cuttings in pots of cuttings compost. Cover the pots with a polythene bag or put them in a propagator and place somewhere warm and sheltered but out of strong, direct sunlight. They should be ready to pot on in a few weeks. Don’t forget to pick up everything you need to ensure perfect cuttings including pots, cuttings compost, dibbers, rooting hormone, labels and propagators.

Wisteria pruning
To get the most from wisteria it’s important to build up a good framework of permanent branches to cover the support, so make sure you tie in stems as they grow. And now’s the time to give your wisteria its summer prune. Cut back all this year’s leafy sideshoots to five to seven leaflets. After pruning feed with a potash-rich granular feed such as a rose fertiliser. And if you were jealous of everyone else’s wisterias earlier this year then get buying and planting today. Remember they need a spot in full sun and a sturdy trellis or similar for support.

Weeds
Weeds can soon take over the garden and not only do they look unsightly, but they can smother your prized plants, steal valuable water and nutrients from the soil and become hosts to pests and diseases. Now’s the time for an all-out assault on them using a hoe for annuals and small weeds, mulches and planting membranes to keep beds and borders permanently weed free and weedkillers to stop even the most persistent weeds taking over. Use a weedkiller based on glyphosate for persistent, deep-rooted perennials. If you need any advice – just ask we’re here to help.

Garden games
If your family is already getting bored of the summer holidays entertain them in the safety of your own garden. We stock an excellent range of garden games and other equipment to turn parts of your garden into a fun playground.

Borders
Get the most from all your plants growing in beds and borders by giving them a little care and attention. Plants that have finished flowering should be dead-headed or cut back, and fed with a high potash fertiliser - many will reward you with further flushes of flowers.

Outdoor living
Gardens are for enjoying – and the summer is the best time to do it. So make sure you sit back, relax and enjoy your garden this year from the comfort of your own garden furniture. Or entertain friends and family with a slap-up barbecue. And if you plan to stay out late add some easy to install garden lighting. We have everything you need and plenty of ideas to ensure you get the most enjoyment from your garden this summer – just ask, we’re here to help.

Ponds
During periods of hot dry weather the water in ponds can be very short of oxygen which will affect the fish and plants; if your fish are gulping at the surface it’s a sure sign they need more oxygen. Make sure your pond contains plenty of oxygenating plants and add a pump and waterfall or fountain as the constant movement of water is one of the best ways of aerating it. Fish will be very active now, so feed them little and often with a high protein fish food. Just ask one of our friendly staff to show you what we stock to ensure a perfect pond.

Books
If you’re off on holiday soon or want to make the most of long days in the garden, use your time wisely and read a good gardening book or two. You can gen up on your favourite plants, plan next year’s garden, a new area in the garden or a new feature – or just brush up on your gardening techniques. Take a quick stroll around our book department for some inspirational reading.

Pest watch
During the warm, dry days of summer pests like red spider mite, aphids and whitefly and diseases like                                    
mildew can really take hold and get out of control. Check plants regularly – daily if possible – for signs of trouble and deal with it quickly. One or two pests can soon become a major outbreak during warm weather. Ready-to-use sprayers are the quick and easy answer to your problems. Slugs and snails will also become busy after a cooling summer shower, so make sure you have controls ready to hand. If your plants have a problem ask one of our friendly staff to help you choose a suitable product to deal with it.

Greenhouses
If you haven’t already done so, make sure you shade your greenhouse to prevent plants inside getting scorched. Use a shading wash or hang up fleece or shade netting. And keep vents open during warm weather; installing automatic vent openers will do the work for you. Water plants daily – or as and when they need it – and feed every seven to 10 days or so to ensure healthy growth and plenty of flowers and fruit. Damp down paths daily with a few gallons of water to help improve humidity.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes are our favourite home-grown vegetable and a little care and attention now will ensure bumper crops throughout the summer. Make sure your plants are well supported – tying them in as they grow, remove sideshoots from upright cordon varieties, remove yellowing or dying leaves and watch out for pests and diseases, then treat accordingly. Feed weekly with a liquid tomato fertiliser and water regularly so that the compost or soil remains evenly moist. We stock everything you need for your best tomato crops ever.

Herbs
If you love cooking indoors or are spending the long, sunny days and evenings barbecuing, then you’ll appreciate having plenty of herbs. If you don’t have room in the rest of the garden, then plant up a herb pot with all your culinary favourites so they’re easily to hand when you need them. From Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme to Basil and Bint we have all the herbs you’ll need for a potpourri of scents and tastes.

Lawns
If your lawn is looking tired and run down, give it a boost now with a liquid feed. And where weeds or moss are a problem use a liquid feed, weed and moss killer. Keep mowing regularly when the grass is growing to ensure it looks its best. You can leave small clippings on the lawn as they will help conserve soil moisture. But when a good soak is needed – lawns use around 4 gallons of water per square yard per week – use a lawn sprinkler set on a timer to avoid wasting water and making your water bill shoot up. We have a wide range of products to help keep your lawn green and healthy – just ask, we’re here to help.

Plant buying tips
If you have colour gaps in your beds, borders and containers now is a good time to plug them. Treat you and your garden to an eye-catching tree or specimen plant like a tree fern, Fatsia Japonica, Phormium or grasses. Or if your garden is looking a bit flat put up an arch, pergola or trellis and cover it with colourful climbers. Look out for our instant colour from our wide range of shrubs, herbaceous plants and seasonal bedding. And if your patio is looking tired or colourless pop in some large container plants for instant impact.

Plants of the month
Make sure your garden is bursting with colour this summer with our plants of the month. There’s plenty to choose from for long-lasting interest including Fuchsias, Roses, Penstemons, Lavatera, Lavender and Spiraea. And don’t forget our huge range of summer-flowering herbaceous perennials. Bring your garden to life with our plants of the month.

Watering
Make sure your plants produce a display to be proud of by giving them just the right amount of water. Well-established plants may not need watering but newly planted ones, bedding plants and plants in containers will all need regular watering. Using a hosepipe with a watering gun is quicker and easier than using a watering can and helps prevent water wastage. If you have a lot of plants in containers, in the greenhouse or large areas of the garden that need watering, consider installing a micro drip watering system. If you use a watering computer too , they will even water your plants while you’re away. Just ask any of our friendly staff for help and advice on any aspect of watering.
 
June 2010 Hints & Tips in conjunction with Garden Radio

Summer bedding
June is the month to plant out your bedding and other half-hardy plants. These plants can't tolerate cold weather, so ask our staff for help and advice – and have some fleece handy to provide extra protection. If you've grown your own, make sure they're hardened off first – that is, acclimatised to the cooler outdoor conditions – again, using fleece will help. And water the plants well before and after planting out. Remember tofeed regularly for a summer display to be proud of. Take a look at our superb range of bedding, patio and container plants to ensure your garden is a riot of colour this summer. And don't forget that larger plants will provide instant impact.

Pond Care
Green 'pea soup' water in ponds is often caused by a lack of aquatic plants. Make sure your pond is stocked with plenty of oxygenating plants and marginal's, and cover at least a third of the water surface with floating plants – including water lilies. Adding barley-straw or an algaecide to the water or installing a pump and filter might also help. Ask our experts if you need any advice – we're here to help.

Furniture, BBQs
If you haven't seen your garden furniture or barbecue since last summer, now's a good time to rescue them from the back of the shed and give them a good spruce up ready for plenty of outdoor entertaining. We stock a wide range of cleaning and renovating products. And if your furniture and barbecue are past their best then this is a good time to replace them.

Cuttings
This is a good time to take cuttings of pansies, violas and pinks for a supply of young, vigorous plants for next year. You can strike six or seven cuttings in a 4 inch pot using a gritty cuttings compost, or make your own from equal parts peat or coir and sharp sand or vermiculite. Using hormone rooting liquid or powder will improve the results.

Strawberries
Strawberries need pampering if you want to enjoy the juiciest of fruits this summer. Water regularly – especially plants in pots or strawberry towers – and feed weekly with a high potash liquid fertiliser. Also watch out for slugs and birds who love the fruit as much as we do. The easiest way to deter birds is to cover the plants with netting.

Pest Watch
During the warm days of summer, pests like red spider mite, aphids and whitefly, and diseases like mildew, rust and black spot can really take hold and get out of control. Check your plants regularly for signs of trouble and deal with it quickly to keep them strong and healthy. Slugs and snails can also be a problem, so make sure you stock up with your favourite control methods. Some plants, such as roses, need to be checked very regularly. If your plants have a problem just ask one of our staff to help you choose a suitable product to deal with it.

Aftercare for rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias
If the leaves of your camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons have a black, sooty deposit on them, then scale insects – or a similar pest – are probably attacking them. Treat now with a suitable insecticide. Because these plants are shallow rooted they need plenty of regular watering so that they don't dry out; mulching the soil with composted bark or ericaceous compost will help, too. If they do dry out it can seriously reduce flowering next year. When you water, give them a feed of a rhododendron fertiliser at the same time.

Water and feed your plants
You don't need to regularly water all the plants in your garden, but all recently planted plants – especially bedding – and plants in containers and baskets will appreciate a good soak to keep them growing strongly. Watering little and often isn't the best way as it encourages surface rooting and makes the plants more susceptible to drought. Feeding is also important. Either apply a liquid fertiliser regularly or add a long-lasting, once a year controlled-release fertiliser to the soil or compost. We stock a wide range of watering and feeding products – just ask if you need any help.

Baskets and containers
Make the most of your hanging baskets and containers this year and ensure they provide a display to be proud of by using a controlled-release fertiliser and water-retention gel in the compost. Check that hanging basket brackets will hold the weight and replace any that are suspect. You could use self-lowering brackets or install a drip watering system to make watering easier. If you haven't planted your containers and want instant results, take a look at our ready-planted ones.

Seed Sowing
If you need quick growing climbers to hide eyesores or provide summer colour, then try annual climbers. These include morning glory (ipomoea), canary creeper (Tropaeolum perigrinum) and the exotic purple bells of rhodochiton. Don't forget that the plants will need trellis or a similar support to climb up. And tie in the stems regularly to prevent them becoming tangled and damaged.

Greenhouse care
As summer temperatures rise, make sure the plants in your greenhouse are looking their best. Shading the glass with Bio Coolglass or shade netting will help keep temperatures at a bearable level. Automatic vent openers are another worthwhile purchase, as they work even when you're not at home. Damping down floors and surfaces will keep humidity high and help deter red spider mite and mildew disease.

Plants of the Month
Brighten up your garden with our Plants of the Month. During the summer there's so much to choose from for instant colour, including:roses, buddleia, cistus, deutzia, hebes, philadelphus, lilacs and weigela together with: aquilegia, delphiniums, hardy geraniums, irises and lupins.

Spring Bedding
Plan ahead for next year's spring bedding displays. Now's the time to sow seeds of all your spring favourites, including wallflowers, Sweet Williams, Polyanthus and Winter-Flowering Pansies. Some can be sown outdoors in a seed bed. While others will need to be sown indoors with gentle heat. Take a look at the seed varieties we have in stock –and remember to pick up compost,seed trays, small pots, labels and anything else you'll need for successful sowing.

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May Hints & Tips in conjunction with Garden Radio

Garden Health Check
Keep your spring bedding displays – including bulbs – flowering well by feeding weekly with a high potash liquid fertiliser. And remember to deadhead – that is removing the faded flowers – and you’ll be rewarded with a further flush of flowers or an extended display. Many border plants will need support and tying in to prevent them from being damaged and flopping all over the garden. Make sure the supports are in place early as it can be difficult to do when they’re in full growth.

Plant up Tomatoes
Now’s the time to plant out greenhouse tomatoes for a bumper crop; and we have a good selection of plants in stock. You’ll need something to grow them in – such as growing-bags, 8 inch pots or growing rings filled with potting compost. If you find that growing-bags dry out too quickly – and the bottom of the fruit turns black – then cut the bags in half widthways, stand them on end and put one plant in each half. And don’t forget you’ll need to regularly water, feed and support the plant, so take a look at the products we have available.

Prune Hedges
This is a good time to get hedges back into great shape. And you can even rejuvenate overgrown evergreen hedges – but not conifers – by cutting them back hard. When cutting, make sure the hedge is wider at the base then it is at the top to prevent it becoming bare at the bottom. To do a good job you’ll need the right tools, so take a look at our secateurs, shears, loppers and hedges trimmers.

Stop Codling Moth
If you’ve bitten into an apple only to discover a maggot inside, then you’ll need to be on the lookout for codling moth. Now’s the time to take measures to stop maggoty fruit this year. One of the most effective methods is to hang a codling moth trap in the tree. It’s completely organic – it doesn’t use any pesticides. The trap contains a pheromone that attracts the male moths, which become stuck to a sticky pad. No males means no fertilised eggs and so you can say goodbye to the maggots. Alternatively, spray with an insecticide containing bifenthrin after the flowers have faded, and again three weeks later.

Seed Sowing
Hardy annuals such as pot marigolds, clarkia, cornflowers, agrostemma, echium, love-in-a-mist and annual chrysanthemums can be sown outdoors now where you want them to flower. Indoors you can sow annual climbers such as asarina, eccremocarpus, cobaea, ipomoea, tropaeolum and rhodochiton. And there’s now a wide range of herbaceous perennials that will flower in their first year – so start sowing now. Remember to pick up your seeds, seed trays, cell trays, small pots, propagator, compost, labels and anything else you need for perfect results.

Watering Systems
Take the strain out of watering with a watering system. They are quick and easy to install, and when used with a watering computer you’ll have a system that will use water wisely and water your plants even when you’re out at work or away on holiday. They are very versatile and there are systems for containers and hanging baskets, for use in the greenhouse or even beds and borders. Take a look at what we have in stock before you leave, or ask a member of staff for help and advice.

Greenhouse Activity
As greenhouse plants will be growing quickly now, check them regularly to see whether they need re-potting. If they do, re-pot into the next size pot using a good quality compost. Good ventilation, regular watering and maybe even some shading are vital at this time of year to keep plants strong and healthy. The greenhouse is a superb environment for growing plants to perfection – but it’s perfect for pests too – especially whitefly. So keep a close eye on all your plants and treat any pest outbreaks as they occur. Don’t forget to pick up everything you need before you leave or ask a member of our friendly staff for help.

Roses
Roses will fill your garden with flower power and we have plenty of quality potted roses in stock. Roses need plenty of feeding if they’re to produce dramatic displays, so give them a diet of granular rose fertiliser. A feed now, and then again in mid-July will bring out a profusion of perfect blooms. Remember to check regularly for pests,                                 

Black spot and other diseases and spray if necessary with a recommended insecticide and/or a fungicide. Don’t forget to pick up some new plants, fertiliser, fungicide and insecticide before you leave.

Pest watch
The late spring weather is perfect for many pests and diseases to get a stronghold in the garden, so make sure you carry out regular health checks on all your plants, but especially roses, bedding plants and herbaceous perennials. Prevention is always better than cure so keep looking over your plants and deal with any problems as soon as you see them. A ready-to-use spray ensures you have something ready to hand as soon as you see the first signs of trouble. Slugs and snails will also be very active now, so protect your plants from these ravenous eaters with your favourite control methods. 

Bedding
As your spring bedding plants go over, remove them and compost them. Once the display is completely over, dig over and prepare the ground ready for your summer bedding plants. Beware of late frosts and have fleece on stand- by ready to protect any summer bedding and other tender plants that have already been planted out. You can also take cuttings of pansies and violas for next year. Take a good look around today for plants for the summer and any products you need to

Weed Control
Weeds can soon take over the garden and they can smother your prized plants and steal valuable water and nutrients from the soil. Now’s the time for an all-out assault using a hoe for annuals and small weeds, mulches and planting membranes to keep beds and borders permanently weed free, and weed killers to stop even the most persistent weeds taking over. Attack weeds now and they’ll be less of a problem in the summer when you want to enjoy your garden.

Houseplants
There’s no better way of turning a house into a home than by decorating it with houseplants. Whether it’s ferns for the bathroom, specimen foliage plants for the living room, a splash of colour wherever it’s needed from begonias, orchids and other flowering houseplants, or even something exotic for the conservatory – your home will soon come to life with plants. Or try our ready-planted arrangements for an instant effect – just take a look through our houseplant section to see what we have to offer.

Veg Update
To ensure a long succession of tasty vegetables throughout summer, you can sow seeds of many types – especially salad crops – regularly at 10 to 14 day intervals. Now’s also the perfect time to sow French and runner beans outside. Don’t forget climbing varieties will need some form of support. A double row of 8 foot bamboo canes strengthened with horizontal canes is all that’s needed. Or grow ornamental varieties in beds and borders supported on a wigwam of bamboo canes. Late frosts and pests can be a problem at this time of year so be prepared to protect young plants with fleece. Take a look at the vegetable seeds we have in stock and get sowing today.

Plant up Containers
Summer containers and hanging baskets can be placed outside at the end of May or early June – after the last frost. But, you can plant them up as soon as you like, as long as you have somewhere protected from frost, with good light. By planting now they’ll look full and ready to burst into colour for the summer. If you need any help and advice on which plants to use and how to do it – just ask – and remember to pick up your plants, containers, baskets, liners, brackets, compost, water-retention gel and feeds.

Plants of the Month
Brighten up your garden with our Plants of the Month. At this time of year there are so many shrubs and climbers to choose from, including: Ceanothus, choisya, Cytisus, rhododendrons and a vast array of evergreen foliage plants. Clematis Montana, wisteria; plus plenty of herbaceous perennials like aquilegia, dicentra, euphorbia and peonies.

Lawn care
Your lawn should be growing fast this month so you will need to cut it regularly – once or twice a week – to keep it looking good. Now’s also a good time to feed the grass for a lush, healthy lawn, so check out our range of lawn fertilisers. Weeds and even moss may also be growing strongly this month, so take action to keep them under control with a lawn feed, weed and moss killer. Then re-seed any gaps with lawn seed. If you have any questions about your lawn just ask – we’re here to help.

April Hints & Tips in conjunction with Garden Radio

Patio containers
Add instant colour to your patio and garden with our ready-filled pots, or plant up your own. Add a controlled-release fertiliser and water-retaining gel to the compost to make feeding and watering easy. And fix up a micro-drip watering system for even better results – believe me, it’ll make life easier too! Remember to pick up everything you need including containers, plants, compost, feeds, gel and watering system, and get planting today for a superb splash of colour through spring and summer.

Bulbs
Remove the faded flowers and seed heads of spring-flowering bulbs as they start to go over. And remember to feed the plants during and after flowering with a soluble plant food applied over the foliage and around the roots. This will help to make large bulbs to ensure another superb display next year.

Clean Up
Make sure you’ve carried out any cleaning and repair jobs. Clean the patio and greenhouse, preserve and stain wooden features, and clean out water butts. Not sure what products to use? Just ask – we’re here to help.

Summer bedding
Prick out seedlings of tender bedding plants and pot up young plug plants and cuttings so that they can grow into sturdy plants ready for planting out once the fear of frosts has passed. Always use fresh potting compost and make sure that seed trays, pots and cell trays are thoroughly cleaned – or buy some new ones. Plants will need hardening off before planting out, and they can be protected from cold, wind and light frosts with horticultural fleece.

Seed Sowing
Hardy annuals can be sown outside now where you want them to flower. Indoors you can sow a selection of annual climbers. Also sow tender vegetables indoors ready for planting out next month. Wondering what to sow? Just ask a member of staff, and don’t forget – you’ll need seed trays, cell trays, small pots, a propagator, compost and labels, so buy them before you leave.

Lawn Care
Grass should be growing strongly now, so make sure you mow regularly. While you’re mowing, taking note of bare patches, moss invasion and weeds and deal with any problems you see. Now’s also an ideal time to feed the grass for a lush, healthy lawn.   Don’t forget to pick up any grass seed, lawn feed, weed killers and moss killers you need, before you leave.

Greenhouse
It’s full steam ahead in the greenhouse this month. There’s plenty to do – from sowing seeds, taking cuttings to potting up young plants. Keep a careful eye on night and daytime temperatures and have heaters and vent openers on stand- by to avoid extremes of temperature – frost, sun scorch and under watering can all be fatal this month. Make sure all plants are carefully hardened off before planting outdoors – a cold frame is ideal for this.

Vegetables
To ensure tasty, early vegetables this year, buy your growing-bags now and put them in the shed, garage or greenhouse so that the compost can warm up ready for planting up later. You can put young tomato, pepper, cucumber and other plants into growing-bags – or 9 to 10 inch pots of compost – as soon as they’re big enough to transplant. And don’t forget that these plants will need some support while they’re growing, so take a look at the suitable supports we have in stock.

Pest watch
As the weather warms up, pests and diseases will be stirring in the garden. Keep on top of any problems that do occur to ensure they don’t get out of control – early eradication is the key to success. Ready-to-use sprays do away with fiddly mixing and ensure you have something ready to deal with the problems as soon as they’re seen. Slugs and snails are also a nuisance at this time of year because almost all new leaves are soft, lush and good food for them. Sprinkle slug pellets, place barriers, or water a liquid slug killer around susceptible plants such as hostas, delphiniums and vegetables.

Plant up hanging baskets & pots
It’s too early to put summer hanging baskets and containers outside, but you can plant them up now. You’ll just need to keep them inside where they’ll get good light and protection from frost. By planting now you’ll have a full basket ready to burst into colour for the summer. If you need any help and advice on which plants to use and how to plant up – just ask – and remember to pick up your plants, baskets, liners, brackets, pots, compost, water-retaining gel and feeds before you leave.

Feeding
Give all your outdoor plants the best start by making sure you feed them now. Sprinkle the fertiliser around the root area and work it into the top inch or so of soil. If the soil is dry, water in the feed to prevent it burning the roots. Controlled release fertilisers are the easy way to feed and forget, as they release their nutrients whenever the soil is warm enough for plant growth, and will feed the plants for the whole year.

Summer-flowering bulbs
For a riot of colour this summer you can’t beat summer-flowering bulbs. Lilies especially are perfect for bringing colour, and scent, to the garden. They can even be planted in containers on the patio. Then cover the surface of the compost with bedding plants for extra summer colour. Don’t forget to pick up your bulbs, containers, compost and grit before you leave.

Support plants
Tall and floppy herbaceous plants – especially in windy and exposed gardens – will need some form of support. Putting plant supports in place now will help prevent problems later on when it’s difficult or impossible to do anything about it. Then carefully tie in the stems as they develop with soft string or similar.

Mulching
Mulching the soil with a thick layer of organic material – such as composted bark or bark chippings – will help keep weeds down, as well as helping to keep the soil moist in summer. It will also insulate the soil and prevent it from getting too cold or too hot for good plant growth. For best results the mulch needs to be between 2 to 3 inches thick. If weeds are a big problem in your garden you may need to tackle them with one of our ready-to-use weed killers. Just ask for more details.

Plants of the month
Brighten up your garden now with our Plants of the Month. At this time of year there’s so much to choose from. Your garden will come to life with bergenias, camellias, chaenomeles, flowering currants, forsythia, heathers, hellebores, Magnolia stellata and primulas. Buy some instant colour today.

Grow It with Ken - Vegetables
Now we want more home grown vegetables how about cauliflowers to cut this autumn.  You need to sow now, just draw a line along a cane with a hoe, just a half-inch deep and try to sow thinly.  When they are large enough with a couple of strong leaves transplant in rows about 18 inches apart or 450cm and keep them-planted 12 inched apart in the row.  Water well in and see they are firm in well and watch out for those birds.  Look at for new varieties and try different colours, get growing your own vegetables.

March Hints & Tips in conjunction with Garden Radio

Plug plants & seedlings
Buy your bedding and patio plug plants and seedlings now for growing on – and you’ll have your biggest and best bedding displays ever. We have a wide range of varieties, including all your favourites, for potting up and planting out after the frosts in beds, borders and into containers and baskets. Remember to pick up everything you’ll need – including pots, seed trays, labels and compost.

Rejuvenate houseplants
This is the perfect time to rejuvenate your houseplants. Start by re-potting those plants that need bigger pots. And this is the time to start giving all your houseplants a good feed. If you can’t remember to feed regularly, controlled-release fertilisers are a great way to simply feed and forget. Pests will be on the increase now so check regularly and deal with any you find. We’ve got everything you’ll need to give them a spring treat – from pots and compost to fertilisers and insecticide sprays. And if you’re looking to brighten up your home, take a look at the fabulous range of plants we have in our houseplant section.

Stem colour
Plants grown for their colourful stems – such as dogwoods, rubus and some bush willows – will produce more intense colours if the stems are cut back hard now. And if you want to add a selection of these colourful shrubs to your garden, take a look around our plant area for those you can plant today.

Herbs
Herbs are not only good to grow for the kitchen – many also have colourful flowers and foliage, so plant some today. They can be planted in a herb bed, mixed in with other plants in beds and borders, or grown in pots on the patio where they’ll be handy to pick and provide excellent colour and scent.

Seed sowing
If you have a heated greenhouse or similar warm, light place, then you can get a lot of your bedding plants and vegetables off to a flying start by sowing them now. Take a good look through our seed display to see what can be sown now – and remember you’ll need a heated propagator, pots, trays, compost and labels.

Greenhouse
There’s plenty you can be getting on with in the greenhouse now. From sowing seeds of bedding and vegetable plants, to re-potting young plants and cuttings taken last year. Start canna, begonia and dahlia tubers into growth now for earlier blooms. Watch out for pests and fungal diseases and deal with them as early as possible. Remember to stock up with everything you’ll need for success this year – pots, trays, compost, labels, feeds and pest controls.

Pond care
Keep your pond looking good this year by spending a little time on it now. Check pumps and filters – and replace if necessary, remove pond weed and divide overgrown plants – and restock with new plants. If you need any help or advice, just ask one of our friendly staff.

Pest watch
As plants come into growth, pests and diseases will be on the increase. Ensure YOUR plants grow strong and healthy this year and aren’t troubled by crippling pests. Start now, looking at your plants and dealing with any problems and you’ll prevent them from getting out of control. Slugs, aphids, whitefly, scale insects, red spider mite and numerous diseases may all be waiting to attack. We stock an excellent range of pest control products – including organic ones – one of which will be perfect for dealing with these problems. Just ask our friendly staff for more help and advice.

Feeding plants
All garden plants will benefit from being fed now as they start to come into growth. Use a general granular fertiliser – such as Growmore or blood, fish and bone – or a controlled-release fertiliser for a once-a-year feed.

Roses
Give your roses the perfect start. Hybrid tea, floribunda and climbing roses benefit from pruning during early March. You’ll need a pair of good secateurs and loppers, and thorn-proof gloves. After pruning, spray with an insecticide and fungicide to protect against future problems. Then feed with a granular rose fertiliser to ensure a mass of perfect blooms this summer, and mulch with composted bark or well rotted manure.

Plants of the Month
Check out our plant area for plants that are looking good now for instant colour and interest in your garden. Good choices include camellias, Clematis armandii, forsythia, flowering currants, the Kilmarnock willow and Daphne mezereum. And we’ve got plenty of colourful azaleas and rhododendrons as well as new stocks of herbaceous perennials. Take a good look round for other gems that are in stock now or ask a member of staff for help.

Fruit
To ensure bumper crops of fruit this year, give trees and bushes a good feed with a balanced granular fertiliser, then add a good thick mulch of compost, composted bark or well-rotted manure. There’s still time to plant bare-root fruit bushes and trees if you want to do it straight away. You can plant containerised ones at any time of the year. If peach leaf curl was a problem last year, spray now with a copper based fungicide

Easter gifts
Get ready for Easter at your local garden centre. We have masses of plants – both indoors and out – pots, gardening sundries and other products that are perfect for Easter gifts and treats.

February Hints & Tips in conjunction with Garden Radio

Climbers
Plant climbers now to provide colour, height and interest for clothing walls, fences, arches and arbours. As well as for screening compost heaps and other unsightly objects. Fast growing plants like clematis, ivy, honeysuckle, Virginia creeper and roses are perfect choices. If your soil is too wet and sticky, wait until conditions improve before planting.

Weeds
Keep those annoying weeds at bay and you will enjoy your gardening a lot more. Small weeds are best dealt with by hoeing them off. Beds and borders can be kept weed free by applying 2-3inch thick mulch; and weed suppressing planting membranes ensure the perfect start to new beds and borders.

Annuals
Now's a good time to make a start on sowing summer bedding indoors, as long as you can provide the right heat and light conditions. You can sow sweet peas, dianthus, lobelia, ageratum and bedding geraniums. Don't forget to pick up everything you'll need such as propagators, compost, pots, seed trays and labels.

Check Garden Structures
Now's the perfect time to check your fences, trellis' and pergolas before climbers burst into growth and make the job more tricky. You can make any repairs or improvements as necessary as well as install any new features you want for the coming year. Just ask a member of staff for details of what we have in-stock.

Pruning
Now's the time to prune a number of garden shrubs. These include winter jasmine after the flowers have faded, bush and climbing roses, many summer flowering shrubs and most clematis; apart from the spring flowering Montanas, alpinas and macropetalas. After pruning feed with a controlled release or slow-acting fertiliser to ensure healthy re-growth and more flowers. Don't forget to pick up any tools you'll need such as secateurs, pruning saws, loppers and gloves. If you need more information, just ask any of our friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Pest watch
Don't let garden pests and diseases get you down this year. By looking at your plants now and dealing with the problems that may be present, you'll prevent them from getting out of control. Be especially vigilant on plants in the house, conservatory and greenhouse. Slugs can be controlled with a wide range of products, just ask our staff for more advice on the slug control products we stock. Many pests over-winter as pests on the stems of plants, so any pruning now will remove them. If the dreaded peach leaf curl affected your peaches and almonds last year, then give then a protective spray with a copper based fungicide to ensure a healthy start to the year. If the trees are wall trained, you can protect them further by erecting a protective tent of polythene over them.

Buy Summer Flowering Bulbs
Now's the time to buy begonias and dahlia tubers together with the huge variety of summer flowering bulbs we have in stock. Although it's too early to plant them in the garden, buy them now to ensure we have the range of varieties you require. Begonias and dahlias can be started into growth indoors now and the resulting shoots used for cuttings. And don't forget to stock up on pots, labels, twine, compost and all the other sundries you'll need to get the best out of them.

Top Dress Trees & Shrubs
Get your trees and shrubs and beds and borders off to a flying start this year by mulching and feeding with a controlled release fertiliser. Mulches should be applied a couple of inches thick and good choices include bark chips, composted bark, manure and compost.

Plan & Plant Your Flower Borders
You can still plant hardy trees, shrubs, roses, fruit and perennials, and nearly all other outdoor plants we have in stock; providing the soil isn't frozen solid or waterlogged. Remember to improve the planting area first with a good soil improver such as composted bark or compost.                               

Hard Landscaping
This is the perfect time to lay new paths, paving, patios and other hard standing areas. Just ask one of our friendly staff for advice and ideas. Also check existing paving and relay and repair any that is uneven or damaged.

Plant of the Month
Check out our Plant area for plants that are looking good now. And if it's instant impact you're after, then consider Viburnum tinus, the contorted hazel - that's Corylus Avellana Contorta, the silk tassel bush Garrya Elliptica, winter flowering heathers or the Kilmarnock willow  - that's Salix Caprea Kilmarnock. And don't forget you can have instant colour from any of the evergreens we have in stock.

Vegetables
Now's a perfect time to make a start on producing tasty vegetables for the summer. Don't be too impatient to start sowing outside, but instead warm the soil ready for sowing by covering it with clear polythene or plastic cloches. You can plant shallots outside; although in cold areas start them in pots of compost in a coldframe or greenhouse. And sow summer cauliflowers in seed trays in warmth.

Borders
A few minutes spent on your beds and borders now will reap huge benefits later in the year. Lightly trim winter flowering heathers when the flowers fade to improve flowering next year. Lift, divide and replant snowdrops after flowering. Cut back the dead stems of herbaceous perennials to ground level and lift and divide congested clumps that didn't flower well last year.