Summer Flowering Border

Click here to download a full size version of this planting design

This fantastic display was designed and planted by landscape architect, Alistair W Baldwin for the areas in front of our natural swimming pool in Harrogate. Each time we visit during the Summer there are splashes of colour across the border, note how Alistair has repeated the same plants randomly throughout.

Other plants used here but not labelled are Alliums (a good choice would be Purple Sensation), Purple Fennel, Stipa gigantea, Sedum Autumn Joy and Knautia macedonica.

All these plants thrive in free draining soil and will come back year after year.

To print from a PDF, download here summer flowering border

What to do in your garden in December

It’s December now and despite some mild spells, it’s getting much colder. After our unseasonably mild autumn we seem to have been sent straight into the weather you would expect to see this time of year: frost, rain, strong winds and even the odd bit of snow. Sunshine hours are now much reduced and it can be bitter with a risk of snow. You don’t want to be working outside if you can help it, but thankfully there’s not a lot to do in December in your garden.

Make sure any winter protection you have isn’t disturbed by the wind and rain, and if you have a greenhouse, check that the heater is working. One thing you can do in December is prune any apple or pear trees you have, do this now to get a better harvest next year.

Here are a few things you can be getting between Christmas shopping and looking outside at the horrible weather!

  • Make sure any winter protection structures you have are securely.
  • Make sure that any greenhouse heaters are in working order
  • Protect ponds and outside water pipes to protect them from freezing
  • Prune apples and pears trees
  • Harvest any remaining root crops as well as leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage and sprouts
  • plant and transplanted deciduous trees and shrubs
  • Take hardwood cuttings
  • Reduce watering of houseplants

Need more advice? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Home Interiors

Our Home Interiors section here at Garden Style has a great range of home accessories, storage solutions, soft furnishings and much more. Why not come in to the garden centre and have look. There’s a great range of beautiful items to really brighten up you home.

What to do in your garden in November

October continued as a mild month with just the occasional reminder that winter is fast approaching. However, as we enter November, the clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in. It’s a good time to take stock, get those autumn jobs done and start planning for next year. Here is our rundown of things to keep you busy in your garden through out November.

General jobs to do this month

  • Clear up leaves from lawns, ponds and beds – use them to make leaf mould which will add structure and organic matter to your soil
  • Make sure that any containers and pots are raised onto pot feet to prevent water-logging as the weather gets wetter and colder.
  • Plant tulip and hyacinth bulbs for a spring display next year – this is really your last chance to do this
  • Prune roses to prevent wind-rock
  • Plant out winter bedding
  • Put insulation around outdoor containers and pots to prevent them from being damaged by frost – bubblewrap works well
  • Put grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to prevent winter moth damage
  • This is an ideal time to put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden and help them through the coming months
  • Plant shrubs, roses and hedging plants sold with bare roots
  • Move deciduous trees and shrubs once they have lost their leaves
  • Take hardwood cuttings from shrubs and roses
  • Clear the moss or weeds from any areas of grass and give the grass one last feed before winter sets in, this will help it to stay alive
  • Introduce mulch or wood chippings – Laying mulch or wood chippings between plants and shrubs before winter can help to protect the soil as well as keeping in vital nutrients.

Need more advice? Post a question on our Facebook page or pop into the garden centre and talk to a member of our experienced garden team.

What to do in your garden in October

September gave us lovely warm sunny days but now that we’re into October we’ve definitely seen a change. It feels colder, wetter and the leaves on the trees are changing to their lovely autumn colours. It’s a busy time in our gardens right now from harvesting summer crops to pruning back seasonal growth and planting for the year ahead. Here’s our suggestion for your gardening to do list this October:

General

  • Regularly clear up fallen leaves from your lawn but fallen leaves on borders can be left to rot down
  • Cut back perennials
  • Move any tender plants in to the greenhouse or bring indoors
  • Plant our spring cabbages
  • Harvest the last of the apples, pears and any other fruits still on the plants
  • Prune climbing roses
  • Order seeds and start planning for next year
  • Mow lawns for the last time this year
  • Last chance to trim hedges
  • Lay turf and plant grass seeds
  • Keep on weeding and have a gentle tidy up in your borders

Soil
Start digging in compost, manure and as much organic matter as you can lay your hands on to replace the goodness in it.

Birds
Start putting out food and fresh water for birds – it will help them to build up their reserves for winter.

Lawns

  • Keep off your lawns if they are sodden
  • Continue to cut if growing once every 2 weeks and with blades on a high setting
  • New lawns – Last chance to plant grass seeds and the best time to lay turf

Flowers

  • Protect half-hardy plants with fleece or bring into a frost-free greenhouse
  • Plant daffodil bulbs, tulip bulbs and Allium bulbs for a glorious spring display
  • Plant bare-root ornamental trees and shrubs
  • Plant spring bedding such as wallflowers, Bellis, Primulas and winter pansies for a fantastic spring display
  • Autumn is the ideal time to plant Clematis plants

Need more advice? Post a question on our Facebook page or pop into the garden centre and talk to a member of our experienced garden team.