If you need help in getting your garden ready for spring please contact us Wisteria needs pruning in summer and winter to encourage flower buds and control vigorous growth. Prune in January or February when the plant is dormant and leafless, cutting side shoots back to two or three buds. Tidy it up before the [...]
´Twas the night before Christmas, And all through the yard The branches were bare And the ground frozen hard; The roses were dormant And mulched all around To protect them from damage If frost heaves the ground; The perennials were nestled All snug in their beds, While visions of fertilizer Danced in their heads; The [...]
The quintessential holiday herb, rosemary is as classic as the Christmas tree. Its association with Christmas dates back long before the poster child poinsettia had anything to do with it. Rosemary is believed to have been one of the plants in the manger where baby Jesus was cradled. In the Middle Ages, people believed that [...]
HOLLY AND IVY These plants are steeped in English tradition, first celebrated by Druids believing holly brought good luck and protection to men, while ivy did the same for women. The bright green leaves in winter in Christian circles are symbols of eternal life while red berries are reminders of the blood or Christ. MISTLETOE [...]
EVERGREENS Evergreens have long been used at Christmas in many forms including wreaths, garlands and, of course, trees. The Christmas tree is a staple of the holidays. Lights and ornaments provide an atmosphere of joy and happiness. Evergreen trees were seen as a symbol of hope of spring returning in the barren European winter by [...]
There are many plants associated with the Christmas holidays. Most of the plants bought to celebrate the holiday season have little meaning to us other than nostalgia or aesthetic beauty. Many of the plants used around the holiday season are not just pretty, they have deeper meaning if you look at symbolism from early uses [...]
There are always things to do in the garden in December. These simple gardening tasks will offer some calm and relief amid the busyness of the festive season. They are also a great way to get some fresh air and exercise to burn off those Christmas calories! Things to do in the garden in December [...]
1. November is the traditional time to plant deciduous trees and shrubs. 2. Prune and/or train deciduous trees to keep them growing in the desired direction. 3. Mulch bare vegetable areas to prevent winter rain from washing nutrients out of the soil. You should also mulch over dormant perennials to protect them from winter cold. [...]
Three flowers, three ways of remembering the Great War: the French Bleuet, the British Poppy and the German Vergissmeinnicht. Each of these flowers became the symbol of a nation’s remembrance towards its veterans. The cornflower: Nickname of the French soldiers coming back from the trenches of the Great War wearing their new uniform bleu horizon, [...]
Ash dieback affects ash trees and is caused by fungus. It blocks the water transport systems in trees causing leaf loss, lesions in the wood and on the bark and ultimately the dieback of the crown of the tree. This disease was first described in Poland in 1992 and has since swept westwards throughout Europe. It [...]
