News - Page 6
Pieris japonica is a plant of many names. Also known as Japanese andromeda, flame of the forest or lily-of-the-valley bush, this striking evergreen shrub looks good all year round. With its attractive foliage and sprays of spring flowers, it’s a great low-maintenance shrub for shady gardens.
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As autumn begins and the days get shorter, nothing beats a bit of colour in the garden to dispel the pre-winter blues. Now’s the time to fill pots and borders with winter bedding for flowers through the cold weather, and of course, it’s also time to start planting spring bulbs for a fantastic display next spring. Here’s our simple guide to planting spring bulbs and bedding.
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Have you heard of the new home trend Freakebana? The quirky way to decorate is becoming quite the hit. Freakebana is based on the Japanese art of arranging flowers named Ikebana which is a way of using seasonal plants off centre with form, line and colour. It is based on precision and minimalism with plants used as symbolism. Freakebana is based on this but rather than the precision, it is all about arranging items in a quirky style. If you try it, the look can become really quite eccentric with a mix of very odd items.
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With the rich colours of autumn starting to glow, September is an especially lovely month for gardens. While the warm weather lasts, it’s time to gather in the harvest and start preparing the garden for the colder months ahead, as well as planning for the joys of another spring.
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Looking for a green houseplant that is not very demanding and grows quickly? The large-leaved Ficus offers a lot of beauty in exchange for occasional sips of water. Whilst Ficus are well known for strong indoor trees with lots of little leaves, they are also available with large leaves, giving the plant a robust look.
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Ponds are an important aspect of our gardens. They encourage wildlife and biodiversity which is essential right now. There are many types of ponds from fish ponds to wildlife ponds, in many shapes and sizes, all of which add an extra dynamic to the garden. They look lovely and allow for some extra plants and fun in the garden but they do require some maintenance. With the correct tips, your pond will be thriving for many years to come.
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Vintage gardens are a wonderful way to create memories and style by staging your garden into a vintage scene. You’ll need to carefully pick plants, flowers and accessories which will be your props to make a truly individual vintage garden. It takes a little time to get things just right but it is so much fun enjoying the process.
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When the colder days approach, along with harsher weather conditions and the garden goes to sleep for a short time, you may want to stay home some days in the warm with your feet up and watch a movie. It does mean, however, that you will need to think ahead to what food you will need over the winter months that you can gather from the garden or allotment now. This is a great time of year to start storing lots of fresh food to use up the produce you’ve grown and still enjoy it all winter long.
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Bees are big news these days, and we all know how much we need them. But what with climate change, pesticide use, disease and loss of habitat, bees face a lot of challenges at the moment. Luckily, there are plenty of things we can do as gardeners to make life better for our bees.
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It’s so easy growing Ivy indoors with little care needs and so many varieties to choose from, you can really play with where you grow Ivy in the home and also the different pots and ways to display it. Since Ivy is so versatile, it can be grown in any room indoors and in plenty of fun ways to soften room decor and be aesthetically very pleasing. Whilst some people prefer not to grow it outside as it can take over, Ivy is actually a great source of food and shelter for wildlife so it’s an essential plant for both inside and outside.
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