Cosmos flowers, with their vibrant colours and delicate petals, are a firm favourite with gardeners. These annual plants are very easy to grow and will thrive in most soil types, even poor soil. They flower long into the autumn, so are great for colour and coverage after summer. A common issue however, can be overly … Read more
Laburnums are a stunning ornamental flowering tree from central and southern Europe. An important thing to note is that all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals. It is even recommended not to have them next to unlined ponds as the poison can harm any fish, frogs or newts living in the … Read more
Flowering Currant plants, or Ribes as they are also known, are a common sight in the UK in the spring. They have ribbed leaves, dark berries, pink trailing flowers and a strong scent. There is also a white version “White Icicle” They do well in most soils and are easy to grow. Sometimes however, they … Read more
Broom plants are interesting and attractive additions to the garden. The flowers can be a mix of yellow, red, pink and orange. One thing to note is that they are toxic to humans and pets. In the right conditions they grow at a fast rate. If they are situated incorrectly however, they can decline and … Read more
Camellia plants are beautiful glossy evergreen shrubs with large blowsy flowers in winter and early spring. At a time when much of the garden is still asleep, Camellias provide wonderful coverage and colour. They can sometimes struggle when growing conditions are not right for them. An early sign can be the curling of leaves. So … Read more
Broad beans, or Fava beans as they are also known, are nutritious and hardy beans that can be sown from early spring. Some varieties can also be sown in October if the soil is reasonably warm and sheltered. Despite being a resilient plant they can sometimes develop problems causing discoloration and stunted growth. So if … Read more
The Hornbeam is a beautiful deciduous hardwood tree. It has very ridged and serrated leaves that are bright green in spring and summer, turning yellow, orange and red through the autumn and into winter. Hornbeams are fairly hardy and resilient but can be susceptible to some infections and problems. So if you have asked the … Read more
Privet is very popular around the world as a boundary hedge. It is actually a member of the Olive family. Small clusters of white flowers arrive in spring, followed by small black berries that are inedible to humans but eaten by birds. Privets can suddenly decline however, so if you have asked the question “Why … Read more
Fatsia Japonicas are beautiful tropical looking plants that have large glossy evergreen leaves. They can be grown as houseplants or outside in the garden, and can become very large bushes. Factors can affect their health and appearance however, causing the plant to droop and suffer. In this article we identify these factors and find out … Read more
Laurels can be the perfect shrub or tree to have as a hedge between you and your neighbour, or as a stand alone feature tree. They are evergreen with beautiful shiny lime green leaves, and grow quickly in the right conditions. Sometimes however, they can struggle – becoming patchy or woody and succumbing to pests … Read more