News - Page 107

The humble garden gnome is under threat

The humble garden gnome is under threat, according to a new survey which found gnomes are a top target for thieves.

Garden Gnomes Need Your Help!

Four out of five gnome-owning households have lost at least one resident to gnome-nappers in the last five years, with the north of England a particular blackspot for unexplained disappearances. In the north-east, the average owner has lost nearly four gnomes in the last five years. The safest places for gn...

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January – HTA Plant of the Moment - Create a winter wonderland

Add the wow factor to your winter garden with striking plants that look their best right now. Whether you’d like to fill your borders with hardy shrubs covered with fragrant flowers, clad a fence or archway with colour, or plant a small flowering tree to create a focal point, you’ll find a great range of seasonal stunners in garden centres this month.

While a coating of frost or snow creates temporary magical moments, unifying our gardens with its icy frostin...

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Grow super-early potatoes

Grow super-early potatoes by starting a few tubers in a potato sack about now under cover for a tasty treat ready weeks earlier than those you’ll be planting outside in March.

Grab a Pack of Seed Potatoes

You’ll need a couple of potato sacks, multipurpose compost and potato fertiliser from our garden centre here in Lymington, plus a pack of our super-early seed potatoes: varieties like ‘Rocket’ and ‘Swift’ are known for being really quick to reach ha...

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Gardening trends for 2017

Gardening trends for 2017 include indoor ‘windowsill’ veg growing, growing with wildlife in mind, and metallic colour tones, according to the annual Grow 365 trends analysis from the Garden Media Group.

What to do in the Garden in 2017

Indoor gardening now includes hi-tech solutions like aquaponics and hydroponics to give the growing population of indoor growers living in cities with no outdoor space, a chance of real success in growing their own foo...

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What to do in the garden in January

There’s no denying that January can be a bracing month in the garden – but it’s also the start of an exciting new season, and there’s plenty to get on with outdoors.

General tasks:

Lag outdoor taps with bubble-wrap insulation or hessian to prevent damage in freezing weather.

Remove snow from the roofs of greenhouses and polytunnels to prevent it building up and damaging the structures.

Ornamental gardens:

Feed Christmas-floweri...

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Work Off That Christmas Dinner by Giving your Greenhouse a Good Scrub

Give the greenhouse a good scrub and you’ll not only work off all that Christmas overindulgence – you’ll also get a warm glow of satisfaction from getting a job done which really pays dividends later in the year. You'll winkle out overwintering pests from their nooks and crannies, and by washing off all the algae and dirt you'll also let in lots of light: you need every bit you can get at this time of year.

Clean Your Greenhouses

You'll need an ordin...

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Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all our customers! It's a wonderful time to celebrate all that's good about gardening, so just for fun here's a Christmas challenge to try while you're recovering from all that turkey.Your mission is simple: think of as many plants as you can with a Christmassy theme in the name. Here are a few to start you off: ​

Christmas Plants Challenge!

  • Christmas cactus: reliable and undemanding houseplant with a profusi...
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The traditional Christmas tree is now in place outside the Houses of Parliament in London

The traditional Christmas tree is now in place outside the Houses of Parliament in London after a 330 mile journey from Kielder Forest in Northumberland, supplier of the Westminster Christmas tree for the last 15 years. The forest also provides smaller Christmas trees for Westminster Hall and the Speaker’s State Rooms.

Westminster Christmas Tree

The 52ft high Sitka spruce weighs about two tonnes and was cut specially for the honour. The base of the t...

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Make a Christmas wreath for your front door

Make a Christmas wreath for your front door and welcome your festive guests in style. It’s easy to buy a pre-made wreath, and you’ll find some gorgeous examples here in our Christmas shop. But if you’re feeling creative, you can add that personal touch and craft your own, weaving in materials from the garden for a naturally festive celebration.

DIY Christmas Wreath

We’ve got all you need to put together your own wreath here at the garden centre in Ly...

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A gardener from Lancashire has won the award for the most bat-friendly plot

A gardener from Lancashire has won the award for the most bat-friendly plot following an RHS competition for Wild About Gardens Week.

RHS Wild About Gardens Week

The competition asked gardeners to choose a range of insect-friendly plants, watch them grow and then send in a photo.

Paul Burton from Lancashire lavished a feast of goodies on his local wildlife including a pond to attract the insects bats feed on, plus woody shrubs and a small tree...

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