News - Page 59

Are you wondering why you should grow Alstroemeria, and what exactly is it? There are many reasons why growing this plant can bring benefits to you and your garden, which we have included in this article. Often called the Peruvian Lily, Lily of the Incas or Parrot Lily, it is mainly found in the mountainous regions of the Andes but can also be grown in your garden. Here is just why you should give this gorgeous plant a try in your garden. Find out everything about the flower of this month: Alstroemeria.

It’s no wonder the peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) is one of the most popular houseplants available today. With its glossy dark green leaves and dramatic hooded white flowers, it makes a fabulous focal point in any room. This visitor from the tropical rainforests of South America has been brightening up our homes since the 1870s, thanks to its good looks and easy-going nature. Here’s how to keep your peace lily looking its best.

Gardeners have many pests and diseases to overcome, but one much more prevalent in recent years is the box tree moth. Cydalima perspectalis is native to China, Japan and Korea but was discovered in Europe by 2007, thought to have been transported over by infected boxwood plants. It is now also found in Canada and North America. Here is some more information on the detection and prevention of the pest.

What’s more beautiful than a meadow in full flower? Sowing your own wildflower patch! Sadly, most of our natural fields have vanished, but you can recreate one in your garden. You don’t have to have a lot of space – just a small patch of the flowering meadow will provide gorgeous summer colour for your garden, as well as food for butterflies, bees, little birds and other wildlife. And since you don’t need to mow it every week, you’ll have much more time to sit and enjoy it. 

Sooner or later, every gardener has to get to grips with weeds. Sometimes called ‘plants in the wrong place’, weeds tend to turn up just where we don’t want them in our gardens. They compete with plants for water and nutrients, and can quickly spread and take over in a garden. While it’s never going to be possible to eradicate weeds, there are steps you can take to get them under control, and the first step is to understand how weeds grow.