A is for Apples When choosing which apple variety to grow, besides thinking about what you enjoy eating, consider pollination requirements, how well the fruit keeps, which varieties will suit your growing […]
Monthly Blog
Roses – how to survive a hot summer
Tuesday 28th November 2023We have had a successful year growing roses after a difficult start. Having had several telephone conversations with our rose growers, “feed and water regularly” was the advice. All roses in pots […]
Peat-Free Compost Trials
Monday 6th November 2023Over the last four years, I have tested the varieties of the compost and bulbs we sell. I do this for a couple of reasons: one, it is important we know and […]
Planting up tubs and jobs for the garden
Saturday 21st October 2023This autumn has been perfect to be out in the garden with lovely warm sunny days. Earlier this month I planted up the Plant Centre tubs, choosing Crocus, Muscari, Narcissus and Tulips […]
Planting up tubs for the summer
Monday 5th June 2023I planted up my tubs for the terrace on 24 May, just after the Hadleigh Show. Following on from previous years, each tub contains a different compost from Melcourt Sylvagrow, Dalefoot Wool […]
Step by step guide to making an Alpine Trough
Friday 17th March 2023An Alpine trough is an eye-catching and low-maintenance addition to any garden. Alpine plants are hardy, extremely resilient and easy to grow. Alpines naturally grow at high altitude on scree, or in […]
Scented Plants for Winter
Wednesday 8th February 2023At this time of year, a bit of winter colour and scent can really lift the spirits. Here are a few which we highly recommend. Witch hazel – my favourite and one […]
Wreath-making – a step-by-step guide
Monday 5th December 2022Sara has put together this easy, step-by-step guide to making your own wreath, using greenery and berries found in your garden. Basic greenery – any evergreen with smallish leaves Conifer – any […]
Tips on Tree Planting
Friday 4th November 2022The majority of our trees are container grown, fully hardy, ornamental, (ie suitable for a domestic garden) English grown and ideal to plant now. If planted with care, already formatively pruned (the […]
Compost trials
Tuesday 25th October 2022Melcourt Sylvagrow – peat-free Dalefoot Wood compost- wool and bracken, peat-free Levington Professional Tree and Shrub (TPMC) peat-reduced Humax – peat-reduced Bathgate – peat-based John Innes No 1 and 2 – peat-based […]
Planting up containers for the winter
Wednesday 12th October 2022Here at the Place for Plants, we have just planted up our pots and tubs as the summer bedding was looking very tired. We used the Taylors Blue Shaded Collection with a […]
Insect Friendly Plants
Thursday 1st September 2022It has been one of the driest summers for a while and the gardens are all looking a bit parched. However this has been a bumper year for certain insects and there […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Dry Loving Plants
Sunday 15th July 2018Dry Loving Plants It’s dry, very dry, and with that in mind this month we are looking at plants that will tolerate such conditions. Although they will tolerate such places it does […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Colourful Climbers
Friday 8th June 2018Colourful Climbers We are almost half way through the year now, where did that go? Winter seems a distant memory but some things are still showing signs of the damage the cold […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: May Flowers
Thursday 3rd May 2018May Flowers! A little sun and everyone is out in their gardens getting things pruned, cut back, planted and dead headed. May is always one of the most colourful of months with […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Tough Plants for Cold Gardens
Monday 16th April 2018Tough Plants for Cold Gardens The cold spring continued far longer than welcomed but it wasn’t all doom and gloom for gardens as has meant that some plants have flowered for longer […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Spring Splendours
Tuesday 6th March 2018What a dramatic week we have just had; snow drifts, roads blocked and biting easterly winds. Now we have the thaw is setting in (hopefully) we can look forward to warmer spring […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Late Winter Wonders
Saturday 3rd February 2018Late Winter Wonders Spring is just around the corner, one more cold and wintery month to go. There are lots of lovely plants to look out for at this time of the […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Ever Present Evergreens
Monday 8th January 2018Ever Present Evergreens Happy New Year to all, let’s hope that this year is as good for growth as the year just past. I don’t think I can remember a year where […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Festive Filigree
Wednesday 6th December 2017It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Well the home grown trees are cut and ready for sale, Holly and Mistletoe gathered and Wreaths made so the nursery is looking very […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Feeling Fruity
Sunday 5th November 2017Well it’s still mild and no real sign of winter on the way as yet, but if you listen to old tales, then we are in for a hard winter. This is […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Magical Autumn Colour
Thursday 5th October 2017Magical Autumn Colour October is one of my favourite months of the year. This month dramatic colours are painted across the landscape on many deciduous trees and shrubs. This is the final […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Early Autumn Colour and Late Summer Flowers
Wednesday 4th October 2017Early Autumn Colour and Late Summer Flowers It is now meteorological autumn but as I wander around the nursery and garden, I still see some lovely plants that will give a final […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Classic Cottage Garden Plants
Friday 16th June 2017Classic Cottage Garden Plants. June is a month of great colour and change in the garden as the next wave of plants start to perform. The late spring flowers are now fading […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Fantastic Foliage
Friday 5th May 2017Fantastic Foliage. May is usually known for its exuberance in flowers and colour. Foliage is often overlooked but don’t under estimate it! This month the freshly emerged leaves are at their best […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Spring Woodland Beauties
Tuesday 4th April 2017Spring Woodland Beauties Spring has certainly sprung, what a glorious few weeks we have had of late. Everything is bursting open and rushing into flower. I love the excitement of this time […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Acid Lovers Take Centre Stage
Tuesday 4th April 2017Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Acid Lovers Take Centre Stage Looking around the Plant Centre and Garden you can see that the momentum of spring has started. Buds are starting to […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Early Spring Gems.
Tuesday 4th April 2017Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Early Spring Gems. Snowdrops (Galanthus) The cold weather has held things back so much this season. Snowdrops (Galanthus) are only just starting to peek out from their […]
Musings of a Plant Centre Manager: Winter Sense
Tuesday 3rd January 2017Welcome to Plant Centre Manager’s (PCM) first blog. ‘Musings of a Plant Centre Manager’ is a new gardening blog and will be posted monthly. PCM will focus on which plants are looking good now as […]