Longacres Blog

May is quite possibly one of the busiest months for gardeners up and down the country! The risk of frosts is diminishing (but they can have a habit of surprising us from time to time with a cold night), the days are lengthening and the temperatures are really beginning to warm up. What better way to signal the start of the true summer season then by planting out your summer bedding plants? Below are a few of Longacres top picks for adding colour to your garden now that will last all summer. Marigolds Marigolds are must have in any summer bedding scheme or planted container. With the African types that bear large showy blooms or the smaller but unbelievably free flowering French marigold, both come in an array of reds, yellows, oranges and whites! Top Tips Keep out of any frost - make sure that if we are going to have a sharp cold night you protect your bedding with frost fleece Make sure the soil is light, nutrient rich and free-draining - keep well watered in the dry summer months Dead head regularly and dead head the old flowers to prolong their flowing period Plant FRENCH marigolds near your other plants or vegetables to help deter white fly French Marigold Upright & Trailing Geraniums Arguably the most recognisable of any summer bedding plant, the geranium is a real treat for the eyes with their lush green foliage and showy colourful blooms in just about any colour imaginable! These versatile plants are also fairly drought tolerant and need little care except for a drink every now and then, a spot of dead heading and a feed from time to time. Trailing geraniums are perfect for hanging baskets while upright geraniums look stunning in a bedding display or as a container centre piece. Top Tips Don't over water your geraniums - this can cause grey mould to develop on your plants Protect plants from slugs and snail using copper wire, or organic pellets Dead head the old flowers to prolong flowering and remove any yellow or damaged leaves as you see them to help the plant thrive Geranium New Guinea Impatiens New Guinea Impatiens is a stunning species of the impatiens family, the ‘bigger sibling’ if you like of the common bedding impatien. These large annuals provide stunning colour all season long and are not affected by the damaging, and deadly, impatiens downy mildew disease like their smaller bedding counter parts are. Due to the size of these plants they best as the central feature in a container or in a larger bedding display. Top Tips Plant in full sun for the best flowers, deadheading the older flowers to prolong the flowing period Water regularly in high summer - don't let your New Guineas dry out Use the exotic & lush foliage as a feature as well as its showy flowers Impatiens Hopefully this has given you some summer bedding inspiration to add some wow factor to your gardens not just for now, but for all summer long. With the RHS Chelsea Flower show just around the corner there’s plenty to view, get inspired by and learn from in this garden orientated month!

We've just uploaded a new video to our Youtube channel - this time showing the benefits of using a barbecue with the Grillstream system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHm1YO5-U3c You can view our Leisuregrow Grillstream barbecues by following the link here. Happy summer barbecuing!

Probably one of our favourite activities come spring and summer is entertaining outside. And it’s one of the easiest things to do since outdoor dining areas can be created nearly anywhere in your garden, lawn, or backyard. You can easily throw a fabulous dinner party where you and your guests can enjoy good food and company on a lovely spring evening or a cool summer night. To help you, here’s a quick guide on some of the must-have elements in an outdoor garden dining area. A Place of Comfort and Function Dining al fresco is one of the things you can indulge in when there is good weather, especially if you have a garden or a patio. A dining table, a couple of benches or chairs are essential in making your outdoor area a true place for entertainment and hosting. The right furniture makes your garden a great place where you and your loved ones can come together, catch up, socialise, or just enjoy quality time together. Repurposed wood, wicker, and cast aluminium bronze are just some of the popular options. Make sure that you provide comfort by throwing in pillows and cushions. Find one that fits you and your home exterior by browsing our catalogue. A Place for Warmth Barbecues, fire pits or maybe even an outdoor fireplace not only sets the ambience, it also give you an “outdoor room” that you can use all year round. These additions are a great way to give your al fresco dining area more purpose. A Place for Cover Too much sunshine, wind or rain can sometimes ruin a perfect outdoor party. For these reasons, it would be wise to create a covered space so you can truly enjoy your outdoor area. There are numerous options for you, from retractable awnings, makeshift canopies, to a parasol. They can provide adequate shade to make your dining area just perfect. If you’re a bit creative, you can also play around with some garden elements, such as arches, vines, and trees to make your own shade. Your options for designing an outdoor dining area is as plenty as the plants and accessories you can use for your garden. The trick is to find pieces that you want and you’re comfortable with, and make them work not just for the garden but also for you.

Well spring has finally arrived, and it's a key time for many gardeners across the country as its the start of the vegetable growing season. Seeds are being sown, plugs are being potted on and the greenhouse is getting busy full of vegetable plants! Below are a few of the many choices of vegetable plants that we have a Longacres, ready for you to nurture and look after at home! Sweet Peppers Sweet peppers are a great addition to any vegetable garden. Easy to grow and look after these vegetable plants will provide you with an abundance of brightly coloured fruits all summer long. Pepper seeds can be tricky to germinate; for those who don’t want the challenge, ‘mini’ six packs containing 3 varieties of sweet pepper are available in store! Top Tips for Sweet Peppers Keep out of any frost - make sure your plant your peppers after the last frost or grow them on inside on a windowsill or heated greenhouse/conservatory. Make sure the soil is light, nutrient rich and free-draining - Water little and often! Feed plants with a high-potassium fertiliser weekly when fruiting. Lettuce Varieties Lettuce plants are one of the easiest and one of the most well known vegetable plants! These versatile plants can be grown fairly easily from seed but can also be bought in 12 packs and planted straight into the ground to save time. Some lettuce plants must be harvested in one go at the end of the season, but there are many varieties now that are known as ‘Cut & Come Again’, where you can harvest what you need, and the plant will continue to produce more foliage! Top Tips for Lettuces Lettuce plants are considered hardy and so can be planted out now. Protect plants from slugs and snail using copper wire, or organic pellets. Ensure that you leave enough space between your plants so they don't compete for nutrients, about 30cm apart is ample. Onions Growing your own onions is really simple and can be done right now! There are two main ways to grow onions from seed, and from onion sets. Onion sets are very simple and excellent value and can be planted in autumn for an early crop or now, for a late season harvest. You can buy onions growing from seed in 12 packs now for easy planting! Top Tips for Onions Plant in full sun, in a sheltered position. Water your onion sets during dry spells and remove any flowers as soon as they appear. Birds can be a problem and may lift your onions. Place deterrents near the plants to avoid this. So there you have it - some common vegetable plants that are really easy to grow and look after! It is also of note that they can all be grown in containers on patins or decks if your tight on space. Why not grab yourself some vegetable plants, and see for yourself?

Our Weber Barbecue Roadshow is only 6 weeks away and tickets are going fast! Join Weber’s top barbecue chef on the 15th of May as he presents a unique two hour cookery demonstration. Tickets are only £10 and include refreshments, tasters and a 10% discount off Weber accessories at the end of the course. You can follow this link for more details: http://goo.gl/9FHSny Our seasonal manager John has put together this video of the new Weber shop at Longacres - Rome wasn't built in a day, but our brand new barbecue shop was! http://youtu.be/ZKqh8xDYOgQ Weber Barbecues and BBQ Accessories available here: http://goo.gl/mN60GR The Longacres garden furniture range is here: http://goo.gl/jPwg4X Find us on Facebook here: http://goo.gl/zmxaNr

Hello, this is the first gardening blog for Longacres from Mike at Purkiss Cottage (there's a picture of the cottage following this post). I am the part time gardener of five years at this beautiful cottage located within the New Forest. A 1940’s cottage with over two acres of land including large lawns, three greenhouses, a small vegetable plot and a variety of fruit trees. A growing Huchera collection, herbaceous borders and a fantastic fully established purple Wisteria. With chickens, ducks, alpacas, dogs and cats there is always a job to do! This was the first weekend since before Christmas that there was a chance to get out in the garden and start on the growing list of jobs. Without having to get wet feet as half of the garden is still underwater as I'm sure a lot of you will also be experiencing, the potted roses were in desperate need of attention. Growing roses can be seen as a bit of a chore but they provide months of beautiful flowers and fantastic scents to float around the garden, so in my opinion a must for every garden and not as difficult as it is rewarding to grow. This weekend I concentrated on the pot grown collection. Firstly I pruned out any dead wood or crossing stems. Then cut back all stems to an outward facing bud to around 10-15cm from the base. You may think this is rather early but David Austin the famous rose grower used to escape the in-laws on Boxing Day by getting out in the rose garden to prune his collection it is rumoured. So whilst we are having such a mild winter I decided to make a start. Next after pruning each rose I took the rootball of each rose out of their pot. Removed any suckers pushing through and discarded of all of the weeds. Gently brushing away to remove old soil I then repot the rose using plenty of good drainage and a good quality compost. My preference is to use a specific rose, tree and shrub compost mixed 50/50 with John Innes No 3 for permanent planting. This will provide the best water and nutrient retention for roses grown in posts. Roses are amongst the hungriest plants in the garden and need plenty of regular feeding throughout the seasons. So to give these roses the best chance I decided to use a new product “Gro-Sure Planting Magic”. This will help to provide a mix of essential ingredients to give them the best start. Dried seaweed alongside fast acting nutrients and a slow release plant food with little water storing granules added to hold and release water close to the roots when required. This eliminates the risk of under or over watering. A really simple new product to use, just add two handfuls before putting the rootball back into the pot. Then backfill the pot firming down the compost as you go. It can also be used all around the garden in any situation including ericaceous plants and with fruit and vegetables. It will then feed the plant for up to six months. These roses will also need additional feeding during the season to maintain good growth, strong flowers and help build up a good resistance to pest and disease. So I recommend using Westland rose food enriched with horse manure. Using a rose food containing horse manure provides all the usual major and minor nutrients that you find in a good rose food. With the added manure a traditional gardeners favourite with growing roses brings the slow release of essential trace elements to the soil. Healthy soil means healthy plants. I will feed all of the roses with a handful of food mid summer to keep them happy. Be careful not to feed too late in the summer as this will promote growth which maybe vulnerable to frost damage in the autumn. A regular spraying programme beginning in early spring when fresh leaves appear will help prevent pest and disease during the spring and summer. A systemic insecticide and fungicide like Rose Rescue used every two weeks will keep your roses healthy throughout the summer. Next weekend I will be planting out strawberries grown from last years plants and begin to start sowing tomato and pepper seeds. I will choose some seed potatoes to begin chitting ready for planting out after the risk of frost has passed. Best to buy early to get the best choices in varieties. This Longacres Blog post was contributed by Mike Storer. Purkiss Cottage

January 2014 has gone down on record as the wettest January ever recorded. With the terrible weather we've been experiencing in December and the beginning of the year it’s not difficult to believe! But fortunately the worst of it is looking like it is behind us, so now we can all start looking forward and trying to repair some of that damage caused in our poor waterlogged gardens. Unfortunately there are few plants that can survive long periods of flood water. The water will drown the plants in the sodden soil and restrict air flow to their root system. The outcome of this is yellowing leaves dropping off and the plant eventually rots and dies. The weather may also cause bark to peel off stems and herbaceous plants may fail to come into growth in spring. Saying that, here is a quick guide with useful tips and tricks to get that garden soil back to what it once was ready to plant in and bring back to its former glory: Try to avoid walking on waterlogged soil, not only will you get mucky boots but the soil will compact causing more long term damage. This is even more essential to avoid on heavy clay soils. If you must walk over the soil, use a plank of wood, board or purchase a portable path to help disperse the weight and even the load on the soil. Spike the lawn with a garden fork or lawn aerator to the depth of 10cm. Then fill the holes with horticulture sand or top dressing to help allow the water to penetrate the less compacted soil below. Another way to improve soil structure is to add lots of organic matter such as garden compost or chipped bark. There is no need to dig this in, just put it down and let the worms do the work for you. Once the water goes down its time to feed! The water would have washed away a large amount of nutrients so a good fertiliser is essential for bringing that soil back up to its former standard. Whilst that soil is improving you can still get out there and do a bit of gardening! Longacres stocks a wide range of colourful spring plants, shrubs, herbs, grow your own and more which would all look fantastic planted up in a pot or container on your path, patio, driveway, alcove, balcony or whatever space you've got while the vegetable beds and borders dry out of excess water! Why not see us in store and speak to one of our members of staff on what you can do for your garden space.

The first in our series of videos for 2014 - Jack Shilley explains how to plant seed potatoes so you can enjoy a fresh crop through the year! Products featured include: First Early Seed Potatoes: http://goo.gl/DD9W5D Main Crop Seed Potatoes: http://goo.gl/mYABlz Longacres Multipurpose Compost: http://goo.gl/58z1xg Miracle Gro Gro Sac 50L: http://goo.gl/4ltCWX Potato Planting Bag (twin pack): http://goo.gl/dRR3HE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoGeId7EWBA

It is (nearly!) spring and the garden centre is full of enticing plants; the fresh colours of spring are irresistible. Trolleys are loaded high with plants and expectations. Although it may seem strange, this is the ideal time to cast your thoughts forward to high and late summer, even autumn. Continuity of colour in the garden can be quite hard to achieve and there always seems to be a lull between spring and autumn flowers. The vast majority of shrubs have their floral show in spring. Very few flower later in the season. It is worth keeping a space for these later performers while planting in spring. Three key types of plant come to mind: Buddlejas, Fuchsias and, of course, Hydrangeas. They may not be available for sale very early in the season, but you can plan ahead and leave a space for them in the garden. Using our Plant Finder https://www.longacres.co.uk/home/longacres_garden_centre_surrey_plant_finder.html you can take a look at the varieties we sell, find one to match your favourite colours and save it to your ‘My Plants’ list for later. Or print out the plant details as a reminder. Plan for Buddleja: they like sunshine and well drained soil. They can be 2.5 metres high Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’; https://www.longacres.co.uk/home/longacres_garden_centre_surrey_plant_finder.html?plantid=7081 or a miniature 1.2 metres like Buddleja ‘Buzz Ivory’; https://www.longacres.co.uk/home/longacres_garden_centre_surrey_plant_finder.html?plantid=36012 They are loved by butterflies and have flowers in shades of white, pink, red and blue to mauve. They make an imposing feature in the garden. Plan for Fuchsias: they like sun or part-shade and reasonable moisture levels. They are in flower for a couple of months. Most of them are around 50 cm in height and look good in containers. The magellanica forms can be much larger and make handsome specimens, for example Fuchsia magellanica ‘Thompsonii’; https://www.longacres.co.uk/home/longacres_garden_centre_surrey_plant_finder.html?plantid=1731 Their flowers are generally in the pink, red and purple range. Plan for Hydrangeas: they generally enjoy a shaded or partially shaded site and some moisture. They too flower for weeks and in many cases their faded flowers are interesting well into the autumn. Many of the older varieties of ‘macrophylla’ hybrids are 1.5 metres high. A range of smaller, showier forms are now becoming available. These may even have shiny black stems that give an exotic twist to their flowers. Hydrangeas have large flowers in shades of white, pink, mauve, red and blue. Their flowers come in two forms, the rounded ‘mopheads’ for example Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Generale Vicomtesse de Vibraye’; https://www.longacres.co.uk/home/longacres_garden_centre_surrey_plant_finder.html?plantid=1287 and the elegant, rather dome shaped ‘lacecaps’, for example Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Taube’; https://www.longacres.co.uk/home/longacres_garden_centre_surrey_plant_finder.html?plantid=21690) They have a strong presence in the garden whilst in flower, and can be a major feature. Then with your ‘My Plants’ shopping list started, there is an excellent excuse later in the season for another shopping trip to our Garden Centre to buy the plants you've chosen. Enjoy. This Longacres Blog post contributed by Susan A. Tindall

February is a characteristically cold month, but this year the pattern of mild, wet and windy weather has continued - how miserable! There are however, an abundance of bulbs that are beginning to bloom like crazy and will provide your garden with a beautiful array of colour all spring. All the bulbs below are available, in the green, in store now! Daffodil (Narcissus Species) Daffodils are one of the most recognisable spring plants. With their showy, bright and sometimes fragrant blooms these are must have spring bulb! For a beautiful, multi bloom flowered daffodil go for ‘Tete-A-Tete’, perfect for containers. Or if you prefer something a little more showy how about ‘Rip Van Winkle’ with its unusual flower shape! Top Tips for Daffodils Plant in a sunny position for the best flowers, but daffodils will tolerate partial shade. Make sure the soil is well-draining, but don't allow to get dry! Leave the flowers and foliage to die back naturally before cutting back to ground level. Tulip (Tulipa Species) Tulips are arguably the best of the spring bulbs for colour. Available in just about any shade imaginable, Tulips have a diverse use in the garden, they can be planted in the beds & borders or can be planted in containers, coming back each year to provide you with an extravagant display of spring blooms! For a dwarf tulip that’s perfect for containers choose ‘Red Riding Hood’ with stunning deep red flowers. Top Tips for Tulips Tulips need to be in a fully sunny spot to maximise flowering! Ensure that your tulips are planted in nutrient rich, free draining compost. Remove the flower after it has finished, but leave foliage to die back naturally. Crocus (Crocus varieties) Another beautiful spring bulb which heralds the change of seasons with a stunning show of small, deeply coloured, white, blue, purple or veined flowers. These bulbs are great for naturalising within lawns or underplanting larger trees or shrubs. Top Tips for Crocus A great bulb to plant in dappled shade or, preferably, in full sun. Can be grown in most soil types as long as it is well draining. Keep an eye out for squirrels or voles digging the bulbs up after planting! Why not treat yourself to some stunning spring bulb colour! Mix some tulips in with your planting or spice up your lawn with some crocuses! Plenty that you can do to add some colour to your gardens. Daffodils:   Tulips: Crocus:

January is a rather somber month. The dull grey days, with wet miserable weather coupled with cold temperatures really dampens the mood of any garden. There is a ray of hope however and you can, believe it or not, inject some January colour and scent into your garden to lift the mood! Witch Hazels (Hamamelis species) Witch Hazels are a deciduous shrub that really come into their own during the deepest winter months. They have unusual, brightly coloured flowers that are highly scented, borne on their bare stems from January through to March and look stunning in the garden. Top Tips for Witch Hazel Plant in a sunny position, avoiding exposed windy areas. Plant in neutral or acid soil. Make sure that the plant doesn't dry out or your witch hazel may not produce any flowers! Skimmia (Skimmia japonica cultivars) Skimmia plants are reliably hardy and beautiful providing clusters of vivid red berries (Female plants) or group spikes of delicately scented red/white flowers (Male plants) from December though to March. You can also get Skimmias that produce both flowers and berries on the same plant without the need for separate male and female plants! Top Tips for Skimmia Skimmias like part or full shade, they will scorch in full sun. They can be planted in just about any soil type as long as it is free draining. Skimmias can also be grown and look great in containers! Christmas Box (Sarcocca species) Christmas box is a lovely, low growing, evergreen shrub that in January and February produce clusters of small white flowers (which are very well hidden underneath the foliage) that have a wonderfully strong scent to them! Plant near a door way or a path to get the best out of the plants unbelievable scent. Top Tips for Christmas Box Christmas box likes to be planted in full or partial shade. An excellent plant for use as unusual ground cover. Prune lightly each year to maintain shape and encourage new growth. So despite the miserable weather and soggy looking gardens, you can inject some well needed colour and wonderful scent into your garden - even in January! Witch Hazel: Skimmia: Christmas Box:

Garden statues, sculptures, water features and ornaments enhance the beauty and splendour of a garden. They can be set amongst shrubbery, partly obscured from view or highlighted and placed on columns or pedestals at various points throughout the garden. Choosing garden ornaments is an art, but it has its own set of rules. Here are some simple guidelines to help you chose the right garden furniture and decorations for your garden. Statues Statues can be used subtly throughout your garden, or in a more formal manner, depending on the figure. To make them stand out, consider the following: Keep in mind the plants you have. Arrange in a way that both figurine and plants work together and do not compete for attention. Limit the number of pieces per area. Make sure every piece can stand on its own and is easily viewable. Formal pieces, such as busts, are best in a formal setting, while charming little pieces are better in informal or country style gardens. Centrepieces Some homeowners love to highlight a particular plant or ornament as the centrepiece of the whole garden. If you plan to do the same, make sure that the piece works well with the rest of the landscape. Whether it is a water feature, sundial, large birdbath, or even a barbecue, it should go well with the existing trees, grass, shrubs and climbers already found in your garden. Accent Pieces Your theme should focus on items that blend with your garden, not ones that compete with it. For example bush gardens often don’t go well with a classic Greek statue. Plants, trees and flowerbeds should double as an accent as well as standalone elements. Less is more and one or two well-chosen pieces can be more effective than several random items put together. Get in touch with us now and we will be glad to help you find the right plants, garden furniture, and ornaments that will make your outdoor space a beautiful and relaxing place to spend time.