Longacres Blog

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.

There is something special about Christmas Eve in any retail shop, the atmosphere is fantastic! And here at Longacres today is no different. With Christmas day fast approaching both staff and customers are all in a festive mood! From all of us here at Longacres we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!

We still have Spring bulbs on sale, (even now in mid-December) and the best part is they are 50% off! It's not too late to buy daffodils or tulips. In all the pre-Christmas bustle it feels like dipping your toes in spring as you imagine them in full flower. The garden soil is likely to be frosty and inhospitable so all you ‘late buyers’ can grow in a pot. Get as big and deep a pot as possible and plant it up with good quality compost. Bulb compost works well as this provides nutrients to the bulbs that could help them in future years. Set the bulbs into the soil as deep as possible. Cover the surface with coarse gravel, pebbles or slate. (Use horticultural materials as builder’s grit and sand may contain salt.) This top-dressing stops earth being splashed up onto the foliage and also sets off the flowers. These pots can be positioned near a window when the flowers appear so they can be enjoyed in comfort! Alternatively, position the pot in the garden where there is a dull or boring spot. To make the most of your bargain buy, see if there are any sunny, well drained positions in the garden that are simply ‘empty-looking’ in spring. You can plant the bulbs out in these places when their foliage is dying down so you can enjoy them again the following year. The pot is available for use next year!

We're very happy to say that we helped local business Divecrew in raising a brilliant £2000 for the RNLI. Congratulations to all involved!

We have Santa's Grotto here at Longacres, which has been lovingly built by our talented team of florists and seasonal staff. It was a lot of hard work but all the staff involved in putting together this project agree that is it completely worth it to see the look on the children's faces as they are lead through the winter wonderland and sat down in the grotto with Santa. We have had some fantastic feedback both in person and on our Facebook page about the experience and how much people's children have enjoyed meeting Santa. We'd like to say a big thank you, it makes all the work all worth while to know that it has been such a hit! If you'd like to come and have a look for yourself we have posted the opening times below.

With Christmas just around the corner (16 days to go - have you started your Christmas shopping yet?), many families are shopping for Christmas trees. It's a great family activity, as long you as you can all agree on the tree! At Longacres, we aim to help families find their perfect Christmas tree. Below are our tips on choosing trees for the festive season: 1. Make sure you have measured for both height and width Before heading out to buy your tree, you should measure both ceiling height and width of the area where your Christmas tree will be spending the next few weeks. Some growers and sellers taper the trees by 80%. This means a tree that’s 10ft tall could be 8ft wide! It may fit the room vertically, but then take up far too much floor space. At Longacres we have a wide range of trees from the small 60cm (2ft) to the large 5.5m (18ft)! 2. Decorations, decorations, decorations... Think about the decorations you’re going to use (including the toilet roll angel you made in primary school of course...) Some trees have fewer branches and shorter needles (easier to get decorations on, but it means they'll also come off more easily) than others. Be confident that the branches of the tree you’re getting can carry the weight of all your decorations. 3. Pick the right type of tree for you There are several types of Christmas tree available: Fir, Pine, Spruce, and Cypress. At Longacres, we offer a large selection of both Fir and Spruce trees (cut and potted). Nordmann Fir is the most popular type of Christmas tree due to its beautiful needles. They aren’t sharp (they have a rounded tip) and they won’t drop easily when the tree needs watering. Blue Spruce trees are popular for the striking blue-green foliage and pleasing symmetrical form. Similar to the Nordmann Fir, Blue Spruce doesn’t drop needles as much as others. 4. Making your tree last longer It’s pretty simple to take good care of your tree and make it last all the way through the Christmas period. The most effective way to keep your tree fresh and prevent excessive needle loss is by using a Christmas tree stand which acts as a water reservoir. When you get your tree home, cut approximately half an inch from the base of the trunk before you put the tree in its stand. If possible, keep the tree away from radiators, TVs and other heat sources! Don’t leave it until the last minute before buying your tree - it's much more fun to choose from a huge range! Get in touch with us for more information on our Christmas trees.

There’s nothing like spending your Sunday morning getting your hands dirty – in a good way. Gardening is a great activity for reducing stress. You’re out in the sunshine and fresh air, getting your daily dose of exercise through gardening. You want to do it safely, without back pain and insect bites. Follow these ground rules to enjoy gardening in good health. Grow Basil and Rosemary Herbs Get more from your patch of green by growing easy-to-plant, healthy basil and rosemary herbs in your garden. Basil is a highly fragrant plant packed with vitamins K and A. It’s essential oil has antibacterial properties, providing protection against unwanted bacterial growth. Basil herbs prefer sun and moist, well-drained soil combined with compost. Water them at least every other day and harvest leaves when the plants are about 10 inches tall. Rosemary leaves have compounds that help improve memory, digestion and the immune system. Plant the herbs in the ground during warm periods or in pots you can move indoors during winter. Rosemary suits slightly alkaline soil and lots of sunshine. Keep the soil moist until its leaves are established, which may take one year. Buy a Quality Pair of Gardening Gloves Most people think infections aren’t a gardening hazard, but the soil in your garden might be contaminated with lead and other toxic chemicals from plumbing, or contaminants from parasites and pesticides. These substances make you susceptible to tetanus and E. coli bacteria. The best defence against infection is wearing a quality pair of gardening gloves. Use thin and fitted gloves for tasks that require handiness and leather ones when you’re clearing out thorny bushes. If you get a nick or a cut, wash it thoroughly with warm water and soap to avoid infection. Position Your Body Properly when Gardening Position your body properly to avoid back pain later. Keep your back straight with your knees bent slightly and shoulders relaxed while standing. When lifting heavy items, keep your knees bent and back straight by squatting down and engaging the muscles in your buttocks and thighs. When getting low, sit on a stool or kneel on a cushion, as long as it’s low enough to maintain a straight back. Use gardening tools with longer handles and plant a raised bed about 10 inches high to access the plants easier. Gardening is only good for your health if you practice it safely. Avoid back pain, bites, and other common garden-work hazards by following these tips. Browse our website to start your journey towards healthier gardening.