Longacres Blog

Great as a gift or to use in your own home, Shot2Go's range of festive 'Create Your Own' decorations mean you can really make your décor unique this Winter! All decorations hold 2 photos that can be cut to size using the included template. Photo Ornament - Star/Heart/Circle - £2.99 Three different shaped baubles to choose from to really jazz up the tree; a star, a heart or a circle. Christmas Photo Bauble - £3.49 Make your tree even more special by placing a photo of a memory, family member, friend or even a pet inside this bauble. Reindeer Photo Snowglobe - £4.99 Give this snowglobe a good shake to really add to the Winter effect! Come and grab these unique decorations instore now at Longacres!

Heading into winter is the time when the Helleborus (also known as 'Christmas Rose') will start to make a show for the garden. These are winter and spring perennials available in many forms and colours; they are almost an essential for any garden during winter months. There are many varieties of Hellebore and they are distributed widely across Europe and to as far as China and Syria. Identified by their leaves, their flowers are displayed in clusters which may be open and airy or tightly grouped. The flowers will show different forms from Anemone and centered to double, spotted or picotee. In the Helleborous flower, the true petals are modified into a ring of nectaries at the centre of the flower to attract pollinating insects, which make these great pollinator plants for your garden. Flowering time is late winter through to spring, and I find the way these delicate flowers withstand the harshest of weather really fascinating. Different varieties offer colours from purist white (Christmas Carol) to deep pink (Party Dress) and some will give a delicate two-tone colour (Helleborus ericsmithii). Most Helleborus will grow well in any reasonably fertile soil, but are happiest in lime and neutral soil and many enjoy a shady area, so for sun starved borders this is a real essential. For more open and sunny situations the more moisture they require. So for a fully hardy, delicate flowering perennial throughout winter, you will not go far wrong with the Christmas Rose. This Longacres blog post was contributed by Jo from our plants department

Due to a long warm summer, many are predicting a symphony of colour in autumn. There are a whole host of trees and shrubs that will compliment your garden and give colour that will not disappoint, you do not have to opt for eventual large giants, and there are some really lovely small compact trees and shrubs that will give just as much during autumn. So here are a few for you to consider if you’re yearning to light up your garden with a spectacular autumn display: Acer palmatum ‘osakazuki’ This is one of the best Japanese maples for autumn colour, it’s an elegant plant with leaves that turn bright scarlet in autumn. It will make an ideal small tree for border planting and will also do well in a container. Its rate of growth is moderate and will do best in a sheltered spot, out of strong winds. This is an ideal specimen for a small garden. Quercus rubra Quercus is a large and vigorous oak tree, giving rich scarlet autumn colour and on acid soil the leaves will turn bright fiery red. It does require full sun and a well-drained soil site, and of course a rather large garden! Your soil pH will determine how good the autumn colour will be, so you will see better results in an acid soil. Liquidamber styraciflua ‘festival’ The Liquidamber will give you one of the finest displays of autumn colour, during spring and summer the leaves are bright green before turning to burgundy red in autumn. Eventually it will grow into a large tree (4-5 metres) and will do full sun to dappled shade. For the best autumn colour results this does better in acid soil or lime free soil. Euonymous alatas This is a compact spreading deciduous small shrub. The leaves turn a magnificent red in autumn. Trust me, the autumn colour that this shrub displays will not disappoint. It shows small green flowers in early spring followed by red, purple fruits. It gives something every season. A real autumn must have. Prunus Amanogara – Japanese flowering cherry This narrow and upright tree works well as an ornamental tree in all gardens, but particularly useful in a small garden. It will reach an eventual height of 5 metres over 20 years. It displays beautiful pale pink flowers over the entire tree in spring and the mid green foliage will turn red to orange in winter. It will do well in any soil condition provided it is free draining. Callicarpa bondineri The bondineri is medium sized deciduous shrub of an upright habit. Its leaves will turn a rosy pink in autumn, but the real beauty with this shrub is its berries, these are lilac, bordering purple on bare wood which is a real eye catcher. This will do full sun to partial shade and is the leaves will turn bright fiery red. It does require full sun and a well-drained soil site, and of course a rather large garden! Your soil pH will determine how good the autumn colour will be, so you will see better results in an acid soil. This Longacres blog post was contributed by Jo from our plants department

With Halloween and Christmas just around the corner, home-owners will soon be using their gardens to show off their flair for decoration around these key events in the year. Here are some essential tips for lawn decoration to help you keep in the spirit of these occasions: Lighting Whether it is in the form of bright, fancy lights flashing all over the house or if it is creepy carved-out pumpkin lanterns, proper lighting can make sure your home keeps the festive spirit alive. Make it a point, though, to examine all your electrical outlets before setting up your lights to avoid electrical problems. Music As well as creating a visual showcase, sound can also be added into a seasonal display. Christmas carols and sleigh bells could enhance a Christmas garden. For Halloween haunted house sound effects and doorbells can create an eerie atmosphere. Decorated Entrances It is all about creating a warm or spooky welcome. Inject a festive atmosphere to your home by making your entrance a grand statement. Inject some atmosphere and a Christmas spirit with reindeer and a Father Christmas. Or for Halloween spiders, ghosts and ghouls can create a frightful night. And why stop at doorways when there are so may ways to decorate plants and trees in your garden? Christmas Village What better way to create your own festive atmosphere than by setting up your own Christmas village? Create your Christmas centre piece with attractive buildings and figures from the renowned Lemax Village Collection.  At Longacres we offer some of the finest decorations to ensure a creative and fun Christmas. Longacres Garden Centre is the one-stop shop for all of your gardening supply needs. We offer these items at reasonable prices. Contact us today and let our specialists answer all your queries.

**This weekend (Sat 29th/Sun 30th November) The ScentSicles lumberjack is on a special mission at Longacres to ask our customers to take the "Can you tell the difference?" blindfolded sniff test!** Artificial Christmas Trees make a delightful addition to homes at Christmas time; the way they look, the way they feel, the fact that they don’t make a mess and some even come with added berries/snow/pine cones for more authenticity. The only thing they lack is that wonderful natural scent of that real Christmas trees emit, and this is where ScentSicles have revolutionized Artificial Christmas Trees. What are they? ScentSicles are scented hanging ornaments that come in a variety of four different scents: Christmas Time Spruce, White Winter Fir, Snow Berry Wreath and Two Dashes of Cinnamon. Easy to hide within trees, garlands, wreaths or other décor, ScentSicles provide a discreet way of infusing a festive fragrance throughout homes. Perfect for you're own home or even as party gifts or stocking fillers! How do they work? ScentSicles are sticks that have been made from tightly rolled (all-natural) biodegradable paper. Layer by layer, the scent slowly climbs to the surface, constantly exuding the fragrance until there is no more (after roughly 30 days). Each tube comes with 6 sticks. It is recommended that 3 or 4 are put on a Christmas tree at a time, but it would certainly be worth starting with one and adding more as necessary. Which variety should I get? You might be looking for a truly genuine smell of a Christmas tree, in which case White Winter Fir or Christmas Time Spruce will be the scents for you. Alternatively, Two Dashes of Cinnamon or Snow Berry Wreath will be more up your street for those of you wanting a sweeter scent that still radiates those classic festive aromas. [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jkdbxOahB4[/embed] Whether you take our word for it or need to smell it to believe it, at a great price of just £5.99 per tube ScentSicles are sure to sell quickly - so be sure to not miss out! Available both in store and online at Longacres.

There’s no denying that we all love an outdoor barbecue: skewers, potato salad, burgers, fried onions, paper plates, hotdogs – all the good stuff that we picture on a typical BBQ table spread. What certainly doesn’t come to mind are pizzas, cookies and breads; and those are exactly what the BakerStone Pizza Oven Box brings to the patio table! [embed]http://youtu.be/K1lBy2apN2Q[/embed] We absolutely love this innovative pizza oven box and we want to share with you the reasons why: It’s ideal for parties and gatherings What better way to host an alternative party than with a ‘create-your-own’ pizza night? Buy in the pizza dough, tomato sauce and a selection of toppings (go as crazy as you like – anchovies, pineapple, spinach, olives, bananas?!) and leave everyone to their own pizza creating devices. It creates a fantastic way to interact with your guests, children and adults alike, whilst having great fun. With each pizza taking less than 5 minutes to cook, you will have a steady flow of pizzas being churned out of the oven box ready to devour. Quick and easy to use Not only is the Oven Box easy to assemble in the first instance, it then doesn't require any cables, plugging in, batteries or charging in order to be used. You just pop it straight on top your grill, switch on the grill and monitor the temperature range indicator until it’s at the desired temperature. Cleaning the product after cooking is also easy – keep the burners on for an extra fifteen minutes, the residue will burn off and can be pushed to the back of the oven – simple! Comes complete with added recipes From a classic Margherita to Banana and Nutella Dessert Pizza, BakerStone comes with added inspiration for your cooking – ideal for homemade pizza novices or for changing the perception of regular pizza makers! It doesn’t just have to be pizzas… Despite its name, the pizza oven box is perfect for cooking fish, vegetables, breads, and casseroles – in fact, virtually anything you’d normally put in an oven, but wouldn’t necessarily think to cook outside. Cue the techy part… Want to know how all this is made possible? The Pizza Oven Box design boosts the temperature of outdoor grills to that of a real wood burning pizza oven. Creating a unique air flow system which enhances the convective, conductive and radiant heat in and around the cooking chamber is achieved by the combination of the stone baking chamber with the enamelled steel housing, all of which amounts to incomparable cooking performance. We have absolutely no doubt that you will love the BakerStone Pizza oven Box just as much as we do. The BakerStone Pizza Oven Box is at a fantastic price of £129.99, and would make a perfect gift for virtually any occasion - especially for dads this Christmas!

A touch of colour in the garden during winter can enliven both the garden and the spirits of the viewer, even if you are just peering out of the window. Hint – position your bright plant where it can be clearly seen from the house. There are a number of shrubs that are evergreen with gold variegated foliage and these provide consistent bright colour throughout the cold months of the year. The obvious choice is a holly and amongst the brightest is Ilex altaclerensis ‘Golden King’. This has dark green glossy leaves, gold-edged. Despite the name it is a female holly and will have some berries if there is a male holly in its vicinity. This could be the male holly, confusingly called Ilex aquifolium ‘Golden Queen’, with regularly shaped green and golden foliage.  Hollies are prickly and the leaves can hurt small hands when the tree sheds them and they lie on the ground, so be warned. There are other gold-variegated hollies available including the near thornless Ilex aquifolium ‘Golden van Tol’, another female variety. If you want something big and beautiful but without thorns try an Elaeagnus. The most handsome of them all is perhaps Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’, where the green and gold leaves have a crisp and vibrant quality that is more intense in its effect than hollies. There are other forms with golden variegation. On a smaller scale are a range of bright and cheery Euonymus japonicum forms that include Euonymus japonicas ‘Golden Maiden’, which has gold leaves with a green edge and stands around a metre high. You could try planting these in a group of three to provide an interesting and unusual feature. Finally, there is an evergreen honeysuckle, grown for its lively foliage. This is . The leaves are small and pale gold during the winter months. It can be grown so that its foliage cascades down, particularly effective against a house wall or a fence. All these plants are easy to grow in any normal garden. Wishing you winter cheer! This Longacres Blog post contributed by Susan A. Tindall

Autumn brings the arrival of the late flowering perennial schizostylis. I always look forward to the blooms form this elegant plant, it gives a wonderful splash of colour after earlier perennials have finished for the year. One species can be found growing wild in the mountainous regions of Africa, where it will grow in moist places, often by riverbanks. This plant will spread slowly into clumps and is more or less evergreen. It displays upright leaves, sheath flowering stems carrying flat bright red or pink flowers that will lift your garden in late autumn to early winter. It really is an autumn must have. There are many varieties to choose from, the most popular being Schizostylis coccinea. This plant will perform at its best in a moist area, but with some sun and you will find after a few seasons it would do best to divide it into other area of your garden. So if you are looking for some satisfying autumn perennials in the form of delicate flowers and cottage garden colours, Schizostaylis will deliver in all areas. Elegant Schizostylis

National Conifer Week 27th September – Organised by British Conifer Group. I would be lying if I told you I have always been a fan of conifers, whilst learning horticulture they were the plant genius that least enthused me, not to mention the mine field of species I felt I should learn. However becoming more familiar with them I now feel they are not highlighted enough. The most common request I receive from customers is their desire for a low maintenance evergreen for their garden and when a conifer is suggested their faces crumple, the word ‘conifer’ seems to have that effect. So l am here to praise up the benefits of the forgotten evergreen. Admittedly care should be taken in selection, it can be hard to imagine how a small plant could grow into a giant that dominates your garden, however there are many sorts of conifers each offering a beautiful compliment to the garden. They offer a wide range of growth habits, foliage types and colour. They can be just the right accent against flowering plants. You can select a conifer for almost any area of your garden. Shaded areas are great for Taxus baccatta, Abies alba and Juniperus sinensis to name but a few. You can even add evergreen interest to a rock garden giving colour and texture that cannot be replicated from other planting. We have a healthy stock of conifers in the plant department and given that winter is not that far away I have picked three that will give the colour, texture and interest lots of gardeners crave during the winter months. Picea albertiana Conica - This is a dwarf conifer, displaying a neat compact conical habit, it has bright green spring growth and can be used in borders or containers. You need to keep this one well watered in summer as just as an added bonus it makes an ideal miniature Christmas tree! Thuja occidentalis Amber Glow - This is a new English introduction that will add great merit to any garden. This is again a dwarf conifer which slowly forms a rounded mound and has a lovely amber yellow colour in summer and bronzing in winter, giving all year round interest. Also a good container conifer. Thuya occidentalis Rheingold - This will eventually form a large cone and is one of the best orange conifers, this looks its best when complimenting heathers and will add great winter colour to any garden. We have a vast array of conifers in stock at the moment so maybe give the conifer a chance, during those months were there is not a lot going on in the garden, that will be the time you’ll be glad you did.

Dogs love lawns, but the feeling is definitely not mutual. One of the most frustrating problems that a homeowner can deal with is dog damage to their lawns. This results from the tendency of our four legged friends to mark their territory with urine. Unfortunately, the high concentration of nitrogen scorches the grass and causes unsightly dead patches. This is especially a problem with larger dogs, due to the sheer volume they produce. Females are also significantly more damaging, because they tend to stick to one spot rather than going to different spots. However there’s no reason you can’t have a dog and a well-maintained lawn.Here are a few simple measures that can solve your problems. Your Primary Objective is Dealing with the Dog Even though there are ways to fix the damage, the most effective long term solution is to simply keep the dogs away from your lawn. If the culprit is your own dog, this is fairly simple. All you need to do is to train them to use a specific, non-turf area in your yard for their toilet needs. This is much easier to accomplish while your pet is still young. When the offending mutt is a stray or belongs to your neighbour, however, things can be a bit more complex. If you can identify the owner, it’s usually easy to convince them to keep their pet out of your garden. Otherwise, you have to resort to other types of deterrent, like a fence. You should also consider changing the lawn fertiliser you use, as some brands have ingredients that actually attract dogs. If your lawn is experiencing dog troubles, Longacres can help. We stock urine spot removers and a variety of animal repellents to keep your turf healthy and safe. Get in touch with us today to enquire about our products.

A timely orchid post below from our intrepid plant expert Jack, currently having a hard life in his new role in...Hawaii. Come home soon Jack! Some lovely pictures below the post - not often you get to see orchids growing in the wild! Hi - I'm Jack Shilley! In August 2014 I left the Longacres Garden Centre plant team to head out on an amazing adventure to the island of Kauai, Hawaii to study tropical plants in their native environments with the National Tropical Botanical Garden. When you think of tropical plants (at least here in the UK) you will immediately think of indoor plants or house plants - and while these plants can't live a happy life outdoors, kept inside with a bit of TLC every now and then can add beauty, colour and fragrance to just about any room you like. One of the very common houseplants available (and arguably one of the most stunning to own) are orchids. Orchids traditionally come from tropical regions of the world where they grow on the branches of trees (Epiphytes) or on rocks (Lithophytes) without any soil at all. There are millions of varieties of orchids found all over the world. Below is an example a common house plant orchid (found for sale in the UK) and a couple of different orchids, only likely to be found in their native regions. Phalaenopsis species. (Moth Orchids) This is quite possibly the most common orchid found for sale in the UK but this doesn't keen they aren't beautiful - in fact they are really stunning and come in a huge variety of colours and sizes suitable for anyones need. Care Tips - Moth orchids can be grown in a wide variety of light levels, make sure they aren't in direct sunlight. Moth orchids can tolerate shade but make sure its not too dark. - Keep your orchid in a humid place if possible, a kitchen windowsill, a bathroom etc… with temperatures no lower than 16ºC - Don't cut off the flower stalk until it turns brown. So long as its green it may still produce flowers! Ascocenda species These orchids can sometimes be found for sale in garden centres in the UK but more often than not you can find them from specialist orchid nurseries. This entire species of orchids are man-made hybrids crossing two species together to create a stunning result! Care Tips - Ascocenda love warmer areas - don't let the temperature drop below 18ºC. - These orchids have strong root systems and they should be encouraged to produce these adventitious roots to help the plant keep ample air circulation and to allow it to dry out quickly. - Keep your Ascocenda in an well light, sunny position. Dracula species (Monkey Face Orchid) These orchids are hard to find so an orchid specialist would be best to source these funny looking orchids. The clue is in the common name for this species as the flowers (particularly those of Dracula simia’) look like little monkey faces! Cute! Care Tips - Dracula species are very fussy, temperatures must not go above 25ºc or below 12ºc, with ample air movement and high humidity levels. - These orchids must not dry out at any time! Keep well watered. - These orchids tend to have trailing flowers so hanging baskets or orchid baskets are advised. I hope that this has given you a small insight in to the huge world of orchids - many of which reside here in Hawaii - and how you can add some tropical orchid flare to your home! Ascocenda Orchid Phaelenopsis Orchid Orchids growing naturally

An increasing number of studies conducted over the past few years reveal that some houseplants remove harmful airborne contaminants. These plants can purify indoor air, which, according to authorities, is more polluted than what is circulating outdoors. A study conducted by NASA scientists found that houseplants may help create breathable atmospheres during space explorations. Trials have shown that plants like the South African Gerbera Daisy, Gerbera Jamesonii and Hybrids are effective in removing chemical vapours; these plants prefer to be kept in rooms that have longer periods of direct sunlight. To maintain a healthy indoor environment, try and place these houseplants in strategic locations, keeping aesthetics in mind. Experiment with them and aim for it to be visually pleasing. In order to keep the plants healthy don’t forget to check how much water it needs, to avoid under or over watering. Strategic Locations It is important to keep your houseplant in the right environment, making sure it has the right amount of sun; some need to avoid long periods of direct sunlight as they might not be able to survive. The Golden Pothos, or Epipremnum Aureum, features heart-shaped leaves and splashes of gold and cream; this plant is good for large offices as it can survive in shady locations and has a good rate of chemical removal. Another good choice would be Genus Dracaena which likes dimly-lit areas and cool temperatures. Aesthetically Appealing Originally from Madagascar, Dypsis Lutescens (Areca Palm) is one of the best plants for removing indoor pollutants. It is also one of the most attractive houseplants. An easy to keep plant, it requires little watering and minimum maintenance to treat a few pest and disease problems. Low Maintenance Buying houseplants that require low maintenance to help reduce your carbon footprint. A Bamboo Palm or Chamaedorea Seifrizii is amongst those with the highest transpiration rates and requires low maintenance. Data shows that it can help remove benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air. If you’re not into palms, the White Phalaenopsis Orchid is a good alternative. Just keep in mind to water generously during spring and summer, and very sparingly in winter. Chances are that all sorts of chemicals were used in the building of your home or office, all of which may be causing fatigue, headache and itchy eyes. To reduce health risks at home, install houseplants and garden plants. Longacres offers an impressive selection of houseplants, perennials, climbers, and bulbs. We provide easy access to sustainable living through high quality gardening supplies. Browse through our website and contact us for more information.