Perfect Poinsettias
Red, white, pink, orange and various shades in between, add a lovely pop of colour to our houses in winter. These plants like a warm room away from any drafts.
Compost Champions
Published 13/07/2023
Home composting is the most environmentally friendly way of dealing with kitchen and garden waste. It produces compost that can be used all round the garden as a soil improver and mulch.
It is easy to make: add a good mix of chopped up material, turn the heap regularly and keep it moist during the summer months.
• Grass mowings in thin layers
• Weeds (not seed heads and roots of perennials)
• Fruit and veg peelings and scraps
• Shredded or chopped prunings
• Manure
• Cardboard and paper
• Straw and hay
• Wood chippings and sawdust
Leafmould has many uses in the garden:
• It makes a wonderful soil conditioner and mulch.
• Well-rotted leaf mould can be sieved and used for seed sowing.
• When mixed with equal parts of sharp sand and top soil it can be used as potting compost.
• It can also be used on lawns as a top dressing.
To Make Leafmould: Pile up the leaves and leave them for at least two years to break down into crumbly, black leaf mould. Keep the leaf pile moist and turn it regularly. Leaves from beech, hornbeam and oak break down the quickest and make good quality leaf mould.
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Perfect Poinsettias
Red, white, pink, orange and various shades in between, add a lovely pop of colour to our houses in winter. These plants like a warm room away from any drafts.
The Wonders of a Winter Garden
Create interest in the garden in winter. From winter scent to evergreen plants, a guide from our Plant Team on utilising your garden over winter.
Create a stylish winter wreath
Winter is a wonderful time to get creative. As the days are short and cold we tend to spend more time inside and less in our gardens. For this project you can bring a little bit of nature inside, or hang it on your front door. You can take cuttings from the garden, forage for foliage, berries, and cones (if the weather permits!), or buy real or artificial foliage and flowers instead. It's up to you what you want to include on your wreath!
First off it's best to go with a theme. Are you wanting a traditional wreath, with red, gold and green? Or maybe something more modern like silver, blue and green? Or you could even go rustic with a simple green and brown colour palette. There's so many different options to suit every taste.
Next decide what kind of wreath base you want to use. You can use rattan (like I have here), or a base with wire and moss. Moss is a good option as it holds moisture, keeping your wreath fresher for longer.
Once you've decided on a theme and you have your base, it's time to choose what foliage, flowers or fruits and decorations you want to include. Make sure to have plenty of foliage, as this is the back bone of your wreath and what makes it look full. There's no right or wrong combination, so just experiment with what you think works well together, and have fun!
Stick the stems into the base until they are secure, or for extra hold you can use a little florists wire to keep the stem in place. Work your way around the wreath ensuring there is a balanced amount of foliage. I tend to add odd numbers of things as this works best.
Once you're happy with the foliage you can start to add in any cones, berries, dried flowers and fruit. You could even wrap around a small set off lights, which will illuminate your wreath and add a bit of festive sparkle. Finish off by adding any bows (you'll need something at the top to hang the wreath from, but you can also add for decoration).
And voila, a festive wreath! Mist the foliage each day to keep your wreath fresher for longer, avoiding the berries, dried flowers or fruit. And for those of you who don't feel so confident making your own or simply don't have the time, we have a lovely selection of pre-made wreaths in store now in a range of styles and sizes.