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.
It's A Good Time For Planting
Published 05/09/2022
September and October are great months for planting. The soil is still warm from the summer sunshine and is moist due to more rainfall. What’s more, roots will have plenty of time to grow and become established before the sap rises in spring and plants surge into growth again.
We have a large choice of herbaceous plants and if they are planted now they will become well established and reward you with a glorious display next year.
Plant up bedding plants and bulbs for cheerful colour throughout winter and into spring.
• Pansies and Violas should flower their socks off from now until spring.
• Primroses and Polyanthus start flowering in midwinter and last well into spring.
• Plant tubers of the dainty Cyclamen coum, which flowers in the depth of winter.
• Forget-me-not (Myosotis) provides colour for a long period from early spring and looks lovely with daffodils and other spring bulbs.
• Wallflowers bloom in late spring and associate well with tulips.
A huge selection of bedding plants and bulbs are available now at The Mains of Drum. Add more interest by using evergreens like heathers, small conifers and shrubs, and trailing ivy.
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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.