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Shopping trip?

Tanty2Tanty2 Posts: 231
in Plants
Well, a week of nice weather and being able to tidy up the garden has made me want to go plant shopping.  It's a bit of a trek to my local centre, so I'm wondering if anyone else thinks late March is way, way too early to do this!  I'm after shrubs and some herbaceous perennials and will sulk like a petulant toddler if it's sensible to wait at least another month before I indulge :)

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think your timing’s perfect for shrubs and hardy perennials  … the only things I can think of that I wouldn’t plant just yet are grasses. They prefer the soil to be a bit warmed up before planting. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    There is supposed to be a temperature drop next week, but after the recent weather the soil should be warm enough. Splash the cash !
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Don't be tempted by anything tender, and if the hardy plants that you buy have been kept in a sheltered place or under cover at the garden centre, and possibly at a nursery before that eg to get them into early leaf/flower to make them attractive for sale, be prepared to acclimatise them gradually to the great outdoors. It's still getting chilly at nights and while suddenly being put outside probably won't kill them like it would tender bedding plants, it might make them sulk like toddlers and cause discolouration of soft new growth. Choice of you sulking or new plants sulking, unless your GC's plants have been grown hard and are no further on than they would be out in the garden :).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Even plants that are hardy are often under glass at a GC. If that is the case you will need to harden them off.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Even plants that are hardy are often under glass at a GC. If that is the case you will need to harden them off.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Tanty2Tanty2 Posts: 231
    Thanks all :)  The centre I'm going to has everything outside, and their plants have been reliable performers.  Also, I've got one eye on the forecast and anything I plant this time of year is going into compost that's been kept unchilled and dry in the garage, so they wouldn't have straight-into-the-ground shock.  Basically, I really wanna go buy some plants!  Hope you all have a lovely weekend, especially if you're getting some late March sunshine...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Sounds good! But be suspicious of anything that seems further along than normal for this early in the year - it might have been delivered from a nursery where it's been grown under glass (and the GC staff wouldn't necessarily know).
    It's the air temperature at night rather than the soil that tends to be the issue, if plants are a bit cosseted and soft.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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