It's so nice to read the enthusiasm here, that I feel regarding gardening. It's a rather new found hobby with me, as I'm a first time property owner, and only just got my very own front and back garden a yr ago. I've spent the first year clearing the rampant vines, and the bramble bushes, and the rather boring and immensely neglected bushes.
I've done some borders, but would like some advice on where people get their plants from, other than Mr. Fothergills I don't really know much about plants, except I'm after perennials, and evergreen mostly, and I'm going for purple, blue and the odd pink colour flowers. I've loads of space, and am twitching to fill it up.
Uzrya: It's worth checking out local garden centres and nurseries because on the whole, they'll sell plants that do well in your area. That may not be true if your local one is a big chain, like Wyevale. On the other hand you can get nice simple 'filler plants' from those sorts of places as well as supermarkets as aym says. Unless you live on a remote island somewhere, there are very likely 3 or 4 garden centres within half an hour's drive from you.
Most of them have cafes, too
I buy seeds from Chiltern Seeds and Suttons both online, plants from small specialist nurseries which you may be surprised to find are often really good value for amazing plants, if you know what you're looking for.
My order of seeds for this year arrived earlier this week; a new selection of sweet peas and some herbs. I still haven't planted all the perennials I bought in the autumn so I am trying hard not to go shopping for more at least until they are all in the ground.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Yes, I definitely recommend it Verd & Aym, some real bargains to be had there before word spreads & they sell out They were also selling Gladioli, crocosmia, dahlias & begonia bulbs/tubers/corms. Wish I had brought the croc lucifer corms now, there was only one set left, although am I correct in saying I read it can be somewhat invasive? I saw some potted up hyacinths & daffs too
Thanks for all your suggestions! I'm still not sure how green fingered I am in order to grow from seed. I did try to pot a few seeds... they died! (I googled their soil requirements etc)
My houseplants seem to do well. Though I managed to kill a rather hardy Hebe over the frosty period, this winter *sigh*
I'll keep a look out, and try and be patient enough to learn but my borders are looking bare!
I do have a Wyevale walking distance, but I think I deliberate on buying plants too much, mostly due to my ignorance! A few I've got special soil for and put in pots
Does anybody buy plants online..? Like Crocus? Theres another website I bought plants from online, but the plants delivered were so practically dead, and took so long in coming I missed the season I was supposed to plant in!!
I buy from here online & sometimes click/collect, as I leave near the Bagshot branch. Perfect quality at a good price. I wouldn't recommend Wyevale, prices are insane compared to elsewhere & my local is lacking in quality & variety.
I haven't done any plant orders but I did go to the Garden Centre and get some plants, some tete a tete, crocus, English Bluebells and some cheap snowdrops, I also got some blubs and seeds that will attract bees and butterfly's to the Garden!
Posts
It's so nice to read the enthusiasm here, that I feel regarding gardening. It's a rather new found hobby with me, as I'm a first time property owner, and only just got my very own front and back garden a yr ago. I've spent the first year clearing the rampant vines, and the bramble bushes, and the rather boring and immensely neglected bushes.
I've done some borders, but would like some advice on where people get their plants from, other than Mr. Fothergills
I don't really know much about plants, except I'm after perennials, and evergreen mostly, and I'm going for purple, blue and the odd pink colour flowers. I've loads of space, and am twitching to fill it up.
Also can anyone recommend some 'filler' plants?
Thankyou!
Uzrya: It's worth checking out local garden centres and nurseries because on the whole, they'll sell plants that do well in your area. That may not be true if your local one is a big chain, like Wyevale. On the other hand you can get nice simple 'filler plants' from those sorts of places as well as supermarkets as aym says. Unless you live on a remote island somewhere, there are very likely 3 or 4 garden centres within half an hour's drive from you.
Most of them have cafes, too
I buy seeds from Chiltern Seeds and Suttons both online, plants from small specialist nurseries which you may be surprised to find are often really good value for amazing plants, if you know what you're looking for.
My order of seeds for this year arrived earlier this week; a new selection of sweet peas and some herbs. I still haven't planted all the perennials I bought in the autumn
so I am trying hard not to go shopping for more at least until they are all in the ground.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Yes, I definitely recommend it Verd & Aym, some real bargains to be had there before word spreads & they sell out
They were also selling Gladioli, crocosmia, dahlias & begonia bulbs/tubers/corms. Wish I had brought the croc lucifer corms now, there was only one set left, although am I correct in saying I read it can be somewhat invasive? I saw some potted up hyacinths & daffs too
Last edited: 23 February 2017 18:12:07
I tend to use cosmos as fillers. If you have facilities to raise from seed, they are quite big seed , so one seed to a pot is quite easy.
Thanks for all your suggestions! I'm still not sure how green fingered I am in order to grow from seed. I did try to pot a few seeds... they died! (I googled their soil requirements etc)
My houseplants seem to do well. Though I managed to kill a rather hardy Hebe over the frosty period, this winter *sigh*
I'll keep a look out, and try and be patient enough to learn but my borders are looking bare!
I do have a Wyevale walking distance, but I think I deliberate on buying plants too much, mostly due to my ignorance! A few I've got special soil for and put in pots
Does anybody buy plants online..? Like Crocus? Theres another website I bought plants from online, but the plants delivered were so practically dead, and took so long in coming I missed the season I was supposed to plant in!!
Is buying online a big nono? They are cheaper....
I buy from here online & sometimes click/collect, as I leave near the Bagshot branch. Perfect quality at a good price. I wouldn't recommend Wyevale, prices are insane compared to elsewhere & my local is lacking in quality & variety.
http://www.longacres.co.uk/plants/perennials/9cm-pot-perennials/
For beginners I would always recommend hardy osteospermum.
Require virtually no maintenance, excellent ground cover so no weeds and flower all summer and autumn if deadheaded..
I haven't done any plant orders but I did go to the Garden Centre and get some plants, some tete a tete, crocus, English Bluebells and some cheap snowdrops, I also got some blubs and seeds that will attract bees and butterfly's to the Garden!