Now spring has sprung the annual event of growing and ordering plants is under way
IN CONTRAST to the warmest winter since records began in 1659, the arrival of spring has been crisp and cold.
There’s still time to order seeds or plug plants of our favourite plants
March is renowned for being chilly but its length of daylight hours are noticeably longer and growth everywhere begins to speed up.
Before we know it, we’ll all be out enjoying the fresh air, feeling the delicious warmth of late spring sunshine and enthusiastically beautifying our gardens for summer.
But for now, from the comfort of our homes or a heated greenhouse, there’s still time to order seeds or plug plants of our favourite plants.
Few give as much colour for so little cost as those that belong to the group of frost tender bedding plants.
If space is tight, plant vertically
The fashion for this vast and versatile group evolved during the nineteenth century after the 1845 Glass Tax was repealed. Greenhouses sprung up all over Britain and the presence of easy to grow bedding plants was evident in private gardens and public parks.
Over the decades, their diversity of colour and form has presented gardeners with a wealth of opportunities for imaginative planting schemes.
Greenhouses sprung up all over Britain after the 1845 Glass Tax
Weaved through mixed borders in an informal manner, amassed in blocks of single colours for high impact displays or used to enhance containers such as window boxes, hanging baskets and decorative pots, all adds to the beauty of your garden or balcony.
If space is tight, plant vertically. Use walls and fences to attach planters or hanging baskets and opt for bedding with a trailing habit.
The pendulous Illumination series of begonias are industrious little plants; diligently producing delicately perfumed double blooms throughout the season in sun or shade.
Few give as much colour for so little cost as those that belong to the frost tender bedding plants
They’re unlikely to succumb to heavy downpours or blazing sunshine and will even respond heroically to a little neglect.
One of the most sort after varieties is begonia ‘Apricot Shades’. Loved for its array of peach, yellow, orange and apricot shaded flowers. Supplied by Thompson & Morgan in plug plant form, it’s a reliable high performance variety that will continue to improve as the summer progresses.
Contact: 0844 573 1818
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Diary Dates
Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day
On Friday 18th March, hundreds of garden centres, gardening societies and manufactures will launch various fundraising activities to raise money for the ‘A Million Moments Appeal’ which is trying to raise £1million over the next 3 years to create gardens in 15 children’s hospices around the UK.
A whopping £95,000 was raised for charity in 2015.
For information on who is taking part or for those who have yet to sign up to this inspirational charity event, visit gardenreleaf.co.uk