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<p>These <strong>top five alliums to grow</strong> will fill your garden with pretty colourful spring and early summer colours each year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our <strong>top 5 alliums to grow</strong> have been picked from the many Allium varieties available for gardeners that are all lovely bulbs and bloom into some of the most wonderful of all spring bulbs. The balls of lilac, white and even slightly blue or green are a must-have for any garden from a cottage style to something more contemporary. These top five will fill your garden with pretty colourful spring and early summer colours each year.&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Allium &lsquo;Hair&rsquo;</li>
	<li>Allium &lsquo;Art&rsquo;</li>
	<li>Allium &lsquo;Purple Sensation&rsquo;</li>
	<li>Allium &lsquo;Gigantium&rsquo;</li>
	<li>Allium &lsquo;Globemaster&rsquo;</li>
</ol>

<h2>1. Allium &lsquo;Hair&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>This Allium is both interesting and freaky all in one! The flower head looks like a mop of hair sticking up and all over the place, but even with that description, we can guarantee you they are gorgeous and most definitely a talking point in the garden. It&rsquo;s a great choice of allium.</p>

<h2>2. Allium &#39;Art&rsquo;</h2>

<p>Another fascinating allium with unique flower heads that look like crazy hair. They are indeed a piece of art! These alliums flower between May to June, and Allium &lsquo;Art&rsquo; is an exceptional addition to any garden border.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>3. Allium &lsquo;Purple Sensation&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>This Allium is most definitely one of the more popular alliums, with tall stems and deep purple flower heads, which are made up of many star-shaped flowers. They look great in garden borders or in pots and containers. Don&rsquo;t forget allium foliage dies back before the flowers fully form, so ideally, you&rsquo;ll want to plant&nbsp;something around them to hide the faded leaves.</p>

<h2>4. Allium &lsquo;Gigantium&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Gigantium alliums have bright globes of purple florets on stems as high as 1.5m. They are stunning in any garden as the deep colour of the globe contrasts perfectly with the paler green leaves, and look great planted in swathes in a garden border or dotted about amongst other plants.</p>

<h2>5. Allium &lsquo;Globemaster&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Globemaster has won many awards for its huge flower heads of star-shaped violet flowers that grow up to 25cm in a cluster. It&rsquo;s a stunning variety that flowers for a long period, and the seed heads look just as great in the garden.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to plant Alliums</h2>

<p>Alliums are attractive for bees and other pollinators and easy to grow. Plant them during autumn in well-drained soil, and don&rsquo;t forget to label where you have planted them, so you don&rsquo;t dig them back up again. They need to be planted in a hole about 4 times the bulb&#39;s diameter directly in the garden or a container. Your garden will be awash with lilac during the following spring, and you will be so pleased that you planted them. Why not choose from some of our top 5 and get your garden ready for next spring.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We have a selection of spring bulbs in store, so please do come along and visit us.&nbsp;</p>

Top 5 Alliums to Grow

<p>Here are a few to look out for and some tips on encouraging <strong>wildlife in your garden</strong>.</p>

<p>You&rsquo;re not the only one who enjoys your garden. There&rsquo;s a whole host of creatures living in it, helping to create a balanced ecosystem. Here are a few to look out for and some tips on encouraging <strong>wildlife in your garden</strong>.</p>

<h2>Ladybirds</h2>

<p>These small, black-spotted red bugs eat huge amounts of aphids, the tiny green or black insects that infest new shoots in spring. A single ladybird can eat around 5000 aphids in its lifetime, so it&rsquo;s no wonder gardeners love them! Ladybirds also eat pollen, so will love pollen-rich plants like</p>

<ul>
	<li>lavender</li>
	<li>thyme</li>
	<li>cosmos</li>
	<li>yarrow</li>
</ul>

<p>These will encourage ladybirds to lay their eggs in your garden, which&nbsp;helps to ensure&nbsp;a good population of future ladybirds.</p>

<h2>Bees</h2>

<p>Bees and bumblebees are enormously important pollinators, vital for the health of our ecosystem, so the more we can do to help them, the better. One of the best things we can do as gardeners is to have at least one plant in flower in the garden in each season. As well as all the summer-flowering plants, you could plant ivy for the autumn, winter-flowering shrubs like Sarcococca and Mahonia, and crocuses for early spring flowers. Avoid using pesticides, as this can harm bees and other pollinators.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Earthworms</h2>

<p>Earthworms do wonderful things for the soil, consuming leaf litter and compost and working it into the soil, improving structure and nutrient levels.&nbsp;To help your earthworms, mulch your soil annually with compost or leaf mould. The worms will reward you by producing beautifully rich, crumbly soil that plants will thrive in.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Birds</h2>

<p>Birds add life and music to the garden with their song, and many birds are also great at pest control. Small birds like blue tits and sparrows eat aphids and other insects, and song thrushes will even eat snails, bashing them on rocks to break their shells.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To encourage more birds into your garden, plant berry-bearing shrubs and trees like holly and hawthorn. These provide food in autumn and winter and shelter for nesting birds in spring and early summer. Put up a bird feeder in a sheltered spot, and keep it topped up to encourage more birds into your garden.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Frogs</h2>

<p>Frogs do a fantastic job of&nbsp;keeping slugs and snails under control, and you don&rsquo;t need a huge garden to make a pond for them. Even a large washing up bowl sunk into the ground, filled with rainwater, and planted with aquatic plants will attract wildlife over time. Place it in a position that gets several hours of sunlight, and make sure there&rsquo;s a way for wildlife to get in and out safely by placing rocks or a ramp at one end. A log pile near your pond will also encourage amphibians to look for a safe place to overwinter.</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;d like to make your garden more wildlife-friendly, visit our centre to see our great range of plants and garden accessories. Our friendly staff will be happy to help and advise!</p>

Wildlife that’s good for your garden

<p>Are you wondering <strong>how to store autumn harvests?</strong>&nbsp;Autumn harvests are some of the most delicious and there are many ways to store them. Here are our tips:&nbsp;</p>

<p>Are you wondering <strong>how to store autumn harvests</strong>? Sometimes when you bring home plenty of homegrown produce from your kitchen garden or allotment, or even your balcony and patio pots, it can be a lot to prepare and eat while it is still all fresh. Fresh is of course best but there are many ways to store harvests grown throughout the year&nbsp;to get you through the winter and into the following year. Autumn harvests are some of the most delicious and there are many ways to store them. Here are our tips:&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Apple&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Squash&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Fruit&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Beans&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Herbs&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<h2>How to store autumn harvests of apples&nbsp;</h2>

<p>When apples start falling from the tree, it is time to enjoy that loveliest of autumn harvests. Apple pies, apple crumble and the sweetness of homegrown fruit. Apples can be stored in wooden crates placed on top of each other in a cool, dry area where pests can&rsquo;t get to them. Keep an eye on them for any sign of disease or rotting.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to store autumn harvests of squash&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Most squashes will be fine if stored in a cool, dark place and you&rsquo;ll be able to eat them for months. Ideally, leave squashes to ripen on the vine for as long as you can before harvesting as that helps longevity in storage. If it isn&rsquo;t frosty, you can leave them in the sunshine for about a week first. Alternatively, cut them up and freeze portions, make delicious soups to freeze or even a hearty winter pie.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to store autumn harvests of fruit</h2>

<p>Autumn fruiting raspberries are a popular autumn fruit in kitchen gardens and allotments. The sweetness can&rsquo;t be beaten and they will soon sweeten up a crumble or pie. Freezing them in fruit bags is a good way to store them. Try filling each bag with many different fruits that can then be used to quickly and easily make a smoothie!</p>

<h2>How to store autumn harvests of beans</h2>

<p>The last beans to be harvested from the vines are usually a sad moment! Beans can fill up the kitchen all throughout the summer and as they come to an end in autumn and it is time to finish the harvest, you might be wondering how to store what&rsquo;s left. After you have boiled or stop fried some they can also be blanched and frozen for use over winter. Another great way to use up beans is to make a green bean chutney or even pickle them in vinegar with&nbsp;pickling spices and&nbsp;a dash of mustard.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to store autumn harvests of herbs&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Hanging bunches of herbs with string up to dry can not only look great but the scent can be wonderful too. You can use dried herbs for making cups of tea over the winter months and for use in cooking. Other ways to store them are in airtight jars or even freeze them in ice trays.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Visit us in store for garden storage accessories.</p>

How to store autumn harvests

<p>Start <strong>planning next years spring bulbs</strong> at the end of the summer and into early autumn and you will be ready and prepared for a gorgeous spring display for the following spring.</p>

<p>Start <strong>planning next years spring bulbs</strong> at the end of the summer and into early autumn, and you will be ready and prepared for a gorgeous display for the following spring. We love spring bulbs! Planting them brings hope for the future, and watching the shoots appear can be so exciting. When they flower, the colours are a welcome sight after the winter months, and it is time to get planning right now.&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Catalogue browsing</li>
	<li>Garden observation</li>
	<li>Other considerations&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Shopping for bulbs&nbsp;</li>
	<li>When to plant&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<h2>Enjoy the catalogues when you are planning next year&#39;s spring bulbs&nbsp;</h2>

<p>One of the fun parts of choosing what spring bulbs you will plant is the joy of browsing the bulb brochures. When they arrive in the post, it is so lovely to sit down with a cup of tea, put your feet up and flick through the pages of colourful and exciting spring bulbs. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. We recommend making a shortlist of your favourites, including various colours and varieties of Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinth, Crocus and Alliums. When you have your shortlist, you can get a better picture of what you want to plant.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Planning next years spring bulbs in the garden&nbsp;</h2>

<p>When you have your shortlist, take a look at your garden. Consider your space, where you will plant your new spring bulbs, if you have pots or containers, where the shade is, and anything else that will help you decide which you have space to grow on your shortlist. Or, perhaps you can&#39;t resist and will decide to grow them all!&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Other considerations when planning next years spring bulbs&nbsp;</h2>

<p>What effect are you hoping to achieve when you plant your bulbs? A group of Tulips or swathes of Daffodils? Perhaps a corner filled with spring colour in pots of &lsquo;bulb lasagnes&rsquo; (layered bulbs). Consider colour blocks or an array of rainbow colours. Picture it in your mind as you finalise your shortlist.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Planning next years spring bulbs and go shopping&nbsp;</h2>

<p>With your list or with plenty of ideas, it&rsquo;s time to go shopping. Going into a garden centre is a great way to make your plans come true as you browse the new packets of bulbs on offer. It&rsquo;s very likely you may well change your shortlist and be tempted by new and pretty varieties and colours! Seeing the bulbs in store is really exciting and will help to bring your plans together, ready for a truly blooming spring.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Think about planting times when planning next years spring bulb</h2>

<p>As you plan and gather your bulbs, make sure you have some time on your calendar to go outside in the garden and get planting.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Crocus can be planted from September to October and even into November.</li>
	<li>Tulips can be planted all the way until Christmas.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>For a great selection of spring bulbs, visit us in store.&nbsp;</p>

Planning next years spring bulbs

<p>Small but beautiful&nbsp;<strong>balcony gardens</strong> can be a beautiful space for you to enjoy, as well as a haven for bees and other pollinators in urban environments.</p>

<p>Small but beautiful&nbsp;<strong>balcony gardens</strong> can be a beautiful space for you to enjoy, as well as a haven for bees and other pollinators in urban environments. Whether you prefer flowers, foliage or fruit and veg, there are any number of plants that will grow happily in pots on a balcony.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Planning a balcony garden</h2>

<p>Before you buy any plants for your balcony garden, take some time to observe the conditions they will be growing in.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Sunlight</strong>: unless your balcony is south-facing, it will only get direct sunlight for part of the day. If your balcony gets less than 6 hours of direct sunlight, choose plants that will grow in partial shade. If there is less than 3 hours of direct sunlight, choose plants for full shade.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Wind</strong>: balconies can be windy spots, so consider creating a windbreak. Woven fence panels are effective and attractive, and bamboo in a pot will also work well. Constant wind dries plants out fast, so pots will need regular watering in windy conditions. Plants suitable for coastal areas, such as ornamental grass Stipa tenuissima or Sea thrift (Armeria maritime), work well. Make sure all pots are fixed down securely, especially any that are attached to balcony railings.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Weight</strong>: check how much weight your balcony can take &ndash; wet soil is heavy, as are terracotta pots. Stick to lightweight containers made of plastic or resin filled with potting compost.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p><strong>Watering</strong>: put drip trays under pots to catch water to avoid a deluge for your neighbours below.</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2>Plants for sunny and shady balconies</h2>

<p>Regardless of whether your balcony is sunny or shady, plants will thrive as long as you choose the right plants for your conditions. Here&rsquo;s a list of some of the most popular and easy-to-grow fruit, veg, herbs and flowering plants for a balcony garden:</p>

<h3>For sunny balconies:</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Tomatoes</li>
	<li>Dwarf beans</li>
	<li>Strawberries</li>
	<li>Blueberries</li>
	<li>Basil</li>
	<li>Coriander</li>
	<li>Thyme</li>
</ul>

<h3>For shady balconies</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Salad leaves</li>
	<li>Parsley</li>
	<li>Chives</li>
	<li>Mint</li>
</ul>

<p>Begonias, hostas, busy lizzies, fuchsias and ferns will all grow happily in pots in shady spaces. At the same time, geraniums, petunias and patio roses will give you months of colour on a sunny balcony. Succulents such as cacti, sempervivums and saxifrages are all excellent in pots on a balcony, needing very little care and attention.</p>

<h2>Vertical gardening</h2>

<p>When you don&rsquo;t have much space, it pays to think in three dimensions and garden vertically and horizontally. Fix a trellis to a wall if you&rsquo;re allowed to, or put an obelisk into a large pot and train a beautiful flowering clematis over it &ndash; many are compact enough to grow happily in pots.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Old wooden pallets are often very cheap or sometimes even given away free, and you can use the slatted sides to support hanging pots filled with flowering plants or herbs.</p>

<p>We have a fantastic range of plants and pots to suit all sorts of spaces, so visit us soon and start creating your dream garden!</p>

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