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Gardening Inspiration

Homegrown Plants

The Whitegates Team

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Whitegates Nursery

<p>This <strong>beginner’s guide to landscaping</strong> will help you to design and landscape your garden just as you want it.</p>

<p>This <strong>beginner’s guide to landscaping</strong> will help you to design and landscape your garden just as you want it. The crucial parts of landscaping are knowing how you want to use your garden, what the aspect is, what is already there and what you would like to replace or add in. Let’s take a closer look so you can get started on your dream garden.</p>
<h2>Know how you want to use the space</h2>
<p>Imagine your garden exactly as it would be if it was your dream space. Will it be entertaining, will your dog be playing ball, will it be a haven of peace and reflection where you have your morning coffee? When you know what you will be using it for, you can start to build up a picture of how you would like to proceed. Try to make a sketch or share your thought with&nbsp;a drafter to get an image of what’s possible.</p>
<h2>Know&nbsp;the aspect</h2>
<p>Observing what areas in the garden are sun or shade is essential. You might look out the window and see the sun, but is there a shady corner also? Where does the sun shine throughout the day? Leave a piece of paper by your window, and every time you look outside, draw a line as to where the sun and shade are and the time of day. This will help when you start laying your lawn or buying your plants.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Draw a diagram of what you can already see&nbsp;</p>
<p>On a piece of paper, net down where there is a shed or greenhouse, anything permanent, electricity cables and any other services, drains and everything you can see. You can decide if you want to remove something and know where to avoid it if there are cables. The hard landscaping should always come first, so get all of that in place before you plant up.</p>
<h2>Know your soil and plants&nbsp;</h2>
<p>When you start to landscape with plants is when the garden really comes together. It’s exciting, and you’ll see your vision coming to life.</p>
<ul>
<li>Firstly know your soil type and pH. You can test with soil test kits and by feeling the consistency of the soil. This will help you choose the right plants for the right place. If your soil needs replenishing, now is the time to do that with some soil improver or other organic matter.</li>
<li>When your soil is ready, start planting. Visit our garden centre for plants for full sun, plants for shade, plants for acid soil and plants for neutral ground. Our staff’s happy to help you out.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Maintenance is key to landscaping&nbsp;</h2>
<p>When you are landscaping, think about how you will access your garden, garden paths to sheds or around beds and how you will keep them clean. Will you be able to clean decking or reach tall plants? Do you love mowing the lawn, or is it too big? All of these will help you to enjoy your landscaped garden thoroughly.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We are happy to advise you in store, come in and visit us.</p>

A beginner's guide to landscaping

<p>Here are our suggestions for <strong>growing in a raised bed</strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Decide what to <strong>plant in a raised garden bed</strong> by considering what you’d love to grow. Most raised beds can be used to produce almost anything you’d like, much like in a ground bed or border. There are advantages to growing in a raised bed, from better drainage, fewer weeds, easier access and much more. They can be placed in tricky areas of the garden or accessible areas to get to,&nbsp;around a seating space or out on the lawn. The design is entirely up to you, so here are our suggestions for growing in a raised bed.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Plants to grow in a raised garden bed &nbsp;</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Fruit and vegetables</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>There’s no need to be restricted by space because you can grow many fruits and vegetables in a&nbsp; raised bed. Consider the size and depth of the bed before you sow your seeds to make sure there is enough space for what you’d like to grow. For example, you could have a whole bed of strawberries or a complete bed for raspberries. Or you could plant multiple varieties of salads in one bed or mix and match with other vegetables and companion plants to make your own mini-potager garden.&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="2">
<li><strong>Edible flowers&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>If you are interested in growing your own edible flowers and not sure what to pick from the garden or out on walks, why not dedicate one raised bed purely to edible flowers so you know they are safe to eat? Pansies, nasturtiums, cornflowers, and snapdragons are just a few to choose from. The bed will be full of glorious colours at different times of the year, and before you bake or cook with them, the bees will enjoy them too.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="3">
<li><strong>Medicinal flowers</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>If you would like to try growing some medicinal flowers, you could easily make a bed full of flowers that you cab harvest to make your own toiletries, medicines and cosmetics. From calendula to lavender and echinacea to chamomile, the options are endless.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="4">
<li><strong>Herbs&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Herbs will grow well in a raised bed, and if allowed to flower as well, it will be a haven for insects. Make sure you plant herbs that thrive in the aspect where your bed is placed - the shade or sun - and if you are planting mint or lemon balm, the roots can take over to keep them in a pot and sink the pot into the soil which will help to contain the roots.&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="5">
<li><strong>Annuals</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>Sowing directly into a raised garden bed, either in the spring when the soil has warmed or in early autumn, is a lovely way to create a bed full of flowers. Try Cosmos and Nigella, Ammi visnaga and&nbsp;Cerinthe.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Visit us in store for raised beds and tools, plus plants and seeds to fill the bed with.&nbsp;</p>

What to grow in a raised garden bed?

<p>Here are <strong>six of the best plants for full sun</strong>.</p>

<p>There are so many beautiful <strong>sun-loving plants</strong> that it&rsquo;s hard to know which ones to pick! But hot sunshine can be challenging for plants, so it&rsquo;s important to choose those that can cope with drought and be prepared to water when necessary. Here are five of the best plants for full sun.</p>

<p>Five of the best plants for full sun</p>

<ol>
	<li>Lavender&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<p>With its silvery foliage and fragrant purple flowers, lavender is a must for any sunny garden. French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), also called butterfly lavender, is very striking, with plump purple flowerheads and a tuft of petals on top. It&rsquo;s less hardy than English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), so it may not survive cold, wet winters. English lavender has more strongly scented flowers, which are ideal for drying. All lavenders are very popular with pollinators, especially bees. Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil.&nbsp;</p>

<ol start="2">
	<li>Hylotelephiums&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<p>Previously called Sedums, these perennial succulents flower in late summer and early autumn when other plants are fading, producing domed flowerheads of numerous tiny pink or red flowers that are very popular with bees. Hylotelephiums need full sun and well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant.</p>

<ol start="3">
	<li>Salvias</li>
</ol>

<p>Salvias love warmth and sunshine, and their flowers come in a rainbow of bright colours. Compact salvias like Salvia &lsquo;Seascape&rsquo; are ideal for pots, while tall Salvia Amistad reaches 1.2m (4ft) and looks stunning towards the back of a border. Not all salvias are hardy enough to survive frost, so check before you choose one for your garden and move the tender varieties into a greenhouse over winter.</p>

<ol start="4">
	<li>Dahlias</li>
</ol>

<p>Dahlias thrive on sunshine, and there&rsquo;s a stunning range available with flowers of all colours, shapes and sizes, from big dinnerplate flowers over 20cm (8in) across to small round pompom varieties. Dahlias need regular feeding and watering. Deadhead them regularly, and they will flower all through summer. They also make superb-cut flowers for the house.</p>

<ol start="5">
	<li>Roses</li>
</ol>

<p>Roses do best with at least six hours of sun per day, and there are so many varieties available it&rsquo;s hard to know where to start. Many modern roses have been bred to combine the superb fragrance of old-fashioned roses with better resistance to diseases like black spots. Deadhead them regularly, water them in dry periods and feed them in spring for a superb display.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whether your garden is sunny or shady, you&rsquo;ll find plants to suit all conditions in our centre. Visit us today!</p>

5 top plants for full sun

<p>Here is <strong>how to take care of roses throughout the summer</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is <strong>summer rose care</strong> time now we are in the middle of summer, and the weather has been very warm. We are often asked for rose care tips and advice, especially about how to keep some blooming, disease-free and thriving throughout the hotter months of the year. Roses are actually very easy to care for and can be grown in all-size gardens, in pots and containers and in cutting gardens. Perhaps the best-known flower in the world, both the variety of colours and fragrances means there is a rose to suit absolutely everyone. Here is how to take care of them throughout the summer.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Feeding schedule</h2>
<p>Roses do need to be well fed. They will thrive so much more with a regular feeding schedule at the right times throughout the year. Use a high in nitrogen feed after the winter cut back (February time) and then a high potash feed every two weeks throughout the growing season. It doesn’t matter how old or young your roses are; feeding matters.</p>
<h2>Watering needs&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Roses do need watering, and they will thank you for it during hot weather. Heavy rain can leave the flowers looking a bit bedraggled but will help to keep the soil moist.</p>
<ul>
<li>When you water roses, water directly on the soil.</li>
<li>Water regularly and daily in warm weather if they are growing in containers.</li>
<li>Make sure they aren’t sitting in water, though, because that can cause root rot.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Maintenance work</h2>
<p>It’s important to keep on top of deadheading your roses. You’ll know when to deadhead as the petals will fall off or turn brown. Deadheading will allow the plant to put more energy into more buds blooming. If you have a rose that also has lovely rose hips, don’t deadhead so much, or you’ll lose the hips as well. You can very lightly prune out any dead, diseased or damaged material at any time to prevent pests and diseases but anything more than that should wait until the end of winter.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Summer rose care uses</h2>
<ul>
<li>There are many uses for roses which can be used in homemade toiletries and cosmetics.</li>
<li>They can even be used medicinally, so don’t waste any petals that are still in good condition.</li>
<li>Collect them, give them a rinse and use them for your well-being.</li>
<li>Dried roses can be used as natural confetti, dried or fresh petals for a cup of fresh tea, and fresh petals in the bath for an indulgent soak after a day in the garden.</li>
<li>You can bake with roses or make a face toner to spritz after a warm summer's day.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p>For summer pruning and rose care, including feed, pots and advice, visit us in store.</p>

Summer rose care

<p>Here's <strong>how to get rid of cabbage worms</strong> in your beloved garden, patio, balcony or roof terrace.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Wondering <strong>how to get rid of cabbage worms</strong> in an organic way can seem confusing, but there are many ways, most of which are preventative, which is ideal. Cabbage ‘worms’ means any of the green caterpillars that enjoy munching your plants. Mostly they will head to your brassicas such as cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts and kale. If you spot any white butterflies in your garden, you will most likely have the caterpillars, as they lay small yellowish eggs on the undersides of brassica and mustard leaves.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Picking them off</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The oval-shaped eggs can be hard to spot, but if you have a good look every day, you may spot a group of the eggs, often underneath the foliage. You can squish the eggs, and if you see any caterpillars, remove them by hand and leave them out for the birds to eat. If you’ve got a lot, it can take some time to get on top of the cycle, but it can be done, and your vegetables can be saved.</p>
<h2>Companion planting</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Planting a variety of plants together is a great way to help biodiversity. If you were only to grow one crop, you might find many more pests, diseases and even poor soil over time. So by planting different plants, they can grow together beneficially. Great plants for brassicas include many herbs from</p>
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>thyme</li>
<li>oregano</li>
<li>lavender</li>
<li>marigolds</li>
<li>nasturtiums are another useful companion plant as the caterpillars can eat it as a sacrificial crop.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Netting for prevention&nbsp;</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Prevention is where it all begins. Using butterfly netting, you will find they can’t get near your plants even to lay their eggs in the first place. Remember that a fine mesh will also keep pollinators out, so ideally, one that is big enough for some insects but not for the ones you don’t want.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Try planting different coloured varieties</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Some people report that planting red or purple varieties of cabbages, for example, means they don’t recognise them and therefore don’t lay or munch the plants. Worth a try!</p>
<h2>Using an organic spray&nbsp;</h2>
<p dir="ltr">There are options to spray your plants which can be especially useful if you have a heavy infestation. The most important thing to remember is that you dont want to harm beneficial insects or eat anything you are growing that has been sprayed with something inedible.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Visit us in store to buy your companion plants, netting and organic sprays.</p>

Gardening Inspiration

Cafe

Homegrown Plants

The Whitegates Team

Family friendly

Whitegates Nursery

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