West Rounton DL6 2LL
Northallerton North Yorkshire
Contact
  Nursery open today 09:00 - 17:00 Cafe 09:30 - 16:30
Whitegates Nursery
Verbena hastata 'Pink Spires'
  1. Home
  2. Plants
  3. Hanging Basket Care Guide

Plant Advice

Top tips to keep your plants at their best

At Whitegates, growing top quality plants isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are. As a fourth-generation family business established in 1966, we’ve spent decades perfecting our craft, now growing nearly a million plants every year. With that kind of experience, we’ve learned a thing or two—so we’re here to share our top tips to help your plants thrive.

Whether you’re refreshing pots and tubs or starting a garden from scratch, our expert team is always ready with friendly, practical advice. We’ve seen what works (and what doesn’t), and we’re passionate about helping you grow with confidence.

Take a look at our seasonal tips, advice, and how-tos—rooted in experience and inspired by the beauty of our garden centre in the heart of North Yorkshire.


Acers

Keep your Acer healthy and vibrant with this easy care guide, covering everything from planting tips to seasonal maintenance. Whether you're a beginner or a garden enthusiast, there will be some useful tips below!

Acer for website guide.png
  • It is important to plant your acer in a shady spot sheltered from strong winds
  • If planting into a pot do NOT choose a much larger pot than the one the acer has been grown in. This increases the risk of overwatering.
  • Put crocks (pieces of broken pot) or stones/gravel in the bottom of your pot before putting compost in. This will help drainage
  • Raise the base of your pot off the ground by using pot feet (or gravel/bricks) to allow excess water to drain away and help prevent frost cracking the pot.
  • If planting in the ground do not dig the hole too big; it should be around 10cm larger than the acer. Raise the base of your pot off the ground by using pot feet (or gravel/bricks) to allow excess water to drain away and help prevent frost cracking the pot.
  • Use ericaceous compost when planting your acer. If planting in the ground dig some ericaceous compost in.
  • Feed in Spring with special acer fertilliser or use an ericaceous feed.
  • Acers DO NOT like wet roots. Water well when planting then be careful not to over water, ONLY water when the compost has dried out.

Olives

Keep your olive tree healthy and flourishing with this straightforward care guide, featuring practical tips on everything from planting to seasonal upkeep. Whether you're just starting out or have a green thumb, there's something useful for everyone!

Olive for Website Guide.png
  • Make sure to position your olive tree in a sunny, sheltered, well draining spot.
  • Use a liquid feed every month in Spring and Summer to encourage healthy growth.
  • Take care not to overwater which could cause root damage. Through summer, water enough to keep the compost moist but not wet.
  • In Winter protect your olive tree with fleece or take it indoors to a garage or even a cool room .
  • Ensure the base of the container is raised off the ground by using pot feet (or bricks) to allow excess water to drain away and help prevent frost cracking the pot.
  • If planting in the ground, ensure that the soil is well draining- you may need to dig in some grit to improve the soil drainage.
  • If repotting use a layer of crocks in the bottom of your new pot to help with drainage. Use delux compost and mix in some slow release fertiliser to give it the best possible start.
  • If planting into a pot do NOT choose a much larger pot than the one the tree has been grown in. This increases the risk of overwatering.
  • Remove any leaf tips damaged by winter weather by lightly pruning in late spring. Olive trees can suffer leaf damage during cold, wet Winters.
  • The roots of container-grown plants are susceptible to freezing through the pot in a very cold winter. Prevent this happening by putting bubble wrap around the pot.

Trees

Give your tree the best start to life with this simple care guide, featuring practical tips on everything from planting to seasonal upkeep. Whether you're just starting out or have a green thumb, there's something useful for everyone!

Olive Acer Website.png
  • A rubber tree tie in a figure of 8 prevents damage to bark and helps to support the tree in high wind. (1)
  • A special guard protects against rabbits and cats. (2)
  • Keep level with the ground when planting
  • Mycorrhizal treatment helps root growth and helps against counter acting fungus. Do not mix in; put a layer in direct contact with roots. (3)
  • Everybody’s garden will drain differently so water well when planting and water again when the ground has started to dry out. (Be careful not to overwater)
  • Tack a nail into the stake to stop the tree tie from slipping. (4)
  • After a strong wind check the stake and re stake if needed
  • Do not drive stake into root. (5)
  • Do not dig the hole too big; it should be around 10cm larger than the tree
  • Fill the base with a layer of compost & mix with soil, do not fertilise at this stage. (6)

Bay Trees

Give your Bay Tree the best start to life with this simple care guide, featuring practical tips on everything from planting to seasonal upkeep. Whether you're just starting out or have a green thumb, there's something useful for everyone!

Bay Tree.png
  • Use a liquid feed every 2 weeks in Spring and Summer to keep the leaves looking healthy
  • Water well when the compost has dried out, over watering could cause root damage
  • Protect your bay tree with fleece or take it indoors to a garage or even a cool room if temperatures fall below -5°C
  • Ensure the base of the container is raised off the ground by using pot feet (or bricks) to allow excess water to drain away and help prevent frost cracking the pot (1)
  • The roots of container-grown plants are susceptible to freezing through the pot in a very cold winter. Prevent this happening by using bubble wrap around the pot (2)
  • Mature bay trees can tolerate hard pruning, but are slow to recover and re-grow. This would be best carried out over two or three seasons in late spring (3)
  • Remove any leaf tips damaged by winter weather by lightly pruning in late spring (4)
  • If repotting use a layer of crocks in the bottom of your new pot. Use delux compost and mix in some slow release fertiliser to give it the best possible start

Hanging Basket Care Guide

Jon provides tips and tricks to keep your hanging baskets and planted pots looking at their best.


Playground

Playground

Baby changing room

Baby changing room

Cafe

Cafe

Homegrown plants

Homegrown plants

Save only necessary
Accept all
Privacy
  |  
Imprint