Mandevilla - Garden Plant of The Month - May

Mandevilla - Garden Plant of The Month - May

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Garden Plant of the Month for May: Mandevilla

Exotic rewarding climber!
Mandevilla is one of the most rewarding flowering garden plants. The white, pink or red flowers on the plant last from May until the frosts arrive. And it keeps flowering without too much effort. It’s no surprise that Mandevilla is enormously popular in gardens and on balconies and patios. The plant was formerly called Dipladenia, and is sometime still sold under this name. This garden plant of the month for May can give pleasure throughout the summer and beyond.

Mandevilla: pink, white or red trumpet-shaped flowers
Mandevilla is a climbing shrub that flowers from May to October.  Although this exotic climber originates from South America, it’s also very happy in our gardens. With its trumpet-shaped, beautifully scented flowers the plant keeps blooming endlessly. The flowers stand out beautifully against the dark green, shiny foliage.
The plants are sold in various sizes, from very small plants for planting in beds or as a table plant on the patio through the very large climbers on trellises or stakes which can be metres high. You can even use them to create an entire living wall, since this keen grower can quickly produce long tendrils to cover a wall or fence. Do provide some support though.
The white, pink and red colours look beautiful in a pot, either as a single colour or a mixture, whereby the combination of two or three colours growing and blooming together is magnificent. A variety of species can be found in the shops, produced by different companies. Mandevilla Sundeville and Mandevilla Diamantina are the most frequently offered. The one thing they all have in common is that they flower very profusely and give pleasure all summer long.

Caring for Mandevilla
Mandevilla will remain healthy and attractive by following a couple of simple tips. It’s important that it’s placed in light ranging from partial shade to full morning or evening sun. Mandevilla likes the warmth it enjoyed in its place of origin. Place the plant in well-draining, moderately damp soil, and water regularly. Too wet is certainly not good. Give extra plant food in the spring so that it continues to flower vigourously for a long time, remains healthy and is less vulnerable to pests and diseases. If wilted flowers are regularly removed, the plant will remain decorative right up until the first night frosts.
Mandevilla isn’t hardy, so as soon as winter comes the plant will die, unless it’s brought indoors and can overwinter in a cool, frost-free place. Make sure the plant does not bring all sorts of insects with it when it’s brought indoors. A light spot around 10°C  is best . It doesn’t need a lot of water in the winter. Ensure good ventilation and don’t place Mandevilla in a draught or near a source of heat. The transition from outdoors to indoors can cause the leaves to turn yellow or shed, but that’s a natural reaction.

Mandevilla pruning tips
While the plant is in the garden or on the patio or balcony, all you really need to do is to train the tendrils through the plant or place them against the climbing aid from time to time. No further pruning is required during the growing and flowering season. The plant can be pruned back somewhat for overwintering before being placed in its winter location. This can also be done at the start of the new growing season in February. This is done particularly to ensure that the plant does not get too big, and to maintain an attractive shape.

We can source all of these plants through the season just ask us for your requirements. We can also source a wide range of pots to compliment each plant or for a striking look bright and colourful pots of all shapes and sizes. Whether for a long term display or for a one off event we can source, supply and set up so you don't have to. A care service can also be supplied if needed.

Thank you to Thejoyofplants.co.uk. and https://www.flowercouncil.co.uk for the above information.

Sandra x

Clematis - Garden Plant of the Month - April

Clematis - Garden Plant of the Month - April

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Garden Plant of the Month for April: Clematis

Hardy lavishly blooming climber
Climbing and trailing plants are very popular. Smaller gardens are sometimes short of space, because we want to sit in the sun and enjoy a barbecue. A plant that grows upwards is then the ideal solution, since it only covers a small surface area whilst providing plenty of colour. Clematis - the best-known climber amongst the vertical plants - is ideal for this. If you have a wall, shed or pergola, Clematis will provide good coverage and offer a beautifully coloured display for a long time. Clematis occurs in hundreds of varieties and types. It’s a climber which is very hardy, and sometimes also bears beautiful seed fluff after flowering. By planting in April, you can enjoy the plant all summer long.

Clematis: Many colours, flower shapes, flower sizes
Clematis is native to many parts of the world, including Europe. The plant climbs using twisting leaf stems. Those leaf stems are exceptionally long, and start looking for support as soon as they have any strength. The plants can be planted both in the soil and in containers. Ensure that the plant has a ‘climbing aid’ and can fasten on to something - a pergola, wooden stake or trellis made of stretched wires. Walls, sheds, trees or fences are perfect climbing aids for Clematis.

Clematis flowers very profusely. The variety of colours and flower shapes is almost overwhelming. Blue, pink, purple and white are particularly common, but bi-coloured, single and double flowered varieties are becoming increasingly popular. The flower’s size can range from 2 to 24 cm. The visible flower is actually the calyx, and is beautifully coloured. The earliest Clematis flowers in March-April, but most varieties flower from May to the end of September. April is the ideal month for planting Clematis in the garden. There are various collections, ranging from early-flowering and evergreen cultivars through to small-flowered or large-flowered varieties which don’t bloom until later in the summer and lose their leaves in winter. 

Caring for Clematis
Clematis’ roots like to be cool. It is advisable not to place the plant’s base in direct sunlight. The plants are used to the company of other woody plants whose fallen leaves ensure that the soil contains sufficient humus. Water Clematis regularly so that the soil never dries out, particularly if it’s planted in a pot or container. Clematis needs extra food during the growing period from March to May. A universal fertiliser such as granulated dried cow manure is very suitable, and also improves the soil structure. There is no need to feed Clematis during the flowering period itself. Some training is required to ensure that the plant grows in the right direction.

Clematis pruning tips
It’s not difficult to prune Clematis, but it’s harder to identify the correct time, which varies according to the cultivar. The best idea is to prune after flowering. For varieties that flower in May, that would be at the start of the summer, while for varieties that flower in summer it would be at the end of the winter. If Clematis is not pruned, you end up with a tangle of bare branches, and the flowers will be constantly higher up the plant. Regular pruning is therefore important to ensure a Clematis which remains fresh and flowers beautifully. So don’t be afraid to give the plant a vigorous haircut. Should this turn out to be at the wrong time of year, the plant will just not flower or produce fewer flowers for a year.

More information about Clematis and other garden plants can be found at Thejoyofplants.co.uk.

Garden Plant of the Month 
Clematis is in the spotlight in April as the Garden Plant of the Month. ‘Garden Plant of the Month’ is an initiative by Thejoyofplants.co.uk. Growers and horticultural specialists from the floriculture sector select a garden plant every month at the request of Thejoyofplants.co.uk in order to inspire and enthuse. Because a garden isn’t a garden without plants.

Clematis can now be used as a cut flower. It's beautiful blooms are often used in country style wedding bouquets and the long winding foliage make excellent trails or support in wild looking bouquets for that unstructured feel.

As you can see there are a variety of colours to choose from, contact us for more information about how we can add this beautiful flower to your special displays.

Sandra x

Citrus Trees - Garden Plant of the Month March

Citrus Trees - Garden Plant of the Month March

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Garden Plant of the Month for March: Citrus trees

A lasting holiday feeling on your patio
Beautiful colours, sweet scents and - if you’re lucky - a modest harvest of fruit; all those on their own are enough to make a citrus tree a lovely addition to the garden. But this Mediterranean beauty is also evergreen, So you can enjoy it all year long. The trees of the mandarin, lemon, lime, orange, kumquat and grapefruit each look slightly different, but they all have a sturdy trunk with a green crown. Another similarity is that they produce lots of blossom, like a warm and sunny spot, and lend an exotic note to your patio or balcony. They’re classic container plants that need lots of light in both summer and winter.

The origin of the citrus trees
Most citrus trees originate from South-East Asia. The Romans planted the trees in their gardens in 200 AD. The first trees came to Western Europe in around 1200. Initially the plants were protected from frost in sheds using a fire. Later orangeries were built in which the ‘orange trees’ could spend the winter. Their orange fruit means that the trees give you a lasting holiday feeling in the garden or on the patio,  but also when the plants are placed indoors in the living room.
Citrofortunella microcarpa (Calamondin) is a cross between the genuses of citrus and fortunella. The other citrus species are virtually all imported from countries around the Mediterranean nowadays. Examples include: Citrus limon (lemon), Citrus reticulata (mandarin), Citrus sinensis (orange) and the genus Fortunella (kumquat) containing the species Fortunella japonica (small round fruit) and Fortunella margarita (oval orange fruit). 

Citrofortunella: mini-oranges
The genus Citrus includes fruit such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruit and kumquats. There is also a mini orange tree: Citrofortunella microcarpa. The name ‘microcarpa’ indicates that the plant bears a small fruit. It’s an evergreen tree, and the white flowers produce a delectable jasmine fragrance. The plants often bear buds, flowers and fruit at the same time. The plants come in various sizes, from small handy ‘table trees’ to sizeable trees with small orange fruit. You can make jam or marmalade from the fruit.

Caring for Citrofortunella
Citrofortunella likes a light, sunny spot and moderate (rain) watering. It also needs regular feeding. The plants like a slightly acid soil, so it’s a good idea to mix potting soil with some garden turf. You can pollinate the flowers yourself with your thumb or a brush in order to ensure that the plant produces enough fruit. It takes about a year for the fruit to ripen.
The plants can be placed in the garden or on the balcony or patio in full sun from mid-March to October. You should keep an eye on the night-time temperature, since the plants don’t like night frosts. And allow the plant to acclimatise to bright sunlight in the first few weeks, otherwise it will scorch. The orange tree can be brought indoors in October before the first night frost, and overwinter in a frost-free spot. This can be in the living room, or in a conservatory or greenhouse. 

Citrofortunella training tips
These orange trees can be grown as a standard or as a bush. It’s best to prune in the spring to keep plants growing vigorously and healthy. After pruning the plant will produce more shoots, but it will then take a little while before it starts flowering and producing fruit again. You should therefore limit pruning to shaping the plant or removing stray shoots.  Do trim off the side shoots on a standard product, in order to achieve and retain an attractive trunk.  

More information about Citrofortunella and other garden plants can be found at Thejoyofplants.co.uk.

Garden Plant of the Month 
Citrofortunella is in the spotlight in March as the Garden Plant of the Month. ‘Garden Plant of the Month’ is an initiative by Thejoyofplants.co.uk. Growers and horticultural specialists from the floriculture sector select a garden plant every month at the request of Thejoyofplants.co.uk in order to inspire and enthuse. Because a garden isn’t a garden without plants.

Looking to send a gift? How about one of these in a gorgeous planter. Many varieties and sizes to choose from.

Getting married in March? These would make unusual table centerpieces or smaller ones gifts for your guests or use the larger ones as aisle decorations and plant in the garden after the day.

Ask for availability, varieties, sizes and prices today

Sandra x

Potted Bulbs - Garden Plant of The Month February

Potted Bulbs - Garden Plant of The Month February

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Garden Plant of the Month for February: Potted bulbs

Heralds of spring in the home or garden!
Bulb crops give you a feeling of spring. They're flowers that emerge from their bulbs bursting with energy and colour. In February it’s often still too cold to see the bulbs that you planted in the garden in autumn emerge from the ground. But there’s a handy solution to this: potted bulb products, which are widely available in February thanks to the grower’s skill.  Potted bulbs bring an early spring to the garden and the living room. When the first warm spell arrives, you can see the flowers bursting out of the pot as cheerful, fragrant heralds of spring.
Potted bulbs can be planted in the soil or in containers for on the balcony or patio. They are also all available as cut flowers. Within the potted bulb range, we see familiar products from the main species, each with a large number of cultivars in many colours and sizes. These potted bulb products - hyacinths, narcissi and grape hyacinths (Muscari) - are the real stars of the range. The larger the bulb that the growers have planted in the pots, the better the quality that emerges with more and larger flowers on a stem.

Potted bulbs: Hyacinth, Narcissus, Muscari: early spring in the garden! 
The something special about narcissi, hyacinths and Muscari. They need a period of cold in order to flower. So if you want to enjoy them earlier than the normal flowering months (from March to May), the grower has to perform two tricks. First the (dry) bulbs need to spend a few weeks in low temperatures of between 5 and 10°C. Then the growers plant them in pots, and they are ‘forced’ in greenhouses at considerably higher temperatures as if spring has arrived. The plants then flower in February, tricked into thinking that it’s already spring. 

The pot hyacinth is a beautifully scented plant in pink, white, blue, purple, salmon or pale yellow. The individual flowers on the stems are called claws. The pot Narcissus also comes in a wide number of varieties, ranging from beautifully scented spray narcissi to flowers with everything from very small to gigantic trumpets, as well as double flowered varieties. The most important colours are yellow and white. We also see a lot of bicoloured varieties, on which the flower contains salmon pink and orange. The Muscari or grape hyacinth is a small, grape-shaped flower, usually blue. However, there are also white or purple ‘grapes’ and there are also crested grape hyacinths. Muscari is one of the most fabulous potted bulb products, and has a light musk scent, as is reflected in the name Muscari. 

Caring for potted bulbs: Hyacinth, Narcissus, Muscari
The three different potted bulb plants - Hyacinth, Narcissus and Muscari - all require the same care to ensure they give you pleasure for a long time. The plants are undemanding in the garden - they can be placed in both the shade and the sun. Potted bulb products do particularly well even at temperatures around freezing. Indoors the plant requires a spot which is as cool as possible to ensure the longest flowering.Make sure that the soil never dries out. You should therefore water the plant regularly, but don’t get the bulbs too wet since this can cause them to rot. There’s no real need to feed, since most nutrients are already present in the bulb. And obviously the plants are only for decoration and not for consumption. 

Storage tips for potted bulbs: Hyacinth, Narcissus, Muscari
When the flowers on the bulbs have finished blooming, you can store the bulbs in order to plant them in the garden again for the next growing season. This is easier with narcissi and grape hyacinths, since hyacinths are more prone to disease. Allow the foliage on the narcissi and grape hyacinths to die back fully in the pot. Then remove the bulbs from the pot and store them until October in a dry, dark place, such as a shed or cellar. Because these are spring flowering bulbs, they should be planted in the autumn. They will then experience a period of cold in winter, and will flower again in the spring from March. 

More information about potted bulbs - Hyacinth, Narcissus, Muscari - and other garden plants can be found at Thejoyofplants.co.uk.

Garden Plant of the Month 
The Garden Plant of the Month spotlight is on potted bulbs: Hyacinth, Narcissus, Muscari in February. ‘Garden Plant of the Month’ is an initiative by Thejoyofplants.co.uk. Growers and horticultural specialists from the floriculture sector select a garden plant every month at the request of Thejoyofplants.co.uk in order to inspire and enthuse. Because a garden isn’t a garden without plants.

These and other bulbs are available as potted designs or as cut flowers. There is more to February than red roses!!
Are you getting wed? Add in a variety of bulbs to your designs for a seasonal look. Give small or single bulbs as favors to your guests or have potted bulbs as your table centerpieces and plant in your garden for years of enjoyment long after the day has gone.

To ask about availability please get in touch for daily varieties.

Sandra x