These hardy plants for your garden will help you create a colourful space with plants that will grow back year after year.

These hardy plants for your garden will help you create a colourful space with plants that will grow back year after year. Each of these is easy to grow and care for, and you will know that they will survive cold weather over the winter and soon grow back up above the soil again in spring. Hardy plants mean less need for lifting and protecting plants, and you can sit back and enjoy your garden. We show you six of our favourite hardy plants to grow in your garden.

<h2>Hardy Plants to Grow in Your Garden</h2>

<ol>
	<li>Achillea (yarrow)</li>
</ol>

Yarrow has feathery foliage and brightly coloured flat flower heads. It&#39;s attractive to pollinators and can brighten up a border in no time. It&#39;s often one of the first and last to flower in the garden, it has a long flowering season, and looks great in a bunch of cut flowers. Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.

<ol start="2">
	<li>Hylotelephium spectabile (sedum)</li>
</ol>

Not only hardy, but it doesn&#39;t need much water either, so this is highly sought after and enjoyed perennially. It flowers in late summer and is another perfect plant for pollinators. The seed heads also look incredible over winter giving food and shelter to insects.

<ol start="3">
	<li>Lamprocapnos spectabilis (bleeding heart)</li>
</ol>

Once known as Dicentra, the bleeding heart is a well-loved perennial that will flower with rows of pink or white heart-shaped flowers. It is a sight to behold! Part shade and moist soil are preferable and it works well surrounded by Hostas and Ferns.

<ol start="4">
	<li>Geranium (cranesbill)</li>
</ol>

Cranesbill isn&#39;t the same as the bedding Geranium that graces containers and hanging baskets in the summer. It&#39;s a hardy perennial that can cover ground really quickly. There are many to choose from, including vibrant pink to almost blue, and they need very little care. These can flower for a long spring and summer period and grow back again the following year.

<ol start="5">
	<li>Alchemilla mollie (lady&#39;s mantle)</li>
</ol>

Perhaps one of the hardiest of them all, the vibrant green flowers work well with just about any other garden plant and in a vase of cut flowers. It needs very little care but will self-seed readily, so keep an eye on seedlings popping up where you don&#39;t want them and cut back the flower heads as they fade. Lady&#39;s mantle looks good in a border mixed with Salvia nemorosa and Penstemon.

<ol start="6">
	<li>Erysimum (wallflowers)</li>
</ol>

As an evergreen perennial, wall flowers should be in everyone&#39;s garden! Not only can you find various colours, including two-tone flowers, but they also attract bees and flower for months on end. Grow these in full sun and well-drained soil, even in chalky soil and in coastal gardens where they will look great with Miscanthus. Ideally, prune them after flowering to keep them healthy.

<img alt="Bleeding heart fuchsia - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/bleeding-heart-fuchsia-garden-centres-canada-900x300-62ab1d71cdf24.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="Bleeding heart fuchsia - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>Buy Hardy Plants at Canada&#39;s Best Garden Centres</h2>

Are you looking for plants to fill borders, containers, and beddings without worrying that they won&#39;t survive the winter? We have an extensive selection of hardy plants for your garden to choose from in store. Please visit us and check our range. Are you looking for something specific? Please ask our knowledgeable staff. Find your nearest store with our store locator.&nbsp;

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Hardy Plants for Your Garden

We&rsquo;ve put together 6 top tips to help you attract more wildlife to your garden.

Our gardens are hugely important habitats for wildlife, providing food and shelter to many creatures from birds and bees to bugs and worms. A wildlife-friendly garden is good for gardeners, with birds and beneficial insects helping keep pests under control. We&rsquo;ve put together 6 top tips to help you attract more wildlife to your garden. Discover how to create a wildlife-friendly garden and help butterflies, birds, and bees survive.

<h2>Six Tips to Transform Your Garden Into a Wildlife Paradise</h2>

<ol>
	<li>
	Plant shrubs and trees to bring more birds into your garden. Evergreen shrubs provide much-needed winter shelter for birds, thorny plants protect against predators, and berry-bearing shrubs and trees are a welcome food source. Holly, hawthorn, crab apples, and pyracantha are excellent bird-friendly plants to add to your garden.
	</li>
	<li>
	Put up a few bird feeders near shrubs or trees to give birds a quick escape route if cats or other predators appear. Keep your feeders topped up to encourage birds to make regular visits. Ground-feeders like robins and blackbirds will feed off bird tables and enjoy mealworms, seeds, and fruit, while tits and finches flock to hanging seed feeders.
	</li>
	<li>
	Flowers that produce seed heads, such as rudbeckia, echinacea, teasels and sunflowers, are great for attracting small birds. Even the occasional dandelion is suitable for a wildlife garden, as bees love the nectar, and goldfinches will happily eat the fluffy seeds.
	</li>
	<li>
	Fill your garden with plenty of pollinator-friendly flowers. Flowers with open centres, like daisies and single dahlias, make it easy for bees and other pollinators to reach the nectar at the centre. Umbellifers like Achillea, Anthriscus, and even coriander with their flattened flowerheads are very popular with beneficial insects like ladybirds and hoverflies. Aim to have something flowering every month of the year to provide food for pollinators. Ivy is great for late autumn, and Sarcococca (Christmas box), mahonia, and crocuses will feed early foraging insects from January through March.
	</li>
	<li>
	Ponds are fantastic for attracting wildlife. Site your pond so that at least part of it gets full sun, and include a ramp or rocks placed so that visiting wildlife can quickly get in and out without drowning. If you can&rsquo;t dig a pond in your garden, you can create one in a large container such as an old tin bath or a big, deep washing-up bowl. Fill it with water, add a couple of pond plants and place a few rocks around the edge to disguise it and provide an access route for wildlife.
	</li>
	<li>
	Keep an area of grass unmown between March-April and August-September to provide a habitat for spiders and insects. This will also allow nectar-rich wildflowers like clover, ox-eye daisies, and hawkbit to grow, providing extra food for pollinators.
	</li>
</ol>

<img alt="Pollinator-friendly plants - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/pollinator-friendly-plants-garden-centres-canada-2-900x300-62ab0ef3da58e.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="Pollinator-friendly plants - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>Get Everything You Need at Our Garden Centres</h2>

Do you want to attract more wildlife to your garden and increase biodiversity in your area? You&rsquo;ll find a fantastic range of wildlife-friendly plants and flowers, bird feeders, insect hotels, etc., at our garden centres, so come in and see us soon! Please find your store with help from our store locator.

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6 Ways to Attract Wildlife to Your Garden

We&#39;ve put together our top tips to help you get the most out of your veg plot this summer.

Summer&#39;s an exciting time in the kitchen garden when all your hard work pays off and crops start to ripen. With so much going on, it can be hard to know what to tackle first, so we&#39;ve put together our top tips to help you get the most out of your veg plot.

<h2>Tips to Get the Most of Your Kitchen Garden in Summer</h2>

<ol>
	<li>
	Keep your vegetable beds clear of weeds that compete with your plants for food and water. A Dutch hoe is ideal for dealing with annual weeds like chickweed and hairy bittercress.
	</li>
	<li>
	Stop harvesting rhubarb stems after July to allow the plants to build up their reserves for next year.
	</li>
	<li>
	Keep earthing up maincrop potatoes to stop sunlight from reaching the tubers and turning them green (green potatoes are toxic). When the leaves of your potato plants start to turn yellow, it&#39;s time to harvest.
	</li>
	<li>
	Harvest runner beans, French beans, and courgettes regularly; they taste best when young and tender, and it encourages the plants to keep producing more fruit.
	</li>
	<li>
	Broad bean plants are often prone to blackfly infestation, so pinch out the growing tips once pods have formed at the base of the plant. This will discourage the blackfly, which tends to go for fresh young shoots.
	</li>
	<li>
	Feed tomatoes fortnightly with high potash food and pinch out side-shoots on cordon tomatoes. Water regularly to maintain a consistent moisture level in the soil, allowing the soil to dry out. Watering heavily is likely to cause tomatoes to split.
	</li>
	<li>
	You can still sow French and runner beans, beetroot, and carrots in July for autumn harvests. Pak choi is less likely to bolt if planted after midsummer and can be harvested through autumn and winter. Sow lamb&#39;s lettuce, turnips, and perpetual spinach for winter harvests, and chard, spring onions, and spring cabbage for harvesting next spring.
	</li>
	<li>
	As pumpkins start to develop on the vines, place a brick or slate under the fruits to keep them off the ground and reduce the risk of rotting. Remove any leaves affected by powdery mildew.
	</li>
	<li>
	Strawberry plants will be putting out runners now &ndash; these are long stems bearing clusters of leaves. To make new plants, peg the leaf clusters down on the soil or in small pots filled with compost and keep them watered for a few weeks until they produce roots. They can then be cut off the mother plant and grown as separate strawberry plants. If you don&#39;t need new strawberry plants, cut the runners off to conserve your existing plants&#39; energy.
	</li>
	<li>
	Bolting (producing flowers early and setting seed) is a common problem for many plants in summer, especially lettuce, spinach, onions, leeks, and radishes. Once a plant has started to bolt, there&#39;s not much you can do to stop it, but instead of digging up bolted plants and composting them straight away, leave a few to flower and attract pollinators.
	</li>
</ol>

<img alt="Strawberries kitchen garden - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/strawberries-kitchen-garden-garden-centres-canada-900x300-62aaee577438e.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="Strawberries kitchen garden - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>Enjoy Your Home-Grown Summer Harvest</h2>

Get the most out of your garden this summer with our centre&#39;s fantastic range of garden tools, seeds, and plants. Why not visit us today? Please find your nearest store with our Store Locator. Our knowledgeable staff loves to show you what you need to get the most out of your kitchen garden&nbsp;this summer.&nbsp;

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Kitchen Garden Tips for Summer

Here are our top tips on watering your plants in summer.

When the temperature soars in summer, we&rsquo;re not the only ones needing a cool refreshing drink of water. Keeping our plants watered is vital to their health, so here are our top tips on watering your plants in summer.

<h2>Why Plants Need water</h2>

Plants need water for the same reason we do, to keep hydrated so that their cells can function. In addition, plants can only absorb nutrients from the soil when those nutrients are dissolved in water, so regular watering is essential to keep plants alive and fed. Many plants from dry areas have adapted to cope with periods of drought, but all plants still need some water to survive.

<h2>Garden Watering Equipment</h2>

You don&rsquo;t need complicated equipment to water plants &ndash; anything that will hold water will do in a pinch. However, a wide range of equipment is available to make watering easier and more effective.

<ul>
	<li>Watering cans are inexpensive and work well for watering pots and seedlings. However, using a watering can is time-consuming if you have lots of pots, and they are not practical for a big garden.</li>
	<li>A hosepipe attached to a garden tap is easier to use and more useful than a watering can but can still be time-consuming. To conserve water, attach a spray gun to the hose pipe so that you can direct the water exactly where it&rsquo;s needed.</li>
	<li>If you don&rsquo;t have time to water your garden by hand, you could install an irrigation system such as a soaker hose, drip hose, or sprinklers. These systems can be connected to a timer or even controlled via an app on a smartphone.</li>
</ul>

<img alt="How to water your plants in Summer - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/how-to-water-your-plants-in-summer-garden-centres-canada-2-900x300-62aaeb63d7e93.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="How to water your plants in Summer - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>5 Tips on Watering Plants Effectively</h2>

<ol>
	<li>
	Water in the evening or early morning when the temperature is cooler to reduce water loss through evaporation.
	</li>
	<li>
	Water container plants, even if it has rained, as their foliage can act as an umbrella stopping rain from reaching the compost below. Use your finger to check whether the compost is still moist below the surface.
	</li>
	<li>
	Water newly established trees and shrubs thoroughly at least once a week in the first year after planting. A good soaking every few days is better for plants than a light watering every day, encouraging roots to grow deep in search of water and making plants more drought-resilient in dry periods.
	</li>
	<li>
	To save water, connect a water butt to a downpipe to collect the rainwater that comes off your roof, and use this for watering your plants.
	</li>
	<li>
	If you&rsquo;re going away for a few days, make a self-watering system for your pots. Find an empty wine or plastic water bottle with a cap. Pierce a hole in the lid, fill the bottle with water and stand it upside down in the pot. The water will gradually trickle out of the bottle into the soil over a couple of days.
	</li>
</ol>

Keep your garden well watered this summer with our extensive range of watering equipment. Our friendly staff are always happy to advise!

How to Water Your Plants in Summer

These top 6 presents for Father&#39;s Day will ensure your father knows how much you love him.

These top 6 presents for Father&#39;s Day will ensure your father knows how much you love him. Sunday, June 19, it&#39;s Father&#39;s Day. It&#39;s a day to celebrate your relationship with him and give him a lovely treat, so he knows how much you care. Perhaps your dad is a gardener and would like some new gardening tools, or maybe he loves to do DIYs. Or if you&#39;d prefer to give him something to relax with after doing all of the work, we&#39;ve got you covered with these ideas.

<h2>The Best Father&#39;s Day Gift Ideas</h2>

<ol>
	<li>Garden planner</li>
</ol>

It is very easy to let the garden run away with itself, and all of the plans in your mind don&#39;t quite work out when there is so much to do! For Father&#39;s Day, treat your dad to the gift of planning. There are&nbsp;many different planners available, including leather-bound or paperback with different designs and lined paper inside monthly guides. Choose one that your dad will love so he can write his gardening plans down and stay organized in the garden.

<ol start="2">
	<li>Wildlife camera</li>
</ol>

If your dad loves wildlife, a unique wildlife camera will be the perfect gift for him. They can be pretty compact, lightweight, and vary in price. They can be easily set to record overnight with night vision, so your dad can see what happens in the garden when he is snoring! He might find hedgehogs, deer, rabbits, foxes, or even a badger making an appearance.

<ol start="3">
	<li>Magazine subscription</li>
</ol>

Does your dad love to read? There are many magazines he might like to land on his doorstep each month. From gardening and growing your own food to nature, wildlife, and even gadgets. Why not gift an annual subscription so he receives his favourite magazine regularly?

<ol start="4">
	<li>Planted pot</li>
</ol>

Show him how much you love him by planting up a pot with his favourite plants. This is a lovely personal gift for your dad to show him how much you love him. You could plant perennials with interest for all seasons and underplant with spring bulbs, or pot up some annual bedding plants and let your dad take it from there. You will find a colourful range at our garden centres.

<ol start="5">
	<li>Seed bombs</li>
</ol>

A great fun way to spread some wildflowers is to simply throw a seed bomb! These are available in all shapes and sizes, from small seed balls to larger packets that can be thrown or sprinkled wherever your dad wants. If you do it together, even better! You can also create seed bombs yourself by kneading potting soil and clay with some wildflower seeds. Roll them until you have cute round seed bombs. Let them air dry and throw them somewhere nectar and flowers are needed.

<ol start="6">
	<li>Gardeners hand cream</li>
</ol>

If your dad gets his hands in the soil or uses tools a lot, why not gift him some hand cream or something to pamper himself with? From bath oil to scented candles, hard-working hand cream for tough hands, and gardeners soap.

We have plenty of options to treat your dad for Father&#39;s Day on June 19. Come and visit our garden centres. Please find your nearest store and check their opening hours.

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Top Presents for Father’s Day

By planting pollinator-friendly flowers, you can create a beautiful and beneficial garden.

It&rsquo;s impossible to overstate just how important pollinators are to our lives. Without pollinators such as bees, hover flies, and butterflies, hardly any fruit and vegetables we eat would exist. And with the insect population under increasing pressure from habitat loss, chemicals, and climate change, our pollinators need all the help we can give them. By planting pollinator-friendly flowers, you can create a beautiful and beneficial garden.

<h2>Tips for Planting a Pollinator-Friendly Garden</h2>

When choosing plants for your pollinator-friendly garden, aim to have at least one plant in flower at any time of year. Winter and early spring are the most challenging times for pollinators, so it&rsquo;s essential to include plants that will flower in those seasons. To protect pollinators, do your best to avoid spraying pesticides in your garden, and never use pesticides on plants that are in flower.

<h2>How to Know if Your Flowers Are Pollinator-Friendly</h2>

There are several ways to find out which are the most pollinator-friendly plants. You can find many lists of pollinator-friendly plants for each season, but you can also tell a lot by looking at your plants.

<ul>
	<li>Flowers like daisies and single dahlias with large open centres are great for pollinators. Double flowers with masses of petals may look striking, but they&rsquo;re not ideal for a pollinator-friendly garden, as bees can&rsquo;t find their way into the centre of the flower to get to the pollen and nectar. However, if you love the lush, opulent look of double flowers, there&rsquo;s no need to banish them from your garden. Just make sure you have plenty of pollinator-friendly varieties around too.</li>
	<li>Flowers with flattened flower heads, like achillea, fennel, cow parsley, and coriander are also excellent for pollinators, especially hover flies. (And hover fly larvae eat aphids, which is another excellent reason to encourage them into your garden!)</li>
	<li>A top tip for finding pollinator-friendly flowers at the garden centre is following the bees. They&rsquo;ll be humming around their favourite flowers!</li>
</ul>

<img alt="Achillea bee-friendly plants - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/achillea-bee-friendly-plants-garden-centres-canada-1200x450-629f480082ed4.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="Achillea bee-friendly plants - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>Pollinator-Friendly Flowers for Every Season</h2>

To keep your pollinators supplied with food all year round, aim to have at least one or two plants in flower at any time. This list will give you a few ideas to start with:

Pollinator-Friendly Winter Flowers:

<ul>
	<li>Mahonia</li>
	<li>Sarcococca confusa (Christmas box)</li>
	<li>Hellebores</li>
	<li>Crocus</li>
	<li>Snowdrops</li>
</ul>

Pollinator-Friendly Spring Flowers:

<ul>
	<li>Primrose</li>
	<li>Bergenia</li>
	<li>Japanese maple</li>
	<li>Honesty</li>
	<li>Cranesbill</li>
	<li>Erysimum (wallflower)</li>
	<li>Euphorbia</li>
</ul>

Pollinator-Friendly Summer Flowers:

<ul>
	<li>Achillea</li>
	<li>Agastache</li>
	<li>Borage</li>
	<li>Dahlia</li>
	<li>Echinacea</li>
	<li>Echinops</li>
	<li>Hollyhock</li>
	<li>Geraniums</li>
	<li>Lavender</li>
	<li>Limnanthes douglasii (poached eggplant)</li>
</ul>

Pollinator-Friendly Autumn Flowers:

<ul>
	<li>Dahlia</li>
	<li>Ivy</li>
	<li>Anemone x hybrida (Japanese anemone)</li>
	<li>Fatsia japonica</li>
	<li>Symphotricum (Michaelmas daisy)</li>
</ul>

Our fantastic range of pollinator-friendly plants will bring butterflies and bees buzzing to your garden! Visit one of our independent garden centres today to find everything your garden needs for a great summer.

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Planting Pollinator-Friendly Flowers

To help you get started, we&rsquo;ve put together our tips on the most common container gardening mistakes to avoid.

Container gardening enables you to create a garden anywhere &ndash; on a balcony or patio, in rental accommodation, or just on a sunny windowsill. To help you get started, we&rsquo;ve put together our tips on the most common container gardening mistakes to avoid.

<h2>Avoid These Seven Container Gardening Tips</h2>

<ol>
	<li>
	Avoid using lots of small containers. Small pots dry out fast and need frequent watering. A space filled with lots of small pots can also feel cluttered and claustrophobic. Using big pots in a small area may seem counter-intuitive, but it&rsquo;s true - a few large pots will have more impact, making the space feel more spacious and easier to maintain.
	</li>
	<li>
	Don&rsquo;t let your plants become rootbound. This happens when there&rsquo;s no more space in the pot for the roots to spread out, so they grow into a tangled mass. Once roots start growing through the drainage holes, it&rsquo;s time to repot your plant into a bigger container, ideally with a diameter 8-10cm (3-4in) larger than the existing container. When re-potting container-grown shrubs and trees, make sure they are at the same depth in the new container, as planting too deep can cause the trunk to rot.
	</li>
	<li>
	Don&rsquo;t forget to feed your container plants. Although the compost they&rsquo;re planted in contains nutrients, these get used up in the first 4 to 6 weeks after planting, and nutrients also get washed out of the pot every time you water. Different plants have different feeding needs, so do your research first. For example, container-grown tomatoes need a fortnightly high-potash feed once they start to produce fruit, while succulents like sempervivums need minimal extra feeding.
	</li>
	<li>
	Water your container plants regularly, and don&rsquo;t just rely on rainfall, as your plants&rsquo; foliage can stop rain from reaching the compost. Dig your finger into the compost to check whether container plants need watering to see whether it is still moist below the surface, or use a moisture gauge.
	</li>
	<li>
	Don&rsquo;t apply liquid feed if your pots are dry. Water your plants first and then use a diluted liquid feed; otherwise, it&rsquo;s difficult for the roots to absorb the nutrients. And don&rsquo;t be tempted to ignore the dilution instructions &ndash; liquid feed will burn plant roots if it&rsquo;s too concentrated.
	</li>
	<li>
	Good drainage is absolutely essential for container plants, so don&rsquo;t forget to check that containers have drainage holes (drill some if necessary). Before putting compost in new pots, place a few crocks (pottery shards) or big stones over the holes to stop compost from clogging them up, and raise pots on pot feet over winter to prevent your plants from sitting in cold, soggy compost.
	</li>
	<li>
	Big pots can be weighty when filled with compost, so don&rsquo;t try to move them after planting them. Please place them in their final positions while still empty, and then add your compost and plants. Or place big pots on a trolley, so you can move them easier.
	</li>
</ol>

Are you looking for trendy container plants and pots? Our garden centres stock colourful flower pots, containers and planters, and a seasonal range of bedding plants and perennials that will look beautiful in your garden. Shop everything you need at our independent garden centres. Find your nearest store in the <a href="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/store-locator" title="store locator">store locator</a>.&nbsp;

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7 Container Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

If you want your garden to look lovely during summer, you might think you need to be on top of watering plants every day, but have you ever thought of creating a water-friendly garden?

If you want your garden to look lovely during summer, you might think you need to be on top of watering plants every day, but have you ever thought of creating a water-friendly garden? A little preparation helps you take your summer garden to the next level without too much effort. Did you know a water-friendly garden can still look fabulous and colourful? Here&rsquo;s how to design a drought-resistant garden for summer:&nbsp;

<h2>1. Plant drought-resistant plants</h2>

To create a dazzling summer display, you want to add colourful flowers and plants to your containers, beddings, and borders. To create a spectacular summer display, you want to add colourful flowers and plants to your containers, beddings, and borders. Luckily, you don&rsquo;t need a huge amount of water to create a beautiful garden. There are plenty of plants that require little water. Here&rsquo;s a list of drought-resistant plants:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Blue Spire is a small shrub that will bring a hint of blue to your garden and can grow to 1.5m tall.</li>
	<li>Lavender is a herb with many uses and can help create a vibrant garden.</li>
	<li>Vervain has bright purple flowers rich in nectar and can reach up to 60cm.</li>
	<li>Salvia, otherwise known as &lsquo;hot lips&rsquo;, blooms red and white flowers and has a beautiful floral fragrance.</li>
</ul>

Besides these plants, you can also choose to grow ornamental grasses, like&nbsp;Festuca glauca,&nbsp;Bouteloua gracilis,&nbsp;Andropogon gerardii, Carex buchananii, Cortaderia selloana&nbsp;or&nbsp;Helictotrichon sempervirens​​​​​​.

<img alt="Salvia - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/salvia-garden-centres-canada-1200x450-6299e468b0d0c.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="Salvia - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>2. Apply mulch</h2>

Mulch is a layer of material applied to the top of the soil. You can use straw, chopped leaves, hay, grass clippings, bark, cocoa shells, etc. Besides the fact that a layer of mulch makes your garden look presentable, it also has a functional effect as it helps to save you water. Mulch prevents the growth of weeds and soil from retaining moisture. Apply a layer of mulch to your flower bed to avoid water evaporating during hot spells. Moisture control specialist composts can also help you don&#39;t&nbsp;have to water your plants too often.

<h2>3. Get rid of weeds</h2>

You might think about the advantage of weeding to contribute to a water-friendly garden. Well, weeds soak nutrients and water meant for your bedding plans. If you remove weeds, they can no longer steal nutrients from your other plants.&nbsp;

<img alt="Mulch - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/mulch-garden-centres-canada-1200x450-6299e47e5305c.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="Mulch - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>4. Water your garden correctly</h2>

We recommend watering your plants in the early morning so the roots have enough time to absorb the moisture. It&rsquo;s also possible to water your plants in the evening to avoid evaporation. If you water your plants during the heat of the day, too much water will be lost because of evaporation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>5. Install a water butt</h2>

If you want to keep your garden plants thriving, you need to water them. To maintain the groundwater level, you don&rsquo;t want to use too much tapwater during dry spells. Prepare yourself by installing a water butt. Collect free rainwater, which you can use for watering, and cleaning your car and patio or garden furniture. This water is free of charge and free of chalk. Connect a water butt to your water pipe and start collecting rainwater. If you don&rsquo;t have space for a water butt, you can consider reusing your household water. Put a bucket under the shower while waiting for the water to warm up. Use this excess water for watering indoor and outdoor plants.

<img alt="Water garden plants - Garden Centres Canada" src="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/files/files/water-garden-plants-garden-centres-canada-1200x450-6299e49b5bf1f.jpg" style="width: 100%;" title="Water garden plants - Garden Centres Canada" />

<h2>Design a water-friendly garden with the help of independent garden centres</h2>

Create a water-friendly environment and enjoy a stunning summer garden at the same time. We stock an extensive range of drought-resistant plants, and our staff loves to give you advice on environmentally-friendly products, such as water butts, automatic water systems and mulch. Please visit our garden centres and get everything you need for a carefree, sweet summer. Visit an independent garden&nbsp;centre near you. You can find your store on our <a href="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/store-locator">Store Locator page</a>.

<a class="btn" href="https://www.gardencentrescanada.ca/store-locator" style="float:left;" title="Store Locator">Store Locator</a>

Ready for summer: your water-friendly garden

We’ve put together our top tips on sowing seeds and&nbsp;suggestions on planting the best seeds&nbsp;in March.

Growing flowers from seed is a fantastic way to fill your garden with colour at minimal costs. Now that spring has arrived, there are plenty of flower seeds to sow both indoor and outdoor to give you beds filled with blooms this summer. We’ve put together our top tips on sowing seeds and&nbsp;suggestions on planting the best seeds&nbsp;in March.
<h2>Tips on Sowing Seeds</h2>
<ul>
<li>
If it’s been a very cold, wet spring, wait until the weather improves to sow outdoors, or start your seeds off indoors. As a rule of thumb, if the weeds are starting to grow, it’s probably warm enough to sow hardy annuals outside.
</li>
<li>
Before sowing seeds outdoors, it’s important to prepare the ground. Dig over the soil, remove weeds and stones, and rake the surface to produce a fine, crumbly texture ready for sowing.
</li>
<li>
Getting the watering right is one of the most important aspects of growing plants from seed. Seeds sown outdoors need regular watering in dry periods. For seeds sown indoors, keep the compost moist, but remember that seeds don’t enjoy sitting in sodden compost.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Seeds to Sow Indoors in March</h2>
Many half-hardy and tender plants can be sown indoors now and will give you a fantastic display of colour in summer. Here are some seeds to sow indoors in March:
<ul>
<li>
Half-hardy annuals like cosmos, cleome, antirrhinum (snapdragons), French marigolds, and calendula (pot marigolds).
</li>
<li>
Dahlia mixes - many are available as seeds and can be sown indoors now, giving a fabulous display in summer for very little cost.
</li>
<li>
Climbing annuals like Thunbergia alata (Black-eyed Susan), Ipomoea lobata (Spanish Flag), and Ipomoea purpurea (Morning Glory) – these can be planted out as soon as the frosts are over and will quickly cover an obelisk, arch, or pergola with their colourful flowers.
</li>
<li>
In cold areas, sow sweet peas indoors in root trainers – toilet roll inner tubes work well, giving the long roots space to develop.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Seeds to Sow Outdoors in March</h2>
As the weather improves and the soil warms up towards the end of the month, many hardy plants can be sown directly outdoors. Here are a few to try:
<ul>
<li>
Hardy annuals, including Californian poppies, cornflowers, Nigella (love-in-a-mist), and sunflowers. March is also an excellent time to sow annual wildflower mixes.
</li>
<li>
You can sow sweet peas directly outdoors this month in mild areas, provided there’s no risk of frost.
</li>
<li>
Nasturtiums are a great addition to any kitchen garden and can be sown outdoors from late March.
</li>
<li>
If the weather is good, try sowing some night-scented stocks (Matthiola bicornis) in a sunny spot near a seating area to enjoy the delicious fragrance on long summer evenings.
</li>
</ul>
We have everything you need to start sowing, including pots, seed trays, compost, and a fantastic range of seeds. Visit us today and get your flower garden started!

Flower Seeds to Sow in March

It’s important to plant native hedges to encourage wildlife in your garden and create a biodiverse space to welcome wildlife to enjoy.

It’s important to plant native hedges to encourage wildlife in your garden and create a biodiverse space to welcome wildlife to enjoy. Hedging not only looks beautiful but has many other purposes in a garden, from performing as a pollution barrier to boundary privacy, and, most importantly, a perfect habitat for wildlife.&nbsp;
<h2>Why&nbsp;Plant Native Hedges</h2>
Native hedging provides so much interest for a garden with year-round colours, structure, and homes, food, and resting places for wildlife. From varying foliage to colourful berries, beautiful flowers, and&nbsp;wildlife, including birds, bees, butterflies, other insects, and small mammals. Your garden will become a haven for wildlife and improve everything all around. The rewards are endless.
<h2>How to Plant Native Hedges</h2>
Prepare the ground well, removing large stones and digging in organic garden matter. The best time to plant is from October to March, unless the soil is waterlogged or frozen, so the roots have time to get established before the summer heat. If you are planting container-grown plants, make sure they are planted at the same depth as they are in the container with enough space around the root ball to backfill and allow roots to grow easily. If you are planting young bare roots (called whips), plant a double row, staggered,&nbsp;about 50cm apart. Water well and apply a good mulch.&nbsp;
<h2>What to Choose When You Plant Native Hedges</h2>
If you have the space to plant a hedging mix, you can achieve all-year interest. From more mature specimens to young bare-root saplings, there are different stages of growth that you can purchase to grow in your garden.
Nature hedging is usually a mix of trees and shrubs that grow quickly but are happy to be trimmed. Depending on what native trees are applicable for your country, speak to an expert for advice. If you are in Canada, there are many to choose from.
These native trees are excellent choices:
<ul>
<li>Carpinus betula (hornbeam)</li>
<li>Taxus canadensis (Canada yew)</li>
<li>Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn)</li>
</ul>
Many shrubs can be combined to make hedging with wildlife in mind, such as Viburnham oculus (guelder rose), Prunus spinosa (blackthorn), and Ilex aquifolium (holly).
Our staff in the store would be happy to help you decide on the appropriate hedging for your garden with tips to plant and care for them, so you have a thriving wildlife garden into the future. With a range to choose from, please come in store to meet us and pick your native hedging.&nbsp;

Plant Native Hedges to Encourage Wildlife

Now it’s time to fertilize garden plants.

Now it’s time to fertilize garden plants. You&nbsp;might be wondering why plants need extra nutrition, which fertilizer to use, and how to apply it to your plants. How and when you use fertilizers will impact your plants, so it’s good to know the best way to use them. Fertilizers help plant growth through various stages, from budding to flowers and fruit production. Plants use a lot of nutrients from the soil and need a great deal of energy for strong roots and leaves for photosynthesizing. Applying fertilizers can help ensure your plants have everything they need to thrive.
<h2>How to Know it’s Time to Fertilize Garden Plants&nbsp;</h2>
First, fertilizer isn’t used to keep plants alive. It’s used as a growing aid and to help them flourish.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
If you have mulched your beds and borders and looked after your soil, you may not need any fertilizer because allowing plants to grow naturally in good soil is always the best way.
</li>
<li>
In certain circumstances, it will be needed, such as if you are growing in pots and containers, which will need to be fertilized throughout the growing season.
</li>
<li>
The right time to start fertilizing plants is as they begin to actively grow in springtime and throughout summer, but not as they go into the end of their growing season.
</li>
<li>
Trees and shrubs are mainly only fertilized once a year in early spring but it is often not necessary. Mainly, fertilizers are used for fruit, vegetables, and bedding plants.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>What Fertilizers to Use</h2>
There are many fertilizers to use from organic garden compost, well-rotted manure, mushroom compost, and seaweed, which will all feed the soil.
<ol>
<li>Synthetic fertilizers have a higher concentration of nutrients and are available as pellets, granules, powders, and liquids.</li>
<li>Controlled-release fertilizers are granules coated with a porous material that allows water to get in and the fertilizer to release into the soil.</li>
<li>Slow-release fertilizers degrade slowly and are often organic.</li>
</ol>
There are many liquid fertilizers to choose from, including seaweed and plant-based, which you mix with water to apply. Or you can make your own from comfrey or nettle foliage in a bucket of water and then use diluted.&nbsp;
<h2>How to Apply&nbsp;Fertilizers</h2>
It depends on the type of fertilizer you are using, so it is essential to read the instructions on the fertilizer you have chosen. Some will need diluting. Some will be applied directly or mixed in the soil. Never overuse, and always make sure your fertilizer is safe for wildlife, pets, and children.&nbsp;
We have a range of fertilizers in store and assistants to help you choose. Visit our centre in %locations%.

It’s Time to Fertilize Garden Plants

Here are our top 9 summer bulbs to buy and plant now.

Summer-flowering bulbs are fantastic for adding colour and interest to your garden. There are bulbs for every situation, whether sun or shade, big gardens or small, so you’re sure to find one to suit you. Here are our top 9 summer bulbs to buy and plant now.
<h2>Favourite Summer-Flowering Bulbs for This Summer</h2>
<ol>
<li>
Gladioli:&nbsp;Gladioli produce tall spires of exotic-looking flowers in fabulous colours and can be planted outdoors in spring in any sunny spot with well-drained soil. They add a welcome vertical accent to planting and look great as cut flowers.
</li>
<li>
Oriental lilies: With their enormous star-shaped flowers, rich colours, and intense fragrance, Oriental lilies make a big impact in the garden. Plant them indoors in pots in spring, and move them outdoors when the frosts are over. They make fantastic cut flowers.
</li>
<li>
Begonias:&nbsp;Begonias are among the most popular summer bulbs (although strictly speaking, they grow from tubers, not bulbs!) They’ll grow happily in shady spots, brightening up pots and hanging baskets with their vivid flowers for months in summer and autumn. Start them indoors in early spring and plant out in summer.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Dahlias:&nbsp;Like begonias, dahlias are actually tubers, not bulbs. They come in an incredible range of flower sizes, styles, and colours, and they flower from midsummer right up to the first frosts. Dahlias love the sun and fertile soil and make fantastic cut flowers. Start them indoors in early spring and plant out in summer.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Allium:&nbsp;With their round purple flower heads, Alliums make a remarkable statement on any sunny border, and there’s a wide range to choose from, from huge Allium giganteum to compact Allium schoenoprasum (chives) small enough for a patio pot. Plan them outdoors in spring, in well-drained soil in full sun or part shade.
</li>
<li>
Freesia:&nbsp;Freesias are prized for their exotic-looking colourful flowers and intense fragrance. Compact enough for a patio pot, they also make excellent cut flowers. In mild areas, the bulbs can be planted outdoors in autumn or mid-spring, in well-drained soil in full sun.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Canna lilies: Canna lilies add a fabulous tropical feel to any garden with bold foliage and vibrant flowers. They need rich, moisture-retentive soil in a sunny spot, with plenty of water in dry periods. Deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms and lift or mulch in autumn.
</li>
<li>
Agapanthus:&nbsp;Sky-blue, moody purple, or gleaming white, Agapanthus flowers stand out in summer, with their round flower heads on tall stems. They love well-drained soil, and plenty of sun, and the flower heads look good even after they’ve faded.
</li>
<li>
Sparaxis:&nbsp;With their colourful star-shaped flowers bobbing on slender stems, Sparaxis (harlequin flowers) look delightful in containers or at the front of a border. Plant the bulbs in pots in a greenhouse in spring and move them outside after the frosts are over.
</li>
</ol>
Want to brighten up your borders this summer? Visit us today and choose from our fantastic range of summer-flowering bulbs.

Top 9 Summer Bulbs to Buy Now

If you’re wondering how to make a hedgehog house, we’ve put together some tips to help you build a safe space for hedgehogs to come into your garden.

If you’re wondering how to make a hedgehog house, we’ve put together some tips to help you build a safe space for hedgehogs to come into your garden. It is always a joy to see a hedgehog rustling about at night in a garden. A most welcome visitor is a friend of the gardener. Not only will hedgehogs eat slugs and caterpillars, but they need your help. Hedgehog numbers have declined from 1.5 million in 1995 to less than 500 000. They are now in need of help in both urban and rural areas. Making a hedgehog home is fun and getting it right is essential for the safety of your garden friends.&nbsp;
<h2>What You Need to Make a Hedgehog House</h2>
Ensure you have the right tools and equipment to build a safe and warm home.
<ul>
<li>You’ll need a hammer, nails, metal hinges, untreated FSC plywood birch boards, and polythene sheeting.</li>
<li>You’ll also need a pile of dry leaves and a shady spot in your garden.</li>
<li>Don’t forget that hedgehogs need access to your garden, so make sure there is a hole in the fence, an open gate, or other boundary access.</li>
</ul>
<h2>How to Build a&nbsp;Hedgehog House Yourself&nbsp;</h2>
<ol>
<li>Cut the wood, so you have three sides, a lid, a base, a small tunnel, and a front with a gap for the tunnel to be attached to.</li>
<li>Make the tunnel, secure the sides together and to the base, then attach two hinges and the lid. The tunnel should be big enough for the hedgehog but small enough to keep predators out.</li>
<li>If you want to add feet and raise it off the ground, that can be helpful, and the tunnel should then be attached with a rise so it is sloped.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<h2>Where to Put a Hedgehog House</h2>
Hedgehog homes should be placed in a shady and sheltered spot in the garden. When you know it is installed safely, put some dry leaves in through the lid and cover it with some polythene sheeting. You can also mound up leaves over the top as well. Make sure you can access it in spring to clean it out but don’t touch it if a hedgehog has made it home.&nbsp;
<h2>Other Options if You Don’t Want to Make a Hedgehog House Yourself</h2>
There are different ways to have a hedgehog home, from purchasing a ready-made home from a reputable source, building a pre-cut and boxed home, or simply piling up lots of leaves and log piles.&nbsp;
Visit us in store for advice when building your hedgehog home.&nbsp;

How to Make a Hedgehog House

Here are our top 10 tips on growing your own cutting garden.

Fresh flowers fill a house with life and colour, and there’s nothing better than picking your own. Grow your own cutting garden, and you can have fresh flowers on your doorstep whenever you want them. Here are our top 10 tips on growing your own cutting garden.
<h2>Top 10 Tips on Growing Your Own Cutting Garden</h2>
<ol>
<li>
Site your cutting garden in a sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil and protection from strong winds. Dig some compost or organic matter into the soil before planting, and provide stakes for tall plants.
</li>
<li>
For ease of maintenance and picking, plant in rows, keeping blocks of the same plant together. Plant as densely as possible (while still allowing each plant space to grow) so that you make the best use of your space. Close planting also shades out weeds, meaning less maintenance.
</li>
<li>
Flowers with long stems, such as cornflowers, dahlias, and lilies, are the most useful for flower arrangements, so make sure your cutting garden includes plenty of these.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Flowers that re-bloom after cutting, such as shasta daisies, cosmos, and repeat-flowering roses, are ideal for cutting gardens, as you get so much more from each plant.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
If you only have a small space for a cutting garden, pick a colour scheme and choose plants that will work with this colour scheme. That way, your arrangements will always look good together, no matter what’s in bloom.&nbsp;
</li>
<li>
Choose flowers with different shapes to add interest to your arrangements, such as ball dahlias with round flowerheads or upright gladioli with spearlike flower spires.
</li>
<li>
Don’t forget to plant a few fillers to add softness to bouquets and vases. Gypsophila, Ammi majus (Bishop’s flower), and asters make excellent filler plants.
</li>
<li>
Foliage is just as important as flowers in a stylish arrangement, providing a foil for the beautiful blooms. Some of the best foliage plants for a cutting garden include Artemisia (wormwood), Bupleurum (hare’s ear), Euphorbia, Alchemilla (lady’s mantle), sage, and lavender.
</li>
<li>
As well as cutting flowers, one of the most critical maintenance tasks in a cutting garden is regular deadheading. This prevents the plants from setting seeds and keeps them producing more flowers for an extended period.
</li>
<li>
Annuals (plants that live for just one year and die after they’ve finished flowering) are great for cutting gardens, as many flower for an extended period. They can be grown from seed, which means you get a lot of plants for the price of a seed packet. Annuals will need to be resown every year, but that gives you the chance to experiment with different plants! Some of the best annuals for cutting gardens include Nigella (love-in-the-mist), cosmos, cornflowers, scabious, sunflowers, and sweet peas.
</li>
</ol>
We have a fantastic range of seeds and plants for cutting gardens in our centre, so visit us today and get your garden started!

10 tips on Growing Your Own Cutting Garden

Wondering how to treat your mother for Mother&#39;s Day&hellip;wonder no more!

Wondering how to treat your mother for Mother&#39;s Day&hellip;wonder no more! If your mom enjoys plants, gardening, and the outdoors, these ideas will give you plenty of options to choose from. Treating your mom can be great fun, and at the same time, you can show her your thanks and love in the best way possible. From gifts and time spent together, Mother&#39;s Day is a celebration and a time to be thankful for your mom.&nbsp;

<h2>Lunch Surrounded by Plants Is a Great Way to Treat Your Mother for Mother&#39;s Day&nbsp;</h2>

Why not visit a cafe or restaurant where you know there are many plants. Plants can create such a unique environment. They are beautiful to look at and create a calm, relaxed vibe for your mom to sit back in her chair, enjoy a cuppa and, of course, a piece of cake. Or, for a longer time spent together, enjoy a lunch date and even have a glass of bubbly.

<ul>
	<li>Don&#39;t forget to treat her to a plant or two if you eat in a garden centre caf&eacute;. Spending time with your mom is time well spent.</li>
	<li>Chat, laugh, look back at memories and photos, or talk about the future.</li>
	<li>Don&#39;t forget to tell her how thankful you are for her.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>Treat Your Mother for Mother&#39;s Day With a Plant Subscription&nbsp;</h2>

If you&#39;d like to gift something that keeps on giving, there are many plant or seed subscription services that will mean your mom gets a treat once a month for however many months you choose. From houseplant cuttings to packets of seeds and instructions, you can choose a subscription that suits your mom. Don&#39;t forget to add in a thank you note as well.&nbsp;

<h2>A Meaningful Rose to Treat Your Mother for Mother&#39;s Day</h2>

With so many roses to choose from, there is a rose for every mom. You could choose one that is your mom&#39;s favourite colour or even go by the name! The choice is endless, from container and patio roses to climbers and bush roses. Don&#39;t forget to check out each fragrance because one with scent might be even more special for your mom.&nbsp;

<h2>Treat Your Mother for Mother&#39;s Day and Plant up a Special Container</h2>

Another way to give a gift to your mom that will keep on giving is to plant up a container full of beautiful plants that will flower from spring into summer. Your mom can place it on her doorstep or somewhere so she can see it often and think of you. Plant it with her favourite plants, colours, and fragrances.&nbsp;

We have plenty of Mother&#39;s Day gift ideas in store, come and visit us to find yours.&nbsp;

Treat Your Mother for Mother’s Day

This succulent care guide will help to ensure your succulents thrive in your home.

This succulent care guide will help to ensure your succulents thrive in your home. There are so many succulents to choose from that every home should be with one - or more! Sometimes considered to be awkward to grow, this isn’t the case at all, and with a few essential tips, your succulents should thrive for many years, from Senecio to the well-known Aeonium, Sedum, and Crassula. Succulents are some of the easiest plants to grow, being drought tolerant and easy to propagate.&nbsp;
<h2>Planting Needs Are Top of Our Succulent Care Guide&nbsp;</h2>
Choose a pot that has about a 1.5 cm distance around the edge of the plant, and make sure you use a special succulent mix. Which can be a ‘cacti and succulent compost’ or a gritty blend of compost, so the succulent is planted in well-drained soil. It’s crucial for succulents not to sit on wet ground. Just as with any plant, leave some room at the top of the pot. Now is the time if you’d like to add some stones to cover the compost.&nbsp;
<h2>Succulent Care Guide Sunlight Requirements&nbsp;</h2>
Here are a few sunlight requirements you should follow strictly. Succulents need sunlight and that’s key to them thriving.
<ul>
<li>Make sure they are in at least 6 hours of sunshine per day - although this might vary slightly depending on the type, so always read the label that comes with your plant.</li>
<li>Make sure your new succulents aren’t placed in direct sunlight at first, and gradually move them into the full sun as they establish.</li>
<li>It’s worth checking on your succulents as often as possible because if they are receiving sun on one side all the time, they will grow towards the sun.</li>
<li>Turn or move the container, so all sides get the sun as much as possible. If your plants aren’t receiving enough sun, they will lean as well.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Watering and Care Is Important in a Succulent Care Guide</h2>
The biggest tip about watering is never to overwater. Succulents can easily be killed with kindness.&nbsp;
Make sure the soil has dried out about 1 cm from the top before watering, then allow the water to drain out of the pot. Misting them isn’t helpful as that can cause mould. Other ways of watering are to place the pot with a drainage hole into a tray of pebbles and water, so the roots can absorb what they need from beneath. Never water over the succulents. Constantly water into the soil.&nbsp;
<h2>Succulent Care Guide to Help Easy Propagation&nbsp;</h2>
Many succulents propagate very easily, so you can grow many more for free once you have some. Some can be multiplied by simply taking a leaf, allowing the cut to callous and then planting them into some gritty compost. Others can have a stem snipped and will enable it to root in water or directly in gritty compost.&nbsp;
Get your succulents off to the best start and visit us in store to choose yours.&nbsp;

Succulent Care Guide

Fat balls are fun and easy to make at home, and here’s how it’s done.&nbsp;

Fat balls are a favourite treat for many birds in winter. Packed with energy-rich fats and seeds, they give birds the extra resources they need to survive cold weather when other food is scarce. Fat balls are fun and easy to make at home, and here’s how it’s done.&nbsp;
<h2>What You&nbsp;Need to Make Fat Balls for Birds</h2>
<ul>
<li>String</li>
<li>A yogurt pot or something similar, to use as a mould</li>
<li>Lard or suet</li>
<li>Porridge oats or seeds</li>
<li>Raisins, currants, or sultanas (optional)</li>
<li>Grated cheese (optional)</li>
<li>Mealworms (optional)</li>
</ul>
Tip: Don’t use cooking fats such as turkey fat to make your fat balls, as it doesn’t set as well as lard or suet does. It also tends to smear on birds’ feathers, making them less insulating and affecting birds’ ability to fly.&nbsp;
<h2>How to Make a Fat Ball Bird Feeder</h2>
<ol>
<li>Pierce a hole in the base of the yogurt pot.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Tie a knot at one end of the string and feed the other end up through the pot’s base so that you have a long length coming out of the top of the pot, which you can use to hang the finished fat ball from a tree branch. Seal over the hole and the knot with sellotape to leak-proof the pot.</li>
<li>Add the seeds, grated cheese, raisins etc., to the pot so that it is filled to about 1cm below the rim of the pot.</li>
<li>Melt the lard or suet in a saucepan on a stove, then carefully pour it into the yogurt pot to cover all the dry ingredients.</li>
<li>Place the pot in the fridge to set.</li>
<li>Once set, remove the fat ball from the yogurt pot mould.</li>
<li>Use the string to hang the fat ball from a tree and wait for the birds to find it.</li>
</ol>
Tits, robins, sparrows, blackbirds, nuthatches, and even woodpeckers will love these balls.
<h2>Making Fat Balls With Pinecones</h2>
If you don’t have any yogurt pots on hand or don’t want to use plastic, pinecones make a handy alternative base.
<ol>
<li>Collect a few fallen pinecones and clean them of soil and leaves. Tie a length of string to the base of each pinecone.</li>
<li>Melt the lard in a saucepan on a stove, and mix in the oats, seeds, and other dry ingredients.</li>
<li>Using a knife or spoon, spread the mixture onto the pinecone, pushing it between the scales.</li>
<li>Put the covered pinecones in a fridge to set.</li>
<li>Use the string to hang the pinecones from a tree branch.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
NB: Check your fat balls regularly and watch out for signs of mould in damp weather. If you see any mould, replace the ball with a fresh one.
Do you want to encourage more birds into your garden? We have a fantastic range of feeders, seeds, and other bird care products in the centre. Visit us soon to see what’s in store.

How to Make Fat Balls for Birds

These Valentine gift ideas are the perfect gifts for gardeners on the most romantic day of the year.

These Valentine gift ideas are the perfect gifts for gardeners on the most romantic day of the year. There are many ideas and options to keep your loved one happy for Valentine's Day. If they have a love of gardening, you might be wondering where to start! Don't worry. We've got you covered with these romantic gardening gifts for green fingers.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Seed paper card&nbsp;</li>
<li>Flowers and planted containers&nbsp;</li>
<li>Plant subscription&nbsp;</li>
<li>Gardening accessories</li>
<li>Flower biscuits&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<h2>One of the Most Admirable Valentine Gift Ideas Is Seed Paper&nbsp;</h2>
Yes, that's right! Seed paper! There are many ways to include an everlasting gift of seeds wrapped up in a gift. Starting with cards that are made of seeds or that come with a seed packet so that you can write your personalized message. After Valentine’s day, your valentine can plant the seed paper and watch the wildflowers grow. Even cosmetic brands include seed paper on the containers and jars.&nbsp;
<h2>Flowers and Plant Containers Are Lovely Valentine Gift Ideas</h2>
Flowers might seem like the most obvious of gifts, but they really make the loveliest of gifts. For something a little different, why not gift a beautiful bunch of dried flowers instead or a container already planted up, with late winter and early spring flowers such as Hellebores and Snowdrops? Say it with flowers to your valentine.&nbsp;
<h2>Valentine Gift Ideas Include Plant Subscriptions</h2>
Why not gift plants each and every month? That would make for a very happy Valentine! There are numerous gift subscriptions available where a plant, a box of mini plants, even cuttings and postbox flowers will be sent every month. Choose the subscription that is just right for your valentine and surprise them with the frequent delivery of plants.
<h2>Gardening Accessories Are Top of the Valentine Gift Ideas</h2>
Trust us, we know what gardeners love to be gifted, and gloves, trowels, and forks are top of the list. If your valentine needs to prune roses, get some hard-wearing gifts to save their hands. If your gardening valentine has some pots and containers to tend to, more is always needed no matter how many hand tools they already have! Or, if they are budding gardeners, there are always seed packets, propagation trays, and pots to get started with. You will never be short of gardening gifts on Valentine’s day.&nbsp;
<h2>Edible Valentine Gift Ideas Are Flower Biscuits&nbsp;</h2>
Edible Valentine gifts have become much more popular recently, from cupcakes with cactus icing to flower biscuits presented in easy to deliver boxes laid out just like a bouquet of flowers. Both pretty and tasty, this thoughtful gift will make your Valentine’s day and is a twist on the traditional gift of flowers.&nbsp;
Find your Valentine gift in store and ask our friendly advisors for some suggestions.&nbsp;

Valentine Gift Ideas

These top 5 houseplants that clean the air are great plants to have in your home or office to help clear the air of common toxins that we are all subjected to from modern-day living.

These top 5 houseplants that clean the air are great plants to have in your home or office to help clear the air of common toxins that we are all subjected to from modern-day living. NASA was the first to study clean air with houseplants in the 1980s, and they found many able to absorb toxins at quite a pace! Some will even continue to do so overnight. Plants really are fantastic!
<h2>Five Houseplants That Clean the Air</h2>
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<li>
Pothos (Devils ivy): One of the easiest plants to grow in any home. The Pothos is a trailing plant and can be propagated easily by cuttings. Instead of trailing, they can, even with support, grow up the wall and around the tops of cupboards for maximum green effect. Ranging from darker green foliage to variegated foliage, they can reduce formaldehyde and benzene along with more toxins from your home. A great plant to clear toxins.
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Chlorophytum comosum (Spider plant):&nbsp;Grown in many households in the 1970s, the spider plant never goes out of fashion! Another houseplant that needs&nbsp;very little care and produces lots of ‘spiderettes’. These can be propagated by potting up for even more free plants. They filter out harmful toxins such as benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde, so they do a great job cleaning the air.
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<li>
Spathiphyllum (Peace lily): The classic and popular white flowers make the peace lily instantly recognizable. Needing very little care but a little more watering than the previous two, you will know it is time to water it if you spot it wilting. Not only is it a pretty plant, but it is also working hard to clear the air of toxins, including carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, to name a few.
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Sansevieria (Mother-in-law’s tongue): This is another&nbsp;well-loved houseplant that no home should be without. They are used frequently in office spaces due to how easy they are to care for. Also called the snake plant, they are one of the toughest houseplants. The Sansevieria is a perfect plant for beginner houseplant enthusiasts and anyone who simply forgets to water plants! One of these can clear the air of numerous toxins in the home or office, as found in the NASA clean air study.
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Hedera helix (English ivy): Ivy is more commonly recognized as an outdoor plant, but they are perfect trailing houseplants that remove many toxins from your home. Happy growing in shade or sun, with plain or variegated foliage, they can live for many years in a house doing an excellent job of cleansing the air for you, too.&nbsp;
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Clean the air in your home with houseplants from our in store collection.&nbsp;

Top 5 Houseplants That Clean the Air

These top 5 common houseplant problems are often experienced by most houseplant owners, no matter how much experience and knowledge they have.

These top 5 common houseplant problems are often experienced by most houseplant owners, no matter how much experience and knowledge they have. To avoid them as best you can, these tips will help you to keep your plants in the best condition possible and help you spot any problem that comes up so you can rectify it.&nbsp;
<h2>Five Common Houseplant Problems</h2>
<ol>
<li>Wilting plants 
There will be many times you’ll notice a wilting plant. Most often it is due to underwatering, and your plant is simply telling you it’s time for water. Basil and Spathiphyllum (Peace lily) are examples of two plants that will wilt. If you water them soon enough, they will spring back to life! If you leave them too long, they will most likely die very quickly. Other reasons for wilting are too much direct sun or heat, pests and diseases, and generally an unhappy plant.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Yellowing leaves&nbsp; 
If you keep a close eye on your plants, each time you walk by or as you water, you will soon spot leaves that are turning yellow. Sometimes this will just be the natural process as the oldest plant leaves age and drop off. If that’s not the case, it could be caused by too much light, or over/under-watering. Make sure each plant has the right levels of moisture and feed if needed to avoid yellowing leaves.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Long leggy growth&nbsp; 
If your plant is growing tall and fast with lengthy stems, towards the light - this is a certain sign that it isn’t getting enough light. If you see this happening, move it closer to a light source and turn it around so all parts of the plant grow evenly and bushy.</li>
<li>Leaning plants&nbsp; 
Plants will lean generally because they need support as they grow. If a taller or fast-growing plant is growing without the support it needs, the plant will start to lean over. Carefully tie it up to support or trellis, and replenish the compost if needed.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Rotting plant&nbsp; 
If you notice foliage or stems rotting, it could be a sign of root rot. Smaller plants may even go mushy and brown from the bottom. That's a definite sign your plant is in trouble. Root rot is quite hard to fix and your plant may well need to be replaced, but you can try cutting away rotting roots and repotting. Often plants are killed with kindness. Overwatering is one way to not just cause root rot but many other problems as well.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Always keep your plant labels when you buy them so you can refer to them for care instructions.&nbsp;
Visit us in store and speak to our friendly staff if you need any plant advice.&nbsp;

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