Latest news with #bulbs
The Sun
02-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
July is best month to plant bright pink flower in a sunny spot & it adds a splash of glamour to the garden in autumn
GARDENING enthusiasts will find plenty of jobs to do in July to prepare for the autumn. With temperatures soaring, many Brits will be outdoors and now is the perfect time to get on with some gardening tasks. 2 2 When it is 35C degrees outside, autumn might seem like a distant future. But a gardening expert has revealed that July is when you should start planting flowers for the colder seasons. Jamie Shipley, managing director of Hedges Direct, suggested that people plant bulbs that bloom in the autumn, such as pretty-in-pink nerine, to get ahead of the game. She told GB: "These flowers love a sun-baked spot at the base of a sunny wall." Nerine has a long-lasting bloom, with its bright pink flower adding colour to your garden. According to The Royal Horticultural Society, nerines are 'great for adding a splash of glamour to the autumn garden" as they produce "flowerheads in particularly vivid shades of pink, as well as bright white and red.' Before planting, make sure to pick a warm, protected location, such a bed next to a sunny wall, in soil that drains well and holds moisture for hardy nerines. Nerine bulbs should be planted 10cm apart, with the neck of the bulb visible above ground. Ideally, spread a coating of grit around them. They prefer to be planted alone in clusters as opposed to being mixed up with perennials. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years You can leave bulbs undisturbed in the ground to grow and flower. The only time you need to tend to nerines is when lumps get crowded and flowering starts to wane. At this time, you might want to split and replant them. Nerine can become extremely dry if planted at the base of a wall since they are protected from the rain. Water them once a week during dry weather throughout April to July. The foliage naturally fading is a good indication to stop watering. Jamie also added: "There are plenty of gardening jobs to get done during July. "Weeding, deadheading, and tying in will help plants look their best, plus being on the lookout for pests and keeping sustainability in mind when it comes to watering and mowing." According to the expert, this time of year is a good opportunity to tie in young growth on all your vertically growing plants that require a support. Jamie also urged gardeners to remove faded or spent flowers from their plants. Last but not least, gardeners should mow the lawn in July, making sure to increase the cutting height. Top gardening trends of 2025 Gardening experts at Barnsdale Gardens has shared the top gardening trends of 2025. Matrix planting It seems that a top planting trend for this year is going to be Matrix Planting. In essence, planting in groups or blocks to give an effect of being wild whilst actually being carefully managed. Selection of the plants is essential, to give year-round interest either with flowers, seed heads or frosted/snowy spent flower heads. Some recommend using plants that seed around, but this could make managing your matrix planting harder to keep under control. Chrysanthemum comeback I hope that the humble Chrysanthemum makes as much of a comeback this year as Dahlias have over recent years, because the simple single flowered types, such as 'Innocence' and 'Cottage Apricot' would be spectacular within a matrix scheme. The hardy varieties are so easy to grow in a sunny spot and give such a valuable burst of late summer and autumn colour that would lift any dull- looking border. Blended borders For some time now we have been promoting the growing of veg within ornamental borders and I think this could really take off this year. The choice of ornamental-looking varieties available in seed catalogues is phenomenal and, if managed correctly, visitors to your garden will not even realise that you have veg growing! Must-have tool My secret is out. I discovered the Hori Hori a couple of years ago and now it seems so is everyone else. It is such a well-made, adaptable tool that can be used as a trowel or weeding tool in the garden that and everyone I speak to who have used it absolutely would not now be without it. Enough said!
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Gardeners urged to snap up best-selling 300-piece summer bulb collection slashed to £15
SHOPPERS are rushing to nab a 50% discount on a plant collection that will make their gardens gorgeous this summer. Online gardening giants Gardening Direct is currently offering a 300-piece summer bulb collection for just £14.99, down from £29.99. 3 The Complete Summer Flowering Bulb Collection, £29.99 £14.99 A gardening expert on the Gardening Direct website recommends that shoppers buy these half-price bulbs now, as it's the perfect time to plant to ensure a summer bloom. This is because in spring the soil begins to warm, making the best-selling bulb collection perfect for refreshing any outdoor space The set includes a range of easy-to-grow, strong-performing British favourites such as gladioli, acidanthera, brodiaea, freesias, allium yellow moly, oxalis iron cross, and liatris spicata.. All of these have a spring planting time from March to June, promising blooms between June and October. Most notable are the gladioli, freesias, and aidanthera, which all offer low-maintenance, fragrant, and colourful displays. 3 The gladioli and freesias are multi-coloured flowers that can be cut and brought indoors or spread along patio pots and flower beds. Both are extremely low-maintenance and easy to care for, whilst also rewarding gardeners with spectacular, colourful blooms (freesias also offer a sweet, strong fragrance). Liatris spicata produces striking lavender-coloured heads in the key summer months of July to September and is great for attracting bees and other pollinators. All of the bulbs have been carefully selected for their reliability and ability to thrive in a range of soil types, making them well-suited to the trials and tribulations of the Great British weather. 3 The Complete Summer Flowering Bulb Collection, £29.99 £14.99 They're also ideal for those with limited space as they are suitable for patio containers. Happy, green-fingered Brits have already been raving about the offer, which has given their gardens a much-needed glow-up. Many have praised the rewards achieved in such a short time. 'I planted four weeks ago and my first small flowerbud has emerged," one gardener shared. "I can see around 200 little sprouts in both my front and back garden beds.' Another commented on how their bulbs had 'taken immediately.' Others have noted the visual elements, writing, 'I was blown away by how many bulbs I received for just £15. My garden has never looked better!' 'The variety is incredible, and the blooms are so vibrant. It's brought so much life to my garden,' said another, while one described their newly transformed space as 'bliss.' So, shop now to avoid disappointment and get planting to turn your outdoor space into a colourful haven. Head to our shopping garden and tools hub to find more deals and sales for green-fingered shoppers. Back in April, the Shopping team spotted a pair of Flamingo topiary trees slashed by 50% and they're still on sale at Gardening Express. Last week, we reported on a 'stylish' and 'stunning' hanging egg chair slashed by £50 at Dunelm.
