Pelargonium 'Lord Bute'
regal pelargoniums
A stunning and award-winning pelargonium with purple-black blooms, each petal edged with paler purple. An old cultivar that is one of...
GOES WELL WITH
How to get more flowers

Many flowering plants can be encouraged to produce better and longer-lasting displays with the minimum of effort. A plant produces flowers in order to reproduce and ensure the survival of the species. Once a plant has flowered and fertilisation has taken
Read full articleHow to water your plants

Watering the garden can take a lot of time during the summer months, especially if there is a prolonged dry spell. If you are new to gardening, it is easy to think the simplest solution is to unravel the hose each evening and shower the whole garden using
Read full articleJune Week 1
If you do nothing else...water new plants. Make sure new additions do not suffer during dry spells. Plant up summer containers bedding once the threat of frosts has passed. Feed container plants about six weeks after planting. If it’s a nice day...trim he
Read full articleMediterranean
Mediterranean gardens can take on various guises from the rustic and rambling to the formal elegance of an Italian courtyard. However, they all have key features in common, including the use of exotic, sometimes tender, drought-tolerant plants in pots and
Read full articlePlant up summer containers
After the last frost date, plant up containers with tender flowering bedding and reliable foliage plants. Line terracotta pots with polythene, taking care not to cover the planting holes, to reduce water loss through the porous sides of the pot.
Read full articlePlanting bedding
The secret to success when planting tender young bedding plants is to plant them at the right stage of development into well-prepared soil so that they don't suffer a check in growth. Always plant tender bedding after the last expected frost date in your
Read full articleHardening off new plants
Move plants to a coldframe about two or three weeks before you intend to plant them out. Hardy plants such as spring bedding can be moved out to the coldframe as soon as they are large enough. Tougher summer bedding plants, such as alyssum, can be moved o
Read full articleHow to overwinter tender perennials
Tender perennials, such as pelargoniums, fuchsias, osteospermums and marguerites look great all summer, but unless they are given protection from the harsh winter weather, they will need to be replaced each spring. If you can do this, they will last for y
Read full articlePosh Pelargoniums
These South African plants, often called geraniums, will provide colour for many months with little or no maintenance. Just feed them and deadhead them and they will shine throughout summer and autumn. You can mass them together in a trough, or grow them
Read full articleHow to overwinter tender plants or take cuttings
You can never quite predict how severe our winter will be, so in the absence of a crystal ball, it's best to have contingency plans. Generally tender plants such as Pelargoniums,are best removed from their pots and discarded, because they can harbour vin
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