Colour, Scent & Show – Its got to be Roses!

Summer flowering roses remain one of the most popular garden plants, loved by gardeners all over the world for the mass of colour produced from June to early winter. Many rose varieties offer both colour and scent in the garden and contrary to belief roses remain one of the easiest of all plants to grow Click here to view our Roses


To grow great roses remember a couple of simple tips, Ensure you feed the soil before planting new roses, use a good quality organic compost to add to your existing soil Click here to view our Compost.


Plant roses in groups of the same colour for a moss show of colour and select tried and tested varieties which are renowned for their outstanding growth and flower production.


One of my favourite varieties is the Lovely Trumpeter rose, rich red flowers produced on mass all summer long. Click here to see our Trumpeter Rose Trumpeter is easy to grow, disease resistant and looks great planted in groups of the same colour or contrasted with a bright yellow variety like Arthur Bell.
Roses are available for many purposes including Climbing and rambling for covering trellis and walls, ground cover varieties for banks and slopes, patio planter roses for pots and containers and bedding Roses to plant out into flower borders and rose beds for mass effect. May is a great month to plant roses in your garden.

Tips for this week!

1. Leather jackets are a problem this summer in many gardens. The leather jacket grubs eat the roots and Stems of plants and can cause lots of damage to younger vegetable, herb and bedding plants. If your garden is effected with leatherjackets apply a dressing of Crossfire treatment to the effected soil area.

2. Summer flowering large double begonias can be planted now into patio planters and bed for a mass of colour this summer. Double flowering begonias are easy to grow, flower from May until early winter and are ideal for colour in pots, patio planters and flower beds.

3. Plant some Early York cabbage plants now for great tasting cabbage in mid summer. Hispi is the variety I would recommend for cone shaped bright green cabbage heads that are great to eat. Hispi is a fast maturing variety and I recommend you plant 10 to 12 plants every two weeks for a regular supply all summer. Click here to see our Hispi Cabbage

4. Laburnum trees can be planted now for colour this and every summer – Laburnum is often called the Golden rain tree because of the long Panicles of flowers produced in early summer. Laburnum makes a medium sized tree and is easy to grow Click here to see our Trees

5. Pond plants and fish can now be added to your garden pond, oxygenating plants, marginal, water lilies and floaters can be added to the garden pond now Click here to see our range of Pond Products

6. Double flowering Dahlias can be planted now outdoors in flower borders and beds for a super show of colour all summer long. Border dahlias are available now for planting to add colour and interest from June to early winter.  Remember to feed dahlias with ONE liquid fertiliser weekly and keep a watch for harmful snails and slugs Click here to see our one Plant Food

7. Thuja Smarald is a beautiful cone shaped conifer to add shape and structure in any garden. Thuja maintains its conical shape without the need of trimming and is ideal if planted 1 meter apart to form a formal hedge or screening. May is a great time to plant thuja Smarald in your garden for instant effect Click here to see our Thuja Smarald

8. Beech hedging has just come into leaf and may is the time to feed beech hedging plans in your garden – I recommend you use Supergrow shrub fertiliser, apply a handful to each plant ,at the base of the hedge. Supergrow can also be used to boost any garden trees or shrubs to encourage some new growth after the harsh winter and spring Click here to see our Fertiliser

9. Climbing Wisteria is a wonderful fast growing flowering climber – Plant wisteria on pergolas, arches, trellis and walls to add foliage and flower colour. Wisteria produces up to ten feet of growth per year and the attractive flowers come in pink, white and lavender blue.

10. Aphids and greenfly are visiting many garden plants after the warm weather – take action now to keep you garden plants and rose’s Aphid free by treating your garden plants with Bug clear treatment. Bug clear kills aphids, green fly and caterpillars on garden flower and shrubs.

11. Cucumber plants can be planted now indoors in an instant planter or large pot in organic compost Click here to see our cucumbers and compost

Join us for Lunch after Feille Na Thuiathe

Remember the Bay leaf restaurant offers you superb carvery lunch, fantastic desserts and cakes and a wide selection of quality teas, coffees and wines. The bayleaf restaurant at Horkans has a very special menu available for families and couples this Saturday and Sunday. Call in for a family visit