Now the daylight hours are getting longer, and the weather, hopefully warmer, it is time to venture out into the garden. Check plant and tree stakes are firmly in the ground. Make sure tools and lawnmowers are clean, sharp and serviced. Walk round the garden and plan or make a list of jobs to do for the coming months.
Magnolias are the true aristocrats of the tree and shrub world. Most are deciduous and produce spectacular displays of goblet or star-shaped flowers in spring before their leaves have emerged. An evergreen form, M. grandiflora, will flower intermittently throughout the summer and into autumn. Some smaller growing types, such as M. stellata, will happily grow in a container for many years. Magnolias are relatively trouble-free to grow. They respond well to rich living and generally these requirements are easily met; a good, moist, humus-rich, but well-drained soil that’s not too thin or too chalky. For alkaline soils try M. stellata, M. x leobneri, M. wilsonii or M. seiboldii. Plant in a sunny or semi-shaded position and mulch annually with composted bark and for the early flowering species, provide some protection from spring frosts. Pruning requirements are minimal and best done immediately after flowering. It is only required when the plants are young in order to give them shape or to thin congested branches on old specimens.
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Memories - Award winning Dianthus. Absolutely beautiful! Compact plant with outstanding spicy fragrance. Whetman Pinks version of the famous 'Mrs Siskins' introduced in 1863. Flowers repeatedly during April and September. Highly fragrant. HEIGHT: 28cm |
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Dianthus Cocktail Selection.....A stunning collection of dianthus to add colour to your garden. |
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Daiquiri - Single white flower with blackcurrant eye over grey-green foliage. Highly fragrant. Drought tolerant with long flowering season. RHS Award of Garden Merit. HEIGHT: 35cm |
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Mojito - Single white flower with lime-green eye. Fragrant. Drought tolerant with long flowering season. RHS Award of Garden Merit. HEIGHT: 35cm |
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Shirley Temple - Single pink flower with maroon eye over grey-green foliage. Highly fragrant. Drought tolerant, long flowering season. RHS Award of Garden Merit. HEIGHT: 35cm |
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Tequila Sunrise - Single Peach flower with red edged, apricot eye over grey-green foliage. Fragrant. Drought tolerant with a long flowering season. RHS Award of Garden Merit. HEIGHT: 35cm |
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Just 3 of the 13 varieties of Sweet Peas we have HOMEGROWN this year.....
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Valerie Harrod - Well scented, Spencer Variety. Coral-pink blooms on cream. Very elegant, large flowers which make for a striking bloom. HEIGHT: 2m |
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Sir Max Hastings - Spencer Variety. Large, frilly, deep purple blooms on long stems. Ideal for Exhibiting. Highly scented. RHS Award of Garden Merit. HEIGHT: 1.8m |
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Kingfisher - Large, highly scented violet-blue, marbled flowers. HEIGHT: 1.8m |
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Viola Teardrops - Profuse flowering, semi-trailing habit which cascades in baskets. An outstanding display of mixed colour. HEIGHT: 15-20cm |
Named after the Japanese peony breeder, Toichi Itoh and also known as intersectional peonies, they are hybrids between tree peonies and herbaceous peonies. With large blooms over an extended period, off-set with attractive foliage they are highly sought after and make excellent cut flowers.
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Callie's Memory - Highly sought after. Beautiful creamy-apricot flowers with maroon flares and light scent. Fertile soil in sun/partial shade. HEIGHT: 70cm |
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Bartzella - Beautiful variety. Intense sulphur-yellow, double flowers and rich scent. Fertile soil in sun/partial shade. HEIGHT: 75cm |
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Cora Louise - Highly sought after. Semi-double white flowers with lavender centre, light fragrance. Fertile soil in sun/partial shade. HEIGHT:70cm |
We have doubled the size of the Rose area, giving us much needed space to show you our wide range of varieties. They have all been potted into containers. Its an ideal to buy them when they are in flower as you can see their colours and smell their scents.
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Love Struck (Floribunda) ROSE OF THE YEAR 2018. Huge clusters of large cherry-red flowers from late May to first frosts. Good healthy foliage. HEIGHT: 95cm |
Choose from over 170 varieties of trees, 170 varieties of hardy perennials and over 300 shrubs....
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Betula costata Daleside - A beautiful deciduous tree with creamy-white bark, that peels in large flakes. Rich golden leaf colour in autumn. Suits all soils and aspects. HEIGHT: 5m |
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Pieris Flaming Silver - Bright-red, young foliage, developing into silver and green. White lily of the valley like flowers during Spring. HEIGHT: 90cm |
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Tomato Plants - Many varieties ready. We also stock a huge range of other vegetable plants and herbs. | ||||||||
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Erica Carnea - A nice range of heathers are available, use to add instant colour to your garden. | ||||||||
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Hanging Baskets - We supply floral baskets, to all Betty's Tea Rooms. We can make them to your own specific requirements or have a great selection ready to take away. | ||||||||
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Seed Potatoes - Still a few varieties left.....and its not too late to plant! International Kidney - Kidney shaped, shallow eyes, white flesh and skin. Ideal for salads and boiling. |
Jobs for April..... |
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For a more extensive list of gardening advice, have a look at the Daleside Garden Calendar for hints and tips, on what you could be doing in the garden at this time of year. We regularly update the calendar with details of activities for the coming months. |
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Availability Lists - Regularly updated lists showing all the plants & trees we have in stock. | |
It is well worth viewing our online Gallery, for anyone who appreciates the beauty of plants and flowers. All the photographs are taken by our in-house photographer and are available to purchase. |