One of my favourite plants to grow in the garden are sunflowers. As well as being enjoyable to grow, it is equally as enjoyable to harvest the thousands of seeds, these have many uses, from eating them yourself to feeding them to the birds over winter when they need them most. If you are growing sunflowers (whether for the seeds or just for fun), knowing when and how to collect sunflower seeds is well worth knowing. Timing is important so…
Sunflowers are one of the most breath-taking plants that are easy to grow. They are generally very easy to grow with very few issues to worry about. However, while these plants are typically low maintenance, they can get their fair share of issues, usually to do with the environment. It is easy to tell if your sunflowers are healthy just by looking at the leaves. Yellowing leaves at the wrong time indicates the plant may have some underlying issues that…
We all love sunflowers for their large vibrant yellow flowers and the impressive size of some of the taller varieties. However, did you know they also come in colours like red, bronze and white? There are also lots of varieties that grow to different sizes from smaller varieties that only reach around 30cm to larger mammoth tall varieties that can reach over 300cm (3m). You can grow these versatile plants yourself and reap the benefits of their beauty and delicious…
Sunflowers are cultivated for their large blooms and abundant seeds but what happens if your sunflowers don’t bloom? The good news is that it’s usually something that can be resolved once you identify the issue. In this article, you will discover some of the reasons why your sunflowers are not flowering and what to do about them. Without wasting any more time, let us dive in: Do your sunflowers get enough sun? Sunflowers as denoted by their name. They really,…
Add a splash of colour to your garden by growing the ever-popular evergreen Pieris shrub. In this guide, I am going to mainly refer to the ‘Forest Flame’ variety, but this information is also suitable for all other Pieris varieties as well. These evergreen plants present dramatic bright red foliage and small clusters of white flowers in the spring for an amazing display. You can find a wide range of cultivars to grow depending on your aesthetic preferences, so some…
Magnolias are one of my favourite shrubs and I have several varieties in my own garden, from the smaller growing Stellata and Susan that flower in spring, to the summer flowering Magnolia Yellow River which is a really impressive tree. These small trees present abundant blossoms of various colours, from white to purple, to pink and even yellow. Many people are usually surprised that Magnolias can grow in large pots because these plants possess a wide root system, but there…
Clematis are one of my favourite climbers, some of my favourites include the Clematis ‘Multi Blue’ and the Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ as well as the evergreen (yes that’s right, evergreen!) Clematis armandii. I am also a huge fan of the Montana varieties because of their low maintenance, the minimal pruning that is required and how fast-growing they are. All are excellent for growing up and along a fence to provide a stunning show of colour and create privacy in your…
The Clematis is by far the most popular climbing plant and anyone who has grown clematis appreciates the spectacular beauty of their display when in full bloom. These low maintenance plants just need fertile, well-drained soil and plenty of sun to thrive. For the most part, clematis can grow without any issues, but problems arise due to environmental factors, pests and diseases that attack the plant. However, most can be treated and sometimes even prevented. Understanding some of the problems…
The Photinia Red Robin is a recognisable variety from a distance thanks to its vibrant bright red foliage in spring and clusters of beautiful small blooms around May-June. Photina is a fairly quick growing evergreen shrub that is perfect for any garden as they are easy to grow and do not require much maintenance, and respond well to pruning that will help to keep them under control size-wise. They do grow around 1ft a year and the eventual height can…
Did you know that Geranium leaves of some types can be used in the kitchen? These bright bloomed and aromatic foliage plants have several uses apart from being ornamental. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible and they are used in the production of geranium oil, which is said to have medical benefits like reducing inflammation. You can reap the benefits of geraniums by planting them in your garden or pots but they also make an excellent house plant….