Many of us feel gloomy during the dark, grey winter months which is why now is a great time to start thinking about your spring garden. There are many ways to introduce a bit of colour into your garden space and brighten things up in preparation for when the weather grows warmer.

Colourful Spring Flowers

One way is to choose bright and beautiful spring blooms that are designed to flourish from March onwards. Daffodils, crocuses, pansies and tulips are lovely spring-flowering plants all of which work well when planted in abundance. This will really make an impact to create a gorgeous colourful border garden. Hyacinths are another popular choice that come in a whole range of softer and bolder colours to reflect the essence of springtime.

If you fancy mixing up textures and heights, the iris is a late-spring flowering plant that will stand tall in the borders for an elegant aesthetic. For a gorgeous and more unusual spring plant, alliums also stand high for a gorgeous complement to brightly coloured flowerscapes.

Away from the lawn and flowerbeds, add some more colour around your spring garden with azaleas and rhododendrons crawling up the wall, flowering fruit tree blossom, lilac trees and rugged clematis. The latter is just one example of how you can add colour with a more masculine edge instead of traditional pretty florals.

Colourful Furniture for your Spring Garden

Brightly coloured garden furniture is another great way to brighten things up for spring. We suggest choosing a selection of investment pieces that have been designed to stand the test of time in both style and durability. And colourful doesn’t have to mean overbearing.

We like the fresh springtime look that comes with rattan furniture such as the Fiji Chill Sofa which has been crafted using UV and colour stabilised rattan for a non-fade quality, Bearing in mind that the British springtime can often witness wet weather, the Fiji range includes pieces made using thermal bonding of the fibres to make them tough even when wet.

Using Colour in Garden Design for Small Spaces

 

If you prefer a more chic, minimalist aesthetic with your spring garden but still want splashes of colour, cushions and other accessories are a great way to achieve the look. When you’re considering garden design for small spaces, this is also a good way to go in order to avoid a cluttered appearance. Our Fiji 2-seater sofa shows how colour can be used in a more subtle way – the Montana Dining Armchair is another good example of colourful accents that will uplift your spring garden.

If you prefer a real statement piece – or perhaps you plan to use your garden for entertaining guests and socialising throughout the seasons – the Montana Apple Day Bed is a glorious piece. Handwoven to look and feel like natural water hyacinth, it features a retractable drinks table for added luxe and is super-easy to maintain year-round thanks to high water resistant qualities and olefin fibres designed for optimum outdoor use.

We hope that this post has inspired you in your spring garden design and provided some useful ideas on how you can blend the live elements of your garden with some beautiful furnishings to create your desired aesthetic. For more ideas and to browse our full range, click here to visit the Garden Furniture Centre shop.

While autumn and winter in the UK inevitably mean a lot of rain, it’s safe to say we experience a fair bit of wet weather all year round. By understanding which are the best plants for moist soil, we can make sure that our garden flourishes throughout the seasons.

As different parts of the garden will receive more moisture due to their exposure to the elements, e.g. open flowerbeds compared to spots of soil sheltered by trees, we need to understand how to utilise the best plants for moist soil so we can make the most of every area of our garden.



Below we have gathered our selection of those plants that simply love the wet weather so that your outdoor space will grow and thrive on even the wettest days…

Tropical Temptations

If you want to transform a dark, dreary landscape into a tropical paradise, cannas are a great choice featuring brightly coloured flowers and large leaves. With the option of taller or dwarf plants, they work well for any garden space for a neater, ordered look or a more adventurous, busy landscape.

Lythrum is another gorgeous, vibrant option that flourishes in wetter conditions with spiky pink flowers that turn red in autumn and always brighten up the landscape. We also like helenium, a bright and fiery flower that works well in damp soil. This is also a super versatile option - let the flowers grow and flourish or trim them back for a neater look that some people prefer during the wetter seasons.

Best Plants for Damp Shade

Moist soil and damp shade often go hand in hand in our gardens, so this part is all about finding those plants that thrive in such conditions instead of simply exist. Hostas are one such example which evolve beautifully with the seasons. In cooler months, they show up as green leaves trimmed with yellow while the summer welcomes purple flowers. They are super easy to grow but make sure to check the type of hosta you purchase before going ahead, as some work better in damp conditions than others.

If you’re looking for more low maintenance plants for damp soil, persicaria is a great option. It’s also super long flowering for maximum impact. Presented in various shades of pink and red with a lovely, delicate aesthetic, it works great as a herbaceous perennial plant in damp soil and part shade.

Certain varieties of iris also work well in moist conditions. The Siberian Iris works beautifully in damp soil to produce deep blue-purple flowers and vibrant, slender green foliage in abundance towards the end of spring. The yellow flag iris is another bright and beautiful option that will flourish and bring a touch of beauty to any style of garden, although it does need careful watch as it likes to spread.

Foxglove is a good biennial flower that grows in sun or shade; astilbes is a ferny, unique flower with broad leaves which stands nice and tall and works best in shady, damp areas. Japanese Primrose is a spring-blooming perennial that likes wetter conditions while cardinal flowers and their gorgeous red blooms are most comfortable beside water, such as a stream or pond.

Garden Furniture for Wet Weather

It’s par for the course that as we’re speaking about plants for damp soil, we also need to think about preparing our gardens for wetter weather in terms of furniture too. Invest in some versatile rattan furniture or sleek teak furniture whose oily nature makes it naturally resistant to all weather with a lovely smooth finish that won’t rot, warp or split.

You should also invest in some garden furniture covers that can be thrown on at a moment’s notice to create a close, protective cocoon against dirt, grime and extreme weather and keep your furniture in the best condition. All seams on our garden furniture covers are taped for extra strength and long-lasting quality. We also add water repellent treatment and UV Stabilisers to the fabric during the manufacturing process.

Shabby chic is one of those trends that is truly timeless. It originally emerged as an interior design style characterised by furniture that shows clear signs of ageing or new furniture reimagined with vintage elements.

This distinctive antique aesthetic has become so popular in recent times that it has transcended the interior space. This means it can work beautifully as a theme for your garden as a unique and fun look that can be achieved on all budgets.

A Soft Colour Palette

When considering your shabby chic garden design, the best place to begin is with the furniture. This will act as the main focal point for your shabby chic theme and you can then introduce flowers, plants and other accents to complement the picture. Consider both colours and materials – this theme broadly takes in softer tones such as beige, mint green and powder pink.

Shabby Chic Garden Furniture

Use this subtle, understated and pretty colour palette as a starting point for your shabby chic garden. We love the use of rattan material in your garden furniture as this introduces a vintage feel perfectly.

Our rattan furniture range includes seventy different sofa suites including footstools, coffee tables, day beds and bar sets many of them woven from award-winning outdoor rattan-weave which is hand woven in Indonesia.

You can then add cushions to your chosen pieces to embrace the shabby chic colour scheme of your choice -  lilac and cream will fit beautifully within the theme for a soft vintage look and feel.



 

Shabby Chic Garden Accents

Another thing to consider with your shabby chic garden is the curves and lines of your chosen pieces. This theme lends itself more to curved, soft lines and less to harder ones – think sweeping rounded edges instead of rectangular or square silhouettes.

A parasol is one way to embrace this trend – complement with pieces that recall a bygone era such as a retro love bench, painted bench or carved rustic bench.

If you like the look of teak for your garden aesthetic, we would recommend reclaimed teak as opposed to standard furnishings which are much sleeker and more streamlined, as opposed to the distressed look of shabby chic pieces. Reclaimed furnishings will give a bold dose of shabby chic in gardens of all sizes for a really beautiful effect.

All Fired Up

Another way to create a stylish shabby chic garden design is to use a few key statement pieces to convey the look. A crackling outdoor fireplace is a great trans-seasonal piece of furniture that embodies the warm, cosy and effortlessly shabby chic aesthetic. Complete the look with a love heart wood rack to store your logs – a rack with a rustic finish will do the job nicely.

The detail is also in the accessories when it comes to your shabby chic garden furniture. Choose items with gentle, curved shapes in warm materials such as wood. A hand carved side table in differing shades of mango tree wood is a lovely modern-day antique that fits neatly within the theme. You might also like the Oxy candle holders which have been hand crafted from individual sections of rustic teak root where the natural flow of the grain conveys added decorative effect.

Never forget the value of upcycled pieces for your shabby chic garden. Our range of Indian accessories include a soft bench, antique bench and Jeep table, all of which embrace a retro aesthetic for a strong overall theme.

Just because you have a small outdoor space doesn’t mean that you need to be limited on design options. In fact, smaller gardens have plenty of advantages because you can really be creative without spending too much money or putting your space at risk of appearing overly cluttered. From furniture to plants and colour schemes, this is our rundown of the very best ways to design for small outdoor space…

Make it Liveable

Many people mistake the mistake of compromising on the social aspect with small garden design. But you want your space to feel welcoming and be able to enjoy spending time in it regardless of the size. To this end, create a dedicated space for alfresco dining and drinks which will have the effect of making the garden appear bigger.

There are plenty of small-space-friendly furniture solutions – a folding dining table works great for very small spaces as you can pop it away when it’s not needed. You can also stack up furniture for the same effect. If you’re looking to use the area less for dining and more for casual drinks, a round bar table will also fit seamlessly into a small space.

Add Colour

Whether it’s with your plants or your furniture, adding splashes of colour will make all the difference with your small garden design. Colour adds interest and draws the eye to different parts of the garden for a lively atmosphere. Colourful accessories such as cushions or garden furniture with a jazzy pattern also have the same effect.

We love this retro bar set with colourful chairs which works beautifully within a small garden design thanks to the colours and the flexibility to line the furniture up against a wall for a neat, space-saving aesthetic. This is also a good way to make the most of a sociable space by keeping furnishings and large plants at the edge of the garden, leaving the central area free for socialising.

This retro cross-back 4-chair set is a great alternative with chairs in yellow, green, pink, blue or white to suit your chosen colour scheme. It’s also a great way to enjoy plentiful seating solutions with maximum comfort and without taking up lots of space. To make even more of your small garden design, mix up furnishings in bright and contrasting colours.

Balance out the Colours

While we recommend adding a mix of colour to your garden furniture, we’d advise the opposite when it comes to plants and flowers. Too much colour in the decorative aspect can be overwhelming within a small space so choose one key colour and mix up the tones, e.g. cooler and warmer shades of blue. This will avoid making the garden feel too busy or oppressive.

Small Garden Design on a Budget

A busy design is a great opportunity to show off your creativity with a unique effect across smaller spaces. Vertical shelving is one popular option where you can decorate with potted plants and fun accessories across a trellis or ladder. Mix up plants with different heights to create the illusion of space and maximise interest - think climbers beside low-lying colourful flowers,  busy shrubs and evergreen trees.

Break up the Landscape

We’ve already touched upon the importance of creating different areas of interest in your small outdoor space. Utilise the principles of Feng Shui and add a water feature, line a bench up against the wall for a comfortable multi-use space, create a dedicated dining space or add a hammock for a relaxing, chill-out area. Making the most of the many different uses that your garden can offer will really make the most of the area available. If you can, add a pathway through the middle of the garden with details such as crazy paving to add interest and maximise your space.

Lutyens Bench

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to design for small outdoor space. It’s just about using your imagination and knowing your options!

Brrrr it's cold and getting out in the winter garden may be the last thing on your mind is the garden.

However there are a number of fun little tasks that you can do to reap the benefits outdoors at this time of year and at the very least the fresh air is definitely good for you.

So below we’ve provided a number of the most popular videos we could find that give you a reason to get out in the garden during winter time in 2018.

Enjoy!

VIDEO #1 – Preparing the soil for spring …

VIDEO #2 – Growing in an unheated greenhouse …

VIDEO #3 – Top 6 Winter Crops …

VIDEO #4 – Making your own soil!

VIDEO #5 – Choose your garden furniture carefully ...

From The Garden Furniture Centre of course!

Getting out in the garden and looking after your backyard isn’t just a hobby, but can have major health benefits for you also.

Being outside is a great way of breathing in the fresh air, and being active.

By caring for your plants, you’re also caring for your own body. Being active and engaged with gardening can help you tick off many of the factors of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The more gardening you do and the better you look after yourself has been proven to increase your lifespan.

Here are some important points about why gardening is good for you.

Vegetable gardening is good for you ...

By eating the food you have grown in your garden, or buying from local resources, makes a far more tasty meal. You’ll be getting fresh produce as you have the luxury of eating the fruit or vegetables immediately after they’ve been picked. The fruit and veg that you buy from supermarkets isn’t as fresh as you think as it has had time to change chemically, therefore maintaining less nutritional value.

Connects you with nature ...

By growing your own garden you will feel more connecting with the land and nature. In the world we live in today we are constantly surrounded by material objects and whizzing technology. It is important to strip it back sometimes and re-connect with our roots (quite literally). If you have children, growing a garden teaches them an important life lesson about understanding the different seasons. It also teaches them about the origin of vegetables and plants, whilst encouraging all the family to exercise, but also relax on lazy summer days.

Burns calories ...

By spending the afternoon gardening you’ll be engaging in moderate exercising. You have to bend down, get up, walk around, and use your arms. You’ll be surprised how much activity you’ll be participating in during gardening. Three hours of gardening is roughly around the same amount of one hour in the gym. So organize your tools, throw on some relaxed clothing and get yourself in the great outdoors.

Being active ...

If you’re lounging about all day, and not engaging yourself in an activity that involves body movement, you’re going to develop a nasty case of laziness. When you’re sat around all day it confuses your appetite hormones, making you tend to snack more and not feel satisfied. This is due to boredom. So pop out in the garden and pluck some weeds.

Sooth illnesses ...

When you’re feeling poorly you’ll need zinc lozenges to improve your health. Combine this with herbal teas and honey and you’ll be well on the way to recovery. You can grow a range of herbs in your garden allowing you conjure up a range of tasty infusions.

Enjoying a hobby ...

Engaging in your passions and interests makes for a healthier happier well-being. It not only keeps your body active but also your mind, helping you keep younger for longer. Gardening fulfills your artistic side as you decide what looks best where, and what colours compliment others. It also fulfills your physical side, as you’re being active and productive.

Remember:

• Stretch before and after gardening. You’ll be using muscles that you don’t usually use on a daily basis. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure you take the time to stretch to avoid any cramps or tenseness after gardening.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re unsure about something there is plenty of garden tips and advice available to you. You’ll be able to learn and also meet new people along the way too.
• Play safe! Always take care when climbing ladders, and using sharp tools such as hedge cutters and mowers.
• During the hot summer months, its very important that you wear a wide-brimmed hat and sun cream to avoid getting burnt. Being out in direct sunlight all day with no protection is certainly not good for your health.

Thanks to Georgina at Hillsborough Fencing for providing these fascinating insights.

Five important spring gardening jobs ...

Spring is the season to catch up on those all-important gardening jobs. Getting prepared is crucial if you want to have an eye-catching and healthy garden – not just over the summer months, but all year round as well.

So we’ve put together a list of five crucial gardening jobs to be performed in the springtime that will make your garden life easier and more efficient moving into the summer months.



1. Getting rid of winter …

Mowing the Lawn has to be one of the first gardening jobs in spring ...

The winter months create mess in and around the garden. Fall-out from the previous autumn means that dead foliage, leaves, etc clog up the flower beds and any lawned areas.

So one of the first gardening jobs is to clear out all this debris – like a spring clean really.

You can also check all plants for any frost damage, ok it hasn’t been that cold this winter but we have had a few cold spats and ice damaged plants can be haven for pests and fungi.

It’s also a good time to give the grass its first good cut of the year and, if you’ve got the inclination, scarify it as well.

2. Get the tools ready for the coming season …

Clean the greenhouse so it's at its best in the summer months ...

There’s a number of gardening jobs all in one here.

Clean the tools from the previous seasons work. Give the greenhouse a good clean out so it’s working at maximum efficiency in the coming year. Install water butts if you haven’t already. Repair any damage to fences and the like. And create a compost area, again if you haven’t already.

3. Summer flowering plants …

This is the time to order them to allow plenty of time to ensure an impressive summer bloom.

These include things like: Bluebeard, Tutti Fruitti, Aster, Coreopsis, Dahlia and Moonshine. Below are a couple of good links for you read more about this

Thompson and Morgan - 10 Summer Flowering Bulbs.

BBC - Planting Summer Bulbs.

4. Cater for the longer growing season …

This is a great time to get those plants that need a longer growing season started off as well. This includes things like Geraniums and Begonias.

5. Pests and insects …

Remove pests and insects

One of those less desirable gardening jobs but one that has to be done regardless.

Hunt down and remove any hibernating pests like aphid colonies and white vine weevil larvae.

It’s also a good time to remove any slugs and snails that might be lurking.

And, if you’re going to need one, get the fertiliser in.

There's an amazing secret that is the Tresco Abbey Gardens. A truly beautiful garden that captures the essence of the Mediterranean with some of the most exotic plants ever seen in a British outdoor garden.

A short thirty mile trip from Britain's South Western coastline puts you on a journey of discovery. Soon enough you'll arrive at the exotic island that is Tresco as part of the Isles of Scilly.

Destination Abbey Gardens - Tresco, Isles of Scilly

The Abbey Gardens have become a popular destination for Britain's plant lovers and with good reason. A casual stroll through any part of the garden reveals a wealth of exotic plants from all corners of the globe. The temperate climate allows plants from Australia to the South Americas to thrive recreating the magical colours of the rainbow such is their vibrancy.



The various terraces of the garden lend themselves to various plant groupings. The higher most terrace takes full advantage of the sun and is home to plant-life originating from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Highlights include:

Aloe, Banksia , Callistemon, Cape heaths, Dryandra, Leucadendron and Protea.

Sheltered from the wind, the middle and lower terraced slopes are bursting with colour with an array of exotic plants clamouring for space.



The more protected areas once again contain interesting plant groups that are different to the higher terraces. Special plant attractions inlude:

Aeoniums, Agave, Bird of Paradise and Puya.

The amazing Bird of Paradise is always popular and stunning to look at being pollinated by exotic humming birds having made their long journey from the mountains of Chile.



Each path through the garden terraces reveals plants that create a special kind of wonder; mainly for their variety and eye-popping colours.

Tresco Abbey Gardens History

Augustus Smith arrived at the Isles of Scilly in 1834 as leaseholder and Lord Proprietor of all the islands. He chose to live on the island of Tresco and set down the first foundations for his new home near to the dilapidated St Nicolas Priory.



His house, named Tresco Abbey, was built on an outcrop above the ruins of the old priory. Almost immediately he began his plans for creating what was to become the Tresco Abbey Gardens.

Winds are always a problem on the islands so he began in earnest by protecting his first seedlings with an array of walls to surround the garden.



As time went on the garden gradually developed and grew in size. Many species were introduced and necessary shelter was provided by exotic palms and Cypress trees so that more delicate varieties could prosper.

The Abbey Gardens continue to grow and evolve today some four generation on from Augustus Smith.

Resources:

Information  - Abbey Gardens on the island of Tresco with details of entry prices and 5 day holidays.

Garden Furniture - Benches supplied by The Garden furniture Centre Ltd (featuring the Classic Bench and the Malvern).

Whether you've just started gardening in the last twelve months, or have been growing your own veg on an allotment for years, you've already fallen into a certain type of category of gardener.

Over the years I've dabbled in growing fruit and veg. I've used raised beds and cold-frame set-ups and have acquired certain typical gardener characteristics.

Usually, just when I'm ready to psyche myself up for a day full of back-breaking digging, it all grinds to a halt - I forget to buy essentials like seeds.

Here are some 'typical' gardener types -

The "Oh, Crap!" Gardener, The Mad Scientist, The Accountant, The Dreamer, The Doomsday Prepper and The Librarian.

1. The "Oh, Crap!" Gardener: Basically forgets to buy stuff like the all important seeds just before starting to dig.

2. The Mad Scientist: Reads up on everything, has tons of gardening books and experiments in the garden.


3. The Accountant: Knows the costs of all the supplies, keeps records, shops around and chooses the most productive plants & shrubs.

4. The Dreamer: Is all caring about the environment and can happily while away time in the garden doing absolutely nothing like admiring the wildlife.


5. The Doomsday Prepper: Is totally practical and will find the most efficient way to complete a task even when fancy tools may not be to hand.


6. The Librarian: Likes helping others and very collaborative - definitely a community gardener. There's book inside them for sure.


So which type of gardener are you?

Find out more about your gardening character from Damon over at http://www.greenhorngardening.com/six-types-of-gardeners-which-one-are-you/

Tell me your gardening character below in the comments now - Don't be shy...

The garden and patio areas of most UK gardens can be a pretty miserable place around winter time but don't worry - help is at hand with a quick fix burst of colour.

Beautiful Garden Shrubs for Winter Colour

If you can stretch your budget a little, now that the holiday period is behind us, there are often shrubs that are often hidden away in the bargain corner of your local garden centre.

Plants and shrubs you should consider for their winter flowers and colourful foliage include:

Corkscrew Hazel - This plant can grow quite large but is relatively slow growing and is great for a beginner's choice (Height 500 cm, Spread 500cm).



Glossy Abelia - This shrub has dark green foliage, pale pink summer/autumn flowers, and is available as an evergreen (Height 400 cm, Spread 400cm).



Heavenly Bamboo - Buy this plant for its all-year-round leaf colour; bright green then turning a purple/red hue (Height 150 cm, Spread 100cm).



Siberian Dogwood - Beautifully colourful winter foliage and lovely white flowers in spring/summer (Height 250 cm, Spread 250cm).



Sundance Mexican Orange Blossom - This is a low-maintenance shrub with lovely light coloured leaves and a distinctively fragrant aroma (Height 250 cm, Spread 250cm).



Winter Jasmine - Has pretty yellow flowers in February carrying on into spring and is relatively easy to grow (Height 250 cm, Spread 250cm).



Apart from traditional evergreens, you'll need to get a little inspiration to cut through the bleak greyness that is often the traditional English garden in depths of winter. Seek out at least a couple of the winter shrub recommendations to brighten up your garden.

Resources:

Extensive Plant Finder - http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector

General Shrub Information - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrubsand there are some great value plants.