Flowers To Add Colour To My Garden

When you look out onto your garden, it is likely that you see a lot of green and brown. The natural colours that are massively found in wildlife. But sometimes we just want to add some more colour to our garden. Having more bright colours that will attract more wildlife and bring happiness to your garden.

So, what are some of the best flowers to add colour to your garden?

Tulips
One of the most common plants to add to your garden that is known for being extremely colourful is Tulips. These flowers come in a large variety of colours, meaning your garden will never be short of colour. Another benefit to tulips is that they are bulbs, meaning they will likely regrow every year.

Viola
These are a beautiful yellow flower that will be able to add a splash of colour to your winter garden. They are known to be frost tolerant so will be able to last through the winter months, unlike most other colourful plants.

Lavender
Lavender is another popular flower to add to gardens to add a beautiful splash of colour. They are a beautiful purple colour that is known to last all year round. Another benefit to Lavender is they will not only add this beautiful colour to your garden, but they will also add a gorgeous natural smell to your area. They are also known to be excellent cat deterrents.

Sunflowers
Finally, sunflowers. As the name would suggest these are plants that love the sun and will bloom in the summer. They also look like the flower version of our beautiful sun. Being a large flower in a beautiful yellow colour. You will be adding a lovely splash of yellow to your garden!

So, if you want to add a splash of beautiful colour to your garden, consider some of these follower choices.

Topsoil or Compost – Which Is Best For My Garden?

Choosing between compost and topsoil can be difficult, especially if you are new to the gardening world. While both of these seem to be the same they are slightly different in very minor ways.

Topsoil is mainly useful when you are planting directly into your garden soil. It will add depth and improve the quality of the soil you are planting beneath your turf. Topsoil is also much better at retaining its shape, meaning you will not end with a mess all over your garden. It also holds moisture that is much needed for your plant’s growth, helping to improve its growth.

While topsoil may seem like the best option, there is one main scenario when compost may be better for you. This is why you are planting your flowers into plant pots. Compost brings with it extra nutrients that potted plants will be lacking if topsoil is used. It is possible to mix both topsoil and compost to make your own potting compost that will combine the benefits of both.

Buying Pots For My Garden

For some gardeners, we do not wish to change the way the ground of our garden looks, but we still want to add a splash of colour somehow. The best way to do this is by having pots around your garden, where you can then plant flowers, small trees, shrubs and other plants. But what do you need to consider when buying pots for your garden?

Price Point
One of the most important aspects to consider when buying pots for your garden is the price point. You should create yourself a budget and stick to it as surprisingly pots can become very expensive.

Size Limits
You will also need to know exactly where you want to place your pots in your garden. Taking measurements of this area so you know the ideal and maximum pot size. You do not want to spend loads of money for the pot to then not fit in the desired location.

Remember Soil
Another aspect that you need to remember when purchasing pots for your garden is soil or compost. You will need to fill your pots with something before you can begin planting in them. Now, soil and compost can both be fairly expensive, so you should consider the price of these as well as the pots within your budget. A larger pot will cost more to fill.

Colour Schemes
Now, pots can come in a range of different colours and styles. We recommend that you do lots of research into different pots and don’t just buy the first you see. Consider the colour scheme you are after as not all will look right with every kind of flower or plant.

These are the top four aspects you need to consider when purchasing pots for your garden. Always have a budget for yourself to stick to as pots can quickly become a very expensive purchase.

Get Ready For Spring With Me!

Spring, a time of year that all gardeners love and hate at the same time. A time of year where we need to be in the zone, yet still enjoying everyday life. So, let us get ready for spring together and enjoy this moment as one!

I personally like t begin my spring preparation with my garden planning. As I like to mix my garden up every year, trying new crops and new plants, I need to take careful planning. Working out what plants I want to put where to have a maximum effect. This takes up time, drawing a plan for my garden and figuring out where plants and crops will work best.

Once this plan is all sorted, I head out to the garden! Carefully preparing all of the lands where my crops and plants will be planted. Ensuring it is all raked thoroughly, given lovely fertiliser. Ensuring it is the best quality compost, from my own compost bin to give my plants the best chance this year!

Again, I head back to planning. Now I know my compost is sorted and ready to be planted in. Once all my seeds arrive planning begins again. I like to know when I should plant crops to make the most use out of them. For example, I will plant carrots 1 week apart so I have a steady flow of carrots coming in at harvest time. I also like to plant my flowers so they all bloom around the same time, allowing my garden to be bright and beautiful.

To get ready for spring with me takes a lot of planning. We all need to plan to make the most out of our gardens. Understanding when to move plants from the greenhouse to outside. As well as when they will all be ready for harvesting.

Buying Seeds In Northampton

Spring is just around the corner, so it is time to start considering purchasing seeds. Today, we are going to share with you many places that you can purchase seeds from in Northampton.

Garden Centres
There are many local garden centres around Northampton and Northamptonshire where you can purchase flower seeds from. This is one of the most common places to go as they have the largest selection. These can sometimes be more expensive than other places due to gardening being their speciality. The most popular garden centre in Northampton is Dobbies.

Homebase
Homebase is another store that can be found around Northampton. This is one store which sells many items for gardening. Including tools and seeds. With them having their own gardening centre, it is likely seeds will be highly-priced like garden centres as they have this niche too.

B&M
B&M a discounted superstore that has taken the nation by storm. With many of these dotted about around Northamptonshire, you are bound to be close to one. This store offers discounted products all year round. In the spring time, one item they will sell is gardening goods, including seeds. As this is a discounted store, you will find these seeds at cheaper prices. Allowing you to purchase more for your money.

Local Sellers
Gardening is a very popular hobby amongst people around Northamptonshire. It is likely that other local gardeners will be selling unwanted seeds for a fraction of the cost. Have a look at your local online selling pages and you may find some discounted seeds. That people either no longer need or purchased out of errors.

These are our top four places that you will be able to purchase seeds this spring time. Where will you go to purchase seeds for your garden ready for the panting season?

Buying Garden Tools In Northampton

The most important item to a gardener is of course their tools, you can’t be a gardener without your tools. Today, we are going to share with you where you can buy gardening tools in Northampton.

Dobbies
One of the most commonplace to buy gardening tools in Northampton are the local garden centres, Dobbies. These can however be more expensive than other places, so it is important to shop around.

Homebase
Another shop which is DIY and gardening based is Homebase. This is a good place to shop to buy gardening tools within any budget. With them being able to offer high to low prices ranges all at good quality.

Facebook Market Place
Market Place on Facebook is another good place to buy gardening tools around Northampton. With people from your area selling their unwanted tools for a fraction of the cost to purchase new. Meaning you could get higher quality products for less money.

Brightening Up Your Garden

Gardens can become quite dull as the months and years pass. With some of us not knowing what we can add to brighten up our gardens. Fear no more, today we are going to share with you some ways you can brighten up your garden.

Firstly, the most obvious option is adding flowers. These add an array of colours to your garden, as well as drawing wildlife to your garden. These can be grown from seeds or purchased from a garden centre ready to plant.

Another simple way to add colour to your garden in your garden furniture. Most garden furniture comes in green, brown or grey, and aren’t always the most colourful. However, all you need to do is purchase some brightly coloured cushions and watch your garden glow with colour.

Finally, consider other little gardens add ons. For example, fairy houses, windmills or children toys. Place correctly they can all look gorgeous and add loads of colour to your garden.

Making Your Own Bird Feeder

Bird feeders are super simple to create, and they offer an excellent food source for all our birds this winter. A lovely craft experience for you and any children within your family. Remember to take time after to look out and see what birds visit your feeder.

One bird feeder which you can make easily from your home is a recycled one. This involves using an old drink bottle which has been washed out. You will need to cut a few holes in this bottle which will be used by the birds to access the food. The two smaller holes at the top for some string so you can hang it. The all you will need to do is fill your bottle with plenty of birdseed or food and watch them come to have a fest.

You can also purchase sets which help you to create a wooden bird feeder. Following all the steps and then filling with birdseed or food.

Versatile Flower Bulbs to Grow in the UK

Growing flowers from bulb is a wonderful journey to take as a gardener – from planting the bulbs, to watching them flourish year after year, the rewards involved are manifold. Flower bulbs UK need to be hardy and durable to survive in the varied UK weather conditions, but equally, you will want variety – there is no fun in growing a whole garden full of one particular flower type. The key is in finding a range of bulbs and flowers you can grow that will thrive in the UK climate, thanks to having a hardy enough temperament.

In the UK, it can be harder to find quality bulbs too, that will be ready to plant and will be high quality, ready to produce beautiful and hardy flowers and plants. There are many websites selling bulbs online which can make the process harder and muddy the water somewhat – how do you know if the website you are buying from will sell high quality bulbs? And how do you know if the bulbs will arrive well packed and undamaged? Finding a good gardening supplier is a great initial step to take and will make buying bulbs online much easier in the future.

If there is a particular type of flower that you know does well in your garden, then you might want to grow different varieties of it. This will allow you to have variety, thanks to the versatility of the flower species, and the different shapes and colours you can enjoy from the bulbs when they grow. Many flower species can fit the bill, including daffodils, lilies, roses and more. Tulips are also a beautiful and very popular option for this as they have so many different colours and varieties. Some of the most popular types of tulips include:

  • Darwin hybrid tulips – a cross between May Flowering and Fosteriana Tulips, with beautiful results.
  • Early double tulips – there are so many fascinating colours, and the flowers will produce neat and even growth for a very aesthetically pleasing flower.
  • Early single tulip – these can be grown in exposed positions as well as indoors.
  • Fosteriana tulip – these flowers have charm and beauty in abundance, flowering in March and April.
  • Fringed tulip – a unique type of tulip with fringed flowers, rather than deeply cut flowers.
  • Greigii tulips – these are distinctive, with mottled foliage and centres of contrasting colours that will open out in sunlight.
  • Kaufmanniana tulips – waterlily tulips that flower in spring and, if left, will reproduce year after year.
  • Lily flowered tulip – distinctive flowers that have pointed petals, rather than the usual, more rounded tulip flower.
  • May flowering tulip – the quintessential tulip, available in a whole host of colours.
  • Mid-season tulips – very good for growing in harsh weather.
  • Multiflowered tulips – unusual flowers that look distinctly different, with several flowers per stem.
  • Paeony flowered – with their close resemblance to peonies, these are often used as cut flowers.
  • Parrot tulips – striking flowers that have crested petals, similar to fringed tulips.
  • Species and viridiflora tulips – tulips that have a slight twist, with standard and yet distinctive appearances.

Garden Wildlife

Winter time is not the perfect time for gardening. However, it is the perfect time to look after our garden wildlife. I am going to share with you some ways which you can look after wildlife in winter.

Shelter
One of the main ways you can help to look after and protect the wildlife is by offering them a shelter. Whether this be a bird house or an insect hotel. They will all be grateful for their added protection in the colder months.

Feeding
Remember to keep our wildlife feed. It does not take much, a handful of bird seed for the birds. Or leaving them out some freshwater to drink. This will help them to make it through the winter months.

Collect Leaves
Not one you will always think of but collect leaves and place these in a pile. Whether it be by the side of fences or under bushes. The mound of leaves can provide the perfect home for hedgehogs and insects of many kinds.

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