The Best Hedges for Chalky Soil

by Annelise Brilli | Feb 17, 2022 | Gardening Posts, Hedging | 0 Comments

Chalky soil can be tricky to work with
Image: Shutterstock

Chalky soils can be challenging. But, with the correct soil preparation and care, there are a host of suitable hedging plants which will happily cope with these conditions. Here is an introduction to some of the best, plus an A-Z list of other species to choose from.

Annelise Brilli

Annelise Brilli is the Horticultural Copywriter for Thompson and Morgan. Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

Seed and seedling tips from the experts

by Thompson & Morgan | Feb 15, 2022 | Blogs we love, Gardening Posts, Gardening Tips | 2 Comments

Give your seeds the best start with these great tips!
Image: Marie C Fields/Shutterstock

Get your seeds and seedlings off to a great start by taking a look at our top tips. These handy hints come courtesy of some of our favourite gardening bloggers – advice from experienced growers and bloggers who know what they’re talking about.

Thompson & Morgan

The Thompson & Morgan horticultural team produces a wealth of content around gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalogue was published in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown to become one of the UK’s largest Mail Order Seed and Plant companies. Through the publication of our catalogues and the operation of our award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the very best quality products money can buy.

The Best Hedges for Clay Soil

by Annelise Brilli | Feb 7, 2022 | Gardening Posts, Hedging | 0 Comments

Viburnum is just one of many shrubs which thrive in moist clay soil and which make excellent candidates for hedging
Image: Viburnum opulus from Thompson & Morgan

If you are selecting hedges for clay soil, here is an introduction to some of the best available, plus an A-Z list of other species to choose from.

Annelise Brilli

Annelise Brilli is the Horticultural Copywriter for Thompson and Morgan. Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

Fantastic foliage: 18 plants to green your garden

by Terri Overett | Feb 4, 2022 | Gardening Posts | 0 Comments

Collection of different foliage in garden

Foliage adds structure, depth and interest to any garden planting scheme
Image: Shutterstock

Foliage gives your garden all year-round interest. Not only does it fill the gaps between flowers, it’s a good way to add vibrancy to shady areas. We’ve chosen 18 of our favourite plants including conifers, herbaceous perennials and evergreen shrubs to provide all the interesting foliage you could possibly wish for. Some of these shrubs produce flowers and berries as well!

Terri Overett

Terri works in the e-commerce marketing department assisting the busy web team. Terri manages our blog and social media pages here at Thompson & Morgan and is dedicated to providing useful advice to our gardeners. Terri is new to gardening and keen to develop her horticultural knowledge.

www.thompson-morgan.com

Plants for pets: A guide to pet-friendly houseplants

by Annelise Brilli | Jan 26, 2022 | Gardening Posts, House plants | 2 Comments

Pets and plants don’t always go together. My ‘Border Terrorists’, Ogmore and Dylan, are notorious for chomping foliage. Whilst they mainly graze on Dog’s Mercury and other outdoor weeds, they have been known to unleash their rasping tongues on my elegant Bamboo Palm ( Dypsis lutescens) making it look like it’s been attacked by a giant slug! Fortunately, Bamboo Palm is entirely non-toxic to pets, as are most popular varieties. To help you decide which house plants to choose, we asked a panel of Thompson & Morgan pooches and pussycats to point you in the right direction.

Browse our full range of indoor plants for more inspiration.

Hedges for Wildlife

by Annelise Brilli | Jan 20, 2022 | Gardening Posts, Hedging, Wildlife | 2 Comments

Go native and plant the ultimate wildlife hotel! Winter is the perfect time for hedge planting, and if you seriously want to put conservation into action, planting a native hedge is an easy and effective way to help some of our most threatened UK species.

For most of us, large trees and woodland patches are beyond the scope of our modestly sized gardens, but native hedging plants function as mini woodlands which are absolutely teeming with wildlife. Supporting up to 80 per cent of our woodland birds, 50 per cent of our mammals and 30 per cent of our butterflies, the benefits of hedgerows to wildlife are indisputable. However, in some parts of the UK, up to 50% of hedgerows have disappeared. This is where gardeners can step in and make a real difference.

So, get planting your Hedgerow Hotel! Here is an introduction to just some of the wonderful guests who will be eagerly waiting to check in.

Annelise Brilli

Annelise Brilli is the Horticultural Copywriter for Thompson and Morgan. Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

Houseplant Watering Guide

by Annelise Brilli | Jan 14, 2022 | Gardening Posts, House plants | 0 Comments

Image: Shutterstock

To water or not to water?

That is the question asked by many a gardener, their watering can hovering over a stubbornly mute Aspidistra which refuses to reveal whether it’s thirsty or not! “When did I last water it?” you ask yourself. “Last week? Last month? ….Last year?” At this point you are pondering the possibility of encroaching dementia as your watering recollections have merged into a dense fog. “How often am I supposed to water this thing anyway?” you wonder, dashing to look it up on Google. “Every week”, “Every other week”, “Every few weeks”; the answers are as varied as the water stains on your furnishings which you are now eyeing up crossly. Clearly, your inability to divine your Aspidistra’s needs must be down to an absence of those mystifying ‘green thumbs’ and you splurge a glug of water into the saucer ‘just for good measure’ before stomping off to quench your own thirst with a cuppa.

Sounds like a familiar story? Well, sit back, enjoy your tea and I will attempt to clear the muddy waters around this critical topic.

Annelise Brilli

Annelise Brilli is the Horticultural Copywriter for Thompson and Morgan. Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

What to do when bad weather prevents planting

by Thompson & Morgan | Jan 12, 2022 | Gardening Posts | 2 Comments

Unexpected late frosts or snow or can undermine the best laid plans
Image: Shutterstock

When bad weather stops you from immediately planting out your order, don’t despair. With a little bit of care, your plants will survive intact until conditions improve. Here’s how to look after your freshly ordered roots and plug plants when unexpected snow, late frosts, severe rain or the fickle British weather prevents you from getting them into their final positions straight away. From artichokes to strawberry runners, here’s what you need to do.

Thompson & Morgan

The Thompson & Morgan horticultural team produces a wealth of content around gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalogue was published in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown to become one of the UK’s largest Mail Order Seed and Plant companies. Through the publication of our catalogues and the operation of our award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the very best quality products money can buy.

Houseplant Lighting Guide

by Annelise Brilli | Jan 7, 2022 | Gardening Posts, House plants | 5 Comments

A sunny bay window decorated with a variety of houseplants

Image: Shutterstock

Houseplants function as living décor, making your home look beautiful. They also introduce nature into sterile indoor environments, injecting mood-boosting natural greenery. Finding creative ways to display your plants is the fun part, but before you do that, it is essential to consider the living conditions which plants require. The most important of these is light.

Annelise Brilli

Annelise Brilli is the Horticultural Copywriter for Thompson and Morgan. Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

Decorating with Houseplants

by Annelise Brilli | Dec 15, 2021 | Gardening Posts | 2 Comments

This guide to decorating with houseplants shows you how to get creative with plant shape, texture, colour and size. Plants breathe life into sterile spaces and which houseplants you select and how you arrange them will affect the dynamics of your space and create different moods.

Annelise Brilli

Annelise Brilli is the Horticultural Copywriter for Thompson and Morgan. Annelise caught the gardening bug from her mother, whose tiny backyard was crammed with a huge collection of plants. As an adult, she had a career change into horticulture, gaining a training apprenticeship with the National Trust at Powis Castle Garden in Welshpool. She went on to work in a range of private and public gardens, later running a garden design and maintenance business. She is passionate about sustainable gardening and has developed her own wildlife-friendly garden which she has opened as part of Macmillan Coastal Garden Trail.

Thompson & Morgan Gardening Blog

The Best Hedges for Chalky Soil

Seed and seedling tips from the experts

The Best Hedges for Clay Soil

Fantastic foliage: 18 plants to green your garden

Plants for pets: A guide to pet-friendly houseplants

read more…

Hedges for Wildlife

Houseplant Watering Guide

To water or not to water?

What to do when bad weather prevents planting

Houseplant Lighting Guide

Decorating with Houseplants

Search Blog Posts

Meet the experts

Award-Winning Plants & Seeds

Categories

Archives

Pin It on Pinterest

Thompson & Morgan Gardening Blog

To water or not to water?

Search Blog Posts

Meet the experts

Award-Winning Plants & Seeds

Categories

Top Posts

Archives

Pin It on Pinterest