Green-fingered Brits have been warned against making one crucial mistake in the garden centre that could ruin their hard work. A gardening expert has offered advice on what to look for when buying plants, and said to avoid one thing.
Sue Townsend, a garden designer working in East Anglia and London, urged gardeners not to choose plants based on how they look while blooming in the garden centre. She told Gardens Illustrated: “Try not to be wooed by the flowers on display at the garden centre, which will offer a limited period of interest, leaving you with little to look at for the rest of the year.
“Instead, ask the nursery staff which plants are best for different seasons, or use online suppliers such as Crocus and Burncoose, which offer an extensive range of plants, plus details of how and when they perform.
“I look at the garden as if I am the conductor of an orchestra, selecting plants for spring colour, summer flowers, autumn berries and foliage, and winter structure to create a continual performance.
“I think about how each plant will emerge, flower and fade, and group those with similar or contrasting shapes, textures or colours, depending on whether I want a calming or more dynamic scheme.”
A horticulturist on Quora added: “Plants only do one thing well at a time. If they are flowering, they will be less likely to put on roots quickly. The longer it takes to start growing roots, the longer it will be before they start to grow.
“If they don’t grow, they won’t bloom more. It’s always best to buy plants without flowers on them. It’s also good to cut the flowers off before you plant them. Also, loosen the roots before planting. They will get established faster.”
The best flowers to plant in April and May are freesias, cosmos, poppies, angelica, cornflowers, sunflowers, zinnias, nasturtiums, and lavender, according to experts.