Elderflower, Sambucus nigra, inevitably finds its way into a country hedge sooner or later, and it’s far from unheard of to add it to the mix at planting time. It is suitable for growing as a hedge plant, and is desirable for its flowers and fruit that make elderflower cordial and elderberry syrup respectively. However,… Continue reading Cutting Back Overgrown Elderflower in a Mixed Hedge
Author: Ashridge Nurseries
Do Woodchips Make Soil Acidic, or Take Nitrogen from the Soil?
Questions about mulch in general and in particular the effect of woodchips on soil arise with every generation of new gardeners. People know that woodchips in compost need a lot of nitrogen to break down, so they wonder if woodchip mulch could steal nitrogen from the soil underneath? Likewise, the sap-juices of most trees that’re… Continue reading Do Woodchips Make Soil Acidic, or Take Nitrogen from the Soil?
Why Steven Edholm’s Fruit Tree Pruning Films are Better Than Ours
As a company, we have invested billions (approximately) in producing nicely edited videos about planting and pruning fruit trees Rodney, local movie star and coincidentally our warehouse manager, has been ogled over a million times on YouTube, where his charisma and acting skills steal the show in our best film work to date, how to… Continue reading Why Steven Edholm’s Fruit Tree Pruning Films are Better Than Ours
When do Daffodils Bloom in the UK?
The first wild Daffodil to bloom in the UK, as measured by a car park in Somerset, was 11th February 2024. This is it: Wild Daffodils start flowering when the soil temperatures reach around 10C, usually in February or March. In a warm winter like the one we’ve mostly had this year, we are seeing… Continue reading When do Daffodils Bloom in the UK?
Did You Hear About the Coronation Living Heritage Fund?
The Coronation Living Heritage Fund is a £2.5 million kitty for local authorities to plant more trees in honour of King Charles III’s coronation; applications closed last September. And we completely missed it. In our defence, we have absolutely no excuse. Sure, our failure to inform you in time probably won’t make any difference, because… Continue reading Did You Hear About the Coronation Living Heritage Fund?
Results of the RSPB’s 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch
The RSPB’s 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch ended on January the 28th…
When do you Prune your Wisteria?
January-February is the ideal time to prune your Wisteria – have you?
How to Prune Trees VS Clipping Hedges
Pruning woody plants is a big part of a gardener’s life, and winter is when a lot of it gets done – especially after windy weather leaves some rough edges to tidy up. When we examine a typical branch, we can see that there are basically three ways one could cut it: So, a hedge… Continue reading How to Prune Trees VS Clipping Hedges
January-February Garden Tasks: Our Favourite Online Gardeners Share Their Tips
It’s almost February: time to do January garden jobs!
Britain’s Favourite Spring Flowering Bulbs
There’s a special thrill that comes with burying your dry bulbs in Autumn & early Winter, followed by months of anticipation till Spring, each with their own payoff: Daffodils are cheerful, Tulips are romantic, Snowdrops are cutie pies, and Hyacinths are just too much, I need to lie down for a while! These and other… Continue reading Britain’s Favourite Spring Flowering Bulbs