Roses
There’s a quiet corner of St Albans where the air is filled with the promise of roses — and where gardeners gather to learn from true masters of their craft. Led by seasoned tutors, these courses embody Ashridge – The Voice of Experience , offering insight that turns pruning into an art form.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Discover how Cornwall is leading the way with public edible hedges. Advice from Ashridge experts shows how you can create your own productive hedges at home.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Beech trees are a gardener’s delight, offering year-round interest, structural elegance, and rich autumnal colour. Experts in bareroot plants reveal how these versatile trees and hedges can thrive.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Box hedges are a gardener’s delight when properly cared for. By following simple steps—you can enjoy a vibrant, long-lasting hedge. With Guaranteed Plants That Grow, even new gardeners can achieve elegant, evergreen structure that withstands disease and rewards your effort year after year.
Read more
Trees
A tree or hedge whip might be small, but it holds enormous potential. Nurseries like us cultivate fields full of whips, serving everyone from foresters tackling large projects to gardeners looking to add instant impact at home. With guaranteed plants that grow, you can plant with confidence.
Read more
Trees
If you fancy a fun winter trip and a chance to give young trees a better life, the National Trust Tree Planting Events at Penrose, Cornwall, are not to be missed. Running from November 26th to January 19th, these free events are perfect for those who love the countryside and don’t mind getting their hands muddy. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to tree planting, Ashridge – The Voice of Experience reminds you that helping trees thrive is a joy worth sharing.
Read more
Hedge Plants
New hedging and young trees need careful attention to thrive. Follow our planting advice since 1949: soak the soil deeply at the base of each plant, water early or late in the day, and use rainwater wherever possible to encourage deep roots and healthy growth.
Read more
Trees
From the fiery leaves of acers to the deep mahogany bark of Tibetan cherry, autumn trees bring colour, texture, and interest to every garden. With guaranteed plants that grow, you can enjoy vibrant foliage, striking berries, and decorative bark without worry, making autumn and winter gardening a true delight.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Hedges and trees are more than decoration—they’re a vital part of the British countryside, supporting wildlife and creating lasting garden structure. With guaranteed plants that grow, now is the perfect time to plant bareroot trees and hedging that will flourish for years to come.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Hedges and trees are the backbone of the British countryside, offering shelter, food, and beauty for generations of wildlife. Experts in bareroot plants recommend planting from now until March, whether it’s a majestic oak, a flowering cherry, or a protective beech hedge.
Read more
Trees
November’s autumnal colours offer a moment to pause and appreciate the garden’s small wonders. With advice from experts, it’s easy to choose the right trees—like acers, mountain ash, or cercis—that will bring vibrant foliage and seasonal interest year after year.
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Whether you’re filling a gap in the hedge, planting a show-stopping cherry, or creating a cosy “room” with copper beech, our Guaranteed Plants That Grow make it easy.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Choosing the right hedge for your garden, orchard, or farmland can seem daunting, but with our Advice from Experts, you’ll know exactly which plants to select, how to position them, and how to maintain a healthy, wildlife-friendly hedge for years to come.
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Pollination is key to a bumper fruit crop, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Benefit from Advice from Experts and Guaranteed Plants That Grow to make your orchard thrive.
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Rootstocks shape how fruit trees grow, and with our expertise, you don’t need to worry. From Bushes and Half Standards to Maidens and Cordons, we provide guaranteed plants that grow and guidance from Plant Experts to ensure every tree thrives in your garden or orchard.
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Can you grow apple trees above 500 feet? Absolutely — with the right site and care. Learn how slope, wind, soil, and shelter affect fruit trees in higher altitudes, and how to avoid frost damage while keeping your orchard thriving. Reliable, down-to-earth advice from Professional Plant Suppliers at Ashridge.
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Choosing the right size fruit tree makes all the difference to your harvest. Whether you’re planting a compact Bush tree for a small garden, a grand Half-Standard for open space, or training a Maiden into an espalier or cordon, we’ll help you pick the perfect fit. Step-by-step guidance from Experts in Bareroot Plants at Ashridge ensures success from the start.
Read more
Trees
Ash dieback has spread across the UK since its discovery in 2012, leaving many tree owners worried. Learn how to identify the symptoms, distinguish natural leaf loss from infection, and take practical steps to protect your trees. Clear, science-based Planting Advice since 1949 from Ashridge helps you care for your ash trees with confidence.
Read more
Trees
Planting trees isn’t just good for the planet — it can be a long-term investment too. Discover how oaks, walnuts, and other valuable timber trees can grow into a legacy worth thousands, even decades after you’re gone. Future-focused insight from Ashridge – The Voice of Experience , helping you plant wealth that lasts.
Read more
Trees
If your shrubs or trees are struggling near a Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), the culprit may be juglone — a natural chemical that can stunt or kill sensitive plants. Learn how juglone works, why Black Walnuts use it, and which trees and shrubs can safely thrive nearby. Relax — Guaranteed Plants That Grow from Ashridge mean you can always replant with confidence and success.
Read more
Trees
Britain’s native woodlands inspire deep affection — and for good reason. Yet as our climate shifts, can these beloved trees survive the changes ahead? Explore what makes a tree truly “native,” from post-Ice Age pioneers to apomictic Whitebeams, and discover why our forests may need a helping hand to thrive in a warmer, drier future. Thoughtful insight and planting advice from Ashridge – Professional Plant Suppliers since 1949.
Read more
Trees
Pruning a tree is not as simple as trimming a hedge — timing and technique are everything. From young ornamental trees needing a light shape-up to mature trees requiring careful sawing, knowing when to prune makes all the difference. Discover expert advice on the best time to prune your trees, avoid sap bleed and disease, and keep your garden thriving all year round. Ashridge – The Voice of Experience, offering planting advice since 1949.
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Whether for hedging or forestry, bare-root stock outperforms container-grown plants in almost every way. Ashridge Nurseries explains why planting dormant, field-grown hedging and trees during the winter months saves money, benefits the environment, and produces stronger, more vigorous plants. From superior root development to easier planting and reduced risk of pests, discover why Ashridge – The Voice of Experience recommends bare-root stock for lasting success in your garden.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Just planted a beech hedge? Discover how to transform a bare patch of garden into a beautiful, structured space. Our guide shares tips on soil preparation, planting, watering, and mulching to help your hedge thrive.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Container-grown hedging plants are perfect for planting all year round, providing instant privacy, security, or a splash of greenery. Plant, water, prune, and enjoy your growing hedge!
Read more
Hedge Plants
Remove dead or diseased wood as needed, with planting advice since 1949 to guide you, and enjoy healthy, well-shaped plants all year round.
Read more
Hedge Plants
If you fancy your own (unofficial) weather-forecasting hedge, you can always plant a beech or two from our bare-root collection before the season ends, with guaranteed plants that grow . Relax, enjoy, and watch your garden grow.
Read more
Hedge Plants
At Ashridge Nurseries, we’ve sold millions of hedging plants over the years, and hawthorn remains a firm favourite for its resilience, beauty, and charm. Trimmed and tended, it’s equally stunning, forming a dense, elegant boundary hedge that’s a joy in any season, offered by professional growers you can trust. If you’ve space in your garden and haven’t planted one yet, it might be time to discover why the humble hawthorn hedge is such a classic.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Thinking of planting a hawthorn hedge? Forget the weedkiller — there’s a better way. No chemicals, no constant weeding — just healthy, happy hawthorn, supported by experts in bareroot plants . Sit back, relax, and watch your hedge grow.
Read more
Hedge Plants
If you’re planting a new beech hedge, don’t be afraid to prune confidently, watch it fill out, and enjoy the transformation year after year.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Continuing our ode to hedging — and why it’s a thoroughly Good Thing. Hedges do far more than mark boundaries; they shelter wildlife, protect gardens from wind and frost, deter intruders (even the two-legged kind!), and bring life, colour, and song to your outdoor space. Plant one, watch it grow, and enjoy the difference, with professional plant suppliers guiding you every step of the way.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Ashridge Nurseries is our family business — we grow and sell around two million plants every year. Hedging is our speciality, but we also offer ornamental and fruit trees, roses, bulbs, soft fruit, and every hedging accessory you could need.
Read more
Hedge Plants
Planting a hedge has a number of obvious environmental benefits. Less obvious may be the financial advantages of cost and value add...
Read more
Hedge Plants
An expert list of thorny plants ideal for town and country hedges from a professional grower
Read more
Bulbs
Advice on the best time to plant tulips having regard to their flowering seasons.
Read more
Bulbs
Advice from a professional grower on the best places to plant tulip bulbs
Read more
Hedge Plants
Hedge Plants
Proper aftercare in the first year is critical for establishing a healthy, thriving hedge that grows strongly in subsequent years. The Five…
Read more
Trees
It crossed my mind this morning that we are in August. September is the other month of the equinox (exactly half a…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
This is just about pruning cordons - there is a much longer piece on growing cordon fruit trees if you would like…
Read more
Garden Plants
Lavender has an undeserved reputation for being disease-free — but it isn't, and one problem in particular kills far more plants than gardeners realise. While its aromatic oils do offer some natural protection, lavender can still fall victim to Alfalfa Mosaic Virus, Shab dieback disease, sap-sucking froghoppers and capsids, and — the real culprit behind most losses — root rot from poor drainage. This guide explains how to spot each problem, which ones are usually harmless, and why getting the drainage right is the single most important thing standing between your lavender and an unexplained collapse after a wet winter.
Read more
Trees
Most trees are happy growing in heavy clay soil, as long as it does not get waterlogged in WinterClay soil is fertile…
Read more
Gardening
Mycorrhizae fungi coexist with plant root systems in a sharing relationship underground The fungi give the plant water and soil nutrients in…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
When you have enough Elderflower Cordial you might like to think about Elderflower Champagne. By the way, it is a good excuse…
Read more
Trees
It Doesn't Seem Real Until it Happens to You Yes, folks, it finally happened to us. We had a good run, but…
Read more
Garden Plants
Photinia Red Robin makes a really photogenic hedge plant, with blazing red young leaves that can be persuaded to reappear all summer…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
We get lots of enquiries about growing fruit trees in the UK at altitude, often from people who have seen the magnificent…
Read more
Garden Plants
Lavender is best given a light trim in late February or early March, before it starts into growth. Done at the right…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Homemade Elderberry SyrupThe Recipe:This is our family recipe, and we think it makes the best elderberry syrup we have ever tasted.Pick the…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Make a unique Jelly from Country Hedges & Wild PlantsThis recipe uses fruit commonly found in mixed hedges and wild plants (identify…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
How about pheasant with caramelised apple and cider sauce!Pheasant cosies up with a fruity double act of apples and cider for a…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Homemade Elderflower Cordial RecipeLate May - June is Elderflower time!Elderflower cordial in the shops is expensive and can be a bit sickly…
Read more
Gardening
Colour from bark, leaves and some flowers will light up your winter garden
Read more
Gardening
Requiring only a sharp saw or secateurs and the courage of your convictions, coppicing is a straightforward and satisfying winter job.This short…
Read more
Gardening
What is Honey Fungus? Honey fungus is a spreading, parasitic fungus that live yeah s on trees, woody shrubs, and occasionally herbaceous…
Read more
Bulbs
Daffodils and Narcissi are undoubtedly among our most cherished and adored spring flowers, and they form a large part of our collection…
Read more
Bulbs
Who doesn’t love snowdrops? People who don't read this article!
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Do you have a freezer full of blackberries? If not, then ignore the blackberry & enjoy your apple crumble! This time of…
Read more
Gardening
Modern buildings and roads tend to create stark boundaries: all structure with no life Well-thought-out planting will soften these hard lines and…
Read more
Gardening
Tiny marvels dispel winter gloom: the uplifting power of nature! As I filled up the bird feeders yesterday, I noticed the intense…
Read more
Gardening
Most of the damage caused to bareroot plants in cold, freezing conditions is to the delicate roots themselves.The roots are fine, fibrous…
Read more
Trees
A video on why willows and drains should not be too close together...
Read more
Roses
Rose hips are mostly an ornamental second display from Autumn into Winter, but all rose hips are edible if you want to…
Read more
Blog
In January, gardeners stare longingly at soggy patches of lawn and bare trees, scouring the earth for the tender spear of a…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Wiltshire-based garden designer Dan Combes wonders why there aren't more berries, especially in urban areas and their small gardens where a fruit…
Read more
Bulbs
There are two ways to buy and/or transplant flower bulbs: either when they dry and dormant, or when they are in growth,…
Read more
Hedge Plants
A good hedge is an invaluable addition to any garden. It delineates and disguises boundaries, providing privacy for humans and habitats for…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
Orchard wassailing is an indigenous English ritual with records dating back as far as the 11th century, and is still performed by…
Read more
Gardening
"Latin" plant names are the scientific, botanical way of classifying species They aren't really Latin, as in the language of the Roman…
Read more
Blog
There are so many things a gardener wants to find under the tree on Christmas morning. But not another decorative fork and…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
What is the difference between a cobnut and a filbert? Are they the same thing, with regional variations of nomenclature? Quick Answers…
Read more
Trees
One of only 3 conifers native to the United Kingdom (along with Scots pine and juniper), yew is a familiar feature of…
Read more
Trees
Broadly speaking, bay laurel plants, Laurus nobilis, are easygoing, low maintenance, aromatic evergreens that are a joy to grow.There are a handful…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
As a company, we have invested billions (approximately) in producing nicely edited videos about planting and pruning fruit trees Rodney, local movie…
Read more
Garden Plants
Or: How to Record a Gardening Video Using a Potato I am sorry everyone, really. I genuinely didn't realise how bad the…
Read more
Garden Plants
Growing Dahlias in Pots: Everything You Need to Know Dahlias are brilliant in pots. A single tuber in a decent-sized container will…
Read more
Bulbs
Daffodils (Narcissus) are perennial bulbs whose lifespan varies depending on the particular species and cultivar, the growing conditions and care, or lack…
Read more
Bulbs
Is there anything more restorative than the first flowers of spring? Apart from spring flowers plus kittens wearing watermelon helmets, obviously? I…
Read more
Bulbs
The first wild Daffodil to bloom in the UK, as measured by a car park in Somerset, was 11th February 2024. This…
Read more
Trees
We’re slap-bang in the middle of bareroot planting season. And that’s something worth celebrating when you love trees and shrubs but are…
Read more
Trees
It’s no exaggeration to describe oak trees as the national tree of Great Britain. They have been integral to our countryside for…
Read more
Trees
According to the proverb, ‘To be happy for a year, get married; to be happy for life, plant a garden.'The right tree,…
Read more
Gardening
More people have taken the plunge into gardening with a floral shirt and a medium pickaxe thanks to John Lord than any…
Read more
Gardening
It's almost February: time to do January garden jobs!
Read more
Garden Plants
January-February is the ideal time to prune your Wisteria - have you?
Read more
Gardening
The short answer is no, woodchip mulch does not make soil acidic. However, if you are gardening on alkaline soil like chalk,…
Read more
Gardening
At some point between Autumn and the end of Winter, when the flowers and foliage have died down, it's commonly held best…
Read more
Bulbs
There's a special thrill that comes with burying your dry bulbs in Autumn & early Winter, followed by months of anticipation till…
Read more
Gardening
October’s forecast is looking mild, with nights mostly over 7C (the temperature under which plants generally stop growing) right until the end…
Read more
Gardening
Don’t bother. Using Epsom Salts in the garden is a waste of time and money: may my grandparents (and renowned scientific journals…
Read more
Blog
Montane habitats are at the top of and above the treeline, where the last wind-blasted trees and shrubs grow, below the even…
Read more
Blog
Homes & Gardens has so many interesting articles, we really should steal them more often. This pair of articles about outdated back…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
There’s nothing quite like the fresh, tangy flavour of home-grown raspberries, and what better way to enjoy them than in delicious raspberry…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
There’s Nothing Quite Like Baking with Home-Grown Apples in your Apple Muffin Recipe. Their fresh, crisp flavour brings out the best in…
Read more
Roses
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the best rose varieties for buttonholes?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Hybrid Tea roses are generally the best choice — they produce single large blooms on…
Read more
Garden Plants
The other day we mentioned Cornwall’s Million Pound edible hedge project, and, we assume in response, the RHS updated their list of…
Read more
Gardening
The garden centre industry is a wonderful one, full of great people working in it and great customers intent on making their…
Read more
Gardening
Autumn leaves on your lawn have to be dealt with, or they will ruin it. Likewise, your lovely stone, brick, and concrete…
Read more
Bulbs
Long-suffering visitors to this website may remember that we gave selling hanging baskets a whirl a few years ago. We stopped because…
Read more
Fruit Trees & Bushes
With Homegrown FigsThere’s nothing quite as jammy as the satisfaction of your own fig jam crafted from fig you grew yourself in…
Read more