Blog
Chelsea Flower Show 2026 has opened its gates and the early reports are gloriously colourful – roses, clematis, salvias and delphiniums in abundance. We take a look at the biggest plant trends, the Plant of the Year winner, and how to bring a little Chelsea magic into your own garden.
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Garden Plants
Not sure which clematis to grow? We compare nearly 100 varieties. By situation, north-facing, pots, growing up roses, winter interest , colour, sise & scent. Written by someone who has grown clematis all his life.
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Garden Plants
A complete guide to growing wisteria, covering the three main species in the Ashridge range, why grafted plants matter, wall training, pruning, feeding for flowers, and the most common reasons wisteria fails to bloom.
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Garden Plants
Clematis Wilt: What It Is & What to Do Clematis wilt is dramatic — a healthy plant can collapse and blacken within days. But it's less common than most gardeners fear, and most plants recover if you act quickly and planted them deep enough. This guide explains how to tell true wilt from drought, slug damage, and other causes; which varieties are resistant; and the six things you can do to reduce the risk.
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Garden Plants
Most clematis are deciduous, bare through winter and in flower for a few weeks in spring or summer. But three groups stay…
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Garden Plants
When and How to Prune Clematis: All Three Pruning Groups Explained Every clematis belongs to one of three pruning groups; unsurprisingly numbered…
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Garden Plants
Does Lavender Get Diseases and Pests? Lavender has an undeserved reputation for being disease-free. It is more resistant than most garden plants…
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Garden Plants
Photinia Red Robin makes a really photogenic hedge plant, with blazing red young leaves that can be persuaded to reappear all summer…
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Garden Plants
This post is a bit late for getting in a February trim, but since the weather has been fresh and plants slow…
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Garden Plants
January-February is the ideal time to prune your Wisteria - have you?
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Garden Plants
There are three groups of lavender grown in UK gardens. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the hardiest, longest-lived, and best-scented — the…
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Garden Plants
Lavender is the most underpruned plant in the UK. People are afraid of cutting into the brown wood, and so they give…
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Garden Plants
Start dahlias indoors in March–April for a 2–3 week head start, but it's often unnecessary — Ashridge's experts recommend direct planting in May for most UK gardeners, with blooms from July to November.
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Garden Plants
Overwintering Dahlias: How to Store Tubers and Protect Them Through Winter Dahlias are tender perennials. The tubers survive from year to year…
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Garden Plants
Dahlia Tuber Eyes and Crowns: Understanding What You've Received You've just received your dahlia tuber from us. It looks like a wrinkly…
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Garden Plants
Digging up and dividing most summer-flowering herbaceous perennial plants is an excellent way to perk them up when they’re looking tired, giving…
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Garden Plants
This video applies to all climbing honeysuckle varieties. Here, we are planting a 3 litre Lonicera, but it’s the same for any…
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Garden Plants
How to Plant Clematis in Open Ground Clematis will grow well practically anywhere if you give them five things: soil preparation, correct…
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Garden Plants
Shade Loving Climbers for North Facing WallsThe North Wall is tricky for growing plants up because it gets no direct sun. This…
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Garden Plants
Most people plant their Clematis vines a little deep, the British Clematis Society says: “Ensure that the surface of the root ball…
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Garden Plants
No, Lavender is not native to the UK. It is a Mediterranean plant, originating from the coastal regions of southern Europe, north…
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Garden Plants
There are three lavender species grown in British gardens. We have grown and sold all three for over twenty years. In terms…
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Garden Plants
All the lavender plants we sell have flowers suitable for drying or oil extraction, great for aromatherapy, chandlery and baking.When should I…
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Garden Plants
Garden Plants
A shrub is a woody, freestanding plant that naturally has multiple main stems. Through pruning, many shrubs can be grown as a tree…
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Garden Plants
Gutters, Pipes & Fittings are Always VulnerableMost climbing plants can damage, block, or push guttering, drainpipes and other external fittings off the…
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Garden Plants
Types of Dahlia Decorative, ball, cactus, pompon, waterlily, collarette, peony and more. Our guide explains every dahlia flower form with photos, Ashridge variety picks, and links to each collection. Useful whether you're choosing your first tuber or identifying one already in your garden.
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Garden Plants
The Ashridge Guide to Growing Dahlias Dahlias are the most generous flowers in the summer garden — plant a single tuber in…
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Garden Plants
What are Perennial Plants? A perennial plantlives for three plus years. Trees and shrubs are woody perennials.In everyday garden use, perennial refers…
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Garden Plants
When is the Best Time to Plant Perennials UK? Mid-Spring and early Autumn are best. Summer is fine, especially in the shade.…
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Garden Plants
Confusion exists around lavender plants and pet safety: there is no risk at all from the plants in your garden or windowsill.…
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