SPRING IS IN SIGHT AT UPCOUNTRY GARDEN & COUNTRY STORE

Nestled within the Sussex countryside, you’ll find UpCountry, a familyrun garden and country store, with branches based in Stone Cross & Scaynes Hill.

UpCountry prides itself on providing customers with a unique garden shopping experience along with a fun day out for all, with something special on offer for everyone. Available to buy is a beautifully colourful selection of shrubs and bedding plants; ferns, houseplants and so much more. Why not buy some vegetable or fruit plants, or seeds to teach the little ones a spot of gardening too? We also have a huge selection of gardening tools and outdoor living furnishings to get your outdoor space spring ready for morning tea and evening BBQs.

Not only is it horticultural heaven, it is also home to UpCountry Fresh. We take great pride in our delightful farm shop offering delicious local produce such as local wines & beers, dairy and meat products, pantry items along with fresh fruit and vegetables from in and around Sussex. Make it your goal to shop fresh all summer long, and once you see our array of picturesque fruit and veg, it will be hard to resist. The smell of fresh pastries could be the highlight of your visit to us. Or, pick up a cake or biscuit to take home with you. Not ready to go home even after you have discovered our incredible flora and fresh produce? The Bakehouse Cafe claims some of the best breakfast and sandwiches in Sussex. It is the perfect spot to catch up with old friends or family, and Afternoon Tea complete with finger sandwiches and scones is priced at just £19.99.

Bakehouse Cafe menu: www.upcountrystorehouse.com/bakehouse-kitchen

At UpCountry we know your pets love your garden just as much as you do. On site you’ll find ‘UpCountry Animals’ the pet and equestrian hub offering a whole host of animal feed, pet and equestrian supplies. A wide range of treats, toys and feed are also available to buy online or click and collect. As if that is not enough to see and do, keep your eyes peeled on the recently launched events schedule. We host a wide range of different seasonal events such as wine tasting and easter sticker trails.

It is clear to see that spring is in sight at the garden centre as the air gets warmer and the evenings are finally getting lighter. We are fully stocked to help the people of Sussex build their dream gardens this summer. To get you just a bit more inspired, we suggest you create some show stopping containers in your garden! Spring is a fantastic time of the year for creating them, but here are four things to consider.

Show Stopping Garden Containers

1. Size Matters

Ensure you have the right size pot for your plant (or vice versa). Keep in mind that the larger the size, the less you’ll need to water but don’t go too big as the excess potting mix can go sour and impact the health of your plant. Also consider the style of your container, do the aesthetics suit the design of your garden? Whether you go for metal, terracotta, wooden, concrete or repurposed, make sure it fits your theme!

2. Don’t overcrowd

Don’t overfill a container garden. If the plants are overcrowded, it can stunt plant growth. To lessen the chances of overfilling a container, you will generally want to follow these plant to pot size ratios:

10” to 12” pot can hold 3-4 plants

14” to 16” pot can hold 5-7 plants

16” to 20” pot can hold 6-9 plants

3. Choose the right compost

Fill your container two-thirds full with an all-purpose potting mix. Most container plants will also benefit from a slow-release fertiliser that gradually releases nutrients.

4. Go for bold combinations!

Don’t be afraid to mix up different types of plants, such as annuals, perennials, vegetables, and even small shrubs. The important thing is to choose plants that require similar growing conditions. Try mixing foliage with bold colours to create a wonderful texture and beautiful colour contrast.

Across Beautiful (8)

Moves through water (5)

Unconventional (7)

Pollen gatherers (4)

When the living is easy (10)

Otherwise (4)

Yorkshireman (4)

Preceding wedlock (10)

Precious stones (4)

Hollowed inward (7)

Bovine mammary gland (5)

Austrian Alpine resident (8)

Down Farewell (7)

Plunder (5)

Paradise (4)

Lie (7)

Restaurant worker (8)

Marriage (9)

Opera by Bizet (6)

Pendent (9)

Computer information store (8) 18

Thin and translucent (6) 19

Expels (6) 20

Disorder (7) 21

Oriental (7)

Fill with high spirits (5)

Untie (4)

Across

5 Aspiring (8)

8 Earp (4)

9 Pasta (5)

10 Itches (6)

12 Betting (3,4)

13 Mete (4)

16 Et al (4)

18 Bipolar (7)

20 Statin (6)

22 Preys (5)

24 Go up (1,1,1,1)

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Down

1 Roasting (8)

2 I S P (3)

3 Hailed (6)

4 Best (4)

6 Paint (5)

7 Tug (3)

11 Den (3)

14 Merriest (8)

15 Tar (3)

17 Dial-up (4,2)

19 Beady (5)

20 Gust (4)

21 Bat (1,1,1)

23 Run (3)