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FRESH STYLE IDEAS
MARCH 2022
for Spring
Delicious bakes + quick, simple dinner recipes
YH
LOV E
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LET’S SHOP
Expert decorating advice for a cheerful home
] Vintage-style
DIY tricks to steal from our savvy readers
IZTOETASL OF PRR TH A
£5,088
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Beautiful REAL HOMES
+ LIVING ROOM MAKEOVERS
Easy ways to…
3 Make your home more secure 3 Elevate your décor with wallpaper 3 Prep your garden for spring 3 Design a stylish, accessible bathroom 3 Add wow in an hour: 6 thrifty DIY projects
kitchen buys ] Curtains & blinds ] Pretty gardening must haves ] Top dishwashers
THIS MONTH WE LOVE
Crossweave cushion, £10; hippie floral cushion, £7; tufted sun pattern cushion, £8; Mandala print round cushion, £9; large rattan vase, £20; Black bamboo hanging floor lamp, £45; all George Home
HOT FROM THE HIGH STREET
George Home
If you like bright, bold colours and kitsch prints, take inspiration from George Home’s Hippiecurian spring/ summer 2022 collection. Think pick-n-mix textiles and rose-tinted tableware for hazy summer evenings – even your bathroom can be updated with fun towels, bath mats and tumblers. Pair them with natural materials, such as rattan and glass, and contrast block colours with detailed prints to nail the look.
Pink floral tumbler, £2.50; goblet, £3
Lilac gingham towel, from £4
Pear laundry bin, £48
we love… THIS MONTH
FOR STOCKISTS SEE p125
Make the most of March with the best things to do, see and buy this month
A fresh coat
COAT Paints has teamed up with furniture designer Heal’s to create a collection of six paint shades. Try Dodie for a blue-tinged charcoal, Ambrose for a warm greige shade, or The Four-Poster for a vibrant teal blue. See all six at coatpaints.com. Heal’s x COAT The Four-Poster in flat matt, £42 per 2.5L, COAT Paints
EASY AS ABC
Add a splash of colour to a child’s bedroom with these Wavy Alphabet prints from Zeph Store. The wavy font and retro finish are fun and bright yet stylish – it also comes in an orange and pink colourway. Priced at £25, from zephzeph.com.
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THIS MONTH WE LOVE 1 2
5 OF THE BEST…
spring meadow motifs
Delightful dinnerware
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Pastels don’t have to be twee, as this set from Next proves. We love the tiny pompoms on the co-ordinating placemats as well, which add texture to the tablescape.
Embrace the new season with these blooming lovely patterns
Pink and Ochre pompom placemats, £14 for set of four; Warwick dinner set, £35 for 12-piece set, all Next
1. Tea towel in Wildflower, £9, Fy! 2. Blue meadow flowers cushion, £26.99, Perkins & Morley 3. Wildflowers magnetic shopping list, £3.95, Rex London 4. Meadow flowers stencil, £17.95, Annie Sloan 5. Spring meadow glass nite lite pot, £11.50, Gisela Graham
COUNTRYSIDE CHIC Furniture Village’s Riviera extending table and dining chair set is a classic choice that doubles up for everyday and special occasions. With its turned legs and weathered finish, it taps into the country-house look. From hosting dinner parties to morning coffee, this set will take centre stage. Priced at £2,695.
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inspiration We’re reading… Feng Shui Modern, £12.99 If you want to learn about feng shui but don’t know where to begin, Cliff Tan’s accessible guide is a great start. The social media star covers how to use it in different rooms, including styling.
@weeleithcolony Hannah and Alex don’t believe in taking life too seriously and their colony flat in Leith reflects that. They love unusual colour combinations inspired by the vibrant beach huts and houses of Brighton where they met and are always looking for fun ways to transform spaces on a tight budget.
We’re going to… Homebuilding and Renovating Show, 24th-27th March Whether you’re in the middle of a project or starting to plan the dream build, you’ll find plenty of ideas at the event in Birmingham’s NEC. Discover the latest products, get expert help or attend masterclasses. Tickets from £12.
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Feature Sophie Ellis
We’re following…
STYLE FILE
Layer up the pastels for a sugary-sweet scheme that will spark joy on even the dullest grey day Walls in August and Tuscan Sunrise matt emulsion, £42 per 2.5L; doors in Potion matt emulsion, £42 per 2.5L, all Graham & Brown
TREND ALERT
Revitalising pastels Let the freshness of spring resonate throughout your home with the uplifting power of pastel tones
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STYLE FILE For a modern take on this look, go glossy with your finishes and a high-impact look Esker kitchen in Azure, price on application, Wickes Stucco lamp in Turquoise, £104; 30cm straight empire shade in Liberty Hera Plume Jade, £63, both Pooky
Linen bedding in Soft Pink, from £40, scooms
Pastel Violet abstract stained glass geometric art print, from £18, Claude & Leighton
Mint green walls and tonal bedding will rejuvenate your mood each morning Walls in Revival flat matt emulsion, £35.99 per 2.5L, Crown Paints
Three-layer linen easy-fit shade in Pink, £22, BHS
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Feature Thomas Poad
ast the gentle glow of a spring dawn through your home with powder pinks, sunrise yellows and soothing greens to boost you and your home’s mood. A fresh take on the pastel staple, we are seeing this trend pop up across our favourite stores, from Dunelm to H&M. Cheer up a neutral living room with a hint of gentle colour across your soft furnishings, wall art and tableware, or transform a dated bathroom or kitchen into a radiant space with sorbet-hued tiles, unit doors and light fittings. The pairing of green and pink has been growing in popularity, and is a beautiful take on this trend. Use it in bedding and throws that you can layer together and look to shops such as The Range and Lust Home for pink-and-green botanical wallpapers. Keep the effect airy with lightly-hued wood and brilliant white, rather than cream, for maximum freshness and match the vibrancy of each colour for a co-ordinated look. March 2022
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LIVING ROOM MAKEOVER
‘I balanced period charm with a quirky boho twist’ Seeing beyond the layers of paint, Aimee Baker got to work revealing her living room’s hidden beauty, enhancing it with period glam and natural materials n the hunt for their forever home, Liz and Russell Baker found a four-bedroom, 1930s property in need of TLC. ‘We wanted a project we could tailor to our own taste, and it meant we could get more for our money,’ says Aimee. ‘We fell in love with the art deco character of the house and wanted to restore it back to its best.’ It was the living room that really sold this home to Aimee: ‘I loved the high ceilings and the period features, and it felt spacious, airy and full of potential.’ So, the couple got to work updating the décor to get it looking its best once more.
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STEP INSIDE.. WHO LIVES HERE? I’m Aimee Baker, 36, on Instagram @feather_that_nest, and I live with my husband, Russell, 40, and our two children, Leo, two, and Ruby, four months old. We’re both mortgage brokers and have lived in this four-bedroom, 1930s detached house in Bristol since July 2020. WHAT WAS UPDATED? We sanded and finished the floorboards; took the walls back to plaster; stripped the woodwork and coving, and painted everything white. WHY THE CHANGE? The room was really tired with decades of yellowing paint. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? It took around two months. We did it all ourselves – childcare from grandparents at the weekends meant we could blitz jobs. TOTAL COST
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The whole house needed renovating, but ‘the living room was one of the least horrendous rooms,’ explains Aimee. ‘So we decided to tackle it first. That way we’d at least have one space to relax in.’ The room was originally cream, but the paint was peeling, there were cracks in the walls and the bare floorboards
My style tips PICK A HERO ITEM Choose
one piece to build your scheme around, like I did with my gorgeous green sofa. I made it a centrepiece of the room by pairing it with neutrals and greys so it stands out.
CREATE A FOCAL POINT I didn’t want the focus of the room to be the TV, so I decided to do something special with the wall behind the sofa and made a feature for it out of Juju hats. HINT AT PERIOD STYLE Nod to the age of a period property while still creating a contemporary feel by adding subtle but glam touches, like my art deco-inspired marble hearth.
Aimee used cardboard circles to work out the layout of her Juju hat display: ‘I realised a few grouped together would look like a work of art’
A ROOM tactile mix of jute, faux fur and velvet LIVINGmakes MAKEOVER Aimee’s reading corner feel ultra
had never been properly treated so were rough and unpleasant to look at. Aimee and Russell loved the original features hidden under layers of paint, so they made it their mission to restore the room to its former glory.
cosy – and the neutral palette ensures her green sofa is still the star of the show
WHAT WE DID
First, the couple stripped and waxed the floor. ‘We’d restored floorboards before, but they’d reacted to the varnish and turned an ugly orange colour,’ explains Aimee. ‘Using clear wax oil allowed them to retain their soft hue.’ Then, they carved a channel into the chimney breast to hide the TV wires, before replastering the walls. ‘I would have preferred a mirror or picture above the lovely fireplace, but we like to watch TV,’ says Aimee, ‘so, we
LS BIG BOTANICwAith
Feature & styling Lisa Moses Photos Katie Jane Watson
ur Inject colo – Aimee nts jumbo pla e in ever y n o t u p ha s liven up to r e n r co white her fresh . scheme
The couple chose the art deco-style cabinet from Atkin and Thyme to reflect the age of the house. It’s also a chic way to hide essential, but unsightly, electronic gear
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KITCHEN IDEAS Save a kitchen from going to landfill by buying second-hand. Specialist companies sell cabinets, appliances and worktops from customers who are upgrading to something new, which will reduce your eco footprint while giving you the vintage look you’re after Bespoke painted kitchen with slate worktops, £3,000, The Used Kitchen Company
TURN BACK
the clock Create a heritage kitchen with repurposed furniture, period sinks and taps, retro-style appliances and tiles or lighting with authentic aged charm
K Large Antique White vintage wall clock, £64.95, Melody Maison
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itchens with character never go out of style and those that have a heritage feel create a timeless effect that will last for years to come. If you’re going all-out and changing the cabinets, consider buying second-hand, as it’s a wonderfully sustainable solution, or simply upcycle existing furniture
with a lick of paint. Reclaimed flooring tends to be on the pricey side so seek out laminate or LVT with an old timber floorboard style to get a similar look for less. Choose a vintageinspired sink and tap, retro appliances and accessories, and you’ll have the ultimate eclectic kitchen packed with personality.
KITCHEN IDEAS
GOOD
as new
‘We always recommend viewing any used kitchen, as it is important to check out the finish, colour and condition. Buy something a little bigger than you need so you have some extra units to play with, as fillers or panels can make the kitchen fit its new home.’ Looeeze Grossman, Founder of The Used Kitchen Company
Get the reclaimed flooring look for less with LVT in a rustic timber effect. LVT is ideal for kitchens as it’s durable, moisture-resistant and easy to clean Signature Rotterdam Oak, £70 per sq m, Amtico
Pendant lighting with filament bulbs gives period schemes an industrial edge Cecilia pendants, £66.50 each, Pooky
Antique-style cutlery, £14 for a four-piece set, Rockett St George
Feature Hayley Gilbert
Woods Irish Linen Instant Dryer tea towel, £16.50 each, Woods Fine Linens
Mix timeless accessories with vintage pieces for an eclectic feel and display your collection on open shelving for quick access to your essentials Mini Prep Pro, £50; traditional kettle, £65; two-slice toaster, £60, all Cuisinart
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SEW simple
Make a circle rug from bright braided fabric strips to fill your floor with cheerful spring colours s well as adding softness underfoot, rugs are a hero item that can really pull a room together – or give you a stylish starting point to build a scheme around. So, rather than searching for the perfect design, why not make your own with our simple stepby-step project? It’s made with fabric strips braided together and sewn into a spiral to form a circle; the braiding gives it a lovely cosy, textured finish. The best bit? You can make it any size you want, in any colours you want, for a truly bespoke piece.
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SHOPPING LIST ✔ 3m of fabric (see instructions for details) ✔ Thread ✔ Sewing machine ✔ Scissors ✔ Washi tape
The rug is made with strips of fabric plaited together to make a braid. For a 75cm-wide rug, you will need to make a braid approximately 35-40m long. If you are using lengths of fabric for this project, you will need 3m to make a rug this size; if you are using old clothes, three large men’s shirts or four women’s T-shirts will be about enough. If you are using up leftover fabric scraps, you can just keep going until they are used up – you can always add more to it over time if you choose to. Cut the fabric into 2.5cm wide strips. Don’t cut these strips too long; they should be around 50cm long at the most, otherwise you may end up getting your plaiting tangled. Start the plaiting by first tying the three strips of fabric together at the top. Tape this tied end to a tabletop or other flat, steady surface and begin to braid the three fabric strips together. To do this, take an outside strip and cross it from the outside to the centre, before doing the same with the opposite side. When you get to the end of each strip of fabric you will need to join another strip on to continue braiding. To do this, first cut a small slit in the end of each strip and thread them through one another. Thread the end of the strip you are braiding through the slit on the new strip, then the new strip through the slit on the braided strip, then pull the joined pieces tight together to hide the join. This method creates a softer join which will make it easier to sew through later than tying
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the ends together. When you come to the end of the braid, simply tie the ends in a loose knot to stop it from unravelling. Once you have braided the fabric strips together, you can begin sewing the braid into a circle rug. First, take the knot at the beginning and wrap the braid around it to create the centre of your rug. Using the widest possible zigzag stitch setting on your sewing machine, stitch across the braid to join the layers of the spiral to one another. Continue turning and sewing the braid into a spiral, letting the machine feed the braid through. Don’t be tempted to pull the loose end too tight or you will end up with a bumpy bowl shape rather than a flat rug. As the rug gets bigger you may find that putting a support, such as some books, underneath it
Top tip
If you’re using fabrics in several different colours and patterns, choose a thread colour that matches the dominant shade so that the stitching blends in.
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will help to keep the rug moving through your sewing machine smoothly. Once you have sewn up to the end of the braid you can undo the knot and stitch the loose ends in place on the underside of the rug. If you have any gaps, you can go back over them on your sewing machine once the main body of the spiral is complete.
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Project & step by step photos Samantha Claridge Main photo Dave Caudery Styling Beth Charlton Lucas
REAL HOME
Country-meets-coastal semi
‘I’ve created my dream cottage home by the sea’ As a creative outlet from her busy day job, Sera Bailey spends her spare time giving her home a country-cottage look, taking inspiration from its coastal location The silver extractor fan was too modern for Sera’s taste, so she made a DIY cover for it, adding panelling to match the cabinets, as well as open pantry-style shelving either side
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t’s hard to believe that Sera and Simon Bailey’s beautifully decorated home is their first ever renovation project. In fact, this is the first home they’ve ever owned. ‘We love living in Christchurch, but for years we struggled to get on the property ladder as the area is so expensive. Instead, we rented while we saved up a deposit. Once we had our two children, we realised we would need a family-sized home, which would be even more costly,’ Sera explains.
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In 2018, the family were finally ready to buy their first house and knew exactly what they were looking for. ‘We wanted a property that we could renovate so we could make it our own,’ says Sera. ‘We were prepared to wait for the right house to come along. I knew what I wanted for my family, and I wasn’t prepared to compromise.’ The family looked at seven houses before they found this one situated in New Milton, right by the coast and close to the New Forest. ‘We had a tick
REAL HOME
‘After years of renting, where I could only do temporary fixes, my imagination went into overdrive’
COME ON IN. . WE ARE Sera Bailey, 36, a midwife. I share my decorating progress on Instagram @wisteria.house_. I live with my husband, Simon, 40, a head of department, and our two children, Evie, 12, and Seth, nine.
OUR HOME IS an Edwardian, threebedroom, semi-detached house located in New Milton. MY TOP TIP is to teach yourself how to do simple home repairs rather than paying to have them done. This has saved us so much money.
BLOOMING LOVELY Use faux floral wreaths to inject longlasting spring style into your interiors; they can easily be swapped throughout the year for a seasonal display.
MY FAVOURITE THING about this house is its location right on the seaside and by the beach – and we have the New Forest on our doorstep. MY BEST DIY was boxing in the extractor fan in the kitchen to hide it from view.
GROUND FLOOR
KITCHEN-DINER
OUR MUST HAVES Tatton blackout roller blind, from £20, Dunelm. Dad, baby, girl and flower print, £18, Sketchy Muma. Round lavender artificial flower wreath, £15.99 The Range
Living room
WC
Bedroom
Feature Maxine Brady Photos David Giles
By spray-painting the cabinets matt white, swapping the handles and adding vintagestyle accessories, Sera gave the glossy kitchen a country look
Kitchen
Sera likes to style her home with natural materials, such as these wooden chopping boards. She shops around for budget finds from HomeSense, The Range and Dunelm
The family couldn’t believe their luck when they found this house – it had everything on their wishlist, with beautiful wisteria growing outside
Dining area
Bathroom
Bedroom Bedroom
FIRST FLOOR
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FOOD & DRINK
5-INGREDIENT FEEDS Combine just five ingredients (or fewer!) with your store-cupboard staples for hassle-free dinners
PREPARATION TIME 5 minutes COOKING TIME 30 minutes SERVES 4
Asian fish parcels YOU WILL NEED ✔ 320g pack edamame and vegetable stir-fry mix ✔ 2 pak choi, leaves separated and halved lengthways ✔ 4 frozen hake fillets ✔ 8 tbsp Tesco Finest soy, chilli and ginger dressing ✔ 2 packs of microwaveable wholegrain rice
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DIRECTIONS ■ Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/ Gas Mark 6. Lay four large squares of foil on a work surface and top with four squares of baking paper. Divide the pack of stir-fry mix between each square. ■ Add the pak choi on top and sprinkle each square with 1 tbsp water. Top with the frozen hake fillets and drizzle 1 tbsp Tesco Finest soy, chilli and ginger dressing over each square.
■ Wrap up into parcels and transfer to a baking tray. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the fish is cooked through. ■ Meanwhile, heat the packs of microwaveable rice to pack instructions. ■ Open the parcels and drizzle 1 tbsp of the dressing over each. Serve with the rice. Recipe and image courtesy of Tesco, realfood. tesco.com, sorted.club
FOOD & DRINK
Easy pepper and pasta broth YOU WILL NEED ✔ 150g spaghetti ✔ 400g canned chopped tomatoes in juice ✔ 200ml passata ✔ 10g vegetable stock cube, crumbled ✔ 2 x 500g bags of frozen sliced peppers ✔ Salt and freshly ground black pepper ✔ Vinegar, to taste ✔ Sugar, to taste ✔ Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling ✔ Frozen baguette, baked and sliced
PREPARATION TIME 15 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes SERVES 4
(optional)
DIRECTIONS ■ Place the spaghetti in a clean tea-towel and then break it up into small pieces using a rolling pin or by hand. ■ Place the tomatoes, passata, stock cube, peppers and 500ml water into a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer. ■ Add the broken spaghetti, mix well and then simmer gently for 15 minutes or until the spaghetti is cooked. You may need to add a little more water. ■ Season well with salt and pepper, then add vinegar and sugar to taste to balance all the flavours. ■ Serve in bowls with a swirl of extra virgin olive oil and baguette.
Photo credit Kate Whitaker
Recipe from The Canny Cook by Phil Vickery, Kyle Books, £16.99
TOP TIP This simple and delicious bake can be eaten either hot or cold, with some crusty bread.
Butterbean, fennel and tomato bake with orange and thyme YOU WILL NEED ✔ 2 fennel bulbs, sliced into even wedges ✔ Zest and juice of 1 unwaxed orange ✔ Drizzle of sunflower oil ✔ 500g mixed baby tomatoes ✔ Leaves from 1 sprig of fresh thyme ✔ 1 x 400g can of butterbeans, drained and rinsed ✔ Generous pinch of sea salt and black pepper
Recipe from Vegan Roasting Pan by Katy Beskow, Quadrille, £15
Feature Sophie Ellis
■ Preheat the oven to 180°C/160ºC Fan/Gas Mark 4. ■ Lay the fennel wedges into a roasting pan and then squeeze over the orange juice (reserve the zest for later). Drizzle the wedges with a little sunflower oil and roast in the oven for 30 minutes. ■ Carefully remove from the oven and stir in the tomatoes, thyme and orange zest. Return to the oven for a further 10 minutes. ■ After 10 minutes, stir in the butterbeans and cook for a further 5 minutes until the butterbeans are hot. ■ Remove from the oven and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Photo credit Luke Albert
DIRECTIONS
PREPARATION TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 45 minutes SERVES 2
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GARDEN IDEAS
In your garden
THIS MONTH
As your garden starts to come to life, help it look its best with a few easy tasks, and improve your soil with your own compost bin
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Feature Louise Midgley Main photo Getty Images
nnouncing the arrival of spring, wild and ornamental flowers alike burst into bloom in March. Keep your eyes peeled for pretty camellias, bergenias and of course, Narcissus, which will soon light up our green spaces. Bulbs that include crocus, Muscari (grape hyacinth), Chionodoxa and daffodils will multiply when left to naturalise in the ground.
If, after a number of years, the clumps begin to produce a big mass of foliage but with only a few flowers, it’s time to lift and split them into smaller sections. Not only will this stimulate more flowers the following year, it will also give you plenty of new plant material to spread around the garden. The same applies to any overgrown clump-forming, herbaceous perennials, such as hardy geraniums, sedums,
your eyes peeled ‘forKeepcamelias, bergenias
and of course, Narcissus, which wil soon light up our green spaces.
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If you don’t have space for a blanket of daffodils, plant them in pots for a cheerful little display
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Pick a fine day to give the lawn its first mow – take care to only trim the top third,
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The pretty petals and sweet scent of a camellia are a true sign that spring has sprung, and a good cue to gardeners to get to work!
GARDEN IDEAS
TRY? OT N
HOW TO…
divide summer-flowering perennials As they mature, clump-forming perennials make new productive growth on the outside edges of the plant, leaving the middle section to die off. Loosen the clump all the way around with a fork until it can be lifted out of the ground. Use two forks, back to back in the centre, to prise it apart into new useable sections. Use a garden knife or spade if the clump is too solid for forks to penetrate. Lift and plant the new divisions into revitalised soil incorporated with organic matter. From one overcrowded L. ephemerum…
… to four healthy little plants
Carpets of crocus burst into flower in early spring. Here, they have naturalised to form a meadow of purple
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Lysimachia ephemerum and asters, which you can divide in early spring if their growth has become congested (see ‘How to…’ at the top of this page). There are few things more satisfying than growing something from seed and watching it develop into an edible or flowering plant. Sow hardy annual seeds outside this month, as long as the ground isn’t frosted or waterlogged. Half-hardy annuals need to be sown under cover as they are not equipped to withstand cold weather. Check the seed packet if in doubt. Now is the best time to hard prune shrubs that are grown for their colourful stems, these include dogwoods (Cornus), shrubby willows (Salix) and ornamental brambles (Rubus). The brightest colours are produced from young stems. Make this the year you grow your own produce. If your space and budget are limited, be creative and repurpose containers, but be sure to make drainage holes in anything that you use.
a colourful show
Bees become more active with the early blooms – to draw them into your garden, plant crocus ‘Violet Queen’, a variety that bees love for its pollen-rich flowers
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wi x i u se s g r m ow wel in pots –
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