The Nursery

AUTUMN FLOWER POWER

Head to THE NURSERY this autumn to ensure your garden is filled with blooms and prepared for a bumper spring too.

Now is a great time to head over to The Nursery garden centre in Hilperton.

“High summer may have been and gone but with our milder autumn conditions your garden can still look fantastic right up until the first frosts, which can sometimes not happen until the new year.” Says owner

Matthew Webb. “Many prairie-style plants like rudbeckias, echinaceas and heleniums come into their prime in September, and their dramatic flowers add instant impact to any border. As well as looking fantastic, these later flowering perennials are bee-friendly, providing an important late season food source for insects. Another great option is the wonderful salvia

‘Amistad’. Though slightly on the tender side (it needs protection from very hard frosts) their beautiful deep purple flowers - on strong upright stems - perform brilliantly right through autumn. Customers have proudly told me they were still in flower on Christmas Day!

"Grasses are also looking their best now as their lush green foliage gives way to striking seedheads. These look particularly effective planted alongside the laterflowering perennials I mentioned and continue to look good right through the winter (don’t chop them back until later winter/early spring and enjoy how they look covered in wintry frosts). They also act as important hiding places for overwintering insects like ladybirds."

The warm autumn ground is ideal for planting trees. The Nursery has one of the largest selections in the area. “Some people are nervous about planting trees, particularly if they have small gardens and don’t want something that gets too big.' continues Matthew. "Our knowledgeable staff can advise on the right tree for different spaces. Even the smallest garden can have a tree! Acers in particular offer superb autumn colour and stay pretty small, whilst our native rowan has dark green leaves which turn yellow and orange in autumn, and it’s large clusters of red berries are a great winter food source for birds.”

Autumn is also classic bulb planting season. From daffodils and tulips to alliums, pop in to the centre for a huge selection of top quality bulbs that will ensure your garden is filled with colourful blooms even in the depths of winter. They also have a huge range of winter bedding plants to keep you going too.

• the-nursery.co.uk

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’

“Many prairie-style plants like rudbeckias, echinaceas and heleniums come into their prime in September, and their dramatic flowers add instant impact to any border.”

Acers offer superb autumn colour

Wild Ivy

COVERING WILTSHIRE, SOMERSET & DEVON

James has spent 20 years designing & caring for gardens. He can help with everything from day to day maintenance to design & landscaping. • RHS QUALIFIED GARDENER • MAINTENANCE • DESIGN & LANDSCAPING • PRUNING • TREE CARE • WATER FEATURES wild-ivy.co.uk

07940 261734 • info_wildivy23@yahoo.com

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary

Saving stray & unwanted dogs since 1958

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary is a small independent animal rescue organisation. We are a non-destruction sanctuary for abandoned and unwanted dogs.

Our dogs are all vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, neutered (if old enough), chipped, and looking for loving new homes OPEN DAILY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

(Office Hours: 10:00-12:30 & 14:00-16:30)

Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary, Priory Rd, Ascot, Berks SL5 8RJ 01344 882689 | pineridgedogs@yahoo.co.uk

Registered Charity Number 256728

HUGE SELECTION OF TREES & SHRUBS

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE HERE

BEAUTIFUL PLANTS ALL GROWN ON BRITISH NURSERIES

• Bedding & Annuals • Perennials • Veg & Herbs • Trees & Shrubs • Climbers • Roses PLUS: Pots & Planters • Compost • Fertilisers & Chemicals • Bulbs & Seeds • Tools • Sundries

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: Monday - Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm the-nursery.co.uk