For your interest we have an archive newsletter section.
Please note that any special offers and prices mentioned may not now be current.

Autumn Jobs in the Garden

Autumn is now really creeping in with the wonderful autumn colours appearing in the hedgerows and in our gardens. These signs should be stimulating all good gardeners to get out into their gardens, as it is an important time in the gardening calendar. There should be a long list of jobs to do but we will mention just a few.

If you need to move any shrubs or trees around this should be done as soon as the leaves have fallen and the sap has stopped rising. With most species it is best to prune the plant back after transplanting, and also to cut clean any roots that get damaged. If you have any clumps of perennials which need dividing, again this is the time to do it. If you need any replacements there are still plenty available in the 9cm pots. Perennials also need dead heading soon, unless you want to leave the seed heads on for the birds in the winter.

If your hanging baskets are looking a little bedraggled, why not plant them up with winter pansies and variegated ivy? You can always use a young shrub or an evergreen grass such as Carex oshimensis Evergold as a centrepiece then plant this out into the garden in the spring when you are re-doing the basket for summer. If you do not mind the extra expense it is a good idea to have two sets of baskets, one for summer and one for winter, then you can set the next season's basket, and have it ready for hanging before taking the old one down as it is advisable to keep the basket in for at least a fortnight after setting to make sure everything is well settled in.

Autumn bedding should be planted now - wallflowers, sweet williams, bellis perennis, violas and pansies. The violas and pansies may well give you colour throughout the winter, and there are now some wonderful varieties available, from the traditional yellows and blues to some subtle pinks or pale yellows.

[Top of Page]

New Season's Seeds

Start to plan your seed sowing for next season as most of our new season's seeds have now come in, and once again we have one of the widest ranges in the area. There are too many new and interesting varieties to mention individually, but do look out for the following:

1. Last year Unwins launched a range of classic flower seeds of varieties which can be seen in many National Trust gardens. These proved to be very popular, and the range has been extended for 2001.
2. In a similar vein, Thompson & Morgan has launched "a distinctive range of rare and unusual seeds for the discerning gardener" in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. There are 60 varieties on a separate stand next to the Thompson & Morgan vegetables, most of which are not available in other ranges.
3. If you think that vegetables today have less flavour than they used to have, look out for Sophie Grigson's "Full of Flavour" vegetables. These are on the same stand as the King's & Johnson's vegetables.
4. Last year Suffolk Herbs launched a range of vegetable seeds produced by registered organic growers, and more varieties have been added for 2001. This is a welcome initiative, as many people are opposed to the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Sales were lower than we expected, but we have continued to stock these seeds so that you still have the choice. However, the seed companies will only continue to supply organic seeds if there is a demand for them, so the choice is yours. If the variety that you want is not available in the organic range, don't forget that King's seeds, although not organically grown, are not treated with fungicides or insecticides.
5. We have extended our range of Mr Fothergill's vegetables, but we still do not stock varieties which are available in other brands.
6. We have also extended our range of King's flowers. If you are bored with mixed sweet peas there are now 26 single colour varieties of King's sweet peas, plus many others in Unwin's and Thompson & Morgan.
7. Last but not least we are again selling 59p bargain seeds, Country Value this year instead of D. T. Brown. Both brands are produced by Mr. Fothergill's, but Country Value is a more complete range. The seed quality is good and the number of seeds per packet is similar to other brands. However, we suggest that you buy early as some of the varieties may run out later in the season, as happened with D T Brown this year.

[Top of Page]

Fruit Trees and Hedging

Now is the time to decide on any extra fruit trees you may want to plant this autumn. We have just started lifting the bare root stock and the full range should be ready in the next two or three weeks. We shall have 34 different varieties of apples in stock, as well as the family trees and crab apples. Apples vary in flavour enormously and we endeavour to give an understandable description in our catalogue, but the best is to try to taste the apples before deciding on the variety. This may prove difficult but those who visited an apple day event would have had the chance, or another good place to visit is the RHS Gardens at Wisley.

If you only have a small garden it may be wise to choose a family tree where three different compatible varieties have been grafted onto the same tree. Family trees are available for pears as well as apples.

We are also lifting all the bare rooted hedging plants and young trees. Some varieties are already available and others will be ready very shortly. We shall be starting to despatch bare rooted stock to our mail order customers next week, and contacting those who will be collecting from the Garden Centre. For anyone who has still not decided on the variety most suitable for their garden do come over to the Garden Centre as we have many 'demonstration hedges' planted around and we will happily walk you round and discuss the merits of different species. If you are coming over for a specific variety, do please telephone before you set out in case we are temporarily out of stock, and don't forget that we are closed all day Saturday and only open for restricted hours on Sundays. Click here for our full openning hours.

[Top of Page]

Autumn Vegetable Garden

For those with a vegetable garden, there are jobs you should be getting on with now. Any beans or peas should be left in until the leaves turn brown and this will ensure that the root nodules will set nitrogen into the soil. When these do come up, you can plant in their stead spinach, cauliflower or spring greens. If you do not have plants ready we do have some available in cell packs.

[Top of Page]

Chimenea Competition

A few other ideas. If you come up to the Garden Centre before 4th November there is the chance to enter into our chimenea competition. By answering three questions about La Hacienda Chimeneas and posting your answers into the prize chimenea you will be entered into a prize draw and have a chance to win a chimenea worth £99. This would be the ideal thing if you are planning a bonfire party, and then again for use next year on cooler evenings. They make very attractive garden features even when not alight, and also can be used for cooking as grills are available. With the new lids they are now much safer to leave out over winter. So if you want a chance to win one - hurry, hurry!

[Top of Page]

Ideas for Christmas

If you are vaguely thinking about Christmas and presents we may be able to help. Gift Vouchers are not very inspired but they are much appreciated by gardeners. They are available either exclusive to our Garden Centre, or we have the HTA Gift Vouchers which can be redeemed at hundreds of different Garden Centres throughout the country if they are members of the Horticultural Trades Association. Other gift ideas - we have a 2 seater teak bench selling at only £199, a verdigris sundial at £42.75 or a water feature for £180. These are all on display just as you come into the shop.

We shall be displaying our normal small but high quality Christmas decorations later this month, and one interesting new line will be Christmas potpourri - mistletoe, champagne cocktail, holly berry, spiced wine, frosted fruits and winter garden! There will be presents for your pets as well.

[Top of Page]

Aquatics and Pets

The cold water outside pond fish season has now come to an end, so this will make room for a new range of tropical starter tanks which will be very reasonably priced at £64.99. Another idea for a Christmas present! In the tropical room there has been great activity lately. A new bank of tanks have been constructed and these will shortly be set up with a marine system which will enable us to have a range of marine fish and invertebrates. (corals, sponges etc.) Hopefully these will be available by Christmas.

Many customers have asked if we could increase our range of pet products, so we have made space for a limited range including budgie food, dog chews, hamster food, wood shavings and straw plus some fun toys for dogs and cats.

[Top of Page]

Do you wish to receive future newsletters by e-mail?
If so, please click here.
Please click on here to return to the current newsletter.

Please click on one of these options to find out more about the garden centre:
Home - Plants - Garden Centre Shop - Newsletter
Buckingham Aquatics - Mail Order Service: Online Catalogue
How to find us - Contact Details - Opening Hours