Fabulous Floribundas and Super Shrubs It’s hard to imagine any British garden without roses somewhere in the mix – for many, their beautiful blooms are a must-have in any self-respecting summer border. Whether you’re a first timer or an avid rosarian, planting bareroot is one of the best ways of adding a rose to your… Continue reading Coming up Roses part 3: Fabulous Floribundas and Super Shrubs
Best Gardening & Garden Design Apps to Green Up Your Space
Gardening apps make gardening more straightforward than ever. Need help choosing the best gardening app for your needs? This article can help. We’ve listed the best gardening and garden design apps for every level, from experienced gardeners to beginners. These tools provide all you need to grow healthy plants, vegetables, and herbs. These apps have… Continue reading Best Gardening & Garden Design Apps to Green Up Your Space
Everything You Need to Know about Yew Trees
One of only 3 conifers native to the United Kingdom (along with Scots pine and juniper), yew is a familiar feature of our gardens and parks. But how much do you really know about it, and could there be a place for it in your garden? In this article, you will find everything you need… Continue reading Everything You Need to Know about Yew Trees
Your Guide to Oak Trees: Facts, Types & Essential Information
It’s no exaggeration to describe oak trees as the national tree of Great Britain. They have been integral to our countryside for centuries, so naturally, many people are interested in growing oak trees for themselves. Planting an oak tree is one of the most altruistic things a gardener can do. These slow-growing giants take a… Continue reading Your Guide to Oak Trees: Facts, Types & Essential Information
Somerset Apple Cake with optional streusel twist
The streusel topping elevates a traditional tea time delicacy to a luxurious dessert. The apple store is usually looking a little depleted by this time of year, but if you still have a few Bramley apples knocking about this recipe is a lovely way of using them up. (If you don’t have Bramley’s any other… Continue reading Somerset Apple Cake with optional streusel twist
Comté & pear tartlets
February’s pickings from the vegetable patch can be sparse, but if you’re lucky you’ll have apples and pears from autumn’s harvest to use up. There might also be some winter salad leaves such as mizuna, lamb’s lettuce or baby spinach. Tossed in a punchy mustardy dressing, they’re the ideal counterpoint to this crisp and indulgently… Continue reading Comté & pear tartlets
Getting a Word in Hedgewise
Here at Ashridge the ‘dormant season’ is anything but – in fact it’s our busiest time of the year. But we’re not the only ones kept busy in winter. While we’re despatching bareroot trees and hedging plants from the nursery, out in the fields hedge layers are hard at work. Hedge laying has been practised… Continue reading Getting a Word in Hedgewise
Wine in the garden
We adore colour here at Ashridge. Find us a plant lover who doesn’t. So we’re excited to get on board with Pantone’s Colour of the Year, the energetic-sounding Viva Magenta. Pantone describes its 2023 hero as ‘A shade rooted in nature… brave and fearless.’ Closer examination reveals a rich, saturated wine – or claret if… Continue reading Wine in the garden
The best of bareroot trees
We’re slap-bang in the middle of bareroot planting season. And that’s something worth celebrating when you love trees and shrubs but are on a budget. If you’re new to the joys of bareroot, the bottom line is that these are brilliantly healthy – but dormant – specimens. All trees and shrubs enter a period of… Continue reading The best of bareroot trees
Coming up Roses Part 2
Hybrid Tea Roses If you are going to say it with flowers, say it with a rose. Imbued with centuries of symbolism, roses speak volumes when words aren’t quite enough, and with Valentine’s Day and Mothering Sunday on the horizon (and bare root season in full swing) now’s the perfect time to think about giving… Continue reading Coming up Roses Part 2