April Update

April marks the opening of the "Grow Your Own" season, yes, the time when we put on our gardening gloves and embark on a journey to cultivate our very own veggies. And let me tell you, even the tiniest patch of land can be turned into a plentiful harvest.

Experimentation is the name of the game – pots, buckets, old sinks, you name it – they all make for splendid containers to grow your veggies, fruits, and herbs.

Now, here's a little trick to keep those pesky bugs at bay – companion planting! I swear by my stash of black pepper, mint and basil to shoo away those greenflies and whiteflies. And here's another nifty tip for you – plant some white alyssum (that lovely summer bedding plant) in your containers. Thrips, those tiny menaces, can't resist the allure of the alyssum, leaving your precious plants and veggies unscathed. And when the alyssum is swarming with thrips, just pull up and throw the lot into the green waste wheelie bin.

The new building, which if you have visited over the last couple of months, you will see that it is now almost complete. It is now open for you to explore and shop, whilst we undertake the last few finishing touches.

We have extended our range of garden furniture and increased our gift ranges.

General Garden Maintenance

• Repair or sow new lawns with grass seed.
• Apply moss killer to lawns – or sulphate of iron which is the active ingredient in moss killers.
• Rake out any dead grass from lawns.
• Start to feed the lawn with a suitable lawn fertiliser.
• Prune out any green shoots off any variegated shrubs.
• Check that stakes are not rubbing against trees or tree ties are not too tight.
• Cut away any “suckers” growing around the base of trees and shrubs.
• Last month’s top shrubs Forsythia and Ribes (flowering currants) prune back after flowers have finished.
• Sprinkle a handful of sulphate of potash around tulips to improve flowering
  
• Sow sweet pea outside around the base of cane supports, obelisks or even try a hanging basket for them to trail down.
• Give Camelias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Pieris a good handful of ericaceous (acidic) fertiliser.
• Now is the ideal time to start to spray roses as a preventive for mildew, rust and blackspot.
• Keep topiary in check by giving a light clip now

In the Allotment or Vegetable Patch

• Still a good time to sow Green Manure.
• Buy vegetable plug plants (Easter weekend onwards).
• Fertilise spring cabbage with a high nitrogen feed.
• Plant new Asparagus “crowns”
• Potatoes, Shallots and Onion sets are still be available to buy.
• Feed fruit trees and bushes with sulphate of potash
• Crops to sow directly outside or under cloches are Peas, Mangetout, mixed salad leaves, radish, cauliflower, turnip, lettuce, carrots, beetroot, cabbage, brussels, broad beans, leeks, rocket, swiss chard and spinach.
  
• Also sow in your vegetable plot Tagetes and poached egg plant to attract beneficial insects.

Hooray

The party's getting ready to start because summer bedding plants are on their way. It's nearly time to shake off those winter blues and embrace the vibrant hues of the season. Swing by Hope Valley Garden Centre to stock up.

Vegetables have started to arrive

Guess what's sprouting up at Hope Valley? Vegetables galore are arriving weekly. From crunchy carrots to juicy tomatoes, leafy greens to colourful peppers, our garden's bursting with freshness. Call in and let's make your grow your own bloom

 

Sheds and Greenhouses

Our shed show site is ready for you to visit and is fully stocked with new show models.  Now is a great time to order your new shed and our team are here and happy to help with your requirements,

We have 3 Greenhouse models on site for you to view and we are happy to guide your through the ordering process.