May Update

Spring has finally sprung after a stretch of dreary weather and our garden centre is buzzing with excitement!

Flowers are popping up left and right and the trees and shrubs are showing off their fresh new growth. At Hope Valley Plant Centre, we are bursting with vibrant colours.

We have lots of Spring bedding, perfect for hanging baskets and pots and in the next couple of weeks we will be taking delivery of our lovely hanging baskets.

We have a large selection of perennials, for that cottage garden look. Great low maintenance plants that flower prolifically and come back year after year.

Looking for a fun project to kick off your weekend? Why not try your hand at creating a container veg or fruit patch? We have a large selection of fruit and veg, including a tomatoes, blueberries to rhubarb, some thing to tickle every taste bud. Also we have plenty of herbs to compliment any dish.

New Gift Ranges

Our new building is now fully opened and we are looking forward to welcoming you all and sharing all the new gift ranges, increased garden furniture options and lots more.

Sheds & Greenhouses

Now is a great time to order that new shed and greenhouse. We have a new range of show models on the site and are happy to talk through your requirements.

General Garden Maintenance

Still a great time to sow new lawns with grass seed. – remembering to water well if there is a lack of rain.
Rake out any dead grass from lawns.
Feed the lawn with a suitable lawn fertiliser.
Check for Daisies and Dandelions and dig out
Plant out container grown trees and shrubs - remembering to water well if there is a lack of rain.
Tie in any new growth of Climbing plants, such as Honeysuckle and Clematis.
Buy a water butt to collect any rainfall to use later.
Buy a compost bin to recycle any green waste from the kitchen and garden.
Apply bark mulches around newly planted or established trees & shrubs to retain moisture and help suppress weeds.
Sprinkle a handful of sulphate of potash around fruit trees and bushes.
Give Camellias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Pieris a good handful of ericaceous (acidic) fertiliser.
Clip hedges and apply a granular fertiliser
Keep topiary in check by giving a light clip now.
Hand weed beds to prevent weeds establishing.
Watch out for Red Lilly Beetle on the leaves of Lilies. You can easily squash any you find or spray with a suitable pesticide like Provado Ultimate Bug Killer.
Apply teak oil to wooden garden furniture to condition and improve the look of it for Summer.
Look out for Greenfly and blackfly developing on shrubs, perennials and roses, if any signs then spray with a pesticide.

In the Allotment or Vegetable Patch

Feed Strawberries as they are forming fruit with a liquid Tomato fertiliser or powder sulphate of potash.
Earth up Potatoes by moving soil or compost up around their stems.
Hang Pheromone traps in Apple and Plum trees to control pests.
Remember to pick Rhubarb as they develop and water clumps with liquid feed.
Remove Strawberry “runners” as soon as they grow – they take nutrients from mother plant. Pot up runners in plant pots to make extra plants to plant up in the Autumn.
Feed fruit trees and bushes with sulphate of potash
Watch for signs of powdery mildew on fruit trees and bushes and treat with a fungicide.
Plant out crops raised under glass, such as tomatoes, marrows and courgettes.
Prevent birds for eating your soft fruit by covering small bushes with netting.

In the Greenhouse

Remember to properly ventilate your greenhouse, poor air circulation can encourage disease.
Keep a look out for pests, check under leaves and new shoots for signs of attack – usually Red Spider Mite, Whitefly or Greenfly
Try hanging sticky traps over plants to catch any whitefly.
Important to water growbags and pots regularly, sometimes daily if needed in very warm weather.
Pinch out the centre of any cuttings to promote bushy growth
Liquid feed any planted up hanging baskets.

Three great shrubs that you should find a place in your garden are:

If these don't take your fancy, we have a large range of spring interest plants in the plant area now!

Hedgehog Awareness Week

4th – 10th May 2026

It's time to roll out the welcome mat for our spiky friends because British Hedgehog Week is here! These adorable garden guardians are more than just cute faces – they're vital allies in maintaining the health and balance of our green spaces.

Hedgehogs are nature's pest control experts, munching on slugs, snails, and other pesky critters that can wreak havoc on our beloved plants. By welcoming hedgehogs into our gardens, we create a natural and sustainable solution to pest management, reducing the need for harmful chemicals and pesticides.

But that's not all – hedgehogs also play a crucial role in ecosystem biodiversity, acting as seed dispersers and helping to maintain healthy soil through their foraging activities.