Andi Way Garden Design

Did You Know…?

Verbena bonariensis (or purpletop vervain) has a "see-through" habit with tall, extremely thin and wiry stems. This lets flowers float like purple clouds in a garden and allows you to look straight past it to other flowers - it blocks no views!

If you're looking to add colour and interest to your garden, consider verbena bonariensis! You can read more about it on our latest blog article.

More about the world of gardening for you!

Did you know...? Hydrangea Annabelle is a sterile cultivar, meaning those massive flower globes are made entirely of showy sepals designed to look pretty rather than produce seeds! This is why the blooms stay attractive for months on end.

The plant was famously discovered in the wild near Anna, Illinois, in 1910 by Harriet Kirkpatrick, who noticed its breathtaking presence in the woods and transplanted it to her garden, where it eventually took the horticultural world by storm.

Read more about Hydrangea Annabelle in our latest blog post, just click the link in our bio!

Well it seemed rude not to… a very interesting work related visit to National Memorial Arboretum today. Very thought provoking and a lovely walk too, well worth a visit.

Whilst many plants are surprisingly resilient and a good watering twice a week is usually enough, some blooms in your garden need extra moisture during a heatwave, such as the one sweeping the UK at the moment… The key is knowing which plants need additional support during the heat.

Patio pots and planters can dry out fast when the weather gets warm – check the soil by inserting a finger a couple of inches into the pitting mix, if it feels dry, it’s time to water! Moving pots to a shaded area can help them retain their water for longer.

Hanging baskets need checking morning and evening as they can dry out in a couple of hours – this may mean they need a top-up twice a day when the temperatures rise.

Likewise, newly planted trees and shrubs, and vegetable gardens can all require additional water during the summertime.

So, when is the best time to water? Early in the morning, when cooler temperatures allow moisture to soak into the soil rather than evaporating quickly. In fact, the best time to water a garden is almost always before the day heats up, giving roots time to absorb moisture and helping plants cope better with soaring temperatures. Evening watering is the next best option during prolonged periods of extreme heat, but avoid watering in the middle of the day when much of that moisture is lost before roots can absorb it.

If you’re looking for more than sleeper raised beds, porcelain paving and artificial lawn. I you need someone to spend some time listening to you and thinking about what could work. If you want a garden to be a garden and actually include plants, trees and maybe a hedge. Can I suggest you start your garden journey with a garden designer and not a contractor with the biggest truck and cheapest quote.

Now that the sun is peeking through, many of you may be thinking about revamping your patio. Porcelain is an excellent choice as, not only does it look aesthetically pleasing, it is also very durable and hard-wearing.

One of the most fascinating facts about porcelain paving is that it is virtually non-porous, meaning it has a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%. This makes it highly resistant to frost, algae, and red wine stains - perfectly suited for the UK summer climate!

Find out more about the different types of patio paving available by reading our blog!

Time for more !

Peonies are symbols of romance, prosperity, and good fortune, and are capable of outliving the gardeners who plant them, with some plants known to thrive for over a hundred years.

In China, renowned tree peonies are still blooming that were planted over 400 years ago during the Ming Dynasty! Notable examples include the famous specimen in Heze City (the "queen of peonies") and the ancient tree at the Twin Pagoda Temple in Taiyuan.

An Old Wives’ Tale is that ants actually help peonies to pop open – this is a complete myth! The stunning flowers will unfurl themselves with or without the assistance of ants!

Read more about this beautiful, blousy bloom on our blog!

Despite the intermittent sun and relentless rain we’re currently experiencing, May is a powerhouse month for gardeners. It marks the end of frost in the Northern Hemisphere and allows for planting of hardy and half-hardy crops.

Named for the Greek goddess Maia (who symbolised nurturing and fertility), it is a time of maximum growth, with long days allowing direct sowing of vegetables, while flowers like foxgloves and hawthorn bloom.

Whether you’re looking for a sleek urban terrace or a rustic country retreat, here is our guide to the paving materials that are defining modern landscapes this year.

https://www.andiwaygarden.design/paving-the-way