How To Grow Beautiful Plants

Plants are the most amazing things; good for the heart and food for the soul. With their stunning colours, architectural forms and mind blowing fragrance, they make the world a better place. Whether used on their own or in combination all that beauty is the source of much joy.

We will be looking at lots of different types of plants: some I've written about on my website, and some from special articles in my blog and newsletter.

Climbing Plants

This page looks at 9 different species of climbing plants, with a wealth of information on each one. These include climbing roses, clematis, jasmine, grapevines, passionflower, honeysuckle, everlasting sweet-pea, solanum and, last but not least, the incredible wisteria.

Clematis Varieties

What incredibly amazing climbing plants these are! Coming in so many different varieties it's hard to know which to choose. What a joy it is to see the first flowers opening; it's enough to take your breath away.

I've listed some of the different varieties, their care and pruning for the most fantastic display, here.

25 Best Plants For Beginners

I compiled my list of 25 plants for beginner gardeners to try. They rarely, if ever, fail. Many gardeners starting out on their journey ask questions about plants and flowers, and need just a little bit of guidance. The first thing is to understand the different types of plants found in a garden (this is so important when starting out), so I explain a little about this. Then I suggest 25 wonderful plants to give a gorgeous display, and then I look at plants that grow well in combination with each other.

Of course, there are many more amazing plants to choose from, but this is a good start to get up and running.

Autumn Flowers and Plants

Autumn can be a tremendously colourful time of the year with its beautiful flowers and vibrantly coloured leaves. Get ideas on some tremendous plants for borders and pots. Your garden borders can be a rich tapestry of colour, texture and amazing form.

How To Grow Hydrangeas

With the beautiful form and striking colour hydrangeas are fabulous shrubs to grow in the garden. What a picture they make! 

Want to know the different types, how to keep them flowering successfully each year, and how to keep hydrangeas blue?

Here's how.

Planting Combinations

When we get it right, and everything comes together, this can be the most rewarding part of gardening. Sometimes putting plants together can seem quite obvious: the pinks, blues, purples and whites, or even oranges and purples, pink and lime green, yellows and pinks. At other times, this alchemy happens quite by accident and we amaze ourselves at what we unintentionally achieved.

What a stunning combination this always is. The vibrant yellow and orange of this lovely spirea in spring with the incredible blue of the shade loving omphalodes shining out in all its glory underneath. Just beautiful!

Look at the way the colour combinations here lend a delicate vibrancy to this arrangement.

Learn why certain colours work well together, think about texture of flower and leaves, their delicacy or architectural form, and colour ranges.

Hanging Baskets

A chance for a stunningly opulent display, hanging baskets are worth their place in the grander scheme. This is our chance to combine wonderful colours.

Find out more about the best way to grow these amazing combinations of annual plants and how to get the best display possible right until the first frosts.

How To Grow Pea-Shoots

Vibrant, beautiful, health-giving pea shoots. Learn how to grow them successfully in this step-by-step tutorial with pictures. Use in salads, stir-fries and as a tasty accompaniment to many dishes. There are so many health benefits it is unbelievable!

Climbing Vegetables

Climbing vegetables can be grown particularly when space is at a premium. Learn here what can be done to maximise your space even using your pergola for growing your own.

It's amazing what can be done.

Slug Damage

Ah, those pesky creatures. They are all set to ravage your new plant. Beware! Slugs and snails particularly are responsible for a lot of frustration and loss in the garden.

Find out what you can do to limit the damage and even eradicate it altogether.

 Advertising Links

This page may contain advertising links earning a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It is my hope these links will help you to make informed and creative choices.   

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