WINTER SHRUBS

Fill your garden with some seasonal colour with a selection of winter-flowering shrubs. They can be planted at any time providing the soil isn’t frozen solid or waterlogged. Choose from mahonia, viburnums, sarcococca, witch hazel, winter jasmine and winter-flowering heathers and shrubby honeysuckles. Many have the added bonus of strong perfume – so plant them close to the house. Give them the best possible start by digging in plenty of organic matter – such as compost or composted bark – and add some general granular fertiliser.

Camellias
With their glossy, evergreen foliage and large flowers in spring (though I've seen many in flower already in Devon) camellias are the perfect way of brightening up the garden. Buy yourself some now or give them as presents.
They need a lime-free soil, so if yours isn’t suitable grow them in large pots in Ericaceous compost.

Nursery Retailer of the year 2006/07 WINNER!
The presentation, attention to detail and devotion to plants displayed by St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter were key reasons why the judges selected it to be this year’s Nursery retailer of the year. St Bridget’s combines over 80 years of plant growing history and heritage with modern marketing practices and retail skills. The nursery is separated into six departments—propagation, micro-propagation, container grow nursery stock, herbaceous, greenhouse and open ground nursery stock. Production largely supplies the two garden centres situated on the outskirts of Exeter, though it also fulfils trade, mail and e-mail orders. A great focus has been put on marketing initiative in the past year, with advertising via local radio and print media. The garden centres have recently been approved by The Devon Wildlife Trust, allowing them to promote products that are wildlife friendly by placing the DWT logo on plant bed labels. In a bid to reduce the need for chemicals in production, biological control has been used wherever possible. For the last two years Compost Tea has been used which has both enhanced growth and reduced the need for fungicide applications. The company has also hosted events, with speakers covering topics such as garden design, wildlife gardening and planning for the future.

The award was presented at The Garden Centre and Retail Award Ceremony held in London's Grosvenor Square hotel and collecting the award was Tammy Flinn, Marketing Manager for St Bridget Nurseries and the fourth generation of the family run business.

Says Tammy: “This award is a fantastic achievement and a great recognition of the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone who works here. I’d personally like to dedicate the award to my late grandfather, Norman Langdon, who led the company for 63 years with inspiring promotion of horticulture. He would be really proud of us.”

LOOKING AFTER YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

One of the few businesses to still grow Christmas trees is St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter.It dedicates about an acre of land at its Clyst St Mary nursery to growing mostly Norway spruces. Although this variety is the most traditional and usually the cheapest choice, it has fallen from favour as it tends to shed needles quite heavily (the secret is to keep them well watered and away from radiators). The nursery also grows a small number of Nordmann fir, which hold their needles more but is far more expensive because it is much slower growing.

All live Christmas trees – whether they’re cut or potted –benefit from being kept out of doors for as long as possible. When you bring them indoors, position them in as cool a place as possible – and certainly away from sources of heat – such as near fires or radiators. If they dry out they will start to look tired and drop their needles. Even Nordmann and other non-needle-drop trees will look better and last longer if they’re kept watered.

Potted trees should be watered regularly so the compost doesn’t dry out. Cut trees can be stood in self-watering stands and the reservoir topped up daily. To help improve water uptake, remove the bottom inch or so of stem from cut trees before bringing them indoors. And you can help even further by spraying all live Christmas trees with an anti-desiccant – such as Spray ‘N’ Save – before moving them indoors.

St Bridget's also sells holly wreaths - made by hand at the St Bridget Floristry Department - and bunches of holly and mistletoe. St Bridget Nurseries is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm, Sundays 10.30am to 4.30pm (except Christmas Eve 10am to 4pm). Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias certainly are difficult to beat for the strong splash of colour they provide, and now there’s such a wide range of colours – not just the traditional red. St Bridget Nurseries grow all their Poinsettias in their greenhouses on the nursery in Exeter so they have been given the best treatment possible. It’s definitely better to buy from a garden centre rather than an outdoor stall as cold weather and wind are a killer and since St Bridget's Poinsettias only travel two miles at most to their Clyst St Mary Garden Centre - they are really fresh. Plus to give your plant the best start to their home life with you, they’re wrapped up before you leave the garden centre.

When you get them home give them a position in plenty of good light and an average temperature of 55-60F – but keep them away from radiators and other sources of heat – and out of draughts and fluctuating temperatures.

Allow the top of the compost to dry slightly before watering, but then give them a thorough watering ensuring all the compost is moist and feed with a houseplant fertiliser each time. Daily misting of the leaves will help ensure good colour and healthy growth.

Keep your Poinsettia until June 2007 and you can enter St Bridget's competition. Return your Poinsettia to St Bridget Nurseries in Old Rydon Lane Exeter for 12 noon on Saturday 2nd June 2007 and it will be judged for its shape, colour and overall condition. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd & 3rd with prizes of £25, £10 & £5 of St. Bridget Nurseries’ Gift Tokens for the best plants.

Good luck and remember to pick up your St Bridget Nurseries guide to growing Poinsettias before you leave their garden centre.