Chim-chimminy-chim-chim!

Having had at least 5 nice weather days on the trot, we've certainly seen more people enjoying their gardens in the evenings. But, as September approaches the temperature at night is dipping. Whilst patio heaters recently received some bad press, chimineas, fire baskets and fire bowls are a good alternative that look stunning too.

Chimineas originated over a thousand years ago in Mexico, where they were used as ovens for heating and cooking.
The nomadic tribes that inhabited the mountains in Mexico shaped clay into simple chiminea shapes and then fired them in wood fuelled kilns. The word "chiminea" comes from the Spanish word for chimney.

Chimineas can still be used as an oven to cook food outdoors but many simple use them as an outdoor heater.

Chimineas in all shapes and sizes plus fire bowls, baskets and burning logs can be purchased at both St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter.

What's in a name? - Flaming Katy!

Commonly known as Flaming Katy, Kalanchoes (pronounced KA-luhn-KO-e) are an easy to grow houseplant. They just need warm temperatures (between 12 and 30C) and minimum care. In a moderate climate they can even be grown outdoors (but only in pots and not in the ground). Plants are sensitive to the cold though so really in Britain it's best to keep them as houseplants as they are unlikely to survive a frost.

Kalanchoe plants look great in small pots. You may find that if you plant in a large pot, the leaves grow in size but the amount of flowers or height will grow as normal and rather slowly. If you want to re-pot your Kalanchoe it is best to do so in spring.

Like most houseplants try not to allow direct sunlight on the plant but do place plants in a well lit spot.

This picture shows a beautiful double flower head of a Kalanchoe from St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter. Both garden centres have a wide selection of houseplants and stunning pot covers to complement your home.

Plant focus: Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander'

This is a herbaceous perennial plant that produces elegant light green leaves that have cream margins and red tinges in spring. The light yellow flowers have a fiery orange eye and bloom from mid summer.

Lysimachia like moist but well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer. Plants grow best in full sun or partial shade and these plants look fabulous in a border.

St Bridget Nurseries have Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander' for sale in 2 litre pots for £5.25 a plant.

Rhododendron and azalea flower power for next spring!

Do you have Rhododendrons or Azaleas in your garden? When spring comes do you find they haven't flowered that well? If so, now’s the time to make sure they flower amazingly next year. Rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas all set their flower buds for next year now. They can soon become short of water and then the flower buds don’t set properly. This means that next spring the buds will either fall off or not develop properly. Therefore, make sure you give them a really good soaking before the soil starts to dry out. Mulching the plants with bark, composted bark or similar will help too. Don’t forget to feed with a rhododendron (ericaceous)fertiliser. Liquid ones act quicker and are a better bet in dry weather. It also helps to deadhead this year's flowers. At the base of the flower heads you will see a ring of brown around the flower stem, this is a handy marker of where you should cut the flower head off. It's usually just above the first leaves you come to from the flower head.

VINE WEEVIL
Plants growing in pots or other containers, out of doors or under cover, can be severely affected by vine weevil grubs. The adult vine weevil beetles feed on the foliage of many herbaceous plants and shrubs, especially Rhododendron, evergreen Euonymus, Hydrangea, Epimedium, Bergenia, Primula and strawberry.

Plants growing in the open ground are less likely to be damaged, although the grubs sometimes kill strawberries, primulas, polyanthus, Sedum, Heuchera and young yew plants.

You can tell if vine weevils are killing your plants by spotting irregular-shaped notches on leaf margins during the summer were they have been munching!

Adult have a pear shaped body and are black and just under a cm long. They hide in dark places during the day and are slow moving. They can't fly but they can crawl and climb well.

Far more serious is the damage caused by the soil-dwelling larvae which are plump, white, legless grubs up to 1cm (0.5in) long with pale brown heads. These feed on roots and also bore into tubers and succulent stem bases, devastating many herbaceous pot plants. They can also kill woody plants by gnawing away the outer tissues of the larger roots and stem bases. Plants wilt and die during autumn to spring as a result of grubs devouring the roots.

TO CONTROL

As vine weevil beetles tend to lay eggs in late summer and early autumn it pays to protect vulnerable plants in pots – such as begonias, fuchsias, cyclamen and sedums – with Bio Provado Vine Weevil Killer. A wide range of pests can be controlled by spraying with Ultimate Bug Killer (both available from St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres).

As a Devon Wildlife Trust Approved garden centre, St Bridget Nurseries would rather recommend biological controls. Encourage natural enemies. Vine weevils and their grubs are eaten by a variety of predators such as birds, frogs, toads, shrews, hedgehogs and predatory ground beetles. Alternatively the biological control microscopic pathogenic nematode (Steinernema kraussei) can be used.

For further advice ask one of the St Bridget Nurseries plant experts.

SPRING BULBS NOW IN!
A massive range of Spring Flowering Bulbs are now in at BOTH St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres. Bulbs are a great way of dotting colour around your garden and interest at various heights. Plus if you don't have a large garden you can grow many varieties in a bowl either indoors or outside. Simply, pick a pot that is the right size and will complement your chosen bulbs. If you are using a clay pot with a large drainage hole in the base, place a few 'crocks' at the bottom such as pieces of broken pot. Use a bulb compost and fill your container with compost and plant bulbs, making a hole three times the size of the bulb.
Although different varieties can be planted together, bulbs have more impact when the same variety is planted either singly or packed closely together for a bumper show. If you buy a nice deep container you can layer bulbs and stagger your display by choosing varieties that will flower at different times or grow at different heights. One suggestion is to plant your Daffodils and Tulips at a depth of about 8" and then add a layer of compost about 3" deep and then add a layer of smaller bulbs like Grape Hyacinths and Calla Lilies. Top with some more compost and then water well.

You may also want to add some Bulb Booster. This is a new product that St Bridget Nurseries are stocking. Made by the makers of Miracle_gro, bulb Booster is slow release granules that provide nutrients that feed for up to 3 months. They delivers nourishment to your planted bulbs, encouraging vigorous root growth and encourages lush foliage which is required to support more abundant flowering the following season.

For a great start to your floral display, pop in to St Bridget Nurseries Exeter.

LOW IN PLANT MILES

Unlike many garden centres, St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres grow most of the plants they sell on site, which means their plants are suitable for the conditions found in Devon area. They grow all their roses in fields behind the Clyst St Mary Garden Centre and all other plants are grown on the nursery just two miles away behind the Old Rydon Lane Garden Centre.
It also makes their garden centres low in plant miles - as virtually no carbon energy has been used in getting the plants to you.

If you are buying your plants from St Bridget's it also means you are buying from experts as the company has been growing plants in Exeter for over 80 years! Plus they're so confident about their quality, all hardy St Bridget Nurseries' plants carry a 1 year guarantee.
With nearly 900 varieties of shrubs, over 200 varieties of roses, nearly 300 varieties of herbaceous perennials, over 130 different conifers, over 200 different ornamental and fruit trees as well as over 350 types of bedding plants and other seasonal crops - you'll find it all at St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centres!

INSPIRATIONAL!

The award winning planteria team at both St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres have been really busy and have some fantastic plants on sale at the moment. The use of colour, texture, height and scent gives you wonderful ideas that you can re-create in your garden. This picture is of a lavender, ivy and clematis display at the Old Rydon Lane garden centre. It shows how the whites and purples of the flowers complement the rich greens and tone with the beautiful granite plinth and rustic looking sundial. A lavender border would look fantastic beside a driveway or a simple lavender surrounded by small ivy in a beautiful glazed pot would look suitably Mediterranean for a patio or veranda. Brighten up your outdoor space with home-grown plants from St Bridget Nurseries, Exeter.