Orchard Nursery Plant Centre Ltd

25/06/2026

IT'S EASY TO OVERWATER YOUR PLANTS IN EXTREME HEAT...
..as they have a clever survival technique which means they close their pores to reduce water loss.

For container plants the good old fashioned 'finger test' is always a good indicator. If soil feels damp then there's no need to water. If soil feels bone dry or is shrinking away from the container sides then watering is required (probably best to sit containers in a water tray and leave to take what they want for a while).

It's slightly harder to tell for anything newly planted in the ground. During the warmest parts of the day, even well watered new plants may wilt if they're sitting in hot, WET soil. If this happens, wait until it cools down & they're not in direct sunlight (or look at them in the early morning). Chances are they will have perked up!

As per usual, try to avoid watering during the hottest parts of the day. Early morning or in the evening is best - and probably more pleasant for you too!

23/06/2026

How to plant when it's hot, hot, hot! 🌞🌞🌞
Follow these top tips if you're planning to plant anything now.
🌿 Don't plant during the hottest time of day.
🌿 Instead, let your new plant have a good drink somewhere shady. Even if the soil feels dampish, sit the pot in a larger container of water for a couple of hours.
🌿 Dig your planting hole (twice the width & depth of the plant is recommended).
🌿 Have yourself a good drink somewhere shady 😉
🌿 Fill your planting hole with water and let it drain away to ensure the surrounding soil is damp.
🌿 Add some soil improver to your mix (1 part improver to 5 parts your soil).
🌿 If the root ball is very congested then loosen some of the outer roots before planting to encourage your new plant to reach out and make friends with its new neighbours.
🌿 Always position your new plant at the same level as it was in the pot (unless the label says otherwise).
🌿 When planted, gently firm in the soil around.
🌿 Water in well at the base.
🌿 Keep watered every 2-3 days if there's been no significant rainfall and decrease this as plants acclimatise.

20/06/2026

It could be time to Hampton Hack early this year!

Not a clue what we're talking about?

The Hampton Hack is a popular gardening technique which takes it's name from the renowned RHS flower show.

The technique is usually performed in early July and is all about ‘pruning’ certain plants back AFTER flowering to promote fresh growth and hopefully a second flush of flowers. Due to this years weather conditions, many plants suitable for Hampton Hacking have bloomed earlier. So why not prune them back now and benefit from your second flush earlier too?!

Plants which respond well to the Hampton Hack are early flowering herbaceous plants such as Hardy Geraniums, Nepeta, Lupins, Astrantias & Alchemilla mollis.

As the name suggests, at its most extreme this technique involves cutting the whole plant down to the base. If you’re new to this (or just don’t trust us), you could try selecting half of the stems throughout the plant that have already flowered and just cut these back. This will obviously take a bit more time and attention, but it won’t initially look so drastic.

In a week or so, you’ll see a flush of brand new growth and often a second flush of flowers which will keep your space looking fresh and tidy into the autumn.

18/06/2026

Alstromeria (aka Peruvian lillies) are always popular for their generous flowering season and long lasting blooms.

The Colorita series is a compact variety with large flower heads and self supporting stems. They have striking patterned centres & are particularly good for containers/patios/balconies.

The Summer series is a taller variety reaching around 50-60cm in hot, vibrant colours.

All alstromeria like full sun to partial shade and tolerate most moist but well drained soils. Pollinators also love their open easy access flowerheads too!

16/06/2026

13/06/2026

Removing spent flowerheads regularly means that you're diverting the plants energy away from making seeds and towards producing even more flowers for longer.

Here's where to snip (or pinch) some of your current favourites.

12/06/2026

We've just taken delivery of some new giftware (photos coming soon!), so we've decided to clear some of those that may have been sitting around a bit too long.

25% off selected items, great if you're needing a gift for someone in the not too distant future. Or maybe just a treat to yourself for all that gardening you've been doing!

11/06/2026

A couple of new & very welcome additions to the perennial benches this year...

Stachys 'Pinky' - attractive crinkled deep green foliage and plentiful spikes of the prettiest pink flowers. Great in full sun or partial shade. Likes most moist but well drained soils & loved by pollinators. Ultimate Height (0.5m) x Spread (0.4m).

Phygelius 'African Queen' - nodding tubular coral/pink flowers. An upright, suckering shrub which can reach upto 1.5m in height & spread. It likes full sun & is an RHS award winner too.

09/06/2026

Wondering what to sow in June? We’ve got you covered. From fresh salad leaves and carrots to colourful sunflowers and calendula, now is the perfect time to get your seeds in the ground. 🌼🥬
📌 Save this guide for later
👥 Follow for more gardening tips, sowing guides & seasonal advice

09/06/2026

No prizes for guessing what's on your shopping list right now!

Our recent weather is perfect for our slimy footed friends...and they love all the new young plants you've been sowing, growing and nurturing.

Chemical free methods include traps, copper slug tape & wool pellets which are all highly effective.

Our chemical options are ALL ORGANIC and contain ferric phosphate which is a naturally occurring active ingredient. They are safe to use around edible plants.

The controls either use the barrier method (tape, gel or wool pellets) which form a continuous ring around a plant or group of plants which slugs & snails find unpleasant to cross - make sure you don't leave any gaps, they're sneaky! Copper tape & gel can also be used on vertical surfaces.

Pellets are used as bait for slugs & snails to consume. They prefer moist, soaked granules. Scatter granules evenly over bare soil around plants in quantities directed - a little goes a long way. DO NOT put heaped piles of the granules around the plants.

It may be necessary to repeat certain treatments several times per growing season.

Always wash hands after use & indeed gardening! 😀