The Garden of Eaden: 2023

Are Sago Palms Cold Winter Hardy - Cycas revoluta

The Sago Palm – Cycas revoluta is an extremely handsome cycad species from Japan, and a popular choice for the cold hardy, tropical effect, exotic garden. However, if left to its own devices a cold winter can affect the quality of its glossy, architectural fronds rendering it a rather ‘moth-eaten’ and unattractive specimen come the spring! Despite being technically cold-hardy down to around -10 Celsius for short periods, a certain amount of management should be put in place over during a freezing winter to ensure they start the spring in the best condition possible. To find out what English horticulturist Simon does with his Sago palm, check out the accompanying video.

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Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter Winterize Tetrapanax papyrifer 'R...

If you are growing Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' (T. Rex) - Rice paper Plant for the first time and are unsure as to how to overwinter it then I really can't blame you. Why? Because depending on the overwintering conditions it can display several different characteristics – which we go into in this video. Luckily Tetrapanax papyrifer has proven itself to be surprisingly hardy so in the milder regions of the UK additional protection may not even be required. However the further north you go, with its increasingly freezing temperatures, you will probably need to upgrade you management to prevent established trucks from becoming damaged. So, if you want to know how to overwinter or winterize Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex' (T. Rex) commonly known as the Rice paper then English horticulturist Simon explains how he does it with his specimens.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Cutting, Trimming and Pruning Camellias

Camellias are often the victim of terrible pruning and there are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly they can produce vigorous and untidy growth that cries out for maintenance, and secondly they require a long 'gestation period' to produce those impressively large flower buds. So, to make sense of it all, English horticulturist explains his five mistakes to avoid cutting, trimming and pruning Camellias.

Firstly always use clean and sterilised cutting blades, then after that it is all about the cutting technique and timing. Get that wrong and you can ruin your display!

How To Overwinter (Winterize) Musa basjoo - Hardy Banana or Japanese Banana

The Musa basjoo, otherwise known as the Hardy Banana or Japanese Banana, is arguably one of the most impressive of all the tropical effect plants that you can grow in an exotic garden. However despite its natural resilience to our freezing native UK weather the peudo-stems (the trunk of a banana) can become damaged when winter temperatures go down too deep. BUT! I hear you cry, because the roots themselves are in fact cold hardy to at least -12 Celsius, it will regrow from the roots in the spring. However, if you can maintain the pseudo-stems in good condition over the winter you will have last years height to start the season with as well as improving the prospect of your specimen fruiting and flowering! So check out this video to find out how English horticulturist Simon overwinters (or winterizes if you are an American) his Musa basjoo.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter Stapelia grandiflora - Carrion Pl...

There are very few true cacti and succulents native to the African continent, but of those Stapelia and Orbea species are some of the most interesting producing some spectacular and complex blooms. So if you are growing Stapelia grandiflora, which produces arguably the most impressive of all the Stapelia and Orbea species and cultivars you will need to be aware that winter protection may need to be put in place depending on how cold the winters are where you live. So to find out how to overwinter Stapelia grandiflora where English horticulturist Simon lives then check out this video.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden December Tour, Walk-Round

Well, the inevitable has happened! Three nights of freezing temperatures and the entire garden has been ruined. However that means implementing a huge tidying up project and a timely application of winter protection for any tender, tropical plants you want to keep for next years display. So why not join us as we make a tour of the garden, pointing out all of the jobs that have been completed, as well as the jobs I have still yet to get round to!

These are mostly continuing to put in place more all-important winter protection on the tree ferns and bananas, and taking down old canna lily and Spanish reed.

How to Overwinter Winterize Musella (Musa) lasiocarpa - Golden Lotus Ban...

Musella (Musa) lasiocarpa, commonly known as the Golden Lotus Banana, Chinese Yellow Banana or the Chinese Dwarf Banana is a rarely seen, yet fantastic looking ornamental flowering herb species. However, despite the difficulties of finding one to purchase in garden centres, they are available mail order but this means you are usually purchasing small plants due to the cost of postage. That in itself isn't a problem as they will put on size during the growing season (assuming you bought one early enough) , but reaching flowering size can take between 2 and 4 years depending on favourable growing conditions and this means successfully overwintering or winterizing your Musella lasiocarpa over several years. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains how he Overwinters his Musella lasiocarpa.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter Tree Dahlias - Dahlia imperialis

The Tree Dahlia - Dahlia imperialis, is a superb architectural plant from Mexico with looks more in common with oriental giant bamboo than your regular ornamental flowering Dahlia. However despite its tropical and subtropical origins it can be grown in the cooler climates of England, although some cold protection will be required to get the best out of it for the following season. To find out how to overwinter Tree Dahlias check out English horticulturist Simon's favourite techniques in this video.

It does depend on exactly how cold your winters become, so taking that into account there are three ways covered in this video. You can either leave them where they are with suitable protection, you can lift and bring in or, by way of insurance, purchase an extra plant and overwinter that as is.

How To Overwinter (WINTERIZE) Dahlias

Although out of fashion for a while, dahlias have had a massive upgrade over the past two decades due to the fantastic work of plant breeders with regards to both their foliage and their blooms. In fact if you are looking for some seriously strong colour forms for your exotic garden the Dahlias are hard to beat! Furthermore many of these fancy Dahlia hybrids are surprisingly cold hardy despite their tropical and sub-tropical origins. So assuming you have invested in some fancy cultivars and want to ensure that you can enjoy them year on year then take out a little 'insurance' by putting some cold protection management in place. To find out what English horticulturist practices with his Dahlias check out his video on how to overwinter (winterize for our lovely Americans) Dahlias.

How To Overwinter (winterize) Abyssinian Banana - Ensete ventricosum 'Ma...

The Abyssinian Banana - Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' is an absolutely wonderful, yet rarely seen ornamental plant here in the UK. However, over the past couple of years I have been seeing more and more of them coming available. In fact, last year was the first year that they were on sale in my local garden centre! You may be surprised to find out that the Abyssinian Banana is surprising hardy despite its tropical origins and in milder years will survive outside in the warmer regions of the UK with just a small amount of winter care. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains how he overwinters his Abyssinian Banana - Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'.

Tropical Gardens UK: Top Five Agave for Cold Wet Winter Hardiness

Seeing fantastic Agave specimens littered across the landscape on your Mediterranean holidays can make you own gardens seem merely 'average and everyday' when you return home. However despite the desert conditions of their home land there are a number of Agave species which will be just at home in the milder regions of the UK as there are in the sun baked regions of central America. To find out exactly which species they may be you just need to check out this next video by English horticulturist Simon.

How Can Apples Kill You? Cyanide Poisoning?

You would think that with the old saying '...An apple a day keeps the doctor away...' apples would be arguably one of the healthiest - if not one of the safest fruits you could possibly eat! However, it turns out there is a rather sinister secret that our trusted apples have been hiding, one which if sufficiently manipulated could create serious health conditions and (in larger quantities) even death! So how can apples kill you? Well, I did kind of give it away in the title, however there is more on this subject to find out, which will be revealed in this video.

Of course, I am bring a little tongue in cheek as despite apples being able to technically kill you, the risk is absolutely minimal - unless of course you manipulate the apple relevant toxin for nefarious intentions!

How To Overwinter Tree Echium - Echium pininana

Tree Echiums can prove to be an amazing architectural plant in the garden assuming its lives long enough to produce its impressively tall flower spike! In order to achieve this the Tree Echium must first overwinter at least once, possibly twice, and have its main stem remain intact. To find out how English horticulturist Simon overwinters his Tree Echiums check out this video.

Now the most important part of overwintering management for Tree Echiums is to ensure that the lead flowering spike remains intact and survives the winter - which is easier said than do as the rosette of leaves will continue to grow over the winter period. This puts it at risk of coming into contact with the top of your frost protection which can cause cold damage at the extremities.

Tropical Gardens UK: How To Overwinter Agave

Agave are amongst some of the most impressive and architectural plants that you can grow here in the UK. However, despite their impressive cold tolerance (which will vary somewhat depending on the species) Agave can struggle with wet or waterlogged soils over the winter. So to make sure your precious plants survive the winters in their best condition it is advisable to implement some overwintering management. To find out more English horticulturist Simon explains exactly what he does to overwinter Agave in his garden.

All you need is some cable-ties, a bulk builders bag, ground spike and five metal or bamboo canes.

Tropical Garden UK: How To Grow An Avocado Tree From Seed?

As exotic as they are, Avocado fruits are for the most-part a permanent feature in your local supermarket and each and everyone of them has inside it a viable seed! So if you are interested in germinating and growing an avocado from seed yourself then check out this video where English horticulturist Lorna takes a good eight months to grow her own Avocado tree.

Sadly, it is not as simple as placing your seed into a pot of compost as there are some specific requirements needed to help initiate germination. Furthermore, patience is need as the germination period can run into a number of months! However, Lorna has taken almost the entire year to film the progress sp you can see what it takes step by slow step!

Tropical Gardens UK: Can You Grow Hardy Bird of Paradise Flower Plant - ...

If you have been astonished by the sheer exotic beauty of a 'Bird of Paradise Plant' the chances are that you have thought of trying to grow it at home in the cooler climates of the UK. Despite its tropical origins of South Africa, the Bird of Paradise is far hardier than you might think. However, it's not considered to be cold hardy compared to your traditional hardy garden plants. That being said, with a little thought and cleverness with regards to where and how you plant it, and assuming you live in the mildest regions of the UK, (with a decent amount of preparation, the perfect site and top-notch cold protection)it can be possible to grow this fantastic plant outside all year round. To find our how, English Horticulturist Simon has investigated the possibilities and explains all in this video!

Tropical Gardens UK: Get Your Exotic Garden Winter Ready

As soon as Autumn takes a grip of your tropical effect garden changes in how the garden looks and performs can change dramatically. Flowering will slow right up,growth will stop and the leaves of many of you precious plants will being to drop off! As dramatic as that sounds, it is all perfectly natural however winter is on its way and there is work to be done. Do find out what work is required to get your garden in the best condition for the spring English horticulturist Simon explains how to get your exotic garden winter ready. or at least what he is going to do in his exotic garden to get that ready for next years display.

This preparation includes dry mulches, rain cover, cold protection and general tidiness so make sure you have glove, wellies and cold weather work clothes at hand.

Tropical Gardens UK: Is There a Cold Hardy Edible Banana?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if such a thing as a cold-hardy edible banana tree existed? Well, cold-hardy banana trees do exist and can be grown successfully in most UK tropical-effect gardens. And as it turn out, there are edible banana-likely plants that can also be grown in the UK - albeit with a little help over the winter! So is the holy grail of a cold-hardy edible banana genuinely a possibility? English horticulturist Simon explains where we are with that.

Unfortunately the plants that produce the bananas you buy in the supermarket are not hardy enough to grow outside in the UK although grown under the protected environment of a heated glass house with additional lighting will allow them to produce fruit for you. However, when it comes to growing outside all year round there is one plant from the banana family that has an edible aspect to it but to find out more you will need to watch the above video.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Overwinter the Glory Lily - Gloriosa superba

If you can get hold of one, the Glory Lily - Gloriosa superba is arguably one of the most exotic of all ornamental flowering garden plants which you can grow outside here in the UK. However it is not hardy! Be that as it may, it is extremely easy to overwinter so check out this video where English horticulturist Simon explains how he overwinters the root tubers year on year to ensure yet another season of amazing summer displays.

You just need to keep an eye on forecasted freezing temperatures so that your tubers are lifted cleaned and stored in a frost free area until suitable planting conditions return in the spring.

Tropicals gardens UK: How to Overwinter Fuchsias

Fuchsias can be a fantastic addition for the cold-hardy, tropical effect, exotic garden. However, depending on which species, cultivar or hybrid you are growing will depend on what will be required to overwinter it - should any management indeed be necessary! So assuming you know the full name of your plant and subsequently find out its hardiness you can then you too can find out how to overwinter your Fuschia by watching this video.

In short the tender varieties will need to be brought in under protection to a light, frost free position, the hardy Fuchsia will little work apart from a dry mulch to protect the root system is temperatures look to drop below -4 degrees Celsius. Those fuchsias on the cusp of hardiness will need all the protection such as dry mulching, several layers of horticultural fleece and perhaps a bag of the top to be on the safe side.

Tropical Gardens UK: November Exotic Garden Tour

November is here, and if you have chosen your plants well and maintained those which are prone to deteriorate in the colder weather then it is still possible to receive ornamental value from your exotic, cold-hardy, tropical effect garden. To find out how our exotic garden is looking then join us as we take out penultimate tour of the year.

Don't forget to keep leaves and anything else on your lawn such as garden furniture to avoid brown patches occurring. Also, for any view points from your property consider removing dying leaves and generally tiding uo so that you maintain an enjoyable view for as long as possible.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Winter Insurance Policy

Winter is coming, and if you haven't noticed it where you are yet then take a closer look at your garden plants as they certainly have. At an almost imperceptible level flowering has ended, seed heads are maturing and growth has slowed to a full stop. And of course all of this is perfectly fine and natural except for those so-called exotic plants in the garden which are ill equipped to deal with the unreliable, freezing winter temperatures of England.

So rather than leave them to their own devices (which will mostly mean certain death) what on earth can you do to ensure that your tender plants survive until the spring, saving you a small Kings ransom in replacing them? To give you a fighting chance and something of an exotic garden winter policy English horticulturist Simon walks around his garden giving advice on what you can do to help keep your borderline-hardy plants alive and in good condition over the winter to save you staring from scratch in the spring.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing and Planting Magnolia grandiflora, Bull M...

Magnolia grandiflora - otherwise known as the Southern Magnolia or Bull Magnolia could be considered a 'King' amongst Magnolias! Why? Because of its luxurious, evergreen foliage, huge lemon scented blooms and enormous, stoic form within the landscape. However to get the best out of your magnolia grandiflora there are five mistakes which can easily be avoided by watching this video.

Arguably the most important aspect to growing a Magnolia grandiflora is to make sure that you have the room in your garden to accommodate such a large tree, assuming you can, and avoiding other issues, you can look forward to decades of interest from this spectacular plant.

Tropical Gardens UK: Five Cold Hardy Cacti and Succulents

You can be forgiven for thinking that having cacti and succulents outside all year round is the preserve of gardens found around the Mediterranean and central America. However, for those gardeners coping with the wet, freezing winters of the UK and northern Europe in general, there are a small group of cacti and succulents that will survive outside all year round so long as several condition are met. Both the plants and the growing conditions are discussed in this video.

To ensure that your cold hardy cacti and succulents survive and thrive right here in the UK you need to make sure that you provide conditions as near to to its country of origin as possible. In general this means a position of full sun, excellent soil drainage and shelter from winter rain and to a certain extent frost.

Tropical Gardens UK: Is There a Hardy Bird of Paradise Flower - Strelitz...

Is there a hardy 'Bird of Paradise' flower? Well, if you live in the mildest regions of the United Kingdom there is an argument that such a thing almost exists. Providing you have excellent drainage, a suitably sheltered position against a south facing house wall, a dry mulch and several layers of horticultural fleece a rain shadow and temperatures that don't drop much below -2 degrees Celsius for short periods then you will have a fair chance of overwintering Strelitzia regina outside! I understand that this is a long list of requirements, and I am not suggesting that your 'Bird of Paradise' plant will start off the spring undamaged, but given a fair wind and a bit of luck with the weather you can indeed grow Strelitzia regina outside in the UK all year round - so surely this means that it is a little bit hardy? Maybe not, but if you are determined to prove to your friends how outstanding a horticulturist you are then there is a second, even more cold resistant subspecies - Strelitzia juncea that is believed to be even hardier - if you can find one in the UK to purchase!

Five Mistakes To Avoid Overwintering Tree Ferns - Dicksonia antarctica

Tree ferns in the spring are often at least a disappointment and at worst a cause for much wailing and gnashing of teeth! Why? Because they either send out a few insipid fronds or fail to put out any at all! So, what has gone wrong and what can you do to ensure the fantastic re-growth of large, healthy fronds? The good news is that English Horticulturist Simon knows the five mistakes to avoid when over-wintering the tree fern - Dicksonia antarctica, which are the biggest causes of underperforming tree ferns.

One of the biggest problems is neglecting to water and fertilise your tree fern when your winter protection is in place but there are more issues aside which are discussed in the above video.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden October Tour

We are now into Autumn, but luckily the autumnal weather has yet to arrive. And despite being October (I know you should never start a sentence with 'And'), the weather has remained warm, sunny and mild! This means that the tropical-effect plants in the garden are still looking reasonably good. So before the first hard frost ruins the entire previous years work it is time for our 'Exotic Garden October Tour'!

The mild autumn weather has been kind to us so the overall look of the garden is very much what it was in September. However there are some noticeable changes such as fewer blooms on the Dahlias and petunias, and smaller leaves and weaker growth on the Ricinus.

Is This The World's Laziest Dahlia!

When it comes to growing Dahlias, the very least you should expect is a summer full of bold, brightly coloured blooms. However, this year one of our Dahlia plants decided to give this summer a pass and stubbornly refuse to flower! This video documents its struggle!

The frustration is to be expected. The plant is in a sunny position, the foliage if healthy and it has been water and fertilized throughout the year! Put simply it has been treated the same if not a little better due to its position to the other Dahlias in the garden but yet there has been no sign of a flower bud until the early autumn!

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing and Planting Saffron Crocus

Despite the exotic connotations of the Saffron crocus you might be surprised to find out that given favourable conditions you can grow it quite happily here in the UK with little maintenance! However if you are growing Saffron bulbs primarily to obtain the stamens then a little more work is involved to get the best out of them. Even so it is more about keeping them dry during a key part of the years to encourage and initiate the best flowering season. To find out more, and the five mistakes to avoid when growing and planting Saffron crocus, watch the whole video.

Tropical gardens UK: Five Fantastic Fuchsias for the Cold-Hardy, Exotic ...

Go to any garden centre and the range of Fuchsias available is usually the same dull batch of hardy and bedding cultivars that have been sold across the country for decades! However, for the discerning gardener in search of something a little more exotic there is some hope. So in this video English horticulturist offers up his top five Fantastic Fuchsias which are exotic enough to be planted in even the most hardcore of exotic, cold-hardy, tropical-effect gardens.

With the majority of species originating from south and central America, exotic looking species are a plenty, however there are a few which are just hardy enough to survive the milder winters here in the UK. Even more are available if you include some of the wonderful hybrids available!

The Best Evergreen Alternative to Box Plants - Buxus sempervirens

Sadly, the Box plant - Buxus sempervirens, has had its day. Once, it was reliably tough as old boots, and now it can barely last a season without being stripped bare of its foliage! However, all is not lost as there is an amazing alternative and in this video English horticulturist Simon lets you in to this little known gem of a plant.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing and Planting Giant Ornamental Onions 'All...

Giant ornamental onions 'Allium giganteum' and their hybrids and cultivars are among my favourite mid-spring flowering plants. However there can be issues with them only producing leaves and no flower heads! So in this video, English horticulturist Simon explains his five mistakes to avoid when it come to planting these wonderful bulbs.

The first thing to avoid is purchasing undersized bulbs which are unfortunately all to commonly available. the reason for this is that they may not be large enough to produce flowers, instead you will get foliage growth and nothing more for at least its first year. Other, simple to avoid issue are covered in the video.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Create and Grow an Exotic Jungle Garden in O...

For the uninitiated, growing an exotic or tropical-effect garden seems difficult and is associated with a load of technical work. However, the opposite is generally true. Take our garden for example, in a single year we have planted out our juvenile plants and cuttings, and by the following season they have exploded both in size and ornamental colour. So in this video you can witness us take apart the old garden and replant the new one.

A number of the plants were brought in a specimens from the last house - notably the hardy banana, but the majority of plants were either bought as pot grown plants, root sections, tubers and bulbs, or have been propagated by ourselves.

When Do You Prune or Cut Back Your Roses?

Roses are amongst the most popular of all ornamental garden plants, and to some gardeners they can be as precious as children! However when it come to pruning timing is all important in order to get the best out of your plants. So in this video, English horticulturist Simon explains when are the best times of year to cut them back to save any issues in the spring.

Regarding cutting back roses,Victorian gardeners had a saying...

'...The third week, of the third month, to the outward facing bud...' which is explained in this video however there is another time on the year in which you can consider pruning roses!

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Agave

Agaves are a fantastic choice for bring that 'Mediterranean' flavour into the garden. However despite its exotic origins of central America some Agave's are surprisingly hardy. So much so that they can be grown outside here in the UK! Albeit in the milder regions. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains five mistakes to avoid when growing these bad boys in order to get the best display out of them.

We are going to be looking at the most impressive of the hardy Agaves in this video, the fantastic Agave americana! A proven species that is grown with little intervention across the south coast of England.

When Do You Dead Head Hydrangea Flowers?

There is alway a little confusion when it come to dead-heading Hydrangeas and that's because there are a number of cultivars and hybrids which, depending on their hardiness and the country you're growing them in, will require different timings. So in this video English horticulturist Simon goes through one by one the most commonly grow and the dead-heading timings for each one.

The most commonly grown are the Hydrangea macrophylla mopheads and lacecaps, arguably followed by the paniculata and arborescens cultivars. All of which are superb garden plants. However get the head-heading wrong and you can effect the following years display.

Can Urine Be Used As Plant Fertiliser?

Can Urine Be Used As Fertiliser? Well that is a question that is crops up occasionally with a few old gardeners but do it have some validation? Surprisingly there has been some research made on the use of urine as a plant fertiliser and English horticulturist shines a light on what it is good for and how to apply it safely.

The trick is this, urine does have valuable plant nutrients which you can apply as a fertiliser however you will need to dilute it beforehand with water to prevent it from damaging plant roots.

Tropical gardens UK: What is the World's Hardiest Palm Tree

What is the world's hardiest palm tree? Well of course this is explained in full in this video, but there is more! English horticulturist Simon not only answers this fundamental question but also explains in detail why it is so hardy and how to easily grow them in your garden!

Even in northern European countries, there are limited choices as to what palms can survive even our 'so-called' mild winters. In the south of England you may be able to plants the more exotic species such as Phoenix canariensis, Butia capitata, Jubaea chilensis and the Washingtonia robusta but further north you have just the two species to choose from (although there are a few cultivars of such which are also tough enough) which you can trust to survive our British winters year after year! One is the more 'mound-forming' Chamaerops humilis, the other is featured in this video.

Thinking About Winter Hibernating Tortoises

With autumn now upon us, Lorna's thoughts turn to her two beloved tortoises (Speed and Gonzales). The nights are longer and the days are cooler so thinking about preparing both her tortoises and their winter accommodation for hibernation is going to be increasingly important. In this video we pick her brains to see what she is thinking.

It all about the telltale signs, which Lorna discusses in this video, as well as the conditions required to keep them safe over the winter period.

Tropical Gardens UK: My Exotic Garden Fails!

Most exotic gardens in the UK will look fantastic in a YouTube video, but that is simply because they are always (nearly always) dressed, tidied and swept to within an inch of their lives before filming commences. However, in this video English horticulturist Simon shows you behind the scenes of his tropical-effect garden exposing all of the mistakes, bad decisions and general gardening fails that he has experienced in this gardening year.

At face value you probably wouldn't spot them but living with these plants over the course of a year makes it easy to recognise you mistakes.

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Growing and Planting Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a mainstay of many a garden and why wouldn't they be? The huge, long lasting blooms come in a range (albeit limited to white, red, pink and blue) of vibrant colours that in themselves are usually enough to tempt opening the wallet, but they are also long lasting and and reliable. However, to get the best out of Hydrangeas there are a number of cultural red flags that you need to be aware of, so in this video English horticulturist Simon explains the five mistakes that you should try to avoid when planting Hydrangeas.

If you are looking to obtain your own Hydrangea 'Blue Danube' or indeed any other in the large selection of Hydrangeas that Suttons have in stock then check out this following link:

https://www.suttons.co.uk/search/go?ts=custom&w=hydrangeas

How To Get Rid of Fuchsia Gall Mite!

As far as garden pests go Fuchsia gall mite is up there with the best of them. Invisible to the naked eye and resistant to garden centre pesticides just what can you do to kill them off? Well, in this video English horticulturist Simon goes into detail as to what they are, what damage do they produce and what you can do to successfully control them.

The secret is to use nature itself by ordering in the predator of the Fuchsia gall mite which is a simple enough matter and something you can readily obtain from mail order suppliers on the internet. As with life nothing is guaranteed but this is by far you most effective solution. Good luck!

Exotic Gardens UK: How to Care for your Hardy Banana

So, you have acquired a hardy banana, but are not sure what to do with it now its in you garden. Well there is no need to worry as English horticulturist Simon explains everything you need to know in order to grow a first class specimen and keep it year after year.

Overwintering, watering, site positioning are all included and are essential to growing a quality specimen that will (probably) be the envy of your friends and fellow gardeners. Given a decent couple of years of mild winters and long hot summers then there is not reason why you could expect your banana plant to flower and produce its very own banana fruit! Not that you would be able to eat them as they will be jammed packed with stone-hard inedible seeds.

Tropical Gardens UK: My Favourite Exotic garden Plants

It is late summer, the tropical garden is in full swing so now its time to take a look at my favourite exotic garden plants. Everything (well almost) has managed to flower of perform in some way so which one are the stand out plants for this year in our opinion?

The obvious choice is the Hardy Japanese Banana which has turned in to a fantastic, mature specimen over the past year with the hope of it being even more impressive next season. However there are plenty of other plants that are absolute diamond in the garden if you look a little deeper into the displays.

How to Win a Cactus Competition

Winning a cactus competition is no easy feat. Of course, You need to be aware of the rules, but you never know what you will be up against regarding both the other competitors or the judges! In this video English horticulturist Simon explains what the judges are looking for and what you can do to improve your chances of winning your next cactus competition.

So if you want to find out about pot sizes, quality standards and what the judges are going to be looking at then this a great starting point. However, it is vital to read and fulfill the class descriptions and show rules otherwise you can risk finding yourself disqualified.

Tropical Gardens: How to look after Spider Plants Outdoors

Spider plants - Chlorophytum comosum and their cultivars, are one of the most popular of all houseplants. However they are often neglected which promotes weak growth and reduces ornamental value. To get the most of out your spider plants so that it creates an amazing exotic display consider growing it as a hanging basket plant in your garden. So to find our how to look after spider plants outdoors check out what English horticulturist Simon has done in his garden.

Small Tropical Garden Ideas

If you have a small garden and you want to create a tropical or exotic theme then it's sometime difficult to know where to start. So in this video English horticulturist Simon points out some of the ideas used in his garden for your consideration.

Space is always a premium in a small garden so one of the ideas that we like to use it plant upwards!This can include crown lifting any trees in the garden to bring in more light and reveal attractive branch work as well as decorating the exposed branches with suitable plants to create that tropical effect. Don't forget that garden lighting is another great way to bring the 'exotic' to your back door.

Shade-Loving Plants Care

Finding plants that will provide a great display in a shady border can be annoyingly difficult. Then once in the ground it can be hard to maintain them in top condition. So in this video English horticulturist Simon looks at a few choice, shade-loving plants and explains how to care for them.

Shade itself can be an issue with some plants requiring shade all day while others only need to be shaded during the peal hours of between 12.00pm and 3.00pm. Also its worth doing some research before planting in order the get the best effect. Regarding colour in shady borders, something that is often an issue, Simon shows you some of the best plants to brighten up any shady area!

Mistakes to Avoid Growing Camellias

Camellias are one of the best early flowering evergreen shrubs but there are just a few mistakes you need to avoid when growing Camellias in order to get the best flowering display out of them. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains what are arguably the most important.

Most Samellias are either cultivars or hybrids of two species, Camelia sinensis and Camellia sasanqua - both if which have evolved in the high altitude forests of China and Japan. So to improve the quality of not just the plant itself but also its blooms you need to provide growing conditions as close to the ones experienced on its native habitat as you can. Also try not to cut off the flower buds before they are due to open in the spring!

Camellia Flower Care

Camellias are among the best early spring flowering evergreen shrubs, however to get the best out of them requires some horticultural care. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains where they originate from and the environment within which they have evolved. All you need to do is mimic their home environment to get the best effect from these magnificent plants.

The key things for you to be aware of is to make sure your camellias are grown in an acidic soil, that they are grown under dappled shade, and that the soil is permanently moist but not waterlogged throughout the year.

Spider Plant Care - Chlorophytum comosum

Spider plants are one of the most popular of all houseplants but they seem to have gone out of fashion over the past decade or so. This is probably due to how sad they look when neglected. However given the right condition this can becomes an absolutely stunning specimen plant so if you want to know how to care for your spider plant then English horticulturist Simon will give you the low-down (whatever that means).

So in this video we discuss the environment from when the spider plant has evolved from and how to natch these conditions as best you can in our English climate.

Tropical Gardens UK: Forgotten Islamic Exotic Paradise Garden at RHS Wisley

The walled garden at RHS Wisley has always confused me. As lovely as it is, it seems oddly out of place to the rest of the gardens with no information regards to its purpose or history. However, it has been beautifully designed, built, and to a certain extent planted - although not to the high standards seen elsewhere. Every other garden at Wisely has a clear purpose where they show case a particular garden style or a group of plants. The walled garden is just a very fancy, regular garden! Or is it? It seems to me that it may be something else, a forgotten Islamic Paradise garden no less! In this video I put my theory to the test.

However Lorna does not agree at all!

Tropical Gardens UK: Small Exotic Garden Summer Tour

It's been a long time coming but finally our small exotic UK garden is worth looking at! So why not join us a Lorna gives our small exotic garden the summer tour treatment, highlighting the plants that catch her attention?

For the human eye, plant usually have the seasonal interest of ornamental flowers and at this time of year the garden will or at least should have good show. In this video we will point out plants of interest as well as give the names and a little bit of back ground. If you see something that we haven't mentioned but you would like to know more about then leave us a comment in the comments section.

Tropical Gardens UK: Exotic Garden Summer Tour at RHS Wisley

The exotic garden at RHS Wisley is one of our favorites and as such is one that we visit multiple times each year. Why? Because there is always something different on display to entice and excite you! So if you are looking to visit an amazing tropical garden or are just looking for ideas for your own then we thoroughly recommend it.

The thing that I like about most about the exotic garden at RHS Wisley is that it has been plants with a huge succession of interest that lasts from June right up until the first frosts. This means that you can have multiple visits during the growing season and still see a selection of new blooms and seasonal plants in their prime.

Five Easy to Grow Exotic Plants for Your Tropical Garden

If you are looking to plant up an exotic, tropical effect garden then this video is for you. English horticulturist Simon discusses five easy to grow exotic plants for your garden which you should definitely consider as part of your plant collection. Not only are they tried and tested specimens they are tough as old boots, some of which can cope with temperatures down to -12 Celsius!

So in this video we are looking at the following specimens: Musa basjoo, Trachycarpus fortunei, Ricinus communis 'Impala', Canna lilies and the amazing Tetrapanax papyrifer. All of which are superb specimens and can lift any garden border. The merits of each of the plants are discussed in the video.

Tropical Gardens UK: What is the World's Hardiest Banana?

If you are a fan of cold-hardy, tropical-effect gardens then the chances are that you would be looking to add a banana to your plant collection in order to complete that exotic look. Now there are usually several species and cultivars that you can readily purchase here in the UK but just what is the worlds hardiest banana and just how hardy is it? Well, English horticulturist Simon explains all.

There are four cultivars and species that should be on your radar and those are Musa sikkimensis 'Ted Tiger, Musa basjoo, Musella lasiocarpa and Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'. In this video English horticulturist Simon discussed the merits of them all and reveals which one is the most hardy!

Paul McCartney's Childhood Garden at 20 Forthlin Road

If you are a fan of the Beatles then why not check out Paul McCartney's childhood garden at 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool. Luckily, since the McCartney family left the property very little has changed in the garden over the subsequent years. We know this as Paul's brother Mike (a keen photographer even then) has a collection of images from that period on display at 20 Forthlin road from which a comparison can be made. Unfortunately due to copyright issues I am unable to show these photographs in this video.

So if you find yourself in Liverpool and fancy having a tour of Paul McCartney's childhood home then I would thoroughly recommend it.

Exotic Gardens UK: Tropical Plant Care

Exotic, tropical-effect gardens are known for their lush foliage but they can easily become overblown, run out of steam or simply struggle for nutrition. So in this video English horticulturist Simon takes a walk around the garden highlighting the various care and maintenance that can be employed to keep your garden looking fresh and shiny.

To keep plants looking fresh keep an eye on deadheading and creating space for any valuable specimens that may be getting swamped by neighbouring plants. Don't forget to provide support for those plants which require it and don't forget to upgrade that supports as these plants grow bigger as the season progresses.

Five mistakes to Avoid When Planting and Growing Canna Lilies

Canna lilies are a fantastic addition to any tropical-effect, exotic garden but to get the best out of them there are a number of mistakes that you can avoid to get stronger plants and earlier, longer lasting flowers. So check out this video where English horticulturist Simon explains five mistakes you need to avoid when planting and growing Canna lilies.

Firstly, when buying root sections in the spring, always buy from a reputable supplier as you can often be sold cheap tubers instead of the expensive fancy varieties that you wanted. Secondly, by them as fresh as you can in order to get your tubers in the best possible condition and keep them above 10 degrees Celsius once potted on to get them growing. For further advice check out the above video.

How to Deadhead Old Petunias Flowers

When it comes to flowering you can't deny that Petunias are a hard working genus. However if you let them go to seed then most cultivars flowering will come to an abrupt halt! Luckily this can be avoided with deadheading - although this is often managed incorrectly. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains they exact way to deadhead your petunias effectively.

Just remember pulling off the spent blooms may be removing the physical petals that make the flower but it does not remove the juvenile seed head that causes the problem of signalling the plant to stop flowering!

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Plant an Exotic Garden

An exotic garden is a great design choice for small gardens. However to get that tropical look with relatively hardy plants requires a little research, both for information and ideas. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains the thought process and plants that went into his exotic garden. Just remember that there are no right or wrong ideas in gardening so long as the final effect makes you happy.

For our garden we like to look at large architectural leaves, contrasting colour and habits. Also look at the various heights for that natural forest lok such as ground cover and mid height. |Take advantage of the existing plants, such as mature trees and dress them up with baskets to get that epiphytic look!

How to Deadhead Lilies

Lilies are an absolutely glorious genus of ornamental flowering plants and to get the most out of them year on year you should consider dead-heading them. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains why you would want to deadhead lilies and how to deadhead lilies with a touch of botany to boot!

The reason why you would want to deadhead lily flowers is to prevent the plant from directing energy from the bulb to producing the seeds and seedheads. Removing the seed-heads before they get a chance to form means that energy produced using photosynthesis can be used to bulk up the bulbs to help ensure a great flower display the following summer. To do this correctly English horticulturist explains how in this video.

Giant Tree Lilies - What Do You Need to Know?

Tree lilies are a fantastic group of cultivars, the result of hybridizing oriental lilies and trumpet lilies. As a relatively new group of flowering plants they are rarely seen in the garden centres except perhaps as a limited range pre-packed bulbs in the spring.

However, do a little research to find out your prefered cultivars and you should be able to find them quite easily through on-line retailers in pre-packs. Be aware that condition of bulbs will drop off

over time an so you should by them as fresh as you can in the spring. They may still be available over the summer but by then the bulbs will usually be quite desiccated. To be fair this advise can be applied to all pre-packed bulbs.

Small Tropical Garden UK

Put simply, plant evergreens such as palms, yuccas, cordylines and phormiums to create a permanent, tropical-effect frame work. Then look into a range of plants for architectural and contracting coloured foliage. Roughly plant smaller plants at the front with taller ones at the back but don't be afraid to chop it about abit to create a more natural look. Regarding flowers think about strong bold colours which will evoke that tropical feel.

Poisonous Garden Plants That Can Kill You!

You may think that the plants brought from your local garden centre are entirely safe but think again! Many of these species found on display are highly toxic, which if ingested in sufficient quantity could easily kill a grown man! If this is a concern you, and why shouldn't it be, then English horticulturist Simon points out some of the most poisonous, commonly found garden plants.

People often say that you have more deadly products under your kitchen sink than anywhere else and while that may be true at least you know they are there and not to touch them. When it come to garden plants the majority of people have no idea what plants they have let alone their phytotoxicity! Of course, death through accidental plant poisoning in the UK is extremely rare but knowledge is power. Is it better for general population to know the risks of some of these commonly planted specimens which will increase the risk of their misuse or is there a strong case for 'ignorance bliss'? Well, that is for you to decide.

Five Reasons Why Lorna Hates Roses

At face value roses can be a wonderful garden plant, however for those who try to keep them in top condition there are many reasons why they can attract a certain amount of hatred from seasoned gardeners! So here are five reasons why English horticulturist Lorna hates roses!

If you imagine that the next time you see a rose in full bloom is the very first time you have ever seen one then it is hard to argue that this plant group is among the most impressive of all ornamental flowering plants. However the reality is that their thorns are vicious, the plant breeders have focused on flower size and shape over all else, and put simply they are a disease ridden, scruffy mess.

There are more issues to pile on which are covered in this video and I for one are in complete agreement with Lorna's five reasons for hating roses.

Tropical Gardens UK: How to Create an Exotic Garden on a Budget

Large tropical-effect, exotic gardens can be both very impressive and extremely expensive to achieve so when trying to achieve the same effect in your own garden what can you do in order to keep costs down? In this video English horticulturist shares a few tricks of the trade so that you can create an exotic garden on a budget. Get it right then any cash to manage to save can be spent on the big ticket items without breaking the bank.

Gardens take plants to fill them and the larger the garden the more plants you will need, so to manage costs which can easily spiral English horticulturist Simon explains some simple methods of propagation for some of the easiest plant genera.

How to Grow Giant Tree Lilies

Tree lilies are a fantastic collection of robust cultivars that aren't really grown in perhaps the numbers they should be however if you have your eye on growing these spectacular plants then check out our advise on how to grow tree lilies.

They are hybrid of the oriental lily and trumpet lily, and as a hybrid tree lilies express hybrid vigour in size strength and hardiness, however you just need to be aware that they do not like to have their bulbs overwinter in cold, wet conditions. That aside they are surprising easy to grow and establish, and will attial their tree like size once they have had a few years to mature.

UK Tropical Gardens: Welcome To Our Newly Planted Exotic Garden - PART TWO

First of all, check out the first part of 'Welcome to our Newly Planted (But Not Yet Finished) Exotic Garden' video which you can find at the link below:

https://youtu.be/WApjlUHNwos

You will see that changes have been afoot! The plants have grown considerably and some have even begun to flower - finally! So join us as we take a walk around our cold-hardy, tropical effect, exotic garden and show you the highlights so far. You will find in comparison to the previous video much has changed especially with the amount of blooms now on show - and we still have the main show to come!

Why is My Camellia Plant not Flowering?

Camellias only flower for a few weeks of the year, so for the other 11 months they are generally forgotten. This is a mistake and can be disastrous for the following spring if they are neglected over the summer months - especially during periods of drought which are becoming increasing common! Why, because if your Camellia becomes heat or water stressed over the summer its can react to this by dropping its flower buds? If this happens than you will have no flowers for the coming spring.

To prevent this from happening is a relatively simple affair, it is just a matter of recognising that you plant will need additional watering during periods of drought, especially for newly plantd specimens.

Tropical Gardens UK: Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Tree Echium from See...

Tree Echiums will readily produce viable seed, much of which will germinate into seedlings near to the parent plant but they will often fail when potted on - even by experienced gardeners. So in this video English horticulturist Simon explains the two mistakes you need to avoid in order to successfully pot on Tree Echium ' Echium pininana seedlings.

There are two characteristics that you need to manage when potting these plants on. the first is its surprisingly small, fibrous, root system and the second are its large leaves. Combined this means that that any replanted seedlings are likely to loose so much water through its leaves before new roots can form to mitigate it that they will almost always die due to desiccation!

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Tree Ferns - Dicksonia antarctica

Tree ferns are expensive and usual struggle to maintain their conditions in most UK gardens so to help stop the decline in quality check out my five mistakes to avoid when growing Tree Ferns - Dicksonia antarctica.

The most important cultural aspect to growing these bad boys is to replicate as best as you can the environmental conditions that they have evolved to thrive in. That means proving a regular amount of water and fertiliser, then protecting them adequately over the winter so that they can bounce back with vigour in the spring. In this video English horticulturist Simon explains in painful detail exactly the techniques that work for his specimens.

Tropical Gardens: Spain's Secret Exotic Islamic Paradise Garden

This was an absolute treat! We were making our way to the Tourist Office only to find that it was housed withing a stunning Islamic style palace with adjoining paradise garden! Something we really weren't expecting. So despite this being a complete surprise I took out my mobile and began filming, so apologies for the complete lack of research. Anyway, check out Spain's secret exotic Islamic paradise garden.

Unfortunately our knowledge of Islamic gardens is not as good as we would like it to be but hopefully we have made up in enthusiasm. If you have any questions or have something you would like to add then you are very welcome to leave a comment.

Tropical Gardens UK: Is this Orchid Cactus 'Disocactus ackermannii' Genu...

You don't normally associate orchid cacti as being cold hardy plants but Disocactus ackermannii may be the exception in being genuinely cold hardy. English horticulturist Simon has been growing this particular hybrid outside for approximately 10 years on the south coast of England and this is what he has to say on the matter.

In cultivation, Disocactus ackermannii isn't actually the genuine item as it has been confused with Disocactus × jenkinsonii, a hybrid between D. phyllanthoides and D. speciosus. As in most cases this hybridisation produces 'hybrid vigour' which has expressed itself in this cultivar as being particularly robust under cold and even freezing conditions! The genuine Disocactus ackermannii is in fact as weak as a kitten!

Tropical Gardens UK: 10 Ten Easy Exotic Plants for Beginners

Cold hardy, tropical effect gardens have been popular in the UK since the Victorians but over the past century so much more is known about which plants are suitably hardy enough to provide an exotic look all year round. So if you are just starting off then check out my 10 easy exotic plants for beginners.

There are all cold hardy (some extremely so), all of them have been tried an tested in the UK for decades and on the whole should be easy to find in your local garden centre at a reasonable price. In fact you could consider this this as a planting by numbers guide to exotic gardens as you will find the majority of those featured in most UK Tropical-effect gardens. Of course there are other species and cultivars that could have been on this list but maybe that will be food for another video.

Tropical Gardens UK: Did My Free Exotic Plants by Propagation Succeed o...

We've been on a journey of propagation this last year to help build up plant stocks for our cold-hardy, tropical effect, exotic garden, but did our attempt to gain free exotic plants by propagation succeed for fail? Well there is only one way to find out and that is to watch this video!

Salvia cuttings have been a great success and there have been plenty of them as the neighbours cat like to snap off the stems by walking through them as with the Ricinus seeds and Echium seedlings. However, the large cordyline stems which were transferred earlier on on the year look very ropey!

How to Propagate, Pot on and Root an Agave Cactus Pup Side Shoot

Producing free Agaves by propagating, potting on and rooting the pups or side shoots is a great way to increase you stock of cacti. It tidies up the look of the parent plants and gives you an opportunity to grow more agaves for free!

To start with, make sure you are wearing gloves and when handling cacti be as gentle as possible as spines are easily broken. When separating the pup from the parent plant try to leave as much of the pups root on as you can and try an cause the least amount of damage possible.

Five Must-Have Exotic Plants for Your Tropical Garden

If you are looking to create a cold-hardy, exotic, tropical-effect garden then these are my five must-have exotic plants for your. Now this doesn't mean that there aren't other plants that are equally well deserving of garden space (which is why there is a bit of cheating going on further into the video) but it's best to keep these things as simple as possible.

It's a bit like 'exotic plant bingo' as you will see these same plants copied again and again in most tropical effect gardens and the reason for this is that they look the part and will cope with the climate condition here in the UK.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Roses

Roses are amongst the most beautiful flowering plants but they can suffer for common problems such as rust, black spot, powdery mildew, crown gall and aphids , so check out these five mistakes to avoid when growing roses in order to get so much more enjoyment out of them.

So once in the garden make sure you dig in plenty of rich compost to help the plant produce its vigorous growth and huge number of flowers. Also keep a good eye out for pest and diseases and act on them in a timely fashion. Any growth from the rootstock needs to be kept in check as this will divert energy from the main plant.

How to Get Rid of the Scarlet Lily Beetle Using Organic Control

The scarlet lily beetle is a voracious pest which can cause devastation on your ornamental lilies. However using insecticides can put beneficial insects, bees and other pollinators at risk so to avoid further collateral damage get rid of your scarlet lily beetles by using my two organic methods.

The first is very simple, just remove the adults when you see them and dispose. Although that can be easier said than done as scarlet lily beetle will drop to the ground and lie on their back exposing their dark underside when disturbed. This makes then virtually impossible to find!

The second is to spray the plant with a fine coating of sunflower oil. This works well on the larvae but not so much on the adults.

Tropical gardens UK: Beautiful English Exotic Garden Late Spring Tour a...

Despite still being June, so late spring, exotic gardens are only just starting to emerge from the soil. Yet there are many cold-hardy, tropical effect-gardens being featured on YouTube. Not wanting to be left out I have videoed my own exotic garden late spring tour and walkthrough, but give it another six weeks and I expect to have a garden exploding in both size and colour - hopefully!

So join me as I check out what is new in the garden, the new plants which have just been planted and those about to flower. Specimens which were planted shortly after we moved in to this property are establishing well however we are still creating borders with newly propagated stock.

Five Mistakes to Avoid Growing Giant Sunflowers from seed

Growing giant sunflowers from seed can be fraught with problems so to save disappointment check out my five mistakes to avoid when growing giant sunflowers from seed. That way even if things do go wrong you have back up plants ready and waiting.

The key thing with growing giant sunflowers is to purchase seed which are known giant cultivars. Then plant them 2 tow a pot or if you are planting to grow them outside station sow three seeds per position with the view to removing the weakest seedings two to three weeks after they have germinated. Always make sure you sow more seeds that you need plants for as there is alway the risk of black stem disease!

Once they have been hardened off and are in position just make sure that they receive as much sunlight as possible. Don't forget to water during periods of drought and apply fertiliser as necessary.

The Easiest Way to String a Strimmer with wire, cord or line - Stihl

Garden strimmers will regularly require the wire, line or cord to be replaced and this is the easiest way to re-string a strimmer. Admittedly this is a hateful and surprisingly frustrating job but by breaking it down into a set of simple steps anyone can replace the wire inside strimmer head.

Take your time over this as there is no rush, and as soon as you become more familiar with the technique you will find that you can quickly accomplish this job is just a few minutes.

How to Water Tree Ferns 'Dicksonia antarctica' The Right Way!

For most gardeners tree ferns are a headache as they tend to deteriorate year on year once planted in the garden, however their condition can be vastly improved by using my secrets to watering tree ferns that actually work! Don't miss this video and don't forget its absolutely free to share it with your friends.

Watering is absolutely crucial to maintaining top quality condition in your tree ferns. Don't water enough and your subsequent fronds will reduce in size and vigour and over time the crown itself will shrink in size! To prevent this from happening and to actually increase the size and quantity of your fronds English horticulturist Simon explains his watering secrets in detail.

When is the Best Time of year to Prune, Cut or Trim a Camellia Plant

Attempt to trim your Camellia plant at the wrong time of year and you are likely to lose its flowers for next seasons display, so when is the best time of year to prune, cut or trim a Camellia? Well in this video English horticulturist Simon explains in detail the exact time to get your cutting tools out and get to work.

Let's be honest, once Camellias can look messy once they have put out the new season growth so the temptation to prune them back into line can be very tempting however there is a big problem in doing so. By removing the new growth you will also take with it the plant material which produce the flowering buds and without these there will be no flowers on show the following spring!

So in this video English horticulturist Simon tells you every thing you need to know about the best time of year to cut back your Camellias.

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