Our spring flowering Azalea Japonicas are now also available online

Generally, there really is not a bad time to plant but as a rule of thumb, it’s never a good idea to plant when the ground is completely solid e.g. with harsh frost or snow. Other than that, there are no excuses not to get those trees and shrubs in the ground.

I think most would agree that now, spring 2012, is an excellent time for planting with the ground being so moist from the many downpours. The mild/cold weather means minimum effort when planting trees and shrubs.
 
Structural plants are just coming out of dormancy (yes very late this year – we would say at least 3 weeks behind the norm due to cold weather in April/May). As the plants come out of dormancy and are planted, they establish their roots in the ground and most trees and shrubs will love these moist conditions – just make sure soil not too waterlogged.

With these optimum conditions NOW is the time to stop procrastinating and get out in the garden, brave the weather and get those plants in the ground…

Follow our tips for planting and maintaining plants: REMEMBER THESE IMPORTANT STEPS REGULARLY FEED, WEED, PRUNE AND WATER YOUR PLANTS AND BE CONSISTENT WITH MAINTENANCE. GOOD LUCK & HAPPY GARDENING!

Paramount Plants & Gardens, Crews Hill, London
Email info@paramountplants.co.uk

At Paramount Plants, we now have a range of Yucca Rostratas in stock. If you are curious, do drop by to take a look. Our Yucca Rostratas are also available to buy online.

Magnolia Sieboldii - available from Paramount Plants in London and Online

Available at Paramount Plants in sizes up to 175 cm in 30 L pots for £65.
Visit us in Crews Hill or buy online from our website.

Prunus Royal Burgundy | Wild Cherry Tree | Prunus Kiku Shidare Zakura

Not all ornamental cherry trees bear fruit and after a spectacular show, the cherry blossom petals fall like snow in the gusty winds of March and April. Those that do go on to produce fruit will surely encourage more birds into your garden. Originally found naturally in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Japan which is the country that is most associated with cherry blossom. It forms a huge part of Japanese culture and alongside Japanese Acers no Japanese style garden would be complete without them. When designing your garden – cherry trees are a great asset to use to accentuate a particular area – their shape, sumptuous spring display and rich autumn leaf colour make this a good all round investment in a statement tree.

Japanese Flowering Cherry Tree | Prunus Persica Spring Glow | Cherry Plum

At Paramount we have a great selection, chosen for their beauty and range of size that will fit most gardens from the smallest patio to the largest estate we have the right choice for your garden.
View our selection of Flowering Cherry Trees to buy online:

Prunus Royal Burgundy

Prunus Avium – Wild Cherry Tree

Prunus Kiku Shidare Zakura

Prunus Persica Spring Glow

Prunus Cerasifera Serrulata – Cherry Plum Tree or Myrobalan

Prunus Amanogawa – Flagpole Cherry

We offer a special deal on all orders placed online above £1000, they automatically qualify for a 10% discount at the checkout. Also, we offer free nationwide UK delivery for orders above £300 (please check our delivery t & c for full details).

If you can’t make it over to our garden centre – click to buy online… 

Paramount Plants Garden Centre

Our Cloud Trees are also available online

Our latest collection of Ilex Crenata or Cloud Trees has arrived in our Crews Hill garden centre.

These are truly beautiful topiary trees, shaped using Ilex Crenata to create the look of clouds on branches.

Also known as Japanese Holly & originally from the Far East, it is quite rare to find Cloud Trees in the UK.

At Paramount Plants, our Cloud Trees are very hardy and are not difficult to maintain. They are happy in sunny positions or partial shade.

Our Cloud Trees are available in a multiple of sizes ranging from 80 cm up to 190 cm.

Visit us in Crews Hill or order your Cloud Tree online.

More on Topiary Trees

It is not always realised that colour can be introduced with foliage particularly valuable when it is evergreen.  The common green Cordyline Australis is a nice enough plant but the purple-leaved variety Cordyline Australis Purpurea is a much more desirable, yet tenderer plant.  Slower growing than the green form, it can be pot grown for a number of years making a useful patio plant.

Cordyline Australis Purpurea | Arundo Donax Variegata

The variegated reed Arundo Donax ‘Variegata’ is a striking plant with canes to about 2m height with boldly striped green and white leaves.  It is best cut down to ground level in early Spring as the canes become leggy.  This encourages new shoots, making a much more attractive specimen.  Both this and the Purple Cordyline require a nice, warmer position in the garden.

Preferring dappled shade the Rice Paper Plant ‘Tetrapanax Papyrifera’ will grow in less sheltered gardens, but performs best in warmer ones retaining its growing point.  The huge downy star shaped leaves are over 2ft across creating a very jungly effect.  The variety Tetrapanax Papyrifera Rex has even larger, more deeply incised foliage.

Tetrapanax Papyrifera Rex | Musa Basjoo aka Japanese Banana

Nothing is more imposing foliage-wise than the banana.  The hardiest is the Japanese Musa Basjoo. Less known is Musa Sikkimensis, which is slightly more tender.  It is preferable to Musa Basjoo in that the leaves are of a thicker texture making them less prone to wind damage and have attractive maroonish banding.  It is probably advisable to wrap the trunk with straw or hessian even in town gardens in bad winters.

Most people are familiar with the common fan palm Trachycarpus Fortunei, the hardiest of all the palms.  A similar looking palm, but with larger less divided leaves and a more tropical appearance, is Livistona Chinensis.  Slower growing, it will not develop a tall trunk.  Livistona Chinensis will tolerate down to -5c and so should do well in large town and city gardens.

Trachycarpus Fortunei | Hibiscus

One of the most exotic looking flowers must be the tropical Hibiscus.  Surprisingly, the one with the largest flowers of all is the near hardy Hibiscus Moscheutos with blooms reaching an amazing 8ft across.  They come in white, pink and a wonderful scarlet variety called Southern Belle.

This plant requires the warmest sunniest spot in the garden, ideally a south facing wall and should be heavily mulched in winter.  It will die down completely in winter and re-appear quite late around September.

Just a few plant suggestions for exploiting the heat island effect.

Musa Basjoo - Japanese Banana | Trachycarpus Fortunei - Chusan Palm

Many tens of thousands if not millions of us live in towns and cities which because of the accumulated effects of lighting and heating etc retain a temperature (especially at night) which is several degrees higher than that of the surrounding countryside. This higher temperature can play a huge advantage when it comes to our plants and gardens.

The extreme winters of the last few years resulted in the death of many marginally tender plants which had become accustomed to a run of mild weather. Having said that many survived in heavily built up areas especially when in close proximity to buildings.

Understandably those living in rural areas and exposed areas who have had losses of plants are wary of replacing them. However many of those losses, it has to be said, were due to lack of even minimal protection given to the plants brought about by our complacency due to the previous mild winters. See our blog post on how to prepare tender plants for the winter.

The benefits of the microclimates of towns and cities from a gardening perspective are hugely under-exploited which is partly due to a lack of awareness. Certainly when a striking new garden appears it arouses interest often resulting in a knock on effect. These gardens usually consist of bold architectural plants such as hardy palms, tree ferns etc and are often of a contemporary nature.

Read our blog on how to help Cordylines recover after a harsh winter…

Plant Suggestions for the “Heat Island” Effect in Part 2 to follow ….

Many are mistakenly under the impression that shade is a no go area for plants.  Obviously some plants do need sun but many are happy in either sun or shade and for some shade is a necessity.

Acers | Pieris | Osmanthus | Fatsia Japonica

Most gardens have at least one shady area so it is useful to know what can grow there.  Providing the soil is not too dry, shade or dappled shade is ideal for structural plants such as Japanese Acers, Camellias, Pieris, Viburnums, Osmanthus, Rhododendrons, Azaleas and especially Tree Ferns and Fatsia Japonica.  Low growing plants like Daphne Odora Aureomarginata won’t get too large and have flowers which are scented in late winter/early spring.

These are all woodland plants in their natural environment.  Because of the amount of leaf litter (leaf drop) the soil in these woodland areas is usually quite acid.   If your soil isn’t acidic you can change it by incorporating a quantity of ericaceous soil and mulch.

Camellias | Rhododendrons | Azaleas

All the plants mentioned except the Acers are evergreen.  The Camellias, Rhododendrons and Azaleas are Spring and Summer flowering.  The Tree Ferns, Acers and Fatsias are striking architectural (structural) foliage plants.

Climbers in shady areas include Trachelospernum Jasminoides – this evergreen jasmine has scented star-shaped white flowers.  Other climbers suitable for shade are Garrya Elliptica and Wisteria.

Garrya Elliptica | Trachelospernum Jasminoides | Wisteria Sinensis

Another common misconception is that palm trees will not grow in shade and must have sunny areas.  Trachycarpus Fortunei, the hardiest palm in the world, prefers to grow in dappled shade and excels in woodland areas.

For a talking point in the garden the unusual and incredibly striking Wollemi Pine is the tree to add and this works well in shady or sunny areas.

Shady areas can still be exciting….