GARDENStyleGarden Advice • Expert Tips • Exclusive Offers

August 2014

Online magazine

Facts you may not knowabout the ever so popular

Hydrangea

Tips for the perfectoutdoor living space The perfect recipe for your

fruit harvest

CREATEThe perfect

To achieve the perfect out-door living space it is im-portant to create aseamless link between thegarden and your indoor liv-ing areas. Creating an out-door dining area toentertain family andfriends is a great way ofextending your livingspace.

Pick a ThemeTo pull off that professionalinterior design look the firstthing to do is choose atheme and stick with it.  Atheme will give you a cleardirection and prevent youfrom buying random itemsthat do not match yourtheme. Countless outdoorliving spaces lose theirway over time due to thelack of a theme.

Your theme can be basedon colour combinations,patterns or classic designssuch as the quintessentialEnglish garden. Investingin new  cushions and para-sols can brighten up anyoutdoor living space andbring your old furnitureback to life. You can addunity and diversity to yourtheme by repeating a col-our provided by a variety of

different plants.  Colourthemes are a very effectivedesign trick for addingbeauty and unity to yourgarden.

Choose WiselyIf you have a balcony thena small bistro set alongwith a couple of stylishpots planted with somesimple ornamental grass-es or ferns will instantly

transform it into a relaxingdining space. For largergardens a 4 to 6 seater setis the way to go and withmore table space you cancomplete the look by se-lecting some stylish tableaccessories or lighting. We have a great range oftable lanterns at our gar-den centres that will giveyou that cosy feeling whilstdining and allow you to en-joy your al-fresco experi-ence long into the evening.

Plan for GrowthWhichever plants you de-cide to use remember toplan for growth, it is impor-tant to give your plantsroom to grow. If you musthave a dense, full land-scape right away, plantwith the intent to relocateor remove some plants asthey mature, to do this sim-ply keep the plants in theirpots. This allows for easytransport allowing you torelocate them whenneeded.

Use Foliage with Colour& TextureFor added depth chooseplants   with interestingforms and textures and optfor perennials with colour-ful foliage. For year roundcolour there is nothing bet-ter than colourful texturedfoliage.

Plants to Try

Hosta 'Wide Brim'

Carex 'Red Rooster'

Pennisetum ‘Cream Falls’

Heuchera

Coloured cushionsand parasols willbrighten up anyoutdoor living spaceand bring your oldfurniture to life.

T

outdoorspace

AvantThe avant collection is a firm favourite with our customers due to itsstunning looks and high grade materials. Constructed using precisionengineered, high quality weather resistant tubular stainless steel combinedwith Teak, Textilene and HPL (High Pressure Laminate) produces beautifulhigh quality, low maintenance garden furniture.

The teak used is ideal for outdoor furniture and is FSC certified, with manyweather resistant properties. The Avant classic teak table comfortably seatssix people and when used with the Avant classic extension leaf can seat upto twelve people, making it the perfect furniture set for large gatherings orfamily BBQ's. It also includes a 50mm central parasol dock to keep the wholefamily cool on those hot summer days.

Teak (Tectona Grandis) is an ideal hardwood forconstructing outdoor furniture. With a beautiful smoothtexture and a subtle striped grain. Teak has a naturallyhigh oil content giving the wood a formidableresistance to extreme weather.

TEAK

Alexander Rose Avant Teak

Stacking Armchair

Alexander Rose Avant Classic

Teak Extension Leaf 1.0 x 0.66m

COLLECTION

Alexander Rose Avant Teak

Table 1.6Mx1.0M

Teak (Tectona Grandis) is an ideal hardwood for

high oil content giving the wood a formidable

The Z650D Zurich Series Propane Barbecue Grill appeals to yoursense of adventure with a luxurious design and exciting grilling featuresthat are guaranteed to bring out the grill master in you.

The Z650D Gas Grill offers high results and precise cooking with 6solid stainless steel burners and thick stainless steel grids with flavourwaves that are built to last through some of the harshest weatherconditions. A Swiss style thermometer on the grill allows you to grilllike a professional. It produces an accurate viewing of the temperaturesof your grilled goods to ensure that they are cooked to perfectionevery time.

The Z650D Zurich Series Barbecue Grill is not just for grilling. It alsofeatures an adjustable infrared side-burner perfect for searing meats orboiling pots & pans, a commercial grade rotisserie, and a signaturebottle opener.

This barbecue is built to last with a double skinned, stainless steel hoodpanel, a double drawer roller system and hidden caster wheels for easymobility. The grill cart Z650D Zurich Series Grill is designed with easeof use in mind comes complete with pull out drawers to house grillingtools, seasoning and spices or any other grill accessory.

Swiss Grill Zurich Z2 650D

£1,699.95

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Hydrangea Facts

● Hydrangeas are one of very few plants thataccumulate aluminium. Aluminium is re-leased from acidic soils, and forms complex-es in the Hydrangea flower giving them theirblue colour.

● Hydrangeas produce their main flower clus-ters from the tips of shoots formed from theprevious season. If the terminal buds ofthese shoots are destroyed, the plant usuallyfails to bloom. The chief causes of destruc-tion of the terminal buds are excessive coldin winter and uninformed pruning.

● The Japanese refer to these Hydrangeaplants as Mountain Hydrangeas becausethey originate in the mountainous areas onthe islands of Japan. These Hydrangeas aresmaller in stature and have smaller leavesand delicate lacecap flowers.

● Although most Hydrangeas bloom in sum-mer and fall, a few Hydrangeas have devel-oped the ability to set new bloom buds inthe spring after the old ones have beenpruned off or damaged.

● ‘Endless Summer’ produces blooms morethan once a season, this trait is referred toas being "remontant".

PLANT PROFILEJapanese anemones give borders awelcome boost in late summer andearly autumn. 'Honorine Jobert' is aparticularly choice cultivar, singleflowers, tinged with pink on theunderside of the petals. Its fine qual-ities have won it the prestigiousAward of Garden Merit from theRoyal Horticultural Society.

LightJapanese anemones are happiest in partlyshaded conditions. I've found that an east-ern exposure works well; it allows theplants to benefit from morning sun whileprotecting them from blazing afternoonheat. In full sun, their foliage may burn andflower colour can look washed out. Fullshade produces fewer flowers, but withdeeper and richer colouring.

SoilThey accept a wide range of soil type fromsandy loam to heavy clay so extraordinarymeasures aren't called for. However, aswith any perennial, a healthy dose of or-ganic matter added to the planting holebefore installation will make for a long,floriferous life. As an added bonus, asidefrom the cultivar ‘Party Dress' (whichdoesn't do well in limey soils), Japaneseanemones adapt easily to acidic, neutral oralkaline soils.

CareDespite their predisposition for moist soilconditions, Japanese anemones performwell without much supplementary irrigation,and indeed, in warmer zones where plantsmay become precocious, withholding wateris the best method for keeping clumps con-tained. Large, double-flowered varietiesusually require some discreet staking, par-ticularly after heavy rains. On poor soils toimprove flowering, feeding may be requiredusing an organic fertiliser such as bone-meal.

Japanese anemones

Common Name: Japanese anemoneGenus: AnemoneSpecies: x hybridaCultivar: 'Honorine Jobert'Skill Level: BeginnerExposure: Full sun, Partial shadeHardiness: HardySoil type: Well-drained/light, Acidic

THE ULTIMATE SUMMER PUDDING

For the filling

300g strawberries 250g blackberries 100g redcurrants 500g raspberries OR 1¼kg/2lb 12oz mixed berries and currants of your choice 175g golden caster sugar 7 slices day-old white bread, from a square, medium-cut loaf

METHOD Bring out the juices: Wash fruit and gently dry on kitchenpaper – keep strawberries separate. Put sugar and 3 tbsp wa-ter into a large pan. Gently heat until sugar dissolves – stir afew times. Bring to a boil for 1 min, then tip in the fruit (notstrawberries). Cook for 3 mins over a low heat, stirring 2-3times. The fruit will be softened, mostly intact and surround-ed by dark red juice. Put a sieve over a bowl and tip in thefruit and juice.

Prepare the bread: Line the 1.25-litre basin with cling film asthis will help you to turn out the pudding. Overlap two piecesin the middle of the bowl as it’s easier than trying to get onesheet to stick to all of the curves. Let the edges overhang byabout 15cm. Cut the crusts off the bread. Cut 4 pieces of breadin half, a little on an angle, to give 2 lopsided rectangles perpiece. Cut 2 slices into 4 triangles each and leave the finalpiece whole.

Build the pud: Dip the whole piece of bread into the juice fora few secs just to coat. Push this into the bottom of the basin.Now dip the wonky rectangular pieces one at a time andpress around the basin’s sides so that they fit together neatly,alternately placing wide and narrow ends up. If you can’tquite fit the last piece of bread in it doesn’t matter, just triminto a triangle, dip in juice and slot in. Now spoon in the sof-tened fruit, adding the strawberries here and there as you go.

Let flavours mingle then serve: Dip the bread triangles injuice and place on top – trim off overhang with scissors. Keepleftover juice for later. Bring cling film up and loosely seal.Put a side plate on top and weight down with cans. Chill for 6hrs or overnight. To serve, open out cling film then put aserving plate upside-down on top and flip over. Serve withleftover juice, any extra berries and cream.