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<p>Enjoy a Meet and Greet with Rapunzel!</p>

<p>Meet Rapunzel for a covid safe magical personal experience at Swarkestone Nursery. Have your photo taken and receive a digital photo download from our photographer (included in the price).</p>

<p>BOOKING IS MANDATORY!</p>

<p>Click the link to book your ticket now</p>

<p><a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/derby/swarkestone-nursery/meet-rapunzel/e-lxrzgb">https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/derby/swarkestone-nursery/meet-rapunzel/e-lxrzgb</a></p>

<p><img alt="" height="720" src="https://www.swarkestonenursery.co.uk/files/images/IMG-20201109-WA0000(1).jpg" style="width: 720px; height: 720px;" width="720" /></p>

Meet and Greet Rapunzel

<p>Caring for a live Christmas tree is easy, but requires a few specific steps. If you take these steps, you can make a Christmas tree last longer through the season. Let&rsquo;s take a look at how to keep a Christmas tree alive and fresh</p>

<p>At Swarkestone Nursery we buy the freshest local Christmas trees straight from the farm.</p>

<p>We will even get you off to a good start by completing the first two steps on your behalf.</p>

<p><strong>Tips to Make&nbsp;a Christmas Tree Last Longer</strong></p>

<ol>
	<li><strong>Wrap the tree for the trip home.&nbsp;</strong>Most Christmas trees travel to their owner&rsquo;s home on the top of a vehicle. Without some kind of covering, the wind can dry the Christmas tree out. The first step to keeping your Christmas tree fresh is to cover the tree as you go home in order to keep the wind from damaging it. Don&#39;t worry we can do this for you at Swarkestone Nursery.</li>
	<li><strong>Recutting the stem on the Christmas tree.&nbsp;</strong>When caring for a live Christmas tree, remember a Christmas tree is essentially a giant cut flower. Unless you cut your own Christmas tree, chances are the tree you buy has been sitting on the lot for several days, possibly weeks. The vascular system that draws water up into the Christmas tree will have clogged up. Cutting off just a &frac14; inch (0.5 cm.) of the bottom of the trunk will remove the clogs and open up the vascular system again. You can cut more off, if you need to for height reasons. Many people wonder if there is a special way to cut the trunk to help with keeping your Christmas tree fresh. A simple straight cut is all that is needed. Drilling holes or cutting at angles will not improve how well the Christmas tree takes up water. Don&#39;t worry, if you purchase your Christmas tree at Swarkestone Nursery, we will offer to cut the stem for you as part of our service.</li>
	<li><strong>Watering your Christmas tree.</strong> To keep a Christmas tree alive, it is essential that once you cut the trunk of the Christmas tree, the cut has to stay moist. Make sure to fill the stand immediately after you cut the trunk. But, if you forget, most trees will be ok if you fill the stand within 24 hours. But your Christmas tree will stay fresh longer if you fill it as soon as possible.&nbsp;If you want to make a Christmas tree last longer, just use plain water. Studies have shown that plain water will work to keep a Christmas tree alive as well as anything added to the water. Check the Christmas tree stand twice a day as long as the tree is up. It is important that the stand stayed filled. A Christmas tree stand normally holds a rather small amount of water and a Christmas tree can quickly use up the water in the stand.</li>
	<li><strong>Choose an appropriate location for your Christmas tree.</strong> Another important part of how to make a Christmas tree last longer is to choose a good location in your house. Place the tree away from heating vents or cold drafts. Constant heat or fluctuating temperatures can speed the drying out of a tree. Also avoid placing the tree in direct, strong sunlight. The sunlight can also make the tree fade faster.</li>
</ol>

Top Tips on how to keep your Christmas Tree Fresh

<p>When <strong>festive wreaths</strong> start appearing on doors, you know Christmas is just around the corner. Whether you prefer a traditional wreath or something more unusual, there&rsquo;s no shortage of ways to decorate your own wreath. We&rsquo;ve put together some of our favourite ideas below.</p>

<p>When <strong>festive wreaths</strong> start appearing on doors, you know Christmas is just around the corner. Whether you prefer a traditional wreath or something more unusual, there&rsquo;s no shortage of ways to decorate your own wreath. We&rsquo;ve put together some of our favourite ideas below.</p>

<h2>Making a wreath: what you&rsquo;ll need</h2>

<p>To make a wreath, you first need a wreath base. We sell both real and artificial plain wreaths which you can use as a base. Alternatively you can make your own base but first we recommend&nbsp;buying wireframes or plain polystyrene bases, available at hardware&nbsp;stores.</p>

<p>You will also need glue, florist wire and secateurs, plus the decorations of your choice.</p>

<h2>How to wrap a wreath base</h2>

<p>If you&rsquo;re using fresh evergreen foliage to wrap your base, cut the foliage into lengths to suit the base &ndash; you may need to experiment a bit, but around 15-20cm (6-8in) usually works. Make the foliage into small bundles, and use the florist wire to attach each bundle to the wreath so that it lies flat, covering the base. Work your way around the base, overlapping the bundles until the base is completely covered.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can also wrap your base with string, material, coloured paper or anything else that inspires you.</p>

<h2>Ideas for decorating wreaths</h2>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p>For a simple but very effective wreath, use a single type of evergreen foliage to cover your base, e.g. yew, and decorate it with a large red ribbon bow.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Dust pine-cones with fake snow or spray them silver or gold, and nestle them in amongst evergreen foliage, using florist&rsquo;s wire to tie them to the base.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Wrap a base in wool and cover it with fluffy pompoms for a fabulously tactile wreath.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>For a spectacular look, use a polystyrene base and smother it with gleaming round Christmas baubles. Glue the baubles on, starting from the inside of the base and working out, using a mix of different-sized and coloured baubles.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Make a snowball wreath with Styrofoam balls in a range of sizes glued to a polystyrene base. For added sparkle, spray lightly with an aerosol adhesive and sprinkle with glitter.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>You can&rsquo;t have too much of a good thing. Make a tiered wreath by linking two or three wreaths together in a chain using patterned ribbon or material and hang it on the wall or drape it the full length of your door.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Make a dried wreath tying bundles of twigs together for a base, then decorate with pine cones and dried flowers. Spray it snowy white or sparkling silver for frosty appeal.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Celebrate family and friends with a photo wreath. Wrap a polystyrene base in plain or coloured paper, then cover it with your favourite photos to make a memorable display.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Break with tradition and make a square wreath. Tie bundles of twigs to make a square frame, then decorate with ribbons at the corners and wrap it with fairy lights or tinsel.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p>We have a fantastic range of wreaths and decorations in our centre. Let us help you brighten up your home this festive season.</p>

Top tips on decorating festive wreaths

<p>Want to do something different with your decorations this <strong>Christmas</strong>? <strong>Dried flowers</strong> make beautiful ornaments, and once you&rsquo;ve learnt the art of drying flowers, your garden is a storehouse of treasures, ready for your creative ideas.</p>

<p>Want to do something different with your decorations this <strong>Christmas</strong>? <strong>Dried flowers</strong> make beautiful ornaments, and once you&rsquo;ve learnt the art of drying flowers, your garden is a storehouse of treasures, ready for your creative ideas.</p>

<h2>Selecting and picking flowers for drying</h2>

<p>When picking flowers for drying, choose blooms that are not quite mature, so that they will last longer. Pick flowers in the morning, as soon as the dew has dried on them. If there&rsquo;s nothing flowering in your garden at the moment, buy cut flowers and experiment with them. Once you&rsquo;ve got the technique, you&rsquo;ll be able to dry flowers from your own garden next summer.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to air-dry flowers</h2>

<p>Air-drying is a very simple technique. It works well for complex flowers like roses, and for small, long-lasting blooms like lavender.&nbsp; Cut flowers with stems at least 15cm (6in) long. Remove the leaves, tie a length of string to each stem and hang the flowers upside down in a dry, well-ventilated dark place for two to three weeks, until the flowers are dry and papery. Spray lightly with hairspray and store carefully.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to dry flowers with silica gel</h2>

<p>Silica gel looks like very fine sand and is available from craft shops. It dries flowers by drawing moisture out of the petals and works well on flowers like roses, tulips and chrysanthemums.</p>

<p>Pour a layer of gel into a bowl, place a flower on top of the gel and gently pour more gel over it until the flower is completely covered. Leave for several days, until the flower is dry and papery. Remove the flower, carefully brush off the gel, mist the flower with hairspray and store.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to dry flowers by pressing&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The simplest way to press flowers is between the pages of a book. Place a flower between two absorbent pieces of paper (old-fashioned blotting paper works well), put these between the pages of a book, close the book and weigh it down by placing a couple of other heavy books on top of it. Change the blotting paper every few days. Pressed flowers usually take 2-3 weeks to dry fully.</p>

<h2>Making decorations with dried flowers</h2>

<p>Dried flowers make beautiful Christmas decorations, reminding us that spring isn&rsquo;t far away. Here are a few ideas on how to use dried flowers as decorations:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Fill clear plastic baubles with dried flowers to make beautiful Christmas tree decorations. Use rose petals as &lsquo;filler&rsquo; for the centre of the bauble, with flatter flowers like daisies towards the outside.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Fill vases with dried flower arrangements to remind you of summer.</li>
	<li>Lay a mini-bouquet of dried flowers at each place around your Christmas dinner table.</li>
	<li>Use dried flowers to add colour to seasonal wreaths.</li>
</ul>

<p>Whatever your decorating style, you&rsquo;ll find plenty to inspire you in our centre, so pay us a visit and make your home amazing this Christmas.</p>

How to use dried flowers as Christmas decorations

<p>It is exciting to <strong>light up your Christmas tree</strong> and really get into the festive celebrations at this time of year. With so very many options to make your Christmas tree sparkle, where do you start? We have put together this guide full of options to help you decide what you would like to do when thinking about how to make your Christmas tree stand out for all of the family to enjoy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is exciting to <strong>light up your Christmas tree</strong> and really get into the festive celebrations at this time of year. With so very many options to make your Christmas tree sparkle, where do you start? We have put together this guide full of options to help you decide what you would like to do when thinking about how to make your Christmas tree stand out for all of the family to enjoy.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Soft glow lights to light up your Christmas tree&nbsp;</h2>

<p>All of our Christmas tree lights are multi-function which means you have the option of soft glow lights or jazzy dancing lights. Choose&nbsp;warm white lights, and select the soft glow setting to warm up those cold winter nights&nbsp;with class and style.</p>

<h2>Light up your Christmas tree with multi-coloured lights&nbsp;</h2>

<p>In contrast to the peaceful Christmas atmosphere that soft lighting provides, multi-coloured lights create more of a fun, party feel in the room. So if you want to jazz up the tree with lots of colours, find your perfect box of lights which are often in primary colours and twirl them around your tree.</p>

<h2>Light up your Christmas tree with a pre-lit&nbsp;tree</h2>

<p>If you are short on time or don&rsquo;t want to untangle the Christmas lights every year, why not invest in a tree with lights that are already part of the branches? There are a few&nbsp;different&nbsp;sizes and colours. All you need to do is unpack the tree and plug it in. For a retro look, check out our fibre-optic christmas trees.</p>

<h2>Light up your Christmas tree with LED, solar or battery-powered lights</h2>

<p>When you decide on the type of lights you would like to bring the festivities to your home, remember to consider how you would like to power them. We offer:</p>

<ul>
	<li>LED plug-in Christmas lights,</li>
	<li>Christmas solar power, which is useful for outdoors,</li>
	<li>Battery-powered Christmas lights,</li>
</ul>

<p>Battery-powered Christmas lights can be useful when&nbsp;you want to light them up, even if you don&rsquo;t have your tree near an electrical socket.</p>

<p>Pick your Christmas lights for this year&#39;s tree from our Christmas Castle.&nbsp;</p>

Light up your Christmas Tree

<p>When the weather gets cold, <strong>birds</strong> need our help. Finding food gets harder, and they need to eat more to stay warm. Providing food and shelter in winter can make all the difference to your garden’s birds. Here are our top tips to <strong>help birds get through the winter</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When the weather gets cold, <strong>birds</strong> need our help. Finding food gets harder, and they need to eat more to stay warm. Providing food and shelter in winter can make all the difference to your garden’s birds. Here are our top tips to <strong>help birds get through the winter</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What to feed birds in winter</h2>
<p>Unlike us, birds don’t have to watch the calories over Christmas. What they need is plenty of oil-rich, high-calorie food to replenish the fat stores that they burn up quickly in cold weather. Sunflower and nyjer seeds are ideal, as are suet balls (remember to take suet balls out of their mesh bags to stop birds getting their feet tangled in the netting).&nbsp; Peanuts are always popular, but make sure to buy good quality unsalted peanuts suitable for birdfeed, as some peanuts contain a chemical that’s toxic to birds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Once you start feeding birds in winter, it’s important to stick to a routine and keep your feeders topped up. If birds know there’s food available, they’ll keep coming back, and you don’t want them to waste their valuable energy visiting an empty bird feeder.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Keep your birdbaths watered</h2>
<p>Keep birdbaths topped up too. Most birds need to drink twice a day, even in winter, and they also need to clean their feathers regularly to keep them waterproof. In icy weather, it can be hard for birds to find sources of clean water, so check your birdbath regularly to make sure it hasn’t frozen over. A handy tip is to leave a ping pong ball floating in the water. The ball will move about in even the lightest breeze, disturbing the water surface and keeping it from freezing in light frosts. On icy days, you may need to thaw your birdbath with warm water. (Don’t use boiling water, as this can crack stone birdbaths.)</p>
<h2>How to make your garden bird-friendly in winter</h2>
<p>To make your garden more bird-friendly, plant a few evergreen shrubs to provide shelter and protection for small birds in winter. Thorny evergreens like holly and pyracantha are ideal, as their berries provide a ready source of food. Mature ivy is another very bird-friendly plant, with berries for winter food and evergreen leaves for shelter.</p>
<h2>Feeding birds at Christmas</h2>
<p>Want to give your garden birds a treat at Christmas? Here’s what you can and can’t give them from your Christmas dinner table.&nbsp;</p>
<p><u>Do give:</u></p>
<ul>
<li>Small amounts of non-alcoholic fruit cake&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fruit</li>
<li>Unsalted nuts</li>
</ul>
<p><u>Don’t give:</u></p>
<ul>
<li>Any kind of cooking fat (it smears on birds’ feathers and is very hard for them to clean off)</li>
<li>Salty snacks, such as crisps</li>
</ul>
<p>Don’t put out too much food at any one time, as you don’t want to end up with a pile of soggy uneaten food that could attract rats or other pests.</p>
<p>Whatever you’re after, whether it’s bird treats or garden plants, we’ve got everything you need in our centre to help you care for your birds this winter.</p>

How to care for garden birds in winter

<p>Why not do something different with your festive decorations this year?&nbsp; With colourful berries, striking seedheads and fabulous foliage, there&rsquo;s a wealth of material in your garden to make spectacular decorations. We&rsquo;ve put together our <strong>top tips to help you bring the outside indoors this holiday season</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Why not do something different with your festive decorations this year?&nbsp; With colourful berries, striking seedheads and fabulous foliage, there&rsquo;s a wealth of material in your garden to make spectacular decorations. We&rsquo;ve put together our <strong>top tips to help you bring the outside indoors this holiday season</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Top tips to bring the outdoors inside this Christmas</h2>

<ol>
	<li>
	<p>Add a festive touch to your flower arrangements. Combine dried seed heads with fresh flowers, or use them on their own for long-lasting displays. Teasels, honesty, echinacea and ornamental grasses have beautiful seed heads, and red rose-hips and holly berries add a seasonal dash of bright colour. Coloured dogwood stems also make a spectacular addition to flower arrangements.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>To preserve the gorgeous colours of autumn leaves, make up a solution of one part glycerin to two parts water. Cut sprays of leaves when the colours are at their best, tap the cut ends with a hammer to crush them, and stand them in containers filled with the glycerin/water solution for up to a month. Once the glycerin starts to appear on the leaf surfaces, remove the sprays, wipe the leaves and use them to decorate your home. They should last for several months.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>If you want fresh flowers in winter, now&rsquo;s the time to plant a winter-flowering shrub. Viburnum x bodnantense &lsquo;Dawn&rsquo; flowers from late autumn to spring, bearing clusters of pink flowers with a fabulous fragrance. Cut a few flowering stems and place them in a vase to perfume the whole room.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>If you didn&rsquo;t get around to planting prepared daffodils or hyacinths in pots indoors in September, buy ready-potted bulbs and put them on a sunny windowsill to give you beautifully scented flowers at Christmas.&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Few plants say Christmas like poinsettias, with their spectacular crimson flowers. To keep your poinsettia looking good, protect it from draughts and put it somewhere warm and bright, out of direct sunlight. Don&rsquo;t overwater it &ndash; wait until the surface of the compost is practically dry to the touch before watering.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Save autumn leaves with interesting shapes, like maple or oak. Put them between two sheets of paper and press them under a few heavy books for a couple of weeks until dry. Then spray them silver or gold and scatter them over shelves or use them as table decorations.</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Make a change from the traditional Christmas tree this year. A Corkscrew hazel (Corylus contorta) in a pot is like a natural sculpture with its quirky, twisted branches, ideal for hanging baubles. Or why not drape a potted olive tree or standard bay in Christmas lights?&nbsp;</p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p>Get the kids involved in making Christmas pomanders. Tie ribbons around oranges to give them a festive look, then press cloves into the skins and hang the pomanders up to fill the house with fragrance as they dry.</p>
	</li>
</ol>

<p>Whether you&rsquo;re looking for colourful winter plants or traditional Christmas decorations, you&rsquo;ll find them in our centre. Let us help you make your house spectacular this holiday season.</p>

8 tips to bring the outdoors inside this Christmas

<p>It is time to <strong>plant Skimmia for winter interest</strong> and keep your garden looking full of colour and berries in the cold months of the year. Skimmia is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves, bright winter berries and then white flowers in late spring. They give a great deal to each season in the garden and also look good in pots and containers plus they can be planted at any time of the year as long as the ground isn&#39;t frozen or waterlogged.</p>

<p>It is time to <strong>plant Skimmia for winter interest</strong> and keep your garden looking full of colour and berries in the cold months of the year. Skimmia is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves, bright winter berries and then white flowers in late spring. They give a great deal to each season in the garden and also look good in pots and containers plus they can be planted at any time of the year as long as the ground isn&#39;t frozen or waterlogged.</p>

<h2>Find out how to plant Skimmia for winter interest</h2>

<p>Skimmia is available as a male, female or self-fertile plant. To ensure the female grows big beautiful berries in winter you will need to plant both a male and female plant together or make sure the variety you are planting is self-fertile and then it can grow on its own. If you are unsure, we can advise you in the store.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>Another beneficial side to growing Skimmia is that they grow well in full shade, so if you have an area in your garden that you are unsure what will grow in, Skimmia can be a good choice. They can tolerate part shade but not full sun.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Plant into neutral to acidic soils so if you are planting into containers, use some ericaceous compost and although they do grow in alkaline soils make sure it is also full of plenty of organic matter.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>Plant Skimmia for winter interest and take care of them</h2>

<p>Skimmia needs very little care, it really is an all-round easy plant to grow. If you are planting in pots, make sure that the soil doesn&#39;t completely dry out as it is growing and during spring and summer, make sure it is given some plant food. If you are growing it outside, give it a mulch and ensure it is watered well when you plant it, as it is establishing and in dry weather.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Plant skimmia for winter interest with other plants&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Skimmia grows well in a woodland style garden due to it enjoying the shade so much. Still, in a pot or container, it is striking planted along with some brightly coloured lime Heucheras, vibrant pink Cyclamen and a variety of Heather. The combination makes a true winter style container.</p>

<h2>Please keep it in shape when you plant Skimmia for winter interest&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Skimmia requires very little pruning but if you do want to keep it in shape, lightly prune it during winter when it is dormant and use the sprigs to decorate your home for Christmas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Please pick up your Skimmia in store and ask any of our staff for advice.&nbsp;</p>

Plant Skimmia for Winter Interest

<p><strong>Are garden centres open in&nbsp;the second lockdown?</strong></p>

<p>Our garden centre will be open throughout the lockdown period, however sadly the restaurant will be closed until 2nd December 2020.</p>

<p>We are very grateful to the government for&nbsp;including garden centres&nbsp;within the essential&nbsp;retailers.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>You may be wondering why garden centres have been allowed to remain open during lockdown? Why are garden centres essential?</strong></p>

<p>Gardening is important for physical&nbsp;wellbeing. All that digging, planting and weeding burns calories and strengthens your heart. Gardening&nbsp;is an activity you can do at home, during lockdown, keeping you active.</p>

<p>Gardening is good for your mental health. Even something as simple as having a plant on&nbsp;your&nbsp;desk can reduce stress and make you feel more energized and able to think more clearly, and many that suffer from anxiety or depression have found&nbsp;gardening&nbsp;and caring for plants to be incredibly&nbsp;beneficial.</p>

<p>Gardening is great for the environment. Plants are considered a critical resource. They release oxygen into the atmosphere, absorb carbon dioxide, provide habitat and food for wildlife and humans.</p>

<p>Garden centres are essential for the UK horticultural supply chain. We stock perishable goods. We have spent months growing&nbsp;pansies and violas on our nursery, which would otherwise have to be scrapped if we had to close.&nbsp;Many other&nbsp;seasonal plants would also have to be thrown away. We wouldn&#39;t be ordering fresh weekly deliveries of plants affecting a wider network of UK&nbsp;businesses too. From 25th November, we will be stocking locally grown Christmas Trees, if we were not allowed to remain open we may have to reduce our order.</p>

<p>In addition, garden centres are very COVID-secure. We operate from a well-ventilated open infrastructure, providing one of the safest retail environments.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="" height="198" src="https://www.swarkestonenursery.co.uk/files/images/open%20during%20lockdown.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 198px;" width="600" /></p>

Our Garden Centre will be open throughout the Lockdown

<p>Whether you’re harvesting the last of your summer vegetables, tidying up your borders or planting spring bulbs, there’s plenty to do in the garden in November. Make the most of those clear autumn days with our <strong>top 15 November garden jobs</strong>.</p>

<p>Whether you’re harvesting the last of your summer vegetables, tidying up your borders or planting spring bulbs, there’s plenty to do in the garden in November. Make the most of those clear autumn days with our <strong>top 15 November garden jobs</strong>.</p>
<h2>15 garden tips for November</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<p>November is the best month to plant tulip bulbs in pots and borders. There’s still time to plant other spring bulbs like daffodils, crocuses, irises and fritillaries too.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Sow broad beans in the ground or pots, and sow salad leaves on sunny windowsills for winter picking.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Carrots, cabbage and celeriac can all be harvested now. Harvest parsnips after the first frosts, when they will have a sweeter flavour.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Net brassicas like cabbage against pigeons, and stake Brussels sprouts to keep them standing securely, ready for harvesting at Christmas.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Lift dahlias after the first frosts have blackened the foliage. Leave them somewhere cool to dry, then store them in trays, covered with a layer of newspaper or dry compost to stop the tubers drying out.&nbsp; You can do the same for cannas and tuberous begonias.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Clear fallen leaves from lawns and beds.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Mulch beds with compost or well-rotted farmyard manure to improve the soil structure. Put down planks to work off, to avoid compacting the soil.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Put pots on pot feet to stop them getting waterlogged. In cold areas, wrap pots with fleece or bubble wrap to insulate them against frost damage.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Prune roses by a third to prevent wind rock.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Keep cutting back faded perennials, but leave some seed heads for the birds and to provide winter interest in the borders.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Cut old hellebore leaves off at ground level. This reduces the spread of hellebore leaf spot and also makes the winter flowers easier to see.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>November’s a good time to prune apple and pear trees (but leave plum trees alone until midsummer). Prune blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries now too, removing deadwood and thinning out congested branches to achieve an open goblet shape. Prune autumn-fruiting raspberries, cutting all the old canes to ground level.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Leave ivy over winter, as the flowers and berries are a valuable food source for both birds and bees. It also provides shelter for overwintering ladybirds and butterflies. Don’t worry about it getting out of control, as you can cut it back in spring.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Clean your bird feeders and fill them up. Oil-rich, high energy foods like suet balls, peanuts and sunflower hearts will help birds get through the winter. Keep birdbaths topped up too.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Aerate your lawn by spiking it with a garden fork or a hollow tine aerator. Cut the lawn on a high setting to see it through winter.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Whether you’re pruning trees, planting spring bulbs or planning next year’s vegetable garden, you’ll find everything you need in our centre, so come and visit us soon.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

15 garden tips for November

<p>Lighting adds something extra-special to every garden. Whether it&rsquo;s making long summer evenings even longer or adding festive cheer to dark winter nights, with a few well-placed garden lights, it&rsquo;s easy to create the mood you want. With so many different types of <strong>garden lighting</strong> available, we&rsquo;ve put together a few ideas on how to use them.</p>

<p>Lighting adds something extra-special to every garden. Whether it&rsquo;s making long summer evenings even longer or adding festive cheer to dark winter nights, with a few well-placed garden lights, it&rsquo;s easy to create the mood you want. With so many different types of <strong>garden lighting</strong> available, we&rsquo;ve put together a few ideas on how to use them.</p>

<h2>All about solar lighting</h2>

<p>The days when your solar garden lights would work for a few months and then give up are over. Solar lighting technology has come on by leaps and bounds in recent years. Most solar garden lights use LED bulbs, which need little power to produce a very respectable amount of light. The bulbs last a long time, and with modern photovoltaic technology, batteries charge well even on cloudy days. Solar lighting systems are flexible and easy to install, letting you redesign your garden lighting to your heart&rsquo;s content.</p>

<h2>How to create effects with garden lighting</h2>

<p>There&rsquo;s no end to the effects you can create with your garden lighting. Here are our top 5 tips to get you started.</p>

<h2>1. Highlight structures with fairy lights</h2>

<p>Strings of fairy lights are perfect for highlighting a pergola or archway or wrapping around tree branches to create a sparkling night-time silhouette. A patio or seating area strung with fairy lights has an instant party atmosphere.</p>

<h2>2. Create atmosphere with bare light bulbs&nbsp;</h2>

<p>These are light bulbs with a twist - solar lights in the shape of bare light bulbs, but with a sparkling string of LEDs in place of an element. They&rsquo;re available with individual solar panels, making them easy to clip or hook on to branches or structures, with no cabling to get in the way. You can also buy strings of bulbs, perfect for recreating the feel of a rustic taverna or beach cottage, evoking memories of special holidays.</p>

<h2>3. Light the way with path lights</h2>

<p>Path lights have beams that focus downwards, lighting the ground around them. Space individual spike-mounted path lights along a path to light your way, or to guide your guests to where the party is happening!&nbsp;</p>

<h2>4. Highlight features with spotlights</h2>

<p>Spotlights have a narrow beam, ideal for highlighting a special feature in your garden. For a dramatic effect, use them to light a statue, sculpture or decorative pot from below, or cross-light a feature with a spotlight on either side.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5. Add a gentle glow with accent lights</h2>

<p>Accent lights have a wider beam than spotlights, making them good for spreading a glow of light over an area. They&rsquo;re not as bright as spotlights, but this means they can stay on for longer. Place a few accent lights around a patio or seating area for a warm, welcoming effect, then add a few strings of fairy lights for some extra sparkle.</p>

<p>We have a great range of garden lighting systems in our centre, so visit us soon and light up your garden this year.</p>

5 ways to light up your garden

<p>Wondering how to <strong>help your garden birds</strong> during the colder months? As the weather changes and many trees become bare, gardens get tidied up, and berries start to disappear. It is more important than ever to make sure your outside space is home to wildlife. Birds will need to store fat to get through the winter, and there are many things you can do to help your feathered garden friends. Here are some tips for a bird-friendly garden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wondering how to <strong>help your garden birds</strong> during the colder months? As the weather changes and many trees become bare, gardens get tidied up, and berries start to disappear. It is more important than ever to make sure your outside space is home to wildlife. Birds will need to store fat to get through the winter, and there are many things you can do to help your feathered garden friends. Here are some tips for a bird-friendly garden.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Make a birdhouse to help your garden birds&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Get creative and have some fun making a birdhouse. Reuse old teapots, books, or wood to build a place of shelter and for nesting in the seasons to come. If you haven&rsquo;t got materials to recycle, why not try a DIY bird box kit or find one ready-made. Either way, your birds will thank you for it, and you will enjoy watching them check out their potential new home in the garden. Make sure it is placed away from where predators such as cats can get to it.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Help your garden birds with supplementary bird food</h2>

<p>While the key to a thriving garden is plenty of diversity, planting for year-round interest and thinking about natural food sources for birds is the most important thing to do, supplementary feeding is still essential, and it is advised to try and help out. If you are in an urban or rural setting, feeding the birds is much needed and will help to keep their energy levels up. There are many types of food available from seed to fat balls and various size and style feeders as well. Keep them away from predators and enjoy watching the birds come in for a feed.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Provide natural shelter to help your garden birds&nbsp;</h2>

<p>One of the best ways to help birds through the winter, along with food, is to provide plenty of shelters.</p>

<ul>
	<li>Plant evergreen shrubs and native evergreen trees so they have plenty of warmth and protection as the weather gets colder.</li>
	<li>Deciduous trees and shrubs are still important, so a mix if ideal.</li>
	<li>Even leave an area in your garden untouched.</li>
	<li>Allow the grass to grow, and leaves to pile up.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>Help your garden birds with diversity in the garden&nbsp;</h2>

<p>For all garden wildlife, it is imperative to create a garden full of life to create a biodiverse space. This means different plants for all year interest, homes for hedgehogs and birds, ponds for amphibians and water for drinking and bathing as well&mdash;the more diverse the garden, the more insects and the more wildlife. Creating a thriving space will also give you so much interest to enjoy in the garden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Visit our pet department for everything you need to help your garden birds this year.&nbsp;</p>

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