"Bindweed is a big problem in my garden" Unfortunately, bindweed can take a long time to completely eradicate. Persistent digging and hoeing will help. Dig out as many of the roots as you can and for areas where it is not possible to dig because of other plant roots, then use a hose to sever the weed at ground level. It may also be worth inserting vertical barriers into your soil. In terms of chemical solutions, a non-selective weed killer can be applied to the foliage which will then move throughout the weed. It is important to avoid spraying this on neighbouring plants, understandab ..read more

It's that time of year again when our gardens are beginning to fade along with the sunshine and us gardeners are on the search for some new plants to see us through until spring. Luckily, Hayloft have come to the rescue! We have a whole new autumn catalogue full of inspirational ideas for your garden, including some Hayloft favourites along with plenty of new plants to discover. Keep reading to hear about some of our favourite picks from the catalogue and why we love them so much. Paeonia Lollipop It simply wouldn't be right to not talk about the plant that is on the very front of the ca ..read more

As the days get cooler and we slowly but surely say goodbye to the summer heat, you may think your garden's beauty will fade with the sun but this certainly does not need to be the case. The fiery colours of these autumn flowering plants will keep your garden colourful and exciting. Keep reading for our top 10 picks. 1. Rudbeckia The perfect plant to compliment your autumn colour palette, Rudbeckia bloom in shades of orange, yellow, red and bronze. They have such a long flowering period (from July all the way to October in fact!) so there's plenty of time to enjoy them in the garden or to ..read more

As many avid gardeners may know, Primula Viallii Alison Holland was the first of its kind! Discovered by John Holland, the plant has grown to be so much more than he had ever anticipated. At the Malvern Spring Show earlier this year, we had the absolute joy of meeting Alison Holland. Yes, that is the Alison Holland who said Primula is named after! After some email exchanges, we're so happy to have learned the story behind the first white Primula Vialii and are even happier to be able to share that story with you. John Holland in the spot where he found the white Primula Vialii Our story b ..read more

Groundcover plants are the ultimate secret weapon for any gardener. They're great for filling in the gaps between other plants, particularly in borders, making your garden look polished and complete. So what actually is groundcover? Well, as you might expect, groundcover plants are low-growing and cover the ground, spreading over the soil like a carpet of colour. Why's it so great? 1. It's low maintenance- Once a groundcover plant is established it can pretty much be left to its own devices, giving you more time to tend to the rest of your garden. 2. It suppresses weeds- There's nothi ..read more

It's that time of year again here at Hayloft when we are planning ahead and on the lookout for some new and exciting plants ready for next year. To kickstart our search for 2020 bedding plant inspiration, we took off to the Oxfordshire countryside to visit Ball Colegrave's Summer Showcase. Ball Colegrave has been conducting plant trials for 54 years and their 8-acre site was certainly choc-full with plants. From Dahlias, to Petunias, to Nemesia, to Begonias, there was certainly no shortage of colourful blooms to admire. In fact, there were a total of 200 new plants being showcased. Despit ..read more

'Where flowers bloom, so does hope'- Lady Bird Johnson It's beginning to look like bulb planting season! For the past few months here at Hayloft we have been carefully sourcing and selecting the most beautiful bulbs ready to share with you in our new bulb range. To tickle your fancy, we'd like to share with you some of our top picks and why we love them so much. Why choose bulbs? 1. Easy to grow- bulbs are so low-maintenance and easy to grow, making them a perfect choice for beginner gardeners. 2. Bold colour- Bulbs are available in every colour imaginable, allowing you to be really c ..read more

Spring is nature's way of saying 'Let's party!' - Robin Williams With our brand new online bulb range about to launch, we wanted to share with you our ultimate guide to bulbs, ready to help you create the perfect spring garden. I know spring seems a long way off, but as many bulbs need to be planted in the autumn there's no time like the present to start planning! Where to plant bulbs: With any bulb, it's really important to plant them in well-drained soil, as if they are too wet they can rot. A position of full sun or partial shade is also preferable to get the very best out of your bul ..read more

It may seem a rather dull topic, and I wouldn't blame you for not jumping with excitement at the prospect of discussing it, but knowing what type of soil you have in your garden can help you choose plants that will flourish. Who doesn't want that? Types of soil Firstly, you may be wondering what types of soil there are and more importantly, how do you know what type you have in your garden? Each soil type has different characteristics so as long as you know what to look out for, determining soil type needn't be hard. We've got you covered ..read more

'Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.'- Hans Christian Andersen With our summers becoming hotter and hotter each year, as gardeners we have an ever-increasing need for drought tolerant plants. There's nothing worse than spending time and money planting flowers only for them to have shrivelled up and died when a surge of hot weather arrives (R.I.P to the plants that didn't make it through last years heat wave!) Drought tolerant plants, as would be expected, often are native to hot climates and are therefore adapted to survive in these adverse we ..read more