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<p>When you <strong>pair up Roses and Clematis,</strong> you can have a beautiful display in your garden that will flower for many months of the year, bringing colour and interest to you and wildlife. Roses and Clematis look so very pretty together, and when you get the combination right for you, your pergola, arches, and trellis can be a riot of colour to enjoy. These pairs grow really well together and look wonderful too.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When you <strong>pair up Roses and Clematis,</strong> you can have a beautiful display in your garden that will flower for many months of the year, bringing colour and interest to you and wildlife. Roses and Clematis look so very pretty together, and when you get the combination right for you, your pergola, arches, and trellis can be a riot of colour to enjoy. These pairs grow really well together and look wonderful too.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Colour combination when you pair up Roses and Clematis</h2>
<p>One way to start deciding which Rose and Clematis you would like to grow together is to consider the colours you want in your garden. Would you like them both to be pink or would you prefer to have completely different colours such as pink and yellow? Perhaps a light Rose and a darker Clematis for a stunning contrast.</p>
<ul>
<li>For similar colours, try Rose ‘Albertine’, a rambling rose with Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’.</li>
<li>For a big burst of pink or for contrasting colours, try climbing bright pink rose ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ with the dark purple of Clematis ‘Polish Spirit’.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Pair up Roses and Clematis for flowering at the same time</h2>
<p>If you are looking for the wow factor, then planting varieties that will bloom together means you’ll get a stunning display all at once. If you grow climbing roses with your clematis, they will most likely need pruning at the same time, which can save a job, plus climbing roses repeat flower. Of course, you could always choose for different flowering times as well. If you would like a combination that will flower together, try Rose ‘The Generous Gardener’ with Clematis ‘Madame Julia Correvon’ or Clematis ‘Henryi’ with Rose ‘Iceberg’.</p>
<h2>Go with more than one of each when you pair up Roses and Clematis</h2>
<p>There are no rules as long as you have space, so why not choose a couple of different Clematises to grow with your Rose and extend the flowering and colour for as long as you possibly can. You could grow two or three Clematis with one Rose for a real show-stopper display. Don’t forget to ensure there is something for them to climb up that is well secured as the weight of two-plus climbers can be a lot!&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Pair up Roses and Clematis with the right supports&nbsp;</h2>
<p>When you have decided which you would like to grow, secure trellis tightly to your walls, fix the pergola well or make sure you have strong arches. Anything they can climb up will be their home for many years. You may need some ties or string as well, so be prepared. Ideally, if they can grow somewhere that you will also catch the scent. That’s even more perfect.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For climbers, supports and accessories, visit us in store.&nbsp;</p>

Pair up Roses and Clematis

<p><strong>Birds</strong> are at their most active in <strong>spring</strong>, making nests and raising their young, so it’s the perfect time to do a bit of bird-watching. Here are a few of the birds you’re likely to see in your garden, plus some tips on what to feed them to make sure they keep coming back.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Birds</strong> are at their most active in <strong>spring</strong>, making nests and raising their young, so it’s the perfect time to do a bit of bird-watching. Here are a few of the birds you’re likely to see in your garden, plus some tips on what to feed them to make sure they keep coming back.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Blackbirds</h2>
<p>Male blackbirds are easy to identify – they’re black, with a bright yellow beak. Female blackbirds are less noticeable, with brown plumage. Blackbirds eat insects, worms, berries and fruit. They are mainly ground-feeding birds to come to food placed on bird tables or the ground. Try putting out dried mealworms and uncooked oats to attract them.</p>
<h2>Blue tits and great tits</h2>
<p>Blue tits are small and colourful, with blue, yellow, white and green markings. Great tits are slightly bigger, with yellow and green plumage. Both eat insects, caterpillars, seeds and nuts, and are welcome visitors in gardens, where they eat quantities of aphids in spring.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Blue tits and great tits will visit hanging bird feeders filled with seeds and nuts, tending to snatch a few seeds and take them elsewhere to eat.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Robins</h2>
<p>With their bright red breasts and confident manner, robins are a familiar sight in our gardens. They are very territorial, chasing other birds away from their space. Robins eat worms, seeds, insects and fruit, and they love sunflower seeds and mealworms. They are primarily ground-feeders, so although they may occasionally visit a hanging bird feeder, they will prefer feeding tables.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Goldfinches</h2>
<p>Goldfinches are tiny birds with bright red faces and yellow markings on their brown wings. Their beaks are perfectly designed for extracting the seeds from plants like teasels, thistles and dandelions, so leave a few dandelions growing in the corner of your garden to attract them. Hanging up a nyjer seed feeder will also help bring goldfinches into your garden, as they love the tiny black oil-rich seeds.</p>
<h2>Song thrushes</h2>
<p>Song thrushes are slightly larger than blackbirds and are largely brown with a black-speckled underbelly. Gardeners love thrushes because they eat snails, bashing them against a rock to break the shells. They also eat worms and fruit. To feed thrushes, soak raisins in hot water to plump them up and put them out on feeding tables, along with berries.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Tips on feeding garden birds</h2>
<p>Make your garden more bird-friendly with these simple tips:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Plant berry-bearing shrubs and ivy to provide birds with food and shelter</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Keep feeders topped up to avoid birds making wasted trips, especially in winter.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Put out water for birds to drink and to wash in.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Clean feeders regularly, scrubbing them out in hot soapy water to avoid bacteria build-up that can spread diseases.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>You’ll find everything you need for your garden birds in our centres, including feeders, bird food and bird-friendly plants. Come and visit us today!</p>

Watching garden birds in spring

<p>Weeds can be a real nuisance in the garden. They compete with our favourite plants for water and nutrients, and they spread the minute our backs are turned. As gardeners, we’re always looking for better ways to deal with the problem, so here’s our quick guide on <strong>how to get rid of garden weeds</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Weeds can be a real nuisance in the garden. They compete with our favourite plants for water and nutrients, and they spread the minute our backs are turned. As gardeners, we’re always looking for better ways to deal with the problem, so here’s our quick guide on <strong>how to get rid of garden weeds</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Getting rid of annual weeds</h2>
<p>Annual weeds like chickweed, hairy bittercress, spurge and groundsel grow, set seed and die all within one year. When dealing with annual weeds, the first rule is to get to them before they set seed&nbsp; - there’s a well-known saying that ‘One year’s seed means seven years’ weeds.’ Hoeing is an easy way to tackle these weeds. On a dry day, use the hoe to sever the plant roots just below the ground. Leave the weeds on the surface of the ground to wither and die.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Controlling weeds by mulching</h2>
<p>Mulching (putting a layer of compost, bark, gravel or other material) on the soil suppresses weeds by blocking light from the seeds, stopping them from germinating. Mulching with organic matter like compost is also great for the soil, improving its structure.&nbsp; Mulch flower beds annually, using a 5cm (2in) layer of compost or well-rotted garden manure. Bark chips make a good mulch around shrubs.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>How to get rid of difficult weeds</h2>
<p>Many weeds can be dug up using a hand fork, but perennial weeds like dandelions, bindweed and ground elder will grow back from any root segments left in the ground, making them difficult to get rid of. Bindweed and ground elder are particularly hard to control because they produce extensive networks of underground roots. Regular hand weeding will weaken them eventually, but ensure you remove as much of the roots as possible. Use a dandelion grubber, which has a long narrow blade, to dig up dandelions.</p>
<p>Difficult perennial weeds can also be killed using a systemic weedkiller containing glyphosate. Systemic weedkillers are absorbed through a plant’s leaves and work their way through the whole plant, killing it right down to the roots. When spraying systemic weedkillers, protect surrounding plants by covering them with plastic sheeting, as the weedkiller will kill any plant it comes into contact with. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using weedkiller.</p>
<h2>Weeds that are good for wildlife</h2>
<p>Weeds do have some benefits, especially for garden wildlife:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><strong>Dandelion flowers</strong> are one of the top food sources for bees early in the year before most other plants are in flower.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Dandelion seedheads</strong> provide food for small birds like goldfinches and blackbirds.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Flowering weeds</strong> like daisies, buttercups and clover are good for bees and hoverflies.&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong>Nettles</strong> provide food for the larvae of many moths and butterflies, including tortoiseshells and peacocks.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>If your garden is big enough, it’s worth leaving a few weeds to grow in an unused patch to help support your local wildlife.</p>
<p>Whatever approach you take to tackling your garden weeds, we have all the tools you need, so come and visit us soon!</p>

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