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Plants FAQs

Our plants, everything you need to know

Our range includes everything from bedding plants to pond and hedging plants. Fancy growing your own fruit and vegetables? Take a look at our fruit trees, soft fruit plants, vegetable plants and seeds.

To really add the wow factor to your garden, consider one of our ornamental trees, shrubs or climbing plants.

We know that deciding on a plant can be complicated, especially when you’ve got such a huge range to choose from! That’s why we’ve created unique pages for all our plants, explaining the species-specific factors you need to consider and what makes each variety unique.

We don’t just stop there, but provide advice on how to care for your plants on our blog, ensuring you receive the biggest blooms and largest crops.

How do you plan out a garden?

First and foremost, it’s important to work out the sunny spots in your garden. For the average garden, the main cast of shade is you and your neighbours’ houses and outbuildings, but large trees can also be a significant source of shade.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west travelling across the south sky. This means a plant that is north of a tall structure will be in shade throughout the day, a plant that is to the west in sunlight in the evening, a plant that is to east in sunlight in the morning and a plant that is south in sun throughout the day.

Not all structures cast the same shade. A birch produces dappled shade, which can be perfect for camellias and rhododendrons. A house will produce deep shade, suitable for only a few species.

Once you have worked out the sunny spots in your garden, you can plan out your garden. If you plan to grow fruit, you’ll want to reserve the sunniest spots for such plants. Most fruiting plants prefer full sun (six hours of direct sun per day in midsummer) or cropping will be reduced otherwise. South-facing walls can be used to great effect to grow exotic plants such as grapes or train a fruit tree.

Ornamental plants will be fine in semi-shade (three to six hours of direct sunlight per day). Some species such as Japanese acers, rhododendrons, camellias are suited to dappled shade, and sometimes flounder in full sun. In deep shade (less than 2 hours per day), try planting evergreen trees such as holly, conifers and photinia. Flowering plants rarely do well here, but you can always try honeysuckle, winter jasmine and some varieties of rose and clematis.

What can I plant in my garden?

Hardiness

The UK has a temperate climate with mild winters. Most popular garden plants originate from far colder regions and therefore are unlikely to die in your garden. Instead, it’s a question of whether they will flourish. Outdoor plants that aren’t winter hardy will be listed as such and require frost protection/growing in a greenhouse.

Soil types

Every plant will adapt to its conditions and nearly all plants will suffice in sub-optimal conditions, so the effects of soil types are overstated.

We recommend that you do not compact the soil when planting and mulch, which helps with aeration and moisture retention.

There are certain plants that do require a certain soil. Ericaceous or acid-loving plants such as blueberries, rhododendrons and camellias require acidic soils to thrive. Maintaining a low pH can be difficult so we advise planting such species in pots.

Check out our blog to learn more about soil types.

Sunlight

Nearly all garden plants will suffice in sub-optimal conditions, although fruit set, size and blooms will be reduced. We advise you to divide your garden into sections based on the direct sunlight received and plant your outdoor plants accordingly.

General tips on caring for your plants

It’s so important to water newly planted plants in the months after planting. When a plant is uprooted it loses most of its water-absorbing capacity - an effect known as transplant shock. It’s water-absorbing capacity will recover slowly over time, but in the weeks after planting any plant is vulnerable.

Every species of outdoor plant is liable to death from thirst, even supposed drought tolerant species. This is because death is caused by embolism, whereby a thirsty plant absorbs oxygen, which acts to block the flow of water from its roots to the crown. It is therefore important to water in times of drought.

When planting, make sure to always mulch. Mulching helps promote aeration, benefits microorganisms and improves a soil’s water holding capacity, which is very important. With mulching, soils don’t dry out and temperature extremes are moderated.

Don’t be afraid to prune if it’s recommended. Pruning is an important skill, which you’ll get better at the longer you practice. Soon you’ll have bumper blooms and abundant yields.

Order your garden plants online

Take a look at our full collection and order your garden plants online with Primrose. We offer low prices and convenient delivery direct to your door.

Can a plant / tree be planted in a pot?

Pretty much any plant can be grown in a pot as long as the pot's big enough and the plant is looked after. It'll need plant food and regular waterings, especially through the warmer months. The growth of the plant will be restricted in a pot, especially if it's a tree.

If the plant would naturally grow above 2m, then we'd recommend a pot no smaller than 50cm x 50cm x 50cm.

For naturally small plants, pots of 30cm x 30cm x 30cm should be suitable.Bamboo can also be grown in a pot or planter, however, the guidelines vary from the above. If you'd like to know more about how to plant bamboo in pots, we have youcovered!

How soon do I need to plant?

Potted plants can be kept for several months before planting as long as they're watered regularly and protected in extreme frosts.Bare root plants ideally should be planted within a few days of receiving them. If you're unable to plant your bare root due to the ground being frozen, we’ve got a handy guide Protecting your Bare Root & Freezing temperatures for you!

Where can I find advice on soil?

Specific information regarding a plant's soil requirements can usually be found in the description on the product page under the ‘Care Guide’ section. If you’re still itching to know more about the ideal soil type for your plant, we provide a useful guide on different soil types and why they are Important.

Can you recommend a plant?

Yes! Our plants pages are by default ordered by our most recommended plants. Everything you’ll find on the first page is a top-recommended plant that we know you'll love. For more inspiration discover our Planting guides

Do you ship plants to NI or Channel Islands?

Unfortunately, we're currently unable to deliver our plants to the Channel Islands or Northern Ireland due to Import Restrictions.

Are your plants pet-friendly or poisonous?

Unfortunately, there's too many plant varieties and too many species of animals for us to say with any confidence if a plant is a risk to your pet.

We strongly recommend that you do your own research into this and that you make your own judgement call. We really wouldn’t want to say it’s safe when it isn’t so we hope you can understand why we can’t provide any further information on this.

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