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We’ve listed six of our favourite drought-tolerant perennials, which prove that tough plants can still be beautiful!

With summers getting hotter and drier, we need to find ways of gardening more sustainably. That includes finding&nbsp;plants that can cope with dry conditions&nbsp;so that there’s less need to spend precious water resources on watering the garden. We’ve listed six of our favourite drought-tolerant perennials, which prove that tough plants can still be beautiful!
<h2>Tips for making a drought-tolerant garden</h2>
Choosing drought-tolerant plants is just one of the ways you can help your garden cope with dry weather. Here are our top tips for drought-tolerant gardening.
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Mulch beds annually in autumn with a 5cm (2in) layer of compost, leaf mould or well-rotted farmyard manure. This improves soil structure and helps soils retain moisture, reducing the need to water in dry periods.
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Water in the evening or early morning to reduce water loss through evaporation.
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Avoid watering little and often, as this encourages plant roots to stay shallow and more prone to drying out in hot weather. Instead, a thorough soaking every two to three days encourages the roots to grow deep in search of water, making the plant more able to survive periods of drought.
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</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr">Drought-tolerant perennials</h2>
Many of our familiar garden plants originally come from hot, dry climates and are well adapted to cope with drought conditions. Here are six of our favourites:
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Stachys byzantina is also known as Lamb’s ear because of its furry silver leaves. The woolly covering reduces evaporation from the leaf surface, and this sturdy perennial makes a beautiful groundcover plant for a hot, sunny spot.
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Sedums (ice plants), now renamed as Hylotelephiums, have fleshy leaves that store water, allowing them to thrive in dry conditions. Their flowers appear in mid and late summer and are very popular with pollinators.
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Eryngium (sea holly) is a unique-looking perennial with spiny leaves and thistle-like flowers surrounded by spiky bracts. It’s fantastic for attracting bees, and the striking flowers also look great in dried flower arrangements.
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Euphorbia (spurge) are very drought tolerant once established, and with their distinctive form and colourful flowerheads, they make a significant impact on a sunny border. They contain a milky sap which can irritate the skin, so always wear gloves when working with them and avoid getting the liquid on your skin.
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Echinops (globe thistle) is an excellent choice for a pollinator-friendly garden, as bees love the spiky round blue flowers on their tall stems. With their unique form, the flowers are also ideal for cutting.
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Achillea (yarrow) is instantly recognisable, with its flattened flowerheads and feathery foliage. Achilleas are available in a wide range of stunning colours that look great on any sunny border, and these drought-tolerant perennials do best in well-drained soil.
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</ol>
Whatever your garden needs, you’ll find it in our centre, so visit us soon to see what’s in store!

Drought-tolerants perennial plants

This beginner’s guide to landscaping will help you to design and landscape your garden just as you want it.

This beginner’s guide to landscaping will help you to design and landscape your garden just as you want it. The crucial parts of landscaping are knowing how you want to use your garden, what the aspect is, what is already there and what you would like to replace or add in. Let’s take a closer look so you can get started on your dream garden.
<h2>Know how you want to use the space</h2>
Imagine your garden exactly as it would be if it was your dream space. Will it be entertaining, will your dog be playing ball, will it be a haven of peace and reflection where you have your morning coffee? When you know what you will be using it for, you can start to build up a picture of how you would like to proceed. Try to make a sketch or share your thought with&nbsp;a drafter to get an image of what’s possible.
<h2>Know&nbsp;the aspect</h2>
Observing what areas in the garden are sun or shade is essential. You might look out the window and see the sun, but is there a shady corner also? Where does the sun shine throughout the day? Leave a piece of paper by your window, and every time you look outside, draw a line as to where the sun and shade are and the time of day. This will help when you start laying your lawn or buying your plants.&nbsp;
Draw a diagram of what you can already see&nbsp;
On a piece of paper, net down where there is a shed or greenhouse, anything permanent, electricity cables and any other services, drains and everything you can see. You can decide if you want to remove something and know where to avoid it if there are cables. The hard landscaping should always come first, so get all of that in place before you plant up.
<h2>Know your soil and plants&nbsp;</h2>
When you start to landscape with plants is when the garden really comes together. It’s exciting, and you’ll see your vision coming to life.
<ul>
<li>Firstly know your soil type and pH. You can test with soil test kits and by feeling the consistency of the soil. This will help you choose the right plants for the right place. If your soil needs replenishing, now is the time to do that with some soil improver or other organic matter.</li>
<li>When your soil is ready, start planting. Visit our garden centre for plants for full sun, plants for shade, plants for acid soil and plants for neutral ground. Our staff’s happy to help you out.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Maintenance is key to landscaping&nbsp;</h2>
When you are landscaping, think about how you will access your garden, garden paths to sheds or around beds and how you will keep them clean. Will you be able to clean decking or reach tall plants? Do you love mowing the lawn, or is it too big? All of these will help you to enjoy your landscaped garden thoroughly.&nbsp;
We are happy to advise you in store, come in and visit us.

A beginner's guide to landscaping

Here are our suggestions for growing in a raised bed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Decide what to plant in a raised garden bed by considering what you’d love to grow. Most raised beds can be used to produce almost anything you’d like, much like in a ground bed or border. There are advantages to growing in a raised bed, from better drainage, fewer weeds, easier access and much more. They can be placed in tricky areas of the garden or accessible areas to get to,&nbsp;around a seating space or out on the lawn. The design is entirely up to you, so here are our suggestions for growing in a raised bed.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h2>Plants to grow in a raised garden bed &nbsp;</h2>
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<li>Fruit and vegetables</li>
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There’s no need to be restricted by space because you can grow many fruits and vegetables in a&nbsp; raised bed. Consider the size and depth of the bed before you sow your seeds to make sure there is enough space for what you’d like to grow. For example, you could have a whole bed of strawberries or a complete bed for raspberries. Or you could plant multiple varieties of salads in one bed or mix and match with other vegetables and companion plants to make your own mini-potager garden.&nbsp;
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<li>Edible flowers&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
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If you are interested in growing your own edible flowers and not sure what to pick from the garden or out on walks, why not dedicate one raised bed purely to edible flowers so you know they are safe to eat? Pansies, nasturtiums, cornflowers, and snapdragons are just a few to choose from. The bed will be full of glorious colours at different times of the year, and before you bake or cook with them, the bees will enjoy them too.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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<li>Medicinal flowers</li>
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If you would like to try growing some medicinal flowers, you could easily make a bed full of flowers that you cab harvest to make your own toiletries, medicines and cosmetics. From calendula to lavender and echinacea to chamomile, the options are endless.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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<li>Herbs&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
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Herbs will grow well in a raised bed, and if allowed to flower as well, it will be a haven for insects. Make sure you plant herbs that thrive in the aspect where your bed is placed - the shade or sun - and if you are planting mint or lemon balm, the roots can take over to keep them in a pot and sink the pot into the soil which will help to contain the roots.&nbsp;
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<li>Annuals</li>
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Sowing directly into a raised garden bed, either in the spring when the soil has warmed or in early autumn, is a lovely way to create a bed full of flowers. Try Cosmos and Nigella, Ammi visnaga and&nbsp;Cerinthe.&nbsp;
Visit us in store for raised beds and tools, plus plants and seeds to fill the bed with.&nbsp;

What to grow in a raised garden bed?

Here are six of the best plants for full sun.

There are so many beautiful sun-loving plants that it’s hard to know which ones to pick! But hot sunshine can be challenging for plants, so it’s important to choose those that can cope with drought and be prepared to water when necessary. Here are six of the best plants for full sun.
<h2>Six of the best plants for full sun</h2>
<ol>
<li>Lavender&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
With its silvery foliage and fragrant purple flowers, lavender is a must for any sunny garden. French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), also called butterfly lavender, is very striking, with plump purple flowerheads and a tuft of petals on top. It’s less hardy than English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), so it may not survive cold, wet winters. English lavender has more strongly scented flowers, which are ideal for drying. All lavenders are very popular with pollinators, especially bees. Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil.&nbsp;
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<li>Hylotelephiums&nbsp;</li>
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Previously called Sedums, these perennial succulents flower in late summer and early autumn when other plants are fading, producing domed flowerheads of numerous tiny pink or red flowers that are very popular with bees. Most have rounded green leaves, but there are also striking purple-leaved varieties like Hylotelephium ‘Purple Emperor’. Hylotelephiums need full sun and well-drained soil and are drought-tolerant.
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<li>Salvias</li>
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Salvias love warmth and sunshine, and their flowers come in a rainbow of bright colours. Compact salvias like Salvia ‘Seascape’ are ideal for pots, while tall Salvia Amistad reaches 1.2m (4ft) and looks stunning towards the back of a border. Not all salvias are hardy enough to survive frost, so check before you choose one for your garden and move the tender varieties into a greenhouse over winter.
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<li>Dahlias</li>
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Dahlias thrive on sunshine, and there’s a stunning range available with flowers of all colours, shapes and sizes, from big dinnerplate flowers over 20cm (8in) across to small round pompom varieties. Dahlias need regular feeding and watering. Deadhead them regularly, and they will flower all through summer. They also make superb-cut flowers for the house.
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<li>Roses</li>
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Roses do best with at least six hours of sun per day, and there are so many varieties available it’s hard to know where to start. Many modern roses have been bred to combine the superb fragrance of old-fashioned roses with better resistance to diseases like black spots. Deadhead them regularly, water them in dry periods and feed them in spring for a superb display.
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<li>Thyme</li>
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This Mediterranean herb is ideal for sunny spots. Low-growing creeping thymes will spread to form groundcover, covered in pink flowers in late spring, while bushy varieties look equally good in a border or a herb garden. Thyme needs well-drained soil in full sun. It may be best planted in a pot in cold areas to bring it into a greenhouse in winter.
Whether your garden is sunny or shady, you’ll find plants to suit all conditions in our centre. Visit us today!

6 top plants for full sun

On the Blog

Harvesting vegetables from your garden is hugely satisfying, and you&#39;ll revolutionise your tastebuds:&nbsp;food picked just minutes before it&#39;s on your plate has a colour, flavour and crunchiness that have to be&nbsp;experienced to be believed.

We have everything in our %locations%&nbsp;garden centre to turn your garden into a haven of productivity: here&#39;s a selection&nbsp;to get you started.

Seeds: most veg are grown from seeds, from tomatoes to carrots and lettuces. Take your pick from the huge&nbsp;range in our garden centre; we&#39;ve also got ready-spaced seed tapes and delicious heritage vegetables for&nbsp;you to try.

Sets and seed potatoes: from early spring we stock seed potatoes, plus onions, shallots and garlic from&nbsp;sets &ndash; easy-to-handle baby bulbs to plant straight into the ground.

Plug plants: for the ultimate in convenience we also stock plug plants -baby veg plants ready to go straight&nbsp;into containers or out into the garden.

Perennial vegetables: great value for money, these include some real delicacies: in our garden centre you&#39;ll&nbsp;find asparagus crowns, able to crop for 20 years, and stately globe artichokes looking as good as they taste.

Please ask the staff in our garden centre in %locations%for more information and advice about growing vegetables.

*please be advised a variety of our products are seasonal. And can only be found at certain points of the year.

Vegetables

Short of space in your %locations%&nbsp;garden? Then this is the technique for you. All you need is a single raised bed to enjoy a wide variety of fruit and veg all year round. Here's how:
Build your raised bed:&nbsp;a raised bed:&nbsp;1.2m x 1.2m gives you 16 squares – an

Square foot vegetable gardening

 Invest in some colour for next year by visiting the garden centre to pick up bunches of bare-root wallflowers, available around now. Plant in striking blocks of scarlet, yellow or coppery orange, or go for a cheerful mix. Plant out as soon as you get home for a fabulous display next spring.

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