Askett Nurseries is a traditional nursery growing plants to the highest standard

Askett Nurseries - January 2012

Can you see the wood for the trees?

There’s something very satisfying about planting a tree.
Just look around your neighbourhood and see the number of beautiful imposing trees, then think about just how long they have been standing there.
By planting a new tree, you are creating a legacy for others to enjoy - plant a tree now, and there is no reason why it won’t be standing there in a century’s time.
When you think about it, that’s quite something.

The soil in the Princes Risborough area is predominately chalky and alkaline - and this can preclude the planting of some varieties of trees and shrubs, however these are just the conditions the Malus and Prunus families thrive in. These two tree types are better known as Crab Apple and Flowering Cherries. Both families produce abundant blossom in the Spring, while the Malus give you the addition of Crab Apples in the Autumn.

The most popular varieties of Malus are ‘John Downie’, ‘Golden Hornet’ and the weeping ‘Royal Beauty’, for Prunus , my favourites are ‘Kanzan’, ‘ Cheal’s Weeping’ and the dark foliage of ‘Royal Burgundy’.

Crataegus, or Hawthorn, are another source of beautiful blossom. ‘Alba Plena’ gives you double white flowers, whilst ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ is a reliable red. Instead of blossom, the Betula family’s main attribute is the very attractive peeling bark. The varieties ‘Jacquemontii’ and ‘Snow Queen’ are particularly popular, and look fantastic when planted in groups.

The Betulas are a particular delight in winter, when the white bark looks stunning.
The Acer family, also known as Maple, produce large pointed leaves - ‘Crimson King’ has vivid purple foliage, ‘ Brilliantissimum’ gives you salmon pink, whilst ‘Drummondii’ is a picture with its variegated green and cream leaves.

The Laburnum family are unmistakable in May, with their rich yellow flowers - however do be aware the seeds are poisonous. Sorbus, also known as Rowan or Whitebeam are a good reliable choice of tree, with many varieties producing bird friendly berries during the winter months. ‘Lutsecens’ . ‘Joseph’s Rock’ and ‘Vilmorinii’ and three favourites.

Now is the ideal time to plant trees, and to get the best results do add bonemeal, use a tree compost and don’t forget to stake the tree to prevent the wind rocking the rootball.

We offer a free local delivery for all our trees, and if we don’t have the particular variety your looking for, we can almost certainly source it for you.

See you soon,

Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries.

Askett Nurseries - December 2011

Now the nights are getting longer and the days much colder, we all need some extra TLC to get us through the winter. And of course, so do our feathered friends.

Although a good proportion of birds migrate south in the winter, our hardy resident birds stay put - and once the autumn berries and insects disappear, they have to fend for themselves. This is the critical time when they need our help.

I believe everyone enjoys watching wild birds in their garden -and there’s no better way of encouraging regular visits from a variety of birds by offering a menu of nutritional high energy feeds.

Different species of birds prefer different feeds. The Tit family, for example, must have hanging feed- there are many styles of feeder available and a good choice of food such as No Mess Seed Mix that leaves no husks to germinate.

Finches and Wrens love White Millet whilst Blackbirds and Goldfinches enjoy a mix with
aniseed, Chaffinch and Robins like peanuts.

High energy fat balls , bird cakes and mealworms are all full of goodness and will go down a treat.

If you are in doubt -do come in and ask for advice. Most birds will feed from a table - the obvious benefit of a table is the food is off the ground - away from cats!

A roof on a table is a good idea as it prevents the food becoming waterlogged.

And don’t forget to provide clean drinking water. Like us, birds need to drink -and remember to make sure the water doesn’t freeze in the cold weather.

This winter we have increased our bird food section, so I’m sure we have something for every bird in any garden.

We offer a free local delivery service for any of our bulk bird food bags and tables - and if you are looking for a lovely bird friendly Christmas present, we are happy to reserve any table or feeder.

See you soon,

Simon, Alison, Edith
the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries

Askett Nurseries - July/August 2011

Lavender - a must for every garden

There isn't a more popular fragrant plant than Lavender. Ideal in a sunny spot - equally at home as a hedge, in the border or in a container.

Lavender loves a well drained soil - so do remember to mix some grit or sharp sand into the bed or pot when you plant.

To get the best flowers, the key is to prune a little and often. Give the plants an early season trim in mid-March, taking off any early growth and generally tidy up for the new season.

The first flowers will appear in early June. Let the Lavender flower, then as soon as the flowers begin to fade, prune back to where you were in March. If you continue with this system, you will get three or even four waves of flower each year. Do not leave Lavender to its own devices all year then simply cut back - the plant will not flower from old wood, and you will almost certainly kill it off!

We have a big range of varieties this Summer - for hedging go for Munstead or Hidcote, for something more showy look for Papillon or Grosso. If you want something a little different, try Kew Red or White flowering, not all Lavenders have the traditional colour flowers.

Use the flowers for dried flower arrangements or Pot Pourris - or just cut a bunch and bring a little bit of your cottage garden inside the house.

Happy Gardening !
See you soon, Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries

Askett Nurseries - April 2011

Container Gardening

Now the threat of a late frost has hopefully passed, we can really get going in the garden. This is the time of year when the tender annual plants come into their own - and brighten up even the dullest of corners. The easiest way to bring some summer colour into your garden is to plant up containers - and there's no limit to what you can use. The hanging basket is probably the most popular form of container gardening, but really, any reasonably sized tub or pot can be put to use, from a terraccota urn to an empty olive oil tin. The two things two take on board is to make sure any container you use has three or four holes in the base, to ensure water is able to drain away, and don't worry if you're pot is a bit chipped or tatty, as your summer trailing plants are so vigorous, by mid summer they will have completely covered your pot.

To make sure you create a successful pot, get the basics right. Use a good quality compost, such as J.Arthur Bowers 'Tub & Basket'. This is a specially formulated compost with the exact nutrient mix to produce lots of strong plant growth and plenty of flower throughout the summer. When planting, add some slow release fertiliser granules, and water retaining gell- this will prevent your pot from drying out. But your plants will be working hard all season, and will be hungry after all that growing so will need feeding to keep them at their best - liquid Tomato plant food is an ideal source of nutrition- and is easy to apply. Just add a cap full in a watering can once a week, and your display will go on well into the Autumn.

Well that's the basics - the next step is to choose your plants. Trailing Lobelia is the most popular plant - available in blues, pink, white and red, Lobelia is a classic choice - although it does tend to dry out easily and can look a bit untidy if not watered regularly. If you're looking to place your container in a shady position, go for Begonias, Fuchsias and Impatiens. These three thrive out of the sun - to create an interesting mixture add ivy, hosta or ferns for some height.

For a sunny or semi shady spot - you are spoilt for choice. Geraniums, either upright or trailing, are a traditional container plant. They can fend for themselves, tolerating the hottest conditions and producing rich reds, pinks and whites all season. The Verbena family is another winner - vigorous trailing plants with a mass of blues, violets and purple flowers, Bacopa is a reliable choice, ideal if you want something white in your basket. Trailing Petunias are a favourite - but be warned, they grow into a big, big plant. In an average 12" basket or tub, you'll only need one or a maximum of two . Be patient - your Petunia will soon get growing and fill your container. Nemesia is a good choice if you require something upright. For interesting foliage go for Nepeta, Felicica or Dichondora.

We have a huge range of plants suited to containers - as well as everything you need to produce a glorious display. If it's the first time you've tackled container gardening, do come in and ask Amanda or Trish for planting advice. They are both experienced gardeners and only too happy to help you with your choice of plants, compost and fertiliser.

See you soon,

Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries

Askett Nurseries - March 2011

Now's the time to have a look at your lawn ....

After two hard winters, many local lawns are looking for some tending loving care - and now is the time to nurse your ailing grass back to full fitness.

The first task is to get rid of the moss that has invaded your lawn. The best way to do that is apply a moss killer containing ferrous sulphate or Lawn Sand. We stock ' Feed, Weed & Mosskiller' which as the name suggests - clears the moss and weeds as well as giving your grass a Spring feed.

Once you have applied this, leave the lawn for a few days. The moss will turn black, and then can easily be removed by scarifying with a spring-tined lawn rake.
To prevent moss growing, you can increase the drainage in your lawn by spiking with a fork or aerator. Once you have done this add some sharp sand.

This is the time to tackle any weeds that have made their home in your lawn . Weeds compete with the grass and make your lawn look untidy. Broad leaved weeds such as dandelions can be removed with a small trowel. Make sure you manage to pull the whole root, otherwise the weed will simply return . Digging the weeds out by hand is fine if you have a small lawn, but for a bigger area, you will need to use a selective weedkiller that kills broadleaf weeds yet leaves the grass unharmed. Verdone is just the job, and can be used in a spray - so ideal for a large lawn.

To keep your lawn looking it's best, it needs to be fed three times a year, in Spring, Summer and Autumn. For the first two feeds of the year, use a fertiliser with a high nitrogen content, this will boost leaf growth and creates a rich, lush, deep green finish. In the Autumn, switch to a feed that contains a lot more potassium- this helps root growth and creates a resilient lawn that will deal with the Winter weather.

Now the temperature is improving, this is the ideal time to sow grass seed. If you have any bare patches that need working on, simply scatter some seed compost or top soil on the patch, then sow the seed. We stock hardwearing with some rye grass- ideal if you have children and pets running around. We also stock a finer mix that creates a smoother lawn. For those shady areas, under trees or up against fences or walls, go for a shady mix.

There we are, a bit of advice that we hope helps keep your lawn looking the business!

See you soon,
Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all as Askett Nurseries.

Askett Nurseries - February 2011

To get the best from your garden - you must use the right COMPOST.

Askett Nurseries has now been established for over 20 years - and in that time we've had a look at all the composts on the market. We've come to the conclusion that the brand that suits us and local gardens the best is the J.Arthur Bowers range. Established and trustworthy - J.Arthur Bowers products have been used by gardeners for generations.

The most popular compost is without doubt the Multi-Purpose - to help the environment this compost now contains reduced peat and all the essential nutrients and trace elements to make it the ideal mix for seed sowing and potting on. Multi Purpose is available in bags of 15L, 30L and 60L.

Some gardeners prefer using a soil based compost - and the most effective mix of that kind is the John Innes range. John Innes compost is available for Seeds and Cuttings; Number1 - ideal for young seedlings; Number 2 - for re-potting established plant, particularly vegetables; Number 3- for final re-potting of mature plants;
Ericaceous - for lime hating plants such as Azalea, Camellia, Rohodendron and Pieris; Planters & Pots- for hanging baskets and containers.

For the best of both worlds -we stock a specialist Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes - this is a high quality mix ideal for potting. For those gardeners who require a professional grade of compost - there is the Traditional Potting which is made from 100% peat with added trace elements and a wetting agent.

More and more of us are turning to Peat Free products, and if you have, then there is no better product than the New Horizon range. For the past two years 'Which' magazine has voted this range 'Best Buy' status. The NH range includes a multi-purpose, a Vegetable compost, 'Mulch and Mix' which is ideal for reconditioning your soil, as well as growbags and planters. This range is organic and peat free, made from recycled, renewable resources.

We stock the full range of J.Arthur Bowers composts which include Seed & Cutting, Tub & Basket, Rose, Tree & Shrub, Ericaceous, Farmyard Manure , Growbags and Planters.

We offer a free local delivery service on all composts - and can accept credit card payments over the phone - where we will always try to make same day deliveries.

See you soon,
Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries.
PS: We are now on Facebook and Twitter.

Askett Nurseries - January 2011

Seed Potatoes

The interest in growing your own food has increased greatly over the last few years , and the first, easiest and most popular crop to grow are Potatoes .
Even if space is limited - Potatoes can be successfully grown in bags or containers.

We will have our range of Seed Potatoes ready from the end of January - but don't think about planting them in the ground until the threat of frost has gone. You can however get them started indoors, which is especially useful for First Earlies. This process is called Chitting. Place the Seed Potatoes in a seed tray or egg box with the Rose End ( that's the blunt end with the most eyes) to the bottom. Give them maximum exposure to light in a frost free place. A good Chit should be firm and green.

To plant out into your veg plot make sure the last frost has been and gone, and the soil is warming up. If in doubt, just push your hand into the soil, if you can keep it there comfortably - it's warm enough for your Potatoes!

Prior to planting, do make sure your plot has been prepared to ensure a worthwhile crop. Traditional winter digging incorporating farmyard manure, then adding compost and fertilizer into the trench really will make a huge difference to the quality of your crop. Organic fertilizers such as Chicken Pellets or Fish, Blood & Bone can be placed on the surface after the planting. Plant the Seed Potatoes 3" deep - 12" apart with around 18" between rows, making sure the soil has been well dug.

Seed Potatoes are divided into different harvesting times - First Earlies, Second Earlies and Main Crop. The Earlies are ready roughly 100 days from planting - and each variety has slightly different properties. The most popular First Earlies are Arran Pilot, Homeguard and Rocket. These three are very early and full of flavour.

For Second Earlies, Estima and Wilja are hard to beat, whilst for Main Crop Desiree, King Edward and Cara are excellent bakers and can be left in the ground until late in the year.

As well as Potatoes, now is the time to plant Onion Sets, Garlic & Shallots.

See you soon,
Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries.

Askett Nurseries - November 2010

Grow Your Own Fruit!

Now we're into Winter, it's the ideal time to plant fruit trees and bushes. Soft fruit, such as Raspberries, Strawberries, Gooseberries, Blackcurrants, Blackberries and Rhubarb - get them planted now , and you'll be harvesting your own fresh fruit next Summer.If you are using a new bed for the first time, it really does pay to get as much goodness into the soil as you can. The more nutrients you can get into your fruit bed, the bigger and better your crop will be. I suggest a good mixture of Farmyard Manure with Fish, Blood & Bone. All organic and packed full of everything your fruit
needs to flourish.

If you get your choice of varieties right, there's no reason why you can't enjoy your own grown fruit from March to late Autumn. The first fruit crop to harvest in early Spring will be Rhubarb - for the earliest produce 'force' the plant - that means placing a large container over the crown to encourage tender new growth. The best varieties to choose are Timperley Early or Champagne. However, you must realise that if you plant a new Rhubarb plant this season, you must leave it for a couple of years before you harvest. You need to let it build up it's strength - but , the temptation will be there to take a few servings off it - so why not? I won't tell anyone!

Perhaps the most popular soft fruit , and one of the easiest to grow, are Strawberries. Again, there are many varieties, and with a little thought it is easy to be able to eat fruit all through the season. Strawberries can easily be grown in pots and containers - even hanging baskets, so if space is tight, give that a try.
Raspberries really are a must for any fruit garden. Most varieties will need support - so do place some sturdy posts into the bed prior to planting. The varieties we recommend are Malling Jewel, Tulameen and for a late crop, Autumn Bliss. In the Autumn, canes that have carried fruit during the season should be cut back
to ground level.

For a good reliable Gooseberry, choose the varieties Careless or Leveller. The best Blackcurrant for our area is Baldwin - a hardy, heavy cropper. Likewise the Blackberry -Loch Ness always produces excellent fruit. Blueberries are a great fruit to grow - the berries are delicious, but the thing to remember is they must be grown in acid/ericaceous soil. We live in a very chalky area - with alkaline soil - so you must grow Blueberries in containers.

And don't forget Red and Whitecurrants, Tayberry and Loganberry - and for something a little more exotic try a Fig or an Olive.

Happy Gardening,
Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries.

Askett Nurseries - October 2010

This month we're looking again at fruit trees and bushes.

The Pear. The most popular choice is Conference. Easy to grow, and a reliable heavy cropper. Doyenne du Comice produces excellent fruit, although it can be prone to disease. The same problem applies to William's Bon Chretein, but as long as you are vigilant - scab and rust can easily be kept at bay. Again, rootstock and pollination should be considered. One thing to bear in mind is that Pears do need a bit of help in very alkaline soil. A few handfuls of ericaceous compost or peat in the hole when you plant will help the tree to settle.

It's always nice to see a Cherry tree in blossom during the early Spring. There are two types of Cherry - Dessert and Cooking. Stella is the best bet for a sweet eating type, whilst Morello is by far the most popular Cooking variety. Cherries are delicious - and it's not only us gardeners who think so. Birds will, if the tree is not netted take the lion's share of your fruit, so do keep an eye on your Cherry trees if you want a decent harvest.

This year has been a bumper one for Plums - we have a number of Victoria trees at the garden centre, and the harvest has been so heavy, some of the boughs of our trees have snapped under the weight of the fruit! Victoria is certainly the variety to go for .

It is also the time to plant your soft fruit bushes. We stock five varieties of Raspberries - early, mid and late harvesting varieties. We will have pots of half a dozen canes - get them in the ground now and you can harvest the fruits next Summer. Gooseberries, Blackcurrants, Blackberries, Figs, Strawberries, Loganberry, Red and Whitecurrant and all available now too.

We have a great stock of all the above fruit trees and bushes, but if there is a special veriety you are having difficulty getting hold of, do pop in and and we'll see if we can get it for you.

See you soon,
Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries.

Askett Nurseries - September 2010

It's Fruit Time.

Now we're into Autumn - traditionally, it's fruit tree planting time. The soil is still warm and moist - ideal conditions for planting trees, bushes and shrubs.
If you've got grand designs to plant a thriving orchard to supply you and your nearest and dearest with enough fruit to keep you in apples, pears, plums, cherries for months - or if you just fancy a single apple tree in your small garden - now is the time to do it.
Obviously, the most popular fruit tree to plant is the mighty apple. But which one is best for you? There are hundreds of varieties to select from - Dessert - sweet enough to eat, Cookers and Cider Apples. Then there are varieties that fruit either early, mid or late season, bitter, sharp or sweet. Another factor to take into consideration is whether the trees you choose need another variety to aid pollenation, and finally, on what rootstock is your choice on? If you have a smaller garden. you'll probably want a smaller tree, say on rootstock M9, a bigger garden will cope with MM106, whilst if space is not a problem - go for the vigorous M25.

As far as pollination goes, if this is the first time you've planted apple trees, it can seem a bit daunting. Basically, apple trees fall into six pollination groups - the key to remember is that trees in the same group will pollinate each other, as will trees in the group higher or lower. For instance, the ever popular Granny Smith resides in group 3, as do Spartan and James Grieve - so all three will thrive together. We have a chart at the garden centre with all our varieties listed in their pollination groups - so if you do want some help with your choice, do pop in and ask for some advice. One thing to bear in mind, is that if you live in a town, there is every chance one of your neighbours will have an apple tree in their garden that will pollinate your one- the busy bees don't bother with garden fences or hedges, they simply drop onto any tree that takes their fancy! If your home is in a more remote spot, you will probably have a biggish garden, so to be safe, plant three or more trees from different pollinating groups.

Now we move onto the Pear. The most popular choice is Conference. Easy to grow, and a reliable heavy cropper. Doyenne du Comice produces excellent fruit, although it can be prone to disease. The same problem applies to William's Bon Chretein, but as long as you are vigilant - scab and rust can easily be kept at bay. Again, rootstock and pollination should be considered. One thing to bear in mind is that Pears do need a bit of help in very alkaline soil. A few handfuls of ericaceous compost or peat in the hole when you plant will help the tree to settle.

It's always nice to see a Cherry tree in blossom during the early Spring. There are two types of Cherry - Dessert and Cooking. Stella is the best bet for a sweet eating type, whilst Morello is by far the most popular Cooking variety. Cherries are delicious - and it's not only us gardeners who think so. Birds will, if the tree is not netted, take the lion's share of your fruit, so do keep an eye on your Cherry trees if you want a decent harvest.

This year has been a bumper one for Plums - we have a number of Victoria trees at the garden centre, and the harvest has been so heavy, some of the boughs of our trees have snapped under the weight of the fruit! Victoria is certainly the variety to go for.

It is also the time to plant your soft fruit bushes. We stock five varieties of Raspberries - early, mid and late harvesting varieties. We will have pots of half a dozen canes - get them in the ground now and you can harvest the fruits next Summer. Gooseberries, Blackcurrants, Blackberries, Figs, Strawberries, Loganberry, Red and Whitecurrant and all available now too.

We have a great stock of all the above fruit trees and bushes, but if there is a special veriety you are having difficulty getting hold of, do pop in and and we'll see if we can get it for you.

See you soon,
Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries.

Askett Nurseries - August 2010

Has it rained yet?
At the time of writing the earth is parched, grass is not green - not even on the other side - and plants, shrubs and trees are really struggling. Spare a thought for any poor plants that were planted out last Autumn. They had to endure the worst Winter for 30 years, and now they've experienced a long dry drought.

But plants and lawns are like us gardeners - we're an optimistic hardy bunch - we will survive! Hopefully we will get some rain soon to soften the ground, as we're now getting into the bulb planting season.

Now is the time to plant your Daffodils, Tulips, Crocus, Allium, Hyacinths, Snowdrops and Bluebells. A few hours planting at this time of year will reward you with lots of vivid colour that will signal the end of the Winter , the beginning of Spring, and another gardening year.

After the months of a cold, wet, Princes Risborough Winter, it's always a joy to spy the first optimistic Snowdrops and Crocus bursting up through the chilly soil.
And don't forget, you can plant vegetables at this time of year too. Hardy plants of Cabbages, Broccoli, Beetroot, Sprouts and Leeks can go in now, they will survice the cold weather to give you tasty crops later in the year, and Onion sets, Shallots and Garlic can go in now too.

By the way, as well as our website - we have embraced the world of Facebook. Do find us on the web and join up - we hope to host a lively informative site where, if we can, help you with any gardening queries you have.

See you soon, Simon, Alison, Edith the Jack Russell and all at Askett Nurseries