Garden Centres

Oh, the joy of growing your own vegetables! Whether you choose to just grow a few tomatoes in pots and some herbs for cooking, or go the whole hog with soft fruits, an allotment – even chickens – there’s nothing to beat the taste of fruit and vegetables you’ve grown yourself. Yes, your carrots may be less than straight, and your potatoes might be a bit knobbly, but they’ll be so big on flavour you won’t notice. To help you enjoy the thrill of grow your own (we are big fans ourselves), we’ve thought of everything you might need for your own vegetable or fruit garden, found the best suppliers and the best prices – so you can concentrate on the good stuff. Enjoy!

You’ll find garden centres all over the country – and we’ve got more than 4,000 listed, so you’re sure to find one near you.

Garden centres stock everything from plants and growing material to hard landscaping and garden ornaments. Many are so well stocked that you may not ever have to go to the high street again, as they have all your shopping needs under one roof – and they usually have plenty of parking, delivery services, and helpful staff on hand to help you take heavy items to your car.

You’ll find everything from beautiful gifts for all kinds of occasions from Christmas and Easter, to birthdays and anniversaries, as well as toys, books, pet supplies and of course gardening goodies such as pots and propagators, composts and fertilisers and tools and garden machinery.

And at Christmas many garden centres become winter wonderlands of decorations, Christmas trees and foodie treats.

Whether you pop into a garden centre at lunchtime, or plan to have a fun day browsing, you can stop off for a coffee and cake, or homecooked lunch at many garden centres that have coffee shops and restaurants.

Decorative garden ideas to create a Mediterranean inspired space this Summer

• The UK is set for a heatwave at the beginning of July, with highs of 30 degrees in some areas.
• Searches for ‘Mediterranean garden ideas’ are up 53% in the past three months, and searches for ‘decorative garden ideas’ are up 83%¹
• Ali Wooldridge, Co-founder of luxury garden furniture company, Gardenesque, shares tips on how to create a cooling Med-style garden oasis.

Whilst the June heatwave may be over, searches for ‘Mediterranean garden ideas’ are up 53% in the past three months, and searches for ‘decorative garden ideas’ are up 83%¹ h, suggesting many still want to spend time outdoors.

The UK is also set for a weeklong heatwave in July, with experts predicting highs of mid-20s in the north and highs of 30 in southern parts of the country.

Continuing the summer sunny spells, James Madden from Exacta Weather, predicts the heatwave to occur between 10^th-20^th July², and so garden experts are encouraging people to make the most of the outdoors.

Ali Wooldridge, Co-Founder of luxury garden furniture, Gardenesque shares her top tips on how to create a cooling Mediterranean oasis in your garden.

“A Mediterranean design will not only be low maintenance and drought-tolerant, but its pallet is both light and heat reflecting to keep you cool throughout the heat. These qualities can also create the illusion of a bigger space, meaning it can cater to both large social gatherings, as well as being a calming retreat to relax in all summer long.”

Indoor-outdoor living.

Mediterranean gardens tend to have a sheltered social area, whether that be a dining area or a comfortable sofa to relax in, bringing the indoors outside, and making the most of the sun from dawn until dusk.

Ali suggests, “To in keep with the true Mediterranean indoor-outdoor living trend, light wooden sofa or dining sets will provide a serene social space. Rattan furniture is also reminiscent of the Med, and can be complimented with white or light grey cushions for comfort.”

Add a water feature.

Water is a key element of a Mediterranean garden, so adding a small water feature, such as a bird bath or a small fountain can instantly create a tranquil oasis.

Ali comments: “Water features can create a beautiful focal point for your garden, and attract wildlife, from butterflies to birds. Choose a water feature made of light stone or warm terracotta to give that extra Med style.”

Incorporate warm colours.

Mediterranean gardens are characterised by their warm, earthy tones, and can be incorporated through a range of features, especially through pots and planters.

“Warm earthy tones, such as terracotta and burnt oranges, as well as rustic stone, will transport you to the Med. Add these tones through a water feature, garden seating or dining sets, or pots and planters for a simple yet impressive effect.

Italian terracotta pots are perfect for this style of garden, as the authentic clay gives a beautiful, iconic, washed finish. Terracotta pots are not only a classic Mediterranean feature, but their hard-wearing qualities will ensure your garden will have a touch of the Med all year round.”, adds Ali.

Decorate with large pots.

A simple way to add a Mediterranean touch to the garden is by decorating with large terracotta pots. Ali suggests planting Mediterranean trees, such as olive trees, rosemary, lavender, palms or yuccas.

“You can even top the pots with gravel or pebbles to hide the soil to create visual interest, or covering with moss can also give a Mediterranean feel.

Choose white fabrics.

White or off-white fabrics will transport you to the likes of Santorini or Ibiza, and pair perfectly with warm wooden seating or dining sets, according to Ali.

“Soft, white cushions contrast beautifully with the hard wooden furniture, and stone textures within a Mediterranean garden and add both visual and textural interest. The white soft furnishings create brightness within the garden, too, opening smaller spaces.

For an uplifting effect, add all-important detail with accent colours, but avoid any dark shades, as Mediterranean gardens are light and bright, aiming to reflect the light as much as possible.”

Solar lighting.

To create warmth in your garden, even when the sun has set, Ali recommends using solar lighting to add a Mediterranean touch.

“Strategically place your solar lighting under plants to softly highlight, enhance and create visual interest at dusk, or line your path or seating area with warm solar lights to create an inviting atmosphere for evening time socialising. Lanterns and fairy lights can also add visual interest and a warm softness both during the evening and through the daytime.”