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Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Five underrated shade-loving plants including striking fern that brings brilliant season colour & texture to flower beds
These plants are great to use where fussier plants fail to thrive BRIGHTEN UP Five underrated shade-loving plants including striking fern that brings brilliant season colour & texture to flower beds Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHADY areas in your garden don't have to be boring, by selecting the right plants, you can transform dim corners into lush, vibrant retreats. Here are five underrated shade-loving plants, including a striking fern that will bring brilliant season colour to your garden. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Dryopteris 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) 5 Dryopteris 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) Credit: Getty Horticultural expert Laura Root said in Homes and Gardens: "This is a shade-tolerant fern with fiery copper-red new fronds that mature to deep green. "This variety of fern adds striking contrast and texture to shady beds." In addition, its "Brilliance" brings seasonal colour to a plant category known predominantly for being green. This variety of fern is low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. It is certainly a popular ground cover choice that offers a lively splash of colour and is easy to care for. It's also one of the best underrated shade plants to use where fussier plants fail to thrive. Iris Foetidissima (Stinking iris) 5 Iris Foetidissima (Stinking iris) Credit: Getty It is one of two iris species native to Britain, the other being the yellow iris. Stinking iris thrives in full shade, particularly beneath trees in your garden. It has architectural evergreen foliage and dull, purple-green flowers. But it comes into its own in autumn when its large seedpods split open to reveal rows of orange-red seeds that remain well into winter. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years It is known as "stinking" because some people find the smell of its leaves unpleasant when crushed or bruised, an odour that has been described as "beefy". The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Eranthis Hyemalis (Winter aconite) 5 Eranthis Hyemalis (Winter aconite) Credit: Getty Aconites grow into clumps, eventually bearing masses of bright yellow flowers in late January and February. They thrive in damp shade so are perfect for growing in a damp, shady border or woodland garden. August gardening jobs The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the 10 gardening jobs to take on during the last month of summer - and the all important ones to remember if you're going on holiday. 1. Watering plants on holiday Think about how you're going to water your plants if you're going away. Irrigation systems are stupidly expensive - so ask a friend or neighbour to pop over. 2. Remember your houseplants! For houseplants use the upside down bottle trick - where you fill a wine bottle and then tip it upside down, spout down, and stick it into the pot - the water should seep out slowly. For smaller plants you can use a thick piece of cord running from a glass of water, into the soil - so it slowly takes it up over time. Be sensible with your watering - vistit for some tips on how to conserve water in August. But use as much grey water - ie washing up water - as you can to save such a valuable resource. 3. Dig for potatoes Second early potatoes should be ready to dig up. 4. Carry on deadheading Use either secateurs or just pinch off the blooms with your finger and thumb. With roses, make sure you're dead heading back to a set of five leaves, giving you the best chance of more blooms. 5. Plant strawberries You can actually plant strawberries in late august - which will be ready next year. For the ones you already have - if they've got runners springing off them - try and pot them up to make more strawberries for free. 6. Prune lavenders In late August once they've finished flowering cut back your lavender - always prune them back to the woody stems - but make sure you can still see some little buds. 7. Collect seeds A lot of plants will start going to seed now - so it's the perfect time to walk around collecting them to get free plants for next year - just make sure you label the envelopes. 8. Sow hardy annuals Towards the end of the month, sow hardy annuals in order for them to flower next year. Try and choose sheltered spots for them. 9. Cut back roses Prune back rambling roses and make sure they are all tied in. And in late August give your roses their last feed. 10. Keep on top of watering hanging baskets It's really important to keep hanging baskets hydrated - they are the first and the worst for drying out. The pretty plant is especially common in the east of England, and can be found in parks and woodlands. Winter Aconite however is not a native wildflower. It was introduced in the 16th century as a garden plant. But now centuries later, it is considered naturalised. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) 5 Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) Credit: Getty Our native foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is a woodland plant that thrives in dappled or partial shade. There are many cultivars and varieties that flower in different colours and have different shaped blooms. Most thrive in partial shade but some require more sun and it generally produces enough seeds so that new plants will continue to grow in a garden setting. It is the original source of the heart medicine digoxin (also called digitalis or digitalin). Aquilegia Flabellata (Granny's bonnet) 5 Aquilegia Flabellata (Granny's bonnet) Credit: Getty Aquilegias are a sweet, old-fashioned cottage garden plant with bonnet-shaped flowers, perfect for growing in partial shade. Aquilegia flabellata is a dwarf columbine, bearing blue nodding flowers over a compact mound of waxy grey-green foliage. Aquilegia flowers each have five sepals and five smaller petals. Each petal has two portions: a broad portion called a blade that projects forward and an elongated base that forms a structure called a nectar spur containing nectar that projects backward. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Cheapest ways to get a school uniform – from FREE kit to 50% off at outlet shops
Check if you can get a £200 grant towards your children's uniforms BACK TO SCHOOL Cheapest ways to get a school uniform – from FREE kit to 50% off at outlet shops Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE school holidays are well underway and it's time to tick shopping for uniform off the to-do list. There's only a few weeks left until kids return to their classrooms in shiny new shoes, crisp white tops and oversized jumpers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 There are plenty of ways to get help with your children's school uniform costs Credit: Getty Parents fork out an average of £422 a year on uniform for secondary school children and £287 for a primary school child, so it's important to make savings wherever you can. Read our handy guide to help kit your child out as cheap as possible this summer. SUPERMARKET BUNDLES If your school isn't strict on buying official uniform from specialist suppliers, then supermarkets are nearly always the best place to buy new kit. Prices for a bundle including polo shirts, a coloured sweatshirt and skirt or trousers can cost as little as £5. But bear in mind that in some stores these are special buys and once they're gone, they're gone. Prices can vary but here's our pick of the best buys below. Aldi and Lidl's offerings are not included as they've already sold out. M&S is offering 20% off school uniform in stores only until stocks last. Whilst there is no end date to the sale, sizes do sell out, so go quick if there is something you are after. 2 x polo shirts - £3.60 Sweatshirt - £4.80 Skirt - £5.60 Trousers - £6.40 Pinafore - £6.40 Sainsbury's is selling school uniform items from £3. Click and collect is free on orders over £10. 2 x polo shirts - £3-£6 Skirt - £5-£7 2 x trousers - £7-£11 2 x sweatshirts - £7-£11 Matalan is selling items from £4 online and you can click and collect for just 99, or its free on orders over £19.99. 2 x polo shirts - £4-£7 2 x sweatshirts - £7-£11 2 x skirts - £7-£11 2 x trousers - £11-£17 George at Asda sells items all year round for £3, online and in stores. Click and collect is free if buying online. 2 x polo shirts - £3-£6 2 x sweatshirts - £5-£11 2 x skirts - £8-£14 2 x trousers - £8-£14 Pinafore - £6 Tesco has kept prices the same as 2024 - and you can get 25% off Clubcard prices. 3 x polo shirt - £4.50 2 x short sleeve shirts - £3.50 2 x sweatshirts - £4 2 x trousers - £7 2 x pinafores - £9 2 x skirts - £7 BUY SECONDHAND If you miss out on uniform sales, check out secondhand clothing sites such as Vinted and eBay. We had a quick search and found lots of new or barely worn clothes available to buy, including two unworn pinafores from Sainsbury's for £8.50 and a pack of three short-sleeved shirts from John Lewis, unworn and in the packaging, for just £5. Uniformly is an online marketplace specifically for school uniforms, where you can search for items to buy from other parents or the PTA at your child's school might hold second-hand clothing sales, so get in touch to find out if your child's has one. Some charity shops have been selling old uniform for as little as £1. FREE CLOTHING WEBSITES Sign up for a Freecycle account and you can search for uniform being given away for free or you can add in a "wanted" post. This is a great way of finding school specific blazers and jumpers in your local area. USE LOYALTY POINTS Tesco Clubcard is one of the best loyalty schemes which can help towards the cost of F&F school uniform, either online or in-store. Collect Clubcard points by shopping at Tesco then use the Clubcard app to convert the points into vouchers. Present the vouchers at checkout in store to get the money off, or you can apply them at checkout if shopping online. You earn one point for each £1 spent and each point is then worth 1p. Once you've earned 150 points, equivalent to spending £150, you receive a voucher worth £1.50. APPLY FOR A GRANT Local councils will supply grants of up to £200 to families who don't have the money for uniform. The grant will also cover other essentials such as PE kit and travel costs. Find the contact details for your local council at FIND A SWAP SHOP Pop-up swap shops are a brilliant way for families to manage back-to-school spending. Not only can you pick up items cheaper, but it saves waste. A 2020 report by The Children's Society found 1.4 uniforms are thrown away in the UK every year. You can find details of some already established swap shops at The website also offers guidance on how to set up your own. Level Trust runs an online uniform exchange with over 60 schools across the UK. TRY OUTLET STORES Prices at outlet stores are often more appealing than their high street counterparts. Clarks Outlet offers lots of shoes with 50% off online. Delivery's £4.95 if shopping online. M&S Outlet also has dozens of outlet stores which have 30% or more off the main M&S store price. BUY TO LAST Where possible, go for more natural fabrics, especially if using a tumble dryer. They can be dried at a slightly higher temperature and are more resistant to holes so it could mean buying less in the long run. Check the label and look after your child's uniform properly to help avoid extra costs. Wash whites separately, using bio detergent and sticking to low tumble-drying settings will help prevent damage and shrinking.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Anyone with wardrobe in their bedroom told to 'make a decision fast'
Anyone with wardrobe in their bedroom told to 'make a decision fast' Brits have been warned that the issue can be hard to detect, but there are common warning signs Households warned to look out for signs of dry rot in their wardrobes (Image: Getty) Clothing specialists are urging anyone who has a wardrobe at home to 'make a swift decision and act fast' if they notice a musty smell. This type of smell can be a warning sign of dry rot, as experts reveal a hidden fabric fault could be quietly destroying much-loved clothes. The warning comes from clothing specialists at Messina Hembry , who say long-term storage, moisture, and poor ventilation are causing garments to rot from the inside out. Dry rot is a term often used to describe the breakdown of fabric caused by age, moisture, and lack of ventilation, which can severely weaken the structural integrity of clothing fibres. Once dry rot sets in, it's important to act fast and decide where else to store your clothes, as fabric will become brittle and prone to tearing—often beyond repair. The damage is most common in cotton, linen, and silk items stored in damp or sealed environments, such as plastic garment bags or unventilated lofts. Even though dry rot can happen any time of the year, summer is especially dangerous for it to grow and spread, particularly after a wet winter followed by a warm summer. For dry rot to flourish, it needs moisture, warmth, and something to feed on (like wood). Some sources mention that warm and humid conditions can speed up its growth. Signs of dry rot in clothes can be subtle at first but become more obvious over time, so families are being told to look out for faded or discoloured patches, particularly along folds and creases, as well as a musty or damp smell coming from the wardrobe. When handled, affected garments may also feel brittle and crumble easily when tugged or stretched. Signs of dry rot in clothes can be subtle at first Article continues below Fortunately, there are ways to protect your wardrobe from dry rot setting in, including using breathable covers like cotton or muslin, as well as silica gel packets or moisture absorbers. Josh Hembry, the COO of second-hand clothes retailer Messina Hembry said: "Dry rot in clothes is something most people don't notice until it's too late, when you go to wear something and it literally crumbles in your hands. "It's heartbreaking when it happens to a vintage piece you've looked after for years - especially when it could have been avoided. We always recommend storing your most precious garments in a breathable cover, keeping them away from heat and moisture, and refolding items now and then to stop stress building along the same creases. A few simple changes can really extend the life of your clothes." Five tips to prevent dry rot in clothes 1. Avoid plastic bags or airtight boxes for long-term storage Josh said: "While plastic bags and airtight containers may seem like a good way to protect clothes from dust and pests, they can actually trap moisture inside, creating a damp environment that encourages dry rot and mould to develop. Instead, choose breathable storage options that allow air to circulate around your garments, reducing the risk of fibre damage." There are ways to protect your wardrobe from dry rot setting in (Image: Getty) 2. Store garments in cool, dry, and well-ventilated areas Heat and humidity are key factors that speed up fabric deterioration, so keeping clothes in a cool and dry space helps preserve the fibres and prevent rot. Josh says well-ventilated areas allow fresh air to flow, which discourages dampness and keeps your wardrobe smelling fresh. Avoid storing clothes in cellars, basements, attics, or cupboards that are prone to moisture build-up. 3. Wash clothes before storing to remove body oils and dirt Oils from skin and sweat, along with dirt and food stains, can accelerate fabric breakdown if left on garments during storage. "Washing clothes thoroughly before putting them away helps remove these residues. This not only keeps them clean but also reduces the risk of dry rot developing over time", Josh added. Article continues below 4. Refold items regularly to prevent damage along creases Leaving clothes folded in the same way for months or years can cause fibres to weaken along crease lines. Regularly refolding garments or hanging them up can help distribute stress more evenly across the fabric. "This simple habit slows down the breakdown of fibres and keeps your clothes looking their best for longer," Josh said 5. Use breathable clothes covers and moisture absorbers Josh says: "Breathable garment covers made from cotton or muslin protect clothes from dust while allowing air to circulate, preventing trapped moisture. Adding moisture absorbers, like silica gel packets or specialised dehumidifiers, to wardrobes or storage boxes can also help maintain an ideal environment and reduce the risk of dry rot and mildew."
