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The Sun
8 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
B&Q launches £9.75 decoration that's the perfect backdrop for garden parties & turns your space into a romantic haven
B&Q has launched a £9.75 decoration that works as the perfect backdrop for your summer garden parties. The simple but sweet ornament can turn any space into a romantic haven for a very affordable price. 4 4 4 B&Q's Artificial Grass Wall Panels - decorated with dahlia roses and hydrangeas - are the perfect choice if you want to spice up your garden or bring some warm colours into your indoor living spaces. And at just £9.75, they're an absolute bargain. Each panel measures 40x60cm and contains a number of flowers tied to a grate. The products, sold and shipped by Garden Sanctuary, aren't stocked in B&Q stores but you can order them online. This comes just days after shoppers raced to B&Q stores to grab the perfect budget friendly product to elevate their gardens and add instant privacy to their outdoor space. There's nothing worse than sitting outside with a glass of wine and a good book, only to realise that your nosy neighbour is peeking at you over the fence. Putting up a large fence around your garden may seem like the obvious choice to keep away prying eyes, but this can be expensive - and can sometimes lead to disagreements with neighbours. Paul CEO of plants and perennials specialists J. Parker's revealed that one stylish way of creating privacy in your garden is by planting ornamental grasses. He said: 'Grasses can be used easily to create internal screens or hedges that flower beautifully, move in the slightest breeze, and need little care during the summer months. "I recommend silvergrass or pampas grass to not only conceal your garden, but to introduce interesting textures. 6 ways to get rid of slugs and snails "Their fast growth rate makes ornamental grasses ideal for privacy hedges because new plants can rapidly fill in any gaps.' B&Q's Stipa Pony Tails Ornamental Grass is currently priced at £10.49, making it a perfect solution for penny pinchers. The height of the plant when you purchase it will be 30-45cm, but ornamental grass can grow up to three metres tall. The plant is low maintenance, so won't cause you any stress, plus its feathery plumes will elevate the look of your garden into a stylish haven. Additionally, B&Q slashed the price of an ornament - that helps your patio seem bigger - to just £11 last week. The is available for just £10.79. Usually referred to as the cherry tree, this plant has a compact, rounded shape and a gently spreading habit. WITH summer well and truly here, many people are outside updating their gardens. And it seems avid gardeners have found the perfect buy to give gardens a quick update and add some extra privacy to their space. B&Q is selling a garden must-have to give you some peace and quiet while adding some extra greenery. The Decorative Artificial Ivy Leaf Green Hedge Roll has been a hit with customers and can easily be attached to an existing fence or balcony. Thankfully, it comes at a bargain price with a 3m x 1m roll costing just £22.99. The fencing panel is made up of hundreds of fake ivy leaves in a deep green colour and decorates the garden, just as well as giving you privacy. The Artificial Fence Panel is also super easy to install. The snap hook backings can fit many different areas and are flexible, which makes mounting easier by providing a way to install on an area with Zip Ties or Nails. It's also perfect to create privacy with the leaves positioned on the snap hook backing to create a full look, while the snap hook backing also acts as a second layer of privacy with a beautiful leaf design. The B&Q item also comes with a two-year guarantee and has UV protection to stop the colour of the leaves from fading in the sun. This makes it suitable for planting in small gardens or areas with limited space. Garden designer Karen McClure explained that adding plants to your patio space would help it to seem bigger. "Use ornamental feature trees," she advised anyone struggling with limited outdoor space. "Multi-stem specimens in particular can be kept to a controlled height in a large feature pot, and can create a lovely focal point as well as give interest at a higher level. Be bold." She added that the number of plant varieties should be kept to a minimum. "Too many varieties can create a busy and chaotic feel, whereas a simple planting palette will feel harmonised, soothing, and calm," she said.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
10 of the best climbing plants for your garden, from honeysuckle to sweet pea
Within a week of moving house, three years ago, I was dreaming of climbing plants: anything that could clothe the uninspiring domesticity of my new garden's bare fences. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Three summers on, I have a good sense of which climbers thrust ahead and which take their time to get established; which spread thinly or densely; which annuals offer up a temporary, seasonal backdrop; which climb perfectly well unaided; and which benefit from a supportive frame. Here are 10 climbers I've enjoyed growing, and how to nurture them. Often slower-growing yet enduringly structural, woody climbers produce hardened stems that lignify in place. They include plants such as ceanothus, trumpet vine, wisteria, akebia and rose, many of which require the sturdy support of wire or trellis. Undoubtedly, woody plants demand more patience, but they can prove low-maintenance in the long term, and are easy to train and shape. From £7.99 at J Parker's£11.69 at B&Q A house-warming gift, one of the first climbers added to my garden was the cream yellow-flowered honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum Graham Thomas. A woodlander at home in low light, it was planted in the north-facing shade of our house, where its dark, glaucous-leaved stems clamber over horizontal wires, producing phenomenal, night-scented midsummer blooms visited by moths. £9.99 at Jacksons NurseriesFrom £11.24 at Crocus This one will take time to get going, but few climbing plants are as rewarding as Hydrangea petiolaris. Endlessly elegant with clusters of refined white, the deciduous petiolaris uses aerial roots to attach itself to surfaces, though wires can offer a leg up while it establishes itself. Growing happily in semi-shade, and relatively unfussy of soil preference, the only difficulty with this heavily set hydrangea is keeping it from bushing out from the wall or fence. To avoid this, prune outwardly extended stems back by a few buds right after summer flowering. The Pilgrim £33 at Burford Madame Alfred Carrière £21.59 at Carbeth plants£23.38 at B&Q Unlike the often untamable 'rambling' rose, climbers can be heavily micromanaged – so you can tie them into artful loops or swirls, which can become obsessive, trust me. The temptation with roses might be to direct the stems upwards for quicker results, but the key for maximum surface coverage is to get strong, long stems tied down horizontally, incrementally in succession up a wall or fence: horizontals promote more flowers and further vertical growth, which will add density at a surprising pace. Planted in full sun, favourites from my garden include bold-blooming, butter yellow the Pilgrim and fellow David Austin cultivar Mme Alfred Carrière, whose pink-tinged buds open a blushed, strongly scented white. £19.95 at Gardening Express £24 at Ornamental Trees Surprisingly hardy given its somewhat precious appearance, this thickly foliaged kiwi relative bears curiously white and pink-tipped heart-shaped leaves. Once established in a sunny yet wind-sheltered spot and supported with wires, its woody stems will quickly advance and offer up a foliar blanket. While many climbing plants form a lasting framework, others can be cut down to regrow each year. These include some of the showiest varieties, whose well-established roots promote speedy, active growth each spring. From £3.99 at J Parker'sFrom £11.24 at Crocus By far the most vigorous shady climber in my – or indeed any – garden, virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) will attain heights by any means available. Often seen scrambling lamp-posts as it does woodland trees in its native Appalachia, this is one to keep in check, if necessary, by cutting back to a couple of feet each spring, once established. I got mine going on wires initially, however, it will self-adhere without fuss. Before shedding, its leaves blaze ochre through red across autumn. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Clematis tangutica From £7.99 at J Parker's£24.95 at Waitrose Garden Clematis Perle d'Azur £24.99 at Coolings Clematis are categorised into three key groups – those that flower in spring and in summer on the previous year's stems, and those that do all the work via the current season's growth. Cut down to 40-50cm from the ground in early spring and sending up energetic new shoots, this latter category includes popular viticella cultivars such as the blue-violet Perle d'Azur and the endearingly wild, lemony Clematis tangutica. £29.99 at Gardening Express Another vigorous contender, the grape relative Vitis coignetiae comes into its own in autumn, when its huge, lobed leaves become emboldened with dramatic hues of crimson, orange and plum. Grow on wires or up a tree in free-draining soil. In my view, annuals are often overlooked as fence-covering climbers. This might be due to their impermanence – here for one season and gone the next – but this can also be their strength. They are very quick growing, can act as temporary fillers while woodier climbers are getting going, and very often produce excellent flowers and attractive, sometimes edible seed pods. Although typically grown on 'teepees' or canes, by threading twigs (such as hazel or birch) through fence wires, they'll have lots to cling to, encouraging quick growth. 99p for 20 seeds at Thompson & MorganFrom £3.29 for 20 seeds at Crocus I'll never tire of growing sweet peas – their fragrance is alluring and their range considerable, from showy mauves and maroons to subtle whites and greens. Easily germinated on a windowsill indoors, they can be planted out in spring sunshine and, owing to grappling tendrils, scale a fence by midsummer. Among the copious options, I particularly like growing the profuse cultivars Cedric Morris (plum-purple) and Painted Lady (pink-white). From £3.69 for 15 seeds at Crocus£3.79 for 15 seeds at Waitrose Garden Commonly known as the cup-and-saucer vine and hailing from Mexico, where its large bell-shaped flowers in purple and cream are pollinated by bats, cobaea is a stunning single-season addition. Climbing its way up with anchoring tendrils, it blooms in late summer for an extended period. Performs best from early sowings, however, small plants can be bought about now, saving the trouble of home germination. £3.59 for 30 seeds at Thompson & Morgan£3.99 for 30 seeds at Amazon Despite the clear culinary associations, it is sometimes forgotten that runner beans were once cultivated as ornamentals, their vibrant scarlet, white and salmon flowers tumbling from twining vines. I say you can have both, and as anyone who has ever grown runner beans will attest, you can definitely have too many runners. Initially, deadhead the spent flowers before they can produce pods, and enjoy the rampant blooming before allowing them to fruit. Position in full sun if possible, and keep well watered. Matt Collins is a garden, nature and travel writer, and head gardener at the Garden Museum in London
The Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
B&Q shoppers are racing to snap up £10 buy that elevates your garden and instantly adds privacy
B&Q is selling the perfect budget friendly product to elevate your garden and add instant privacy to your outdoors space. With summer now upon us, and the Met Office predicting a heatwave is "likely" this weekend, many of us are likely planning to spend lots of time relaxing in the garden. 2 2 However, there's nothing worse than sitting outside with a glass of wine and a good book, only to realise that your nosy neighbour is peeking at you over the fence. Putting up a large fence around your garden may seem like the obvious choice to keep away prying eyes, but this can be expensive - and can sometimes lead to disagreements with neighbours. Paul CEO of plants and perennials specialists J. Parker's revealed that one stylish way of creating privacy in your garden is by planting ornamental grasses. He said: 'Grasses can be used easily to create internal screens or hedges that flower beautifully, move in the slightest breeze, and need little care during the summer months. "I recommend silvergrass or pampas grass to not only conceal your garden, but to introduce interesting textures. "Their fast growth rate makes ornamental grasses ideal for privacy hedges because new plants can rapidly fill in any gaps.' B&Q's Stipa Pony Tails Ornamental Grass is currently priced at £10.49, making it a perfect solution for penny pinchers. The height of the plant when you purchase it will be 30-45cm, but ornamental grass can grow up to three metres tall. The plant is low maintenance, so won't cause you any stress, plus its feathery plumes will elevate the look of your garden into a stylish haven. The expert revealed that another handy tip to add privacy to your garden is to cover up fences with evergreen climbers. I hate my new build garden being overlooked so found a 5 METRE privacy fence to block out nosy neighbours for under £30 He said: 'If you want to disguise fences, balcony railings or rooftop spaces, evergreen climbers are a fantastic solution. "Star Jasmine would be my top choice, it's a hardy, vigorous grower with glossy evergreen foliage, so it's the perfect all-year-round cover. "In summer, it bursts into fragrant, star-shaped flowers that fill your garden with an enticing scent. "If you don't have a surface to grow against, create a living fence by planting shrubs or small trees close together to make a natural wall of privacy. How to create privacy in your garden CREATING privacy in your garden can be achieved in a number of ways depending on your budget, and the size of your space. Here are some effective ways to enhance privacy in your garden: 1. Fencing Install a tall, solid wooden or vinyl fence. This is one of the most straightforward ways to gain immediate privacy. Or use lattice panels, trellis, or slatted fencing to add a decorative touch while still offering privacy. 2. Hedges and Plants Fast-growing evergreen shrubs or trees like Leylandii, Thuja, or Bamboo along the boundary of your garden can help with privacy. Grow a dense hedge using plants like Boxwood, Privet, or Laurel. It may take time to grow, but it provides a natural and green privacy screen. Use climbers like Ivy, Clematis, or Wisteria on fences or trellises to create a lush, green privacy barrier. 3. Outdoor Curtains Hang outdoor curtains around pergolas, gazebos, or patios for an easy-to-adjust privacy solution. 4. Sound Barriers A water fountain or small waterfall can help drown out noise, adding to the sense of privacy. Or install fencing designed to reduce noise if privacy from sound is also a concern. "Varieties like golden privet hedging or, for a shorter screen, Salix (like Flamingo Willow) are trendy options that work well to cordon off designated areas in your garden.' Salix, or flamingo trees grow tall and quickly, meaning that they are a popular choice for hiding gardens from prying eyes. The trees are native to the UK and are popular due to their bright pink foliage, which is a similar shade to the flamboyant birds they are named after. This makes them perfect for adding a splash of colour to your garden, whilst also ensuring your outdoor space is shrouded from prying eyes. Shoppers have recently spotted flamingo trees for sale for £13 at Asda.
