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  1. The Growers Plantspo - August Herbaceous

    The Growers Plantspo - August Herbaceous

    Are you in need of some inspiration for your next garden project and after some late-flowering herbaceous plants? check out some of our favourite August flowering varieties from Anemone to Rudbeckia.

    Achillea varieties such as ‘Terracotta’, ‘Cloth of Gold’ and ‘Moon Dust

    Achilleas are a great addition to a mixed border or cottage garden in full sun – partial shade with flat-topped flowers that bloom from June – September with many cultivars and colours to choose from ranging from yellow to white and pink.

    ????Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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    Anemone varieties such as ‘September Charm’, ‘Honorine Jobert’ & ‘Hadspen Abundance’

    ????Flowers:  August – October (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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    Alchemilla Mollis

    ????Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.6m

    Soil: Humus-rich soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Alstromeria varieties such as ‘White Magic’, ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘Inticancha Maya’

    ????Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on the variety)

    Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 3L

    ——————————————————————————————–

    Agastache varieties such as ‘Morello’, ‘Little Adder’ & ‘Blue Fortune’

    ????Flowers:  July – October (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

    Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L. 3L

    ——————————————————————————————–

    Agapanthus varieties such as Africanus, ‘Twister’ and ‘Polar Ice’

    ????Flowers:  July – September (depending on the variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ——————————————————————————————–

    Astrantia varieties such as ‘Claret’, ‘Hadspen Blood’ and ‘Rosea’

    ????Flowers: June – August (depends on the variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun -partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, moist, preferably humus-rich soil

     Pot size: 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Aster varieties such as ‘Monch’, ‘Bahamas’ & ‘Barbados’

    ????Flowers: August – October (depends on the variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Campanula varieties such as ‘Perla Blue’, ‘Perla White’ & ‘White Clips’

    ????Flowers: July – September (depends on the variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.3m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moist, well-drained, soil

     Pot size: 2L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Coreopsis varieties such as ‘Limerock Ruby’, ‘Golden Sphere’ and ‘Sunkiss’

    ????Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun -partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Crocosmia varieties such as ‘Lucifer’ and ‘George Davidson’

    ????Flowers: August – September

    ???? Position: Full sun -partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

    Soil:Moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 3L, 5L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Dahlia varieties such as ‘Happy Days Pink’, ‘Happy Days Red’ and ‘Happy Days Yellow’

    ????Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun -partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Echinacea varieties such as ‘White Swan’, ‘Magnus’ and ‘Alba’

    ????Flowers: July – September

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Most soils, except very dry or boggy

     Pot size: 2L, 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Erigeron varieties such as ‘Sea Breeze’ and Erigeron karvinskianus

    ????Flowers: May – October (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Eryngium varieties such as ‘Neptune’s Gold’

    ????Flowers: July – August

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

    Soil: dry, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil

     Pot size: 2L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Geranium varieties such as ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Max Frei’ 

    ????Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Geum varieties such as ‘Totally Tangerine’, ‘Cosmopolitan’ and ‘Sunrise’

    ????Flowers: June – August (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Helenium varieties such as ‘Moerheim Beauty’, ‘Short and Sassy’ and ‘The Bishop’ 

    ????Flowers: July – August (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’ and ‘Snow Lady’

    ????Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Liatris varieties such as ‘Alba’, ‘Floristan’ & ‘Kobold’

    ????Flowers: August – September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately-fertile, reliably moist soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L

    ———————————————————————————————

    Monarda varieties such as ‘Balmy Lilac’ and ‘Balmy Pink’

    ????Flowers: July – August

    ???? Position: Full sun- partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.4m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

    ———————————————————————————————

    Nepeta varieties such as ‘Six Hills Giant’, ‘Walkers Low’ and ‘Junior Walker’

    ????Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun- partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

    ———————————————————————————————

    Penstemon varieties 

    ????Flowers: July – October

    ???? Position: Full sun- partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

    ———————————————————————————————

    Persicaria varieties such as ‘Darjeeling Red’, ‘Superba’ and ‘Delgado’

    ????Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun- partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Any moist soil

     Pot size: 2l (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Perovskia varieties such as ‘Blue Spire’, ‘Lacey Blue’ & ‘Little Spire’

    ????Flowers: August – September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

    Soil:Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile

     Pot size: 2l, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Rudbeckia varieties such as ‘Goldsturm’, ‘Maya’ & ‘Sunbeckia Mia’

    ????Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 0.8m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Salvia varieties such as ‘Caradonna’, ‘Cherry Lips and ‘Sensation White’

    ????Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L,5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Sanguisorba varieties such as ‘Tanma’ & ‘Little Angel’

    ????Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Poor-to-average, moist, well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Scabiosa varieties such as ‘Butterfly Blue’, ‘Flutter Deep Blue’ and ‘Flutter Deep Pink’

    ????Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Sedum varieties such as ‘Touchdown Teak, ‘Autumn Joy’ ‘Herbstfreude’ & ‘Frosted Fire’

    ????Flowers:  August – November (depending on variety)

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

     Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Verbena varieties such as bonariensis and  ‘Lollipop’

    ????Flowers: July – September

    ???? Position: Full sun

    ???? Height: Up to 2m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Veronica varieties such as ‘Anniversary Blue’ 

    ????Flowers: June – August

    ???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

    ???? Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

    Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

     Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

    ———————————————————————————————

    Posted 29th Jul 2:10pm
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  2. Plant donations see NHS hospital gardens bloom

    Plant donations see NHS hospital gardens bloom

    We have recently donated plants worth hundreds of pounds to two Yorkshire NHS hospitals.

    The newly created Rainbow Garden at Doncaster Royal Infirmary has benefited from a donation of plants worth £500. The garden, which is situated near the main entrance of the hospital, was designed to create a place where visitors and staff could go to remember the town’s 900 plus Covid-19 victims.

    Colleagues at the hospital had been raising funds since June 2020 for the project, with almost 300 supporters providing donations both large and small.

    The memorial garden features flower beds, a central lawn, paving, a patio and a pergola, all of which our Doncaster-based customer, AWS Landscapes Ltd kindly provided at cost.

    Plants supplied and donated include Lavandula ‘Victory’, Prunus laur. ‘Rotundifolia’, Hydrangea pan. ‘Little Lime’, Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’, Magnolia soulangeana, Achillea ‘Walther Funcke’, Echinacea purpurea, Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ and Persicaria affinis ‘Superba’.

    A similar garden has been created at the hospital’s sister facility at Bassetlaw.

    Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity have also received plants from Johnsons worth more than £300. The plants were first used at the Harrogate Flower Show earlier this year as part of a gold award-winning display created by Lisa Norton from Harrogate Garden Design.

    The display, entitled Escape Your Mind, featured an array of plants such as Buxus Sempervirens, Euphorbia, Pittosporum Magnolia Acuminata ‘Blue Opal’, Dahlia ‘Orange Sunshine, Phlox ‘Clouds of Perfume’, Cortaderia ‘Pink Feather’ and Salix ‘Golden Sunshine’. These have now been replanted at the hospital for staff and visitors to enjoy, providing an area of rest and reflection.

    Richard Parker OBE, chief executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, said: “On behalf of all within Team DBTH, I want to thank Johnsons of Whixley and AWS Landscapes Ltd for their contributions to our Rainbow Gardens. The generosity shown towards our Trust throughout the past 18 months or so has been nothing short of spectacular and I am so pleased that, together, we have been able to create these beautiful memorial spaces for those who are sadly no longer with us. Once again, thank you.”

    Harrogate Hospital’s business development charity and volunteer manager Sammy Lambert commented: “On behalf of the Trust I would like to thank Johnsons and Harrogate Garden Design for their generosity and donation of beautiful plants which have made such a difference to our outside areas.”

    David Sowerby, director of AWS Landscapes Ltd, said: “We are indebted to all the NHS staff who have given so much during the pandemic, and to those who sadly lost their lives. As a mark of our thanks and respect, we made our own donation and carried out all the works to create this garden for all to enjoy. We hope that the garden can be a beautiful space where staff and visitors can rest and reflect away from the stress of their busy working day.”

    We are incredibly pleased to be able to give something back to both hospitals via our donation of plants which has helped two outside areas bloom. We are forever grateful to the NHS staff who have given so much over the past 18 months and that they continue to do so. We hope our plants are enjoyed by staff and visitors for many years to come.

    This is one of many plant donations this year, as we pledged to donate plants to 12 different charities throughout our Centenary these donations have included plants to The Blue Cross, Thirsk, a memorial garden for Sir Captain Tom Moore and Henshaw’s Arts and Crafts.

    Posted 27th Jul 4:37pm
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  3. A touching memorial for Capt Sir Tom Moore

    A touching memorial for Capt Sir Tom Moore

    We recently teamed up with a landscaping firm and our customer Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd to help create a touching memorial for a national hero and campaigner, Capt Sir Tom Moore.

    This year we celebrate our Centenary while the late Capt Sir Tom, who raised millions of pounds for the NHS, celebrated his 100th birthday in April 2020. He passed away in February this year.

    The memorial was unveiled on the 7th July in front of World War II veteran Capt Sir Tom’s family, Junior Soldiers and sponsors such as Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd and Johnsons.

    Chairman John Richardson and his grandaughter and Marketing Manager Eleanor Richardson attended with Director Stuart Skelton of Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd and Colin Simpson.

    Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd commissioned Kris Elvidge, a local Stone Mason, himself a Yorkshireman, to engrave the stones that can be seen on the front and back of the college headquarters identifying the start and finish of the Capt Sir Tom Moore Walk. They also created 4 seating areas that surround a centre stone halfway along the main walkway taken by junior soldiers on parade day.

    Through landscaper Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd, Johnsons donated two Magnolia ‘Double Diamond’ 200-250 110L trees and 50 Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ worth a total of £765 to the memorial at Army Foundation College Harrogate, where he was an honorary colonel.

    The trees are among six planted by Junior Soldiers from the Army college in honour of Capt Sir Tom and to launch the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign across the country.

    The Queen’s Green Canopy is a tree planting initiative to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2021. People across the UK are being invited to ‘plant a tree for the jubilee’, with community groups and schools encouraged to take part from October, when the tree planting season begins.

    Capt Sir Tom captured the nation’s hearts when he raised over £32m for NHS Charities by walking 100 laps of his garden during the first lockdown. He was born in Keighley but more recently lived in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire.

    He inspired millions when his saying ‘Tomorrow will be a good day’ trended on social media and became the oldest ever recording artist to reach number one when his duet of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball topped the charts. On his 100th birthday, he received thousands of cards from well-wishers across the world, including the Queen and Prime Minister, and was honoured with an RAF flypast.

    Eleanor Richardson, Johnsons of Whixley’s marketing manager, said: “We were delighted to be part of this fitting tribute to Capt Sir Tom Moore, who was a true inspiration. The donation is particularly fitting as the magnolia is native to Asia, where he served during World War II.”

    Stuart Skelton, Director of Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd said “It has been an honour and a privilege to be involved in the Capt Sir Tom Moore Memorial, hopefully, this will continue to inspire future generations of Junior Soldiers”

    Posted 15th Jul 11:34am
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  4. July Gardening Reminders 2021

    July Gardening Reminders 2021

    Not sure what to do in the garden this month? check out our July gardening reminders put together by Chairman and Horticulturist John Richardson.

     

    1)   Keep control of soft, fast-growing weeds such as thistles, they harbour aphids and other problems.

     

    2)  Now is the time to make yourself a good big compost bin, just before you really need it!  Ideally, use 4 stakes as corners 1 metre apart in a square and staple wire netting (1 metre deep) around the square.

    This affords easy entry when you wish to empty it, or it can be made bigger or smaller at will.  If you would like a really permanent one, use pressure-treated plywood or boards instead of netting.

     

    3)  Treat shrubs that were cut back in the spring with a high Sulphate of Potash feed to encourage the production of flower buds for next year.

     

    4)Prune shrubs grown on walls and pergolas to remove some of the top growth and further stimulate growth from the base of the plant.

     

    5) Evergreen hedges can be clipped this month (and some deciduous ones), but ensure there are no nesting birds in the hedge or bush. Cut laurel and Eleagnus hedges with secateurs to prevent cut leaves.

    In hot weather, spray newly planted container-grown hedge plant foliage with water as well as ensuring that the root zone continues to be kept moist.

     

    6) Lift tulip bulbs after they have fully died down and store them in paper bags in a dry and airy place over the summer.

     

    7) Keep hydrangeas well-watered, particularly those growing in containers, as they quickly show signs of drought, and it can be difficult to get them to fully recover.

     

    8) Check the moisture level of hanging baskets every morning, and water thoroughly if dry. Feed plants with a soluble or liquid feed once per week and remove flower-heads that are going over.

     

    9) Divide established clumps of bearded iris immediately after blooming and plant in the ground or in containers and keep moist. Discard the older exhausted rhizomes, and cut back the foliage of the new plants to approximately 12-15cm.

     

    10)  Now is the time to sort out your autumn bulb order, to give you maximum choice for next year. Bulb catalogues are now really helpful and a pleasure to look at. Planting early has benefits for almost all bulbs, but leave tulips until late November in order to prevent disease infection.

     

    11) Remove spent rose flower heads and maintain spraying as necessary to combat greenfly, rust, mildew and black spot, as appropriate. Apply a summer rose feed in the middle of the month.

     

    12) Take softwood cuttings of a range of shrubs by selecting healthy young shoots, the cutting s to be 5-8cm long with 2 leaves retained at the top of the cutting. Cut the base cleanly with a knife, just below a node (leaf joint). Dip the base of the cutting in rooting hormone and insert around the edges of a plastic pot in a very gritty compost and cover with clear polythene supported above the foliage. Among many ideal subjects would be Asters, Ceanothus, Cistus, Escallonia, & Hydrangea.

     

    13) Keep a pair of secateurs in your pocket as you wander around the garden, being able to dead-head those flowers which have gone over will ensure a second flush of flowers in many cases.

     

    14) Be sure to keep the bird baths topped up in the hottest of weather!

     

    15) After the natural ‘June drop’ of many fruit trees, thin the remaining fruits to ensure the full development of the best trusses. Where branches are carrying heavy loads of fruit it is well worth considering support for the heaviest, particularly in the case of plums.

     

    16)  When Strawberries have finished fruiting trim back the foliage with shears and remove with any straw mulch which had been applied to protect and support the fruit. This waste can be composted.

     

    In need of more hints and tips for your projects? check out our solution page by clicking here 

    Posted 6th Jul 9:30am
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  5. Johnsons pledge support to York Cares Big Community Challenge 2021

    Johnsons pledge support to York Cares Big Community Challenge 2021

    We have continued our donation of hundreds of plants to Yorkshire charities as part of our centenary celebration.

    We celebrated our 100th birthday this June and are marking our centenary year with a donation of plants to a different charity each month. The latest donation we made was to York Cares Big Community Challenge 2021.

    The York Cares Big Community Challenge 2021  took place between the 9-30th June at Rowntree Park, with 17 volunteering sessions engaging more than 200 volunteers.

    We worked in partnership with the City of York Council Environment and Communities Team and the Friends of Rowntree Park, to prepare the park for its centenary celebration this July.

    York Cares has organised volunteers to clear and weed areas that have been affected by the floods. The volunteers will be replanting and starting the transformation of a part of the park into a new educational wildlife area, thanks to funding from Yorkshire Water.

    Our donation of plants to the value of £200 has been used to revitalise the family picnic garden, which will host families and friends over the summer who go to enjoy the park.

    The initiative is part of the York Cares Big Community Challenge 2021, where local businesses volunteer the services of their employees to transform a community space over the month of June.

    York Cares aims to showcase the positive impact a green environment can have on health, wellbeing, and social inclusion.

    Eleanor Richardson, marketing manager at Johnsons, said: “We are pleased to have donated £200 worth of plants for the Big Community Challenge in June, which will make a transformative difference to Rowntree Park.

    “Many of us have benefited greatly from spaces like this throughout the pandemic so it is a wonderful opportunity to give something back while helping to celebrate both our own and the park’s centenary.”

    Katy Elliott, volunteering support officer at York Cares Big Community Challenge, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Johnson’s of Whixley for their donation of plants which will make a real difference to one of the areas of the park.

    Stu Small, Friends of Rowntree Park Gardener said: “Friends of Rowntree Park are pleased that Johnson’s was able to make a generous donation of plants to support our volunteer gardening programme. Like Johnson’s, Rowntree Park is also celebrating its centenary in 2021. The plants from Johnson’s have helped make an instant impact in our family picnic garden.”

    Posted 6th Jul 10:01am
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