How to Plant a Traditional English Hedge...

A mix of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Crab apple, Guelder rose, Dog rose, Wild privet, Honey suckle, Hazel, Field maple and Holly makes a secure and attractive traditional English hedge.

Guide to hedgerow mix

Blackthorn/Hawthorn 50% -Hazel/Field maple/Holly 35% -Crab apple/Guilder rose/Dog rose/wild Privet/Honey suckle 15%. In a large garden Trees could include Ash, English oak and Sessile oak. AVOID ELDER

Crab apple is a small, deciduous tree with thorns and pink buds and blossom in March, takes about 5 years to flower and fruit. Grows to about 10 ft over 10 years. likes sheltered well drained sites Try making Crab apple Jelly from the fruit. Crab Apple can help skin to heal. The rotting fruit attracts the Red Admiral..

Blackthorn is a very thorny tree,with lots of white flowers in spring turning into dark blue berries in August. It grows to about 10 feet in 10 years. A tonic helping bowel problems can be made from the flowers and fruit and sloe syrup helps rheumatism,the berries are used to make Sloe gin. Walking sticks are still crafted from the wood. Blackthorn will grow in shady,open and wet conditions and provides food and shelter for birds, butterflies and many other wildlife

Hawthorn native hedging is very similar to blackthorn with scented white flowers in spring, followed by red berries it grows a bit faster to about 10 feet in 8 years. Some trees have lived to 400 years old Hawthorn can help circulation and heart problems. and like Blackthorn will grow in shady,open and wet conditions and provides food and shelter for birds, butterflies and many other wildlife

Hazel is an attractive tree producing hazelnuts in Autumn and again grows about a foot a year so works well in a traditional hedgerow and adds to the attraction with its catkins.

Walking sticks, shepherd crooks and baskets are still made from Hazel.Its important to the dormouse and other wildlife and the nuts make a nice treat at Christmas.

Field maple produces yellow-green flowers in Spring followed by "helicopter" seeds and makes a interesting and attractive addition to the hedgerow growing at about the same rate as Hawthorn. Ok in exposed, windy but well drained sites . Its good for wildlife, including the following moths - Winter, Maple Pug, Mocha.

England loves lavender !

The Mediterranean is the original home of the lavender plant and it loves to grow in sunny areas. It is not particular about what kind of soil it must be grown in because originally it was grown in rocky soil in very dry weather. Lavender loves the sun but will also grow in shady places. It grows in most countries on this earth. It is grown as a crop in the country of France and England loves lavender and it grows everywhere even though England is not a dry and sunny country. It is very easy growing lavender plant types.

Lavender loves the sun and it does best in a warm climate in soil that is well drained. Some types of lavender will go dormant during cold months and in the summer they bloom back into life. Lavender does not need a great deal of water to exist. You just need to plant it in your garden and let it go. It is best to remove the flowers to get more but you do not have to. It will bloom anyway.

Too much water is about the only thing that can kill a lavender plant. Avoid soggy or swampy areas in which to plant lavender because the roots will rot. Instead find an area up high in the yard where water drains away from the area. Living in humid weather presents a whole different problem to lavender so make sure to plant lavender plants far apart so their leaves do not get moldy. Plant with large spaces, about the size of another mature plant between them. If you live were the ground freezes and thaws make sure to mulch around the base of the plants to protect them, and then cover with burlap holding it up with stakes to protect the plants from cold winds.

Growing lavender from seed is almost impossible unless you have a greenhouse and a great deal of knowledge. Purchase lavender plants instead. You will see when you remove the plant from the pot that the roots are very large and can sometimes exceed the size of the plant. This is just the way lavender grows. Make sure to dig the hole a few inches larger than the roots and then spread them before covering with more dirt. It is a great idea to place a handful of manure and bone meal in the hole before putting the plant into the ground.

Top 10 English Roses

An English garden rose is a hybrid rose cross-bred rose combining the richness of old English roses and English roses with the hardiness of modern varieties. In 1969, rose enthusiast David Austin crossed Gallicas and Floribundas, Damasks and Hybrid Teas, Bourbons and Modern Climbers, and more. They were called Austin roses, later becoming known as English roses.

In this article, we will outline the top ten best English roses to guide you in choosing the rose varieties you want to grow in your own garden. Here they are:

1. Mary Rose. It's not hard to see why many people like this hard shrub which produces full bloom deep pink roses and a light old rose scent with hints of honey and almond. Mary Rose is not vulnerable to the winter cold and fungal diseases. It has even a good growth rate during the summer.

2. Graham Thomas. Introduced to the English rosarian world in 1983, this butter-colored rose is the most popular English rose there is. Nothing else---not even the Hybrid Teas---can match its rich yellowness, which later on becomes paler. Its growth is upright and bushy and its slender stems may need stalking for support. In 2000, the Graham Thomas won the James Mason Award at the Royal National Rose Society. This disease-resistant rose has a strong tea fragrance typical of its color group, with a hint of violet. In warmer climates, Graham Thomas is also grown as a climber, but is said to have fewer blooms.

3. The Mayflower. This deep rose pink bloom is purely old English rose in characteristic, but it has virtually zero susceptibility to rust, blackspot and mildew. While it rarely produces a huge bunch of roses at any time, the Mayflower never runs out of flowers. Growth is full and twiggy with a little less of matt green foliage than other roses.

4. Wild Edric. This shrub rose will survive under extreme weather conditions, making it a popular among beginners. It starts as a pointed pink-and-purple bud that opens into semi-double petals of deep pink with shades of mauve and purple. Interestingly, its petals have a classic old rose fragrance with cucumber and watercress overtones while its stamens smell of pure clove.

5. Heritage. David Austin himself called this the "most beautiful English garden rose," and it's not hard to see why. With a delicate shell-pink hue that almost fades to white at the edges, the petals perfectly cup around the center. The heritage rose grows to become a well-formed bush. Its plant has little thorns and blooms repeatedly throughout the year. It has a lovely scent, with mixed tones of honey, fruit and carnation and a classic old rose background.

6. Grace. This apricot-colored rose has petals cupped to form a perfect rosette. It's a perfect English garden rose because it blends attractively with flowers of other colors, emits a warm and sensuous scent, and produces rich, full blooms all throughout the year.

7. Abraham Darby. A strong, vigorous plant found excellent for growing arches. Imagine adorning your front doors with an arc of these large peach-apricot flowers that turn light pink at the edges and its glossy, green leaves. Abraham Darby is a disease-resistant vine that emits a strong fruity scent.

8. Claire Austin. This is the only white rose that made it to this list, not surprisingly, because of its beauty and its hardiness under different kinds of conditions and against plant diseases. The petals are large and creamy white formed in perfect concentric circles and sporting a scent similar to a mix of vanilla, heliotrope and meadowsweet.

9. Gertrude Jekyll. Known to have the timeless scent of the old English rose, Gertrude Jekyll won the James Mason Award in 2002. It has, much like its Portland rose parent, a rich pink color and very thorny canes that should be pruned regularly for repeated flowering.

10. Evelyn. This shrub produces gigantic blooms literally the size of saucers, and such magnificent blooms they are. The petals are peach with tinges of pink and yellow around the edges. Evelyn has an old rose fragrance and a slight fruity scent that reminds you of apricots and peaches.

Garden design

Materials, accessories, and, of course, appropriate plant life are all important aspects of a romantic cottage style garden design that brings elegance and beauty to your outdoor space, as well as your home. Natural, twisting walkways, edged with flourishing plants and shaded by majestic trees, thriving lawns for relaxing and playing, and traditional county cottage style accessories create a simple outdoor living area full of beauty that complements your home.

Building English Garden Paths

Secluded walkways with graceful curves and abundant, free-flowing plant life are the foundation to creating a genuine English landscape design. Garden paths meander through the landscape, allowing peaceful enjoyment of nature's pleasures. The materials used to build the walkways are the key to a romantic, English atmosphere.

These materials and design tips are perfect for your English garden style outdoor living area:

* Natural materials, like gravel and bark, make beautiful paths with a simplistic look. These materials are inexpensive and relatively low-maintenance.
* Stylish brick or stone pavers are a more luxurious option, lending an element of charm and grace to your outdoor design.
* Combine stone, gravel, and brick materials for a more genuine English garden landscape design.
* Avoid formal angles and conservative patterns, integrating soft lines and curving designs that suggest romance instead.


The Charm of English Garden Accessories

Your quaint English garden should be a relaxing and tranquil place that allows you to enjoy the beauty of fine outdoor living. The garden accessories you choose are an important influence on the overall atmosphere and theme of your outdoor space. Select decor that complements the free-flowing, natural uniqueness of the English countryside.

Green lawns with picturesque views of the most beautiful aspects of your design are made functional with wooden garden furniture, like teak, that has an antique, aged appearance. Romantic benches or intimate cottage style outdoor furniture, along with quaint arbors and fragrantly adorned trellises, create the appeal of the country without detracting from the modern beauty of your home. Gazebos, quaint foot bridges, and rustic fences can also add the charm of your country style garden.

English garden landscape designs provide unique outdoor living areas with a fun and whimsical atmosphere. A landscape design plan that blends the style of your home into the simple, natural charm of your outdoor space can be perfected with the assistance of a professional landscape architect or garden designer. Your design firm can also offer advice on the best country garden style for you and your home.

Perfect Plants for an English Garden !

Here's good news for gardening lovers out there, it is possible to set up an English garden in one's own backyard and profit from it every year. It does not matter how much space you've got for your garden. What's more important is your choice of plants that will make your garden even more beautiful.

What are the plants that you could grow to add a touch of English elegance in your garden? The usual flowers that are grown in an English garden are perennial plants such as hibiscus, bee balm, phlox, veronica, and hydrangea. To complement your perennial plants, you may consider adding annual flowers such as marigolds, pansies, and cosmos.

And of course, English gardens are not complete without roses. You may use roses to border your lawn space or put them along a trellis-either way, the beauty and fragrance of roses will make your garden unmistakably English.

Flowers are not the only plants that should fill your English garden. To add variety and appeal to your garden, it is best to plant shrubs, herbs, and vegetables along with flowers in your lawn area. Planting grass is optional; it depends on your purpose for the lawn space as well as how much mowing you can do regularly.

For more details about English gardening, it is recommended that you ask a long time gardener who can provide you, in detail, thousands of appropriate plants for English gardens. They are surely your trusty guide to forming the kind of garden you've always desired.