The Garden area
One of the newest additions to the nursery is the garden area.
Opened in May 2021 - and featured on BBC Look East shortly afterwards - the new area of raised beds is a place for us to showcase some of our favourite plants, trial new varieties, and try out and demonstrate different plant care techniques, such as the Chelsea Chop and Hampton Hack.
In the centre of the garden is the Designer Bed. Changing every few months it aims to provide garden inspiration!
Opened in May 2021 - and featured on BBC Look East shortly afterwards - the new area of raised beds is a place for us to showcase some of our favourite plants, trial new varieties, and try out and demonstrate different plant care techniques, such as the Chelsea Chop and Hampton Hack.
In the centre of the garden is the Designer Bed. Changing every few months it aims to provide garden inspiration!
The Designer Bed
There have been eight installations in the Designer Bed (so far!). Click on the photos to find out more.
ORANGES & LEMONS
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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PRAIRIE PLANTING
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IT CAME FROM JAPAN
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Showcase beds
NEPETA BED
Also known as catmint and catnip. An aromatic perennial plant beloved by moggies, as well as bees & other pollinators. Best in full sun and well-drained soils.
In recent years lots of new varieties have been developed, promising neater habits than their older counterparts. We are trying several, to compare flowering times, size, colour and habit. |
ENGLISH LAVENDER BED
Lavender blooms don’t just come in lavender-blue! This bed showcases some of the many varieties available, with different flower colours and different ultimate sizes.
Lavenders are best in full sun and well-drained soils. Bee-friendly, they keep their aromatic leaves year-round. They should be sheared annually to stop them getting straggly. |
GERANIUM BED
We consider these perennial plants must-haves for every garden.
Highly reliable and easy to care for, there is a Geranium for every situation, whether you are growing in sun or shade, want low-growing carpets of flowers or something more substantial. Here we showcase some of the many types available. |
Demonstration beds
CHELSEA CHOP BED
Many later-flowering perennials benefit from a prune in late May - around the time of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Plants are cut back by about half. This makes for shorter, stockier plants later in the season, which are less likely to flop about or get damaged in the wind. Half of the bed gets chopped, with the other half left for comparison. |
HAMPTON HACK BED
Many early-flowering perennials benefit from a prune in early July - around the time of the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
Most plants are cut back hard, whilst woody-stemmed Salvias are cut back by half. This encourages fresh regrowth and a second flush of flowers. Half of the bed gets chopped, with the other half left for comparison. |
THROW TO GROW BED
Throw To Grow seed mixes by Moles Seeds have been developed to provide stunning easily-raised displays of perennials and annuals.
Although similar in style to wildflower mixes, they should be more reliable and less fussy about where they grow. 'Summer Picking Flowers' and 'Bee Mix' were trialled in 2021. |
Showcase beds
FLOWERS FOR CUTTING
To meet popular demand we introduced a dedicated range of plants for cut flowers a few years ago, which we now grow every summer.
These are annuals that are excellent for providing long-lasting floral displays in the home. They are bookended by shrubs grown for their foliage. |
VIGOROUS PERENNIALS
A chance to shine for some of the plants we grow and sell!
These are types that are constrained by being grown in pots, and here we give them the root-space they need to look their best. Some do have large ultimate sizes, but others are just much happier growing in the ground than they are in pots. |
PLANTS FOR POOR SOILS
The soil here in Newbourne and the surrounding area is sandy, stony and low in nutrients.
In this bed we showcase some of the plants that should thrive in the dry conditions. The easiest way to garden is to work with the conditions you have! |
Trial & showcase beds
WOODY SALVIAS
An extremely popular plant of modern times!
Numerous new varieties of woody-stemmed Salvias have been introduced in the 21st century. Here we showcase some of our favourites, and trial others new to us. Cut by half in July and again in late autumn for long flowering and a neat shape. |
FLOURISH PLANTS
Members of our Flourish rewards club earn points for free plants.
Alongside old favourites, the Flourish range often includes new varieties, which members trial for us. In this bed we are trying out some of this season’s new-to-us plants. Sign up to the club for free at the till or at www.katiesgarden.co.uk/flourish |
SALVIA NEMEROSA
PAST BED: There are many types of Salvia, and here we showcase the ‘nemerosas’.
These are fully hardy, so should survive any British winter without difficulty. Given a Hampton Hack they provide at least two seasons of flowers a year. Many of these are established favourites of ours, joined by a few new introductions. |