Just like people, plants need to have the right balance of nutrients to thrive. The growing medium your plants are in is their source of nutrients and this is especially so where the plant is in a container. It is recommended that the compost is replaced and refreshed regularly to maintain the soil fertility.
Some of the feeds on offer are to correct an imbalance in the soil. Tree start is high in lime, so it is not suitable to be planted directly; however, when mixed into an existing bed, it can give the soil structure and reduce its acidity. More commonly, people have to add an ericaceous growing medium or a liquid feed to keep their acid-loving plants looking their best. A compost which is peat free can still be used for growing Rhododendrons and similar plants so long as a feed is used to correct the imbalance.
Feeds are classed as organic or inorganic. Granular feed such as Growmore, which is synthetically made of chemicals and minerals, is inorganic; Bonemeal is an animal extract, so it is classed as organic.
Inorganic fertilisers are quickly absorbed by the plants as they are more soluble. The downside is that this also makes them more susceptible to being leached away in wet environments. Organic fertilisers are more complex. It will take longer for the plant to extract the nutrients it requires, however the long term implications are that the general soil fertility will increase and the plant will be more robust. An organic fertiliser is better for the environment, uses less energy to produce and is generally the more economic option.
Granular feeds include the chemicals Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium in equal measure, often know as N P K. Which is what a plant needs for root growth, better foliage and fruit production. Bonemeal contains Nitrogen and Phospherous naturally and this makes it good for establishing trees, shrubs and fruit bushes. All feeds can be used either at the time of planting or worked into the soil as an after plant feed.
Did You Know?
The Dig For Victory campaign was a government initiative set up to combat food shortages during world war two. It was launched in 1940 and was so successful that by 1945, Britain was producing 75% of its own food. Allotments and small holdings were planted up in public spaces and in many domestic gardens. To support this, a fertiliser was needed, which would work quickly and be easy to apply. This is how Growmore started. The fertiliser contained the three basic chemicals a plant needs in equal measure: 7 % Nitrogen (N), 7% Phosphorus (P), and 7% Potassium (K). This is the same mix used today.
Posted 31st Jul 1:13pm
Read more >
Over 30 employees have recently completed two conservation days at a local nature reserve, Make it Wild. The initiative brought team members together to engage in hands-on environmental conservation activities and support local conservation efforts.
The team removed 180,000 invasive Himalayan Balsam plants, a non-native plant threatening local ecosystems, to protect native flora and promote biodiversity. The Johnsons team completed the design and construction of new scrapes, which will provide essential habitats for amphibians and insects, support local wildlife, and enhance ecological balance.
Make It Wild is a family-run business passionate about nature and conservation. Its mission is to restore and protect natural habitats, offering a sanctuary for wildlife and a place for people to connect with nature. Its team manages several sites, including woodland, meadow, and wetland areas, ensuring these ecosystems can thrive. Through their conservation work, educational programmes, and community involvement, the Make It Wild team aims to promote biodiversity and environmental awareness.
Christopher Neave, co-founder and director of Make It Wild, said: “With the support of local businesses, we are able to do so much more for nature, and the Johnsons teams achieved a huge amount in just two days. We are thrilled by and very appreciative of this ongoing partnership.”
Johnsons Nurseries group managing director, Graham Richardson, added: “We are delighted with the outcome of our team-building days. Our employees’ enthusiasm and hard work made a significant impact at our local nature reserve. The events also fostered a strong sense of teamwork and unity among our staff.”
Johnsons Nurseries Ltd supplies five to six million plants annually across the nation, contributing to national greening efforts and carbon capture since 1921. Its plants are extensively used in landscaping and gardening projects throughout the UK, establishing it as a significant environmental contributor. They are accredited with the international environmental standard ISO 14001:2015.
Posted 24th Jul 1:46pm
Read more >
We have partnered with Askham Bryan College for a second year to deliver a bespoke training course following a successful launch in 2023.
Developed exclusively for Johnsons Nurseries’ staff, the 12-week ‘Introduction to Horticulture’ course will be held between July and September this year, exploring topics including the lifecycles of plants, impacts of plant choices, and an introduction to plant science.
Those who successfully completed the course last year praised the expertise and passion of the tutors, saying the course increased their confidence and gave them new knowledge useful to their role at Johnsons.
With the sites located just 12 miles apart from each other, Johnsons Nurseries and Askham Bryan have been working together since the 1970s, with Johnsons providing work placements for students and the college providing horticultural courses for its staff.
Johnsons first contacted Askham Bryan in early spring 2023 regarding a training partnership to ensure its employees stay at the forefront of horticultural knowledge through specialised training.
Chris Edgar, management trainee, who took the course last year and has now gone on to study the internationally recognised RHS Level 3 qualification said: “The Introduction to Horticulture course was a great way of gaining a good deal of insight into our industry – from learning about plant taxonomy to how to plant a tree, it was all incredibly useful in providing context to what we do day to day.
“All the tutors were very engaging and enthusiastic, and the course as a whole is an invaluable tool to expand horticultural knowledge.”
Ellie Richardson, marketing and office manager at Johnsons, added: “With lots of our employees not having a background in horticulture, this course allows them to gain the vital insight they need to further their careers at Johnsons.
“We’re pleased to invest in our staff, giving them the training they need, whilst also sparking new interests in the world of horticulture. It’s exciting to be able to run the course for a second year, to give even more of our employees the opportunity to advance their knowledge.”
Steve Bassford, curriculum area manager for horticulture at Askham Bryan, said: “We are thrilled to announce the commencement of our second cohort for the Introduction to Horticulture course here at Askham Bryan College.
“We will be building on the success of our inaugural programme which promises to offer an enriched and immersive experience in horticulture. Alongside Johnsons Nurseries we are committed to helping foster a community of passionate plants people dedicated to cultivating their knowledge and skills.”
Posted 10th Jul 10:59am
Read more >
Self-Care Competition Terms and Conditions
To celebrate International Self-Care Day on 24th July 2024, we are giving away a ‘self-care’ hamper worth £75.
What do I have to do?
Follow @JohnsonsNurseries on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin)
Send us your best ‘Self Care Tip’ to marketing@johnsonsnurseries.co.uk or share it on social media with us.
You will be entered into a draw to win the following:
1x Dove bath salts
1x silk eye mask
12x reusable bamboo make up remover pads
4x Anatomicals face mask sachets
1x self care journal
1x Burts Bees lip balm set
1x Feather & Down Sleep set
1x Twinings sleep tea bags
2x Aromatherapy sleep candles
1x O’Keefes Hand Cream
Terms and Conditions:
The promotor is Johnsons Nurseries Ltd
The competition is open to UK residents only
Only one hamper is available for the winner
To be eligible to win the hamper, entrants must follow Johnsons Nurseries on social media and send us their best self-care tip by 31 July 2024.
The winner will be announced W/C 5th August 2024.
The promotor will contact the winner directly by email, telephone or social media, depending on the submission.
The entrant must be a follower of Johnsons Nurseries Ltd on social media
Entrants must be 18 and over
The prize is as stated; no cash or alternative prize is available
The hamper will be posted at a time convenient to Johnsons Nurseries Ltd
The winner will be asked for their details for delivery
Entrants who did not win will not be contacted
No purchase is necessary to enter.
If you win, your self-care tip will be shared on social media, our website and Emarketing.
Any entrants must be happy for their tip to be shared on social media, E marketing and on our website.
The promoter reserves the right to withdraw this offer or amend these terms and conditions at any time, without notice.
In the event of any dispute regarding the Terms and Conditions, the conduct, results and any other matters relating to this prize draw, the promoter’s decision shall be final, and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
By entering, applicants agree to the above terms and conditions.
Posted 10th Jul 9:58am
Read more >
There is more to Hydrangeas than just the familiar blue and pink mopheads. There are over 70 species. Most are shrubs and small trees which originate in eastern Asia. They range includes evergreens, but these are seldom seen in Europe’s temperate climate, here the deciduous ones are most popular.
The name Hydrangea comes from the Greek for water vessel, which is due to the shape of the seed pods. Their common name, Hortensia, was made to recognise the work of French mathematician and astronomer Nicole-Reine Hortense.
Although Hydrangea can be climbers, shrubs, small, trees and half standards, the shrub is the most common form. The most popular being the maculate. These can be mop head or lace-cap. A mop head is a plant where the flowers form a dense dome of brightly coloured flowers, mainly consisting of the sepals. The Lace-cap is much more delicate with a circle of sepals surrounding smaller flowers in many ways resembling a viburnum flower.
The next popular type of hydrangeas is the paniculate. The flowers form showy cones and are mostly cream with a tint of pink or pale green fading to white. These plants can get quite large, up to 2.5m tall. They are an easy to maintain plant; water well and prune in the spring after the frosts to produce large flowers in the summer. Unlike the maculate they prefer to be in a sunny position so long as the soil is kept moist.
Other types of Hydrangeas include petoilaris which is a climber and produces ariel roots to cling on to surfaces, Quercifolia which has leaf similar to an oak tree and attractive cinnamon stick like bark.
One of the things Hydrangea are renowned for is their tendency to change flower colour. A white hydrangea will always be white; however, a pink can change to blue and vice versa depending on soil pH. An alkaline soil will produce pink flower and an acidic soil blue. If you don’t want your plant to change colour, check the soil type before you buy or you may need to be adding chemicals to it to maintain the flower colour.
Did you know, the roots of hydrangea are used in herbal medicine to treat bladder infections and gall stones. There is no scientific proof to back this up and if anything, you should avoid ingesting the plant as it contains cyanide.
Posted 4th Jul 3:38pm
Read more >
