Harwood Construction and Landscaping

Geraniums (also known as pelargoniums) are popular bedding plants, providing a burst of colour throughout summer. They’re easy to grow and thrive in terracotta pots as well as traditional bedding displays. They work well planted or their own or combined with other plants. Some types of geranium are perfect for growing in hanging baskets.

Pelargonium can be perennials, sub-shrubs or shrubs, sometimes succulent and mostly evergreen, with palmately lobed or pinnately divided leaves and clusters of slightly irregular, 5-petalled flowers. With a variety of colours to choose from to suit your borders and pots!

All plants have a species or Latin name, as well as a common name. ‘Geranium’ is the common name for the species Pelargonium. Confusingly, ‘Geranium‘ is also the botanical name of hardy geraniums, also known as cranesbills or ‘true geraniums’. Despite sharing a common name, geraniums (pelargoniums) and cranesbills (geraniums) are different species and have different growing requirements.

Plant in partial to full sun in West, South or East facing sheltered aspect, in well-drained chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil.

Part of the Geraniaceae family, not native to the UK.

Water geraniums well in summer and deadhead to encourage a second flush of flowers.

To overwinter geraniums, lift plants that are in garden soil or large pots and pot them into a smaller pot. This should be done before the first frost. Remove any damaged leaves and faded flowers. Cut plants back by about a third and position in a frost-free but bright place. The plants won’t go into complete dormancy so water lightly through the winter. In spring, apply a general liquid feed and increase watering. Plant out only once all danger of frost has passed, usually late May.

Ideal for
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Dahlias - A fantastic choice of flower shapes and colours, which give an unrivalled showy display from summer into autumn. You can combine them with other late-flowering plants like salvias and grasses to uplift late season borders, they love free-draining soil in full sun in a sheltered spot, they do not like chilly conditions!

Cut flowers for indoor displays as this will help the plant to keep producing flowers until the first frost. Great for containers in small city gardens, you can move to your favourite spot to enjoy the fabulous colours!

With such a broad range of flower colours and shapes, choosing dahlias is largely is about personal taste, but it’s worth thinking about the following:
Big dinner-plate flowers are spectacles but don’t blend well in borders
In borders, dark-leaved cultivars can support the planting design
Single flowers are best for pollinators.

Shorter cultivars are best for container growing and bedding
Seed-raised dahlias are a cost-effective way to create mass colour
Eventual size - shorter types, sometimes called bedding dahlias, are good for the front of the border or containers as they only reach around 60cm. Most others need staking to support an average height of around 1.2m. Some species and cultivars grow very tall - over 2m.

Plant in fertile soil that is moist, yet free draining. They don’t like very dry conditions or waterlogged soil!
As plants come into growth, new shoots that emerge in June and July may need thinning. Select out spindly growth giving it a sharp pull to break it off. You should be left with a maximum of 7-10 sturdy stems per plant.

If you’re growing giant flowered dahlias, limit the number of stems to 3-5 per plant so you get fewer, but bigger blooms.
Dahlias need watering in dry and hot weather. Direct to the base of the plant. Soak down to the roots once a week rather than watering shallowly more frequently.

To encourage dahlias to produce more flowers, deadhead regularly, ideally weekly. The plant will put its energy into making flowers rather than seeds.

Nerium Oleander – also known as East Indian Oleander, Jamaica South Sea Rose and Rose Bay amongst others. It is an evergreen shrub with narrowly lance shaped grey-green leaves and terminal clusters of salver-shaped pink, white or red flowers 3-4cm across, followed by long bean like seed pods.

It is part of the Apocynaceae family, not native to the UK.

Oleanders are a mainstay of Mediterranean gardens, widely used for screen planting, on hillsides and alongside roads. Flowering throughout the summer.

Plant in moist well-drained chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil, in South facing aspect in a sheltered frost-free spot, they are not frost tolerate, oleander thrive in full sun. Buy and plant in spring or summer.

All parts are highly toxic if ingested. Do not grow where they will come into contact with children or pets. Foliage may irritate skin, wear gloves and other protective kit when handling.

Will grow to an ultimate height of 1.5-2.5 metres and spread to 1-1.5 metres in 10-20 years.

Ideal for:-
City and courtyard gardens
Patio containers
Cottage and informal gardens
Wall side borders

Oleander are low maintenance, pruning isn’t essential, but is often necessary to reduce size, especially if moving from outdoors to winter undercover, ideally prune in later winter or early spring.

Polystichum setiferum – also known as soft shield fern, are a tufted evergreen fern to 1.2m in height, with rosettes of soft textured, lance-shaped mid-green fronds, the stalks have prominent orange-brown scales.
Plant in moist, but well-drained chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil, in any aspect, exposed or sheltered.
Will grow to an ultimate height of 1-1.5m and spread to 0.5-1m in 5-10 years.

Is part of the Dryopteridaceae family and not native to the UK.

They are easy to grow, they like cool, fertile, moist, humus-rich soils. Protect crowns from excessive winter wet.

Remove any dead or damaged fronds as necessary. Ferns are very low maintenance.

Ideal for
Cottage and informal gardens
Wild meadow
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

There are so many types of ferns to grow to suit your garden, some grow in sun while others prefer shade, with their interesting foliage and textures, ferns are easy to grow.
Some species are evergreen, giving year-round interest, while others die back in autumn and produce new shoots in spring.
Combine with using contrasting leaf shapes such as broad-leaved brunnera, heart-shaped epimedium or palmate hellebores.
Taller selections and tree ferns make exceptional striking focal points.

Spiraea Japonica ‘Goldflame’ - common name is Bridal wreath. Both the foliage and the flowers make this an interesting and colourful shrub.
The foliage emerges each spring with a burnished bronze-red flush, but as the leaves mature, they turn bright yellow, then luminous green. In mid and late summer, clusters of dark pink flowers appear, seemingly backlit by the glowing foliage.

Compact and easy to grow, it makes a fantastic low hedge or groundcover plant for a sunny border. Plant in well-drained clay, chalk or sandy soil in full sun in east, south or west facing exposed or sheltered aspect, it is a very hardy plant and will attract bees and other pollinators, with its nectar pollen rich flowers. Deadhead after flowering.

Part of the Rosaceae family. Not native to the UK.

In early spring, hard prune the flowering stems to a permanent framework of 10–15cm above ground.

Ideal for City, Coastal and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and containers
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Go on, bring some colour to your border!

Beech - Make excellent hedges, which live long in free-draining soil, including chalk. Apart from the upright or weeping forms, select any beech (Fagus sylvatica) for an easy-to-maintain hedge.
Plant young beech and clip annually to form a neat hedge around 90cm-2.4m (3-8ft) tall, or taller if an object or view needs screening.

To grow beech as a hedge, space plants from 25-45cm apart, depending on plant size and how quickly you want to achieve a dense hedge.
For quick results, plant in a double staggered row with 30cm between the two rows. Plant into well-cultivated weed-free ground, at the same depth as the plant was growing previously.
Beech leaves die each autumn but, unlike most other deciduous trees, young and clipped beech holds onto its dead leaves throughout the winter. This gives great winter screening but will appear brown in winter.

Beech love sun or part shade. Purple-leaved forms colour up deepest in full sun while golden leaved forms scorch less if planted in light shade. Young beech leaves can be killed by late frosts, so try to avoid planting them in frost pockets, also stay clear of wet areas in the garden as roots may rot off in waterlogged soil.
Continue to water your beech hedge for the first season or two, especially during dry spells in spring or summer.

Covering the soil with a 5-7.5cm layer of organic matter such as bark, composted bark or leaf mould will help reduce moisture loss from the soil and suppress weeds, giving the beech roots a good start.
There is no need to prune your new hedging plants if they have plenty of side branches. If plants look sparse, help thicken them by shortening the leading and longer shoots by up to one third. Do this in winter or straight after planting. Repeat in the second year if the plants still look a bit leggy, then prune annually in August.

If you would like to make a bold statement, how about selecting copper beech!

Hosta - common name Plantain lily. These are brilliant for foliage, there are many varieties, they thrive in shade and are great for containers.

These shade loving plants have a vast range of cultivars to choose from, with leaves in all shades of green, some are variegated others are dusky blue and acid yellow, with texture of smooth, ribbed or ruffled. Many produce small trumpet shaped purple or white flowers in summer.

Plant in moist soil in partial shade, whether in a container or border, they don’t like exposed, windy areas of the garden.
Hostas are easy to plant, space plants up to 90cm apart, depending on their ultimate height and spread. Always check label. Dig a hole the same depth as the root ball and twice as wide, water and water regularly thereafter, especially in dry weather during the first summer. Mulching will help retain moisture.

In containers, make sure there are plenty of drainage holes, as waterlogged soil can kill the plant and use a large container to avoid compost drying out, use peat free multipurpose compost, make sure the top of the root ball is the same level as it was in the pot it came in, again water and continue to water regularly.

Miniature hostas need good drainage and will do best in soil improved with the addition of grit and garden compost. They are also suitable for rock gardens or containers and troughs. Mulching round plants with a layer of gravel not only looks good but also keeps soil from splashing up and spoiling the leaves.

In containers liquid feed once a month using a general liquid fertiliser. In borders an annual mulch of well-rotted manure should be enough.

No pruning is required, but you can remove damaged and unsightly leaves.

Hostas are fully hardy, foliage will die back in late autumn and plants are dormant until mid-spring.

Hostas are clump forming, so every 4-5 years divide in autumn or spring, replant making sure there are 1-3 good buds on each new division, replant with the shoots just poking through the soil and water.
Hostas in containers may require dividing every 3 years.

Unfortunately slugs and snails love them too!

Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ also known as Japanese Maple is a large bushy deciduous shrub with deep red-purple leaves with 5-7 slender-pointed lobes, turning red in autumn. Small purple flowers are followed by red fruits. One of the best purple-leaved Japanese maples.

Is a member of the Sapindaceae family, not native to the UK.

Plant in moist well-drained chalk, clay, loam of sandy soil, in a West, East or South facing sheltered aspect in full or partial shade.
Will grow to an ultimate height and spread of 2.5 - 4 metres
in 10 - 20 years.

Water in summer if necessary. Leaf colour is best in partial shade, although will tolerate full sun. Leaf scorch can be caused by lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure.

Ideal for City and courtyard gardens
Cottage, rock and informal gardens
Patio and containers

Is low maintenance and brings some brilliantly colourful
architecture to your garden.

Euphorbia Cyparissias – cypress spurge is a vigorously spreading rhizomatous perennial with erect stems, bearing very narrow blue-green leaves and greenish-yellow flowers in late spring and early summer, often becoming orange with age.

Is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, not native to the UK.

Plant in moist but well-drained chalk, loam or sandy soil, in a South or West facing aspect, love full sun.

Will grow to an ultimate height 0.1 - 0.5 metres with ultimate spread of 1 - 1.5 metres in 2-5 years.

All parts are toxic by ingestion, sap is skin and eye irritant, so wear gloves when handling.

Ideal for Coastal, City and Courtyard gardens, flower borders and beds, banks and slopes. It is perfect for ground cover.

Euphorbia cyparissias is known for attracting beneficial insects and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers

Aubrieta gracilis ‘Kitte’ is an evergreen, mat forming perennial with small rounded leaves and deep violet-purple relatively large flowers with small yellow eyes are borne in spring.

It is part of the Brassicaceae and isn’t a native of the UK.

Plant in well drained chalk, loam or sandy soil in a South or West facing aspect, sheltered or exposed in full to partial shade. Will grow to an ultimate height of 10cm and spread to 0.1 - 0.5 metres in 2-5 years. Great for ground cover.
Cut back after flowering to maintain compactness.

Best grown in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade, an ideal plant for dry areas such as chalky slopes, walls and very useful as will bring spring colour to your containers.

Ideal for City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal gardens
Patio and containers
Coastal and rock gardens
Banks and garden edging

Aubrieta will provide nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects.

Berberis darwinii, also known as Darwin’s barberry, has clusters of small, nodding, orange-yellow flowers, followed by bluish-purple autumn berries.
This upright, evergreen shrub has small, spiny, dark green, holly-like leaves and is useful to fill a difficult spot in the garden and is an excellent choice for hedging to keep intruders away due to its prickly nature.

It is a native to Chile and Argentina, it was discovered by Charles Darwin in 1835.

Plant in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil, will tolerate exposed windy areas, South or West facing aspect, flowers April to May and is fully hardy.
Berberis darwinii will grow to 3m high and spread to 3m, so make sure it has space, best o plant in middle of border it is vigorous and easy to grow, it often produces a second flush of flowers in autumn.

Ideal for Coastal, City & courtyard gardens, Cottage & informal gardens.

The Berberis provides nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects.
Where some pruning is required, cut back in autumn or winter, after the appearance of the autumn fruits.

Bring some brilliant colour to your garden!

Magnolias produce large opulent flowers, usually in shades of pink or white, in spring or summer. When in full bloom the display can be truly spectacular.
They grow to the size of a large tree to a compact shrub, so lots of options to suit most gardens.

They are hardy, but prefer a sheltered spot and moist, well-drained soil, some need slightly acidic or neutral conditions. Many are deciduous, losing their leaves over winter, but a few are evergreen, with dark glossy leaves all year round.

When choosing the right magnolia for your garden, consider the ultimate size of the plant and soil type, along with flowering time.
Flower size and shape can vary with star, bowl and goblet forms, they can flower for long periods, often with a second flush a few months later. If you are prone to frosts avoid early flowering species.

Some can be grown in large containers. However, they will need regular watering and feeding during the growing season. Magnolias prefer full sun.

Magnolias are best planted in autumn or late spring. They have shallow roots, so you don’t need to dig a very deep hole. Dig a generous hole to the same depth of the pot your magnolia comes in. Avoid damaging the fleshy roots, as this can inhibit flowering. Add well-rotted garden compost or leaf mould around it. Gently firm in the plant with your heel and water in well. Mulch with an acidic mulch such as bark, or garden compost. Keep the plant well- watered while it establishes.
They can take 10-20 years to reach their ultimate size.

They don’t respond well to hard pruning as may cease flowering, so only prune damaged or diseased branches.
If they are happy, they will reward you with a fantastic display of flowers!

Daffodils are one of the most popular spring bulbs, with flowers rising above long slender leaves. The distinctive flowers have six petal-like tepals, surrounding a central trumpet or corona.

There is a vast range available, with various flower shapes, sizes, and colours. Most are hardy, low maintenance and they suit almost every style of garden, also great for containers.
Plant in a sunny spot, will tolerate a wide range of soil types, but must be moist and well-drained.
When selecting bulbs, select the largest, make sure they are firm to touch and mould free.

To create an impact plant in groups, best to plant in early autumn.
After flowering remove the faded blooms, to save daffodils forming seeds, they can then put all their energy back into the bulb, for a good flowering display the following year.
For a more natural display in grass, leave to self-seed.
Daffodil leaves should be allowed to photosynthesise for as long as possible, so they can fully replenish the energy reserves in the bulb.

Daffodils are one of the most reliable spring-flowering bulbs, blooming year after year with little effort on your part.
They grow well in containers, borders, and grass, with a wide range of flowers to choose from, bring some sunshine into your garden with these bold, bright, and beautiful blooms.
What’s not to love?

Prunus Kursar is a small deciduous tree with ovate leaves, coppery when young, turning deep orange in autumn, with masses of single vivid deep pink flowers 1.5cm in width.

Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark.

It isn’t native to the UK, it is part of the Rosaceae family. Will grow to ultimate height and spread of 4-8 metres in 10-20 years.

Plant in full sun in moist well-drained chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil, in any aspect sheltered or exposed, can be planted any time of year. Incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting hole and stake firmly.

This cherry is very low maintenance, prune mid-summer if silver leaf is a problem.

May attract caterpillars, leaf-mining moths and bullfinches as pests.
Also keep an eye out for silver leaf, bacterial canker and blossom wilt.

Prunus Kursar is a tough tree and is pollution tolerant.
Bees love it too!

Crocuses are corms with diminutive flowers in shades of yellow, purple and white. They brighten our gardens in early spring and autumn and have a wide range of uses.

Crocus are dwarf, deciduous perennials, with linear leaves usually with a silvery central stripe and globlet-shaped flowers, some are fragrant.

They are part of the Iridaceae family.

Plant in well-drained chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil, in any aspect, sheltered or exposed. They love full sun. Will grow to an ultimate height of up to 10cm and spread to 0-0.1m in 2-5 years.

Make sure you plant your crocus corms with pointed tip facing upwards and the flattened end at the bottom of your planting hole, make sure the depth is three times their own size, plant in clusters approximately 5cm apart to give impact.

Ideal for city and courtyard gardens, gravel and rock gardens, flower borders and beds. You can choose ones for container displays, carpeting under trees, studding lawns with colour or growing in an alpine house.

They also provide a much-needed source of nectar and pollen for pollinating insects just emerging from hibernation. Native to Eastern Europe, crocuses are easy to grow. If happy, crocuses will gradually spread to form colonies that provide marvellous bursts of colour when they flower.

Fatsia japonica, also known as the castor oil plant and glossy-leaved paper plant among others. Fatsia are evergreen shrubs with stout, sparsely branched stems bearing large, leathery, palmately lobed leaves and small white flowers in terminal compound umbels, followed by small black fruits.

Fatsia is a member of the Araliaceae family.

Plant in sheltered, west, south or east-facing aspect, position in partial shade or full sun, but will tolerate full shade. Likes moist but well-drained growing conditions in chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil.

Plant in spring to allow time to establish before the frosts. Remove berries to increase leaf size, and water and feed regularly. Grows to an ultimate height and spread of 2.5m - 4m in 10 - 20 years.

Ideal for cottage, informal, city and courtyard gardens, great for planting on banks and slopes, brings architectural interest to your garden.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
This plant will provide nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects.

Primula Primrose are herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials. They form a rosette of tongue-shaped leaves, usually primrose-yellow flowers 2.5-3.5cm across.
Primroses are fragrant and form in clumps, plant in partial or full sun in a sheltered spot in any aspect with moist well-drained chalk, clay, loam, or sandy soil.

They flower from early spring, this year they have been flowering again since early February! Grow as biennials for bedding, in a container, in a woodland garden, rock garden or naturalised in grass.
Primulas are very low maintenance and are ideal for borders, wildflower meadows, cottage, and wildflower gardens. Primroses and primulas are versatile and work in both formal and informal planting schemes. Plant some around the edge of your pond.

Generally, all primulas will benefit from deadheading, unless you want them to set seed.

Primulas can also be propagated by division. Simply dig them up after they’ve finished flowering and separate the plantlets from the main plant.
Plant these divided sections back in the ground where you would like them to grow, and water thoroughly.
Bring a bit of sunshine to your garden, what’s not to love?

Camellias are among the most glamorous shrubs, camellias are upright or spreading, glossy-leaved evergreens, with white, pink or red flowers. Impressive in shrub borders, they are also ideal for containers and you can also grow them more informally in light woodland beneath deciduous trees.

Camellias are shrubs that come in a range of sizes. There are two groups which flower at different times so, when choosing one, consider when you'd like the flowers to appear.
Camellia sasanqua cultivars flower in autumn and winter.
Camellia japonica and Camellia × williamsii cultivars flower in late winter and early spring.

There are also several different flower forms (single, semi-double, anemone, peony, rose and formal double) so choose your favourite. All camellias have really flamboyant flowers.

Plant in partial or dappled shade, they thrive on acid soil. Plant in autumn when the soil is still warm, in a sheltered position, away from cold winds and early morning sun. Allow at least 3-5m when planting.
Water regularly when they are newly planted – first 18 months, and water through the summer months as this is when the flowers are produced.

Feed your camellias in early spring with an ericaceous fertiliser, such as Miracle-Gro Azalea.
Excessive and late-summer feeding can also lead to bud drop - do not feed camellias later than the end of July.

Camellias do not need to be pruned regularly, only if they outgrow their space!

Helleborus, also known as Christmas rose, are great for providing winter interest in any garden. These perennial plants have a long flowering period, lasting well into spring.
Mainly evergreen with handsome leaves, they thrive in shadier parts of the garden with cup-shaped flowers (double in some cases) grow directly from upright stems that sprout from a woody base.
The flower colours range from white to yellow, pink to blackish purple, often with exquisite internal markings. The leaves are toothed, leathery, often marbled, largely evergreen and held on stiff stems.
Most will grow up to 45cm tall.

Plant from autumn to spring, in a light shade with full sun for part of the day in moist soil, they do not like extremes, too dry or too wet. Mulch around the plant to reduce drying out, but avoid contact with the stems as will cause rotting!
Grow hellebores at the front of a border in sun, full or partial shade, depending on the variety you choose. They do best in fertile, well-drained soil, but can also be raised in pots in a loam-based compost.

They lend themselves to naturalistic schemes and informal plantings and are perfect partners for early-flowering spring bulbs, pulmonarias and evergreen ferns.
Flowers from late winter to spring and are a good source of food for pollinating insects in early spring.
Once the flowers have faded, remove the old flower stems and ageing leaves in late spring to encourage new growth from the base.
Keep some seedpods if you would like to encourage self-seeding.
Did you know they are not related to roses; they belong to the buttercup family.
It’s always a good idea to wear gloves when handling hellebores to prevent skin irritation.

Nandina domestica 'Richmond' - Native of Japan and China is a lovely bamboo-like mid-sized, evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub with green, lance-shaped leaves that turn red in autumn. In summer, it bears panicles of white flowers followed by bright-red berries in winter.
It is part of the Berberidaceae family, plant in full sun or light dappled shade in South, West or East facing aspect, they like a sheltered spot in moist well-drained, loam, clay, chalk, and sandy soil, they grow to 1-1.5 metres in height.
Richmond requires no pruning, very low maintenance and slow growing, best planted in borders and beds, idea for city, courtyard, informal and cottage gardens, as give year-round interest.
Nandina domestica looks particularly good in an urban or contemporary garden or in a jungle-style planting scheme. There are different cultivars to choose from that offer a variety of leaf colours.

Taxus baccata Semperaurea – commonly known as Yew, is a large bushy evergreen shrub, which grows to be as wide as tall, with erect branches and dense golden-yellow foliage tinged with orange in winter.
Grows to an ultimate height and spread of 2.5 - 4 metres in 20-50 years.
Plant in chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil, in any aspect and will grow in full and partial shade, also good in full sun. Will tolerate sheltered or exposed spot in the garden and will tolerate urban pollution.
It is from the Taxaceae family.
Great for hedging and screens and is very low maintenance, no regular pruning is necessary, but you can trim and shape when required.
It provides shelter and habitat for birds and makes a good wildlife hedge.

Ilex - Holly, is a large family of plants, with up to 600 separate species. Ilex shrubs come in various shapes and sizes, offering something for everyone!

Most Holly plants are either male or female, meaning that you will need one of each plant in the near vicinity for the shrub to produce the red berries.
Overwintering birds such as robins, chaffinches, and others, absolutely love these juicy crimson berries.

Hollies are easy to grow and will grow in chalk, clay, loam or sandy soil, in sun or partial shade and prefer moist but well drained soil in any aspect. The variegated varieties keep their colours better in full sun. Hollies can be grown in a mixed or shrub border, and some make excellent hedges, great for garden security. They need minimal pruning.
Trim holly hedges in late summer. Bring some all-year colour to your garden!