SPONSORED EDITORIAL

A popular garden centre in Kent has launched a campaign to encourage people to take advantage of Spring and rediscover the joy and benefits gardening.

Thompsons Plant & Garden Centre launched its ‘Let's Get Gardening’ initiative in April as part of a campaign to get people back into their gardens or even preparing their pots and window boxes for summer.

The centre is also recommending gardening products to help their gardens grow, protect them from pests and improve their lawns.

Horticulaturalists advice people with gardens to put in some hard work now so they can reap the rewards in the summer and experts over at Thompsons Plant & Garden Centre are in full agreement.

“April is the perfect time to revive your garden and breath fresh life into any tired areas,” said Rupert Warner, an expert gardener at Thompsons Plant & Garden Centre.

The family-run garden centre group consists of three retails sites in Kent (Chislehurst, Welling and Petham) and one on the Isle of Wight.

“The warm caress of spring sunshine combined with April showers create perfect planting and growing conditions.

“We’re backing this initiative because gardening is great for your health, improves our environment, helps wildlife and is hugely rewarding.

“Anyone can get gardening, even if you only have a balcony. A window box and a few pots can give you herbs and salad to eat, beautiful flowers to smell and admire and nectar for bees and insects.”

But there’s work to be done first.

A lawn that is a bit patchy or full of moss and weeds needs feed and weed treatment.

The end result will be a nice lush, weed free lawn to enjoy throughout summer.

It is also the time to lay turf, sow new lawns with seeds and set your lawnmower to a high setting for the first cuts of the season to avoid damaging your grass.

“Now is also the perfect time to plant Perennials,” continued Rupert.

“We have over a hundred different varieties to choose from in every colour of the rainbow. They are a must-have in every garden in my opinion.

“It is also the time to plant summer flowering bulbs such as Begonias, Lilies, Cannas and Dahlias. These will flower throughout the summer and well into the Autumn.”

And you don’t necessarily need to have a garden to get your fingers green.

If you have an allotment or only space for a window box, now is the time to plant salad crops and herbs.

Nothing beats eating home grown fruit and vegetables.

If Kent is to be hit with yet another scorching summer, then having the right kind of flowers is vital to ensuring your flower beds don’t wither under the intense heat.

“Plants like Geraniums (Pelargoniums), Begonias, Osteospermums, Marigolds and Petunias can tolerate hot summers,” added Rupert.

“These will all produce striking displays with low water requirements and are all homegrown at our nursery.

“For tricky shady areas, why not try Impatiens (Busy Lizzies), Non Stop Begonias or Mimicus. These will flower well where other bedding plants struggle.”

For more information about Thompsons Plant & Garden Centre and its ‘Let's Get Gardening’ initiative, visit the official website by clicking here or telephone 01227 700449.

Kent retail sites:

Chislehurst: Perry Street, BR7 6HA, Tel: 020 8302 2455
Welling: 353 Shooters Hill, DA16 3RP, Tel: 020 8856 2933
Petham: Stone Street, Canterbury, CT4 5PW, Tel: 01227 700449