Ask Barrs

What can I plant in my hanging baskets for Winter?

Because there are few plants that flower in the winter that are small enough to go in a Hanging Basket you are limited. Probably the most reliable for bright colour are Pansies and Violas. Violas (which look like little pansies) are more robust in wet weather and are suitable for more exposed situations. They will both flower through the autumn and winter as long as the weather isn't too severe. Winter heathers (Erica varieties) are also good. Ivies and Vinca can be used as evergreen trailing plants. If you want to use a small evergreen shrub for a bit of height why not try Skimmias. They are in bud all winter and come into flower in the early spring. It can be nice to add bulbs to your basket during the planting process - crocus, dwarf tulips and dwarf daffodils are all very successful and add an element of surprise in the Spring!

What are these Non-drop Trees I have heard about?

Non-drop is a term that Is applied to the Nordman Fir tree because when it is cut for use as a Christmas Tree it does not drop needles like a traditional Spruce used to. As it dries out the needles are held on to the tree making it last much longer. Some dropping of needles may occur but it will not be the complete set of needles!

Should I spray my Christmas Tree to help it keep its needles on?

We don't recommend that you spray Trees. Ideally keep the tree outside standing in a bucket of water until you need to bring it in. Then saw the bottom half an inch off the trunk just before you bring it in. Keep it in a tree stand that will hold water and top it up as it uses it. You will find that the Nordman Fir tree will keep most of its needles throughout the Christmas period whereas the Spruce may lose them even though you have kept it well watered - the two varieties are just different in the way the tree behaves when cut.

We have a very heavy clay soil and the plants I choose don't grow. What can I do?

It would be a good idea to prepare your soil well when planting. If you can, dig plenty of well rotted manure into the bed in question. This will help to break up the clay and feed your new plants. If you can only work on the spaces for each new plant then dig a hole at least twice as wide and deep as you need and use a mixture of soil and compost (either bagged or homemade) to backfill around the plant. This will create a good space for the roots to grow into. Try to use plants that are suited to a clay soil. For example: Roses, Viburnum, Cotoneaster, Berberis, Weigela, Forsythia, Cornus, Spiraea, Hemerocallis, Asters, Rudbeckia and Helenium are all excellent on heavy clay.