Avid gardeners will know that dwindling light and the promise of cooler days ahead does not spell the end of the gardening season. In fact, according to the experts at Stylegardens garden village in Wenvoe, this is the very time that you should be planning ahead and preparing for a showy display of spring flowers.
SEASONAL STYLE
A lovely cuppa is always a good place to start when making plans, which is why Stylegardens has recently extended its coffee shop. From there you can appreciate the early autumn sunshine and great views while pondering the array of plants and shrubs for next year.
We caught up this season with Carl Hitchings, one of the Stylegarden owners for the low down on autumn garden care and to find out why there has been an increase in the number of visitors to the centre and coffee shop.
What's been happening since our last chat?
Well, we're very pleased with what has been, for us, one of the best seasons for a long time. The beautiful weather we enjoyed earlier in the summer certainly brought out garden lovers. There's a lovely atmosphere in Stylegardens, here in Wenvoe, with people really making the most of the warm weather. Keen gardeners have been stocking up on bedding plants and many people have come along to enjoy a coffee and snack at the coffee shop or to visit the delicatessen.
So has the new coffee shop proved to be a success?
We have found that increasing numbers of customers are appreciating the seasonal link between gardening and food. They visit the centre and then spend time choosing plants and buying some local produce from the delicatessen. The coffee shop was extended to create an outdoor seating area, from where our customers can fully appreciate a relaxing garden environment.
There are some lovely views and the odd visit from the local wildlife in the nature area that we've created. Children particularly love visiting with their families and get excited when they spot the birds and the butterflies.
Tell us more about the delicatessen
We stock a range of items such as cheese, butter and meats; also locally sourced jams, chutneys, honey and cakes and biscuits. There is a frozen food section offering seasonal fruits which are ideal for making summer puddings, pies and crumbles and seasonal and roasted vegetables.
The frozen patisserie is really popular and customers stock up on croissants for their breakfast. Obviously the stock will change as we head into autumn and customers can expect seasonal treats nearer Christmas.
You have other businesses on the site too -
please tell us about them
Everything here is connected to the garden, be it landscape and buildings or pets, fish and equine products.
The Landscape Centre
supply sheds, summer houses, log cabins, greenhouses and fencing. Their customers come from Cardiff and the Vale.
Countrywide
has been here for five years supplying equine and pet products, clothing and garden machinery.
Maidenhead Aquatics
offer pond and tropical fish, equipment, feed and electrics. They find that our proximity to Cardiff airport brings customers from other areas, including Ireland because of their range of products and because they are so reasonably priced. They also offer 10% discount to landscape gardeners.
Looking ahead, what should we be doing in the garden now?
With Autumn fast approaching, now is a great time to plant new trees and shrubs. With the soil temperature still warm from the summer, the roots will have a chance to establish themselves before the winter sets in.
It's also an ideal time to add some autumn colour to your garden. At Stylegardens we pride ourselves on our choice of plants. There is always a wide selection available, from the vibrant Acers (Japanese Acers), to the colourful stems of the Cornus (Dogwood), or why not try the ever popular Japanese Anemone with its abundance of late summer flowers.
Now is the time to buy your spring flowering bulbs. They should be planted now so that they have time to settle in the ground and produce strong root systems. Autumn is also a good time to give hedges and shrubs a final tidy up and prune before the winter arrives. Also, give your lawn a final cut, and add some autumn lawn food.
Any tips for a splash of colour during the winter?
Winter pansies, cyclamen, ivy and winter heathers will brighten up any patio pots or hanging baskets once the summer bedding has finished, adding colour to your garden on a dull day.
