Monkton Elm News, Events and Tips Blog

Check for gaps in your borders and fill them with plants like hardy cyclamen, hardy chrysanthemums and winter-flowering pansies.

You can’t beat spring-flowering bulbs for a splash of colour and now’s the time to plant them.

Earlier this year we set youngsters and schools the challenge to grow the biggest pumpkin in Somerset.

Enjoying a delicious cake is one of life’s little pleasures and we want to make sure everyone can enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up, which is why we are stocking a range of delicious, homemade gluten-free treats from some of our suppliers.

Now’s the perfect time to start planning that new border you’ve always wanted.

Don’t throw away your spent bedding plants, kitchen waste and other material – turn them into valuable compost for improving your soil and mulching your beds and borders.

Now is the time to apply grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to prevent damage later on from wingless winter moths.

September is the best time to make a new lawn or replace one that is past its best.

We’re big fans of the Conifer so we’ll be celebrating during National Conifer Week, which runs from September 26 until October 3.

We’re setting you a fruit and vegetable challenge and hosting two quizzes throughout the day on September 24 and 28 between 11am and 3pm.

As temperatures start to drop, outdoor pests become less active and diseases start to become dormant but you should still stay vigilant.

Greenhouses and cold frames should be prepared now ready for overwintering tender plants.

Our Head of Plants, Fiona Smart, gives us the lowdown on what shrubs and herbaceous plants are looking good at this time of year. Please pop in for more information and to see these beautiful plants for yourself...

We’re inviting all Somerset foodies to help us support British Food Fortnight from September 19 until October 4.

Before storing your tools make sure you give them a good clean. Sharpen the blades of brush-cutters, loppers, secateurs and shears. Lightly spray the metal surfaces with a protective oil or grease to prevent rusting.

If you’re looking for two tasks to do this week how about taking some cuttings and planting some hyacinth. Both will give you a great deal of pleasure in the coming months as they develop.

Plug any gaps in the garden with spring bedding plants.

Our Store & Plant Manager, Andrew Pitman, gives an update on what’s going on in the plantaria this month.  

We have a wide range of spring-flowering bulbs in stock, as now is the best time to plant them ready for next year. 

Our new restaurant was built with the help of businesses from the Somerset area so we have decided to stick to the theme of keeping it in the county with our stock too.

September marks the seventh anniversary since the launch of our Craft Centre in 2008. Where does the time go?

To get the best displays from your winter and spring hanging baskets and containers, plant them now.  

At this time of year many birds, insects and mammals start preparing for the winter by feeding on berries, autumn-flowering plants and supplementary food.

We’re backing the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) annual ‘Plan it, Plant it this Autumn’ campaign to make autumn special.

Autumn is nature’s natural time for planting.

Help insect pollinators this autumn by planning a late-flowering border.