Katie and Deborah's top 10 gardening tips.
1. Hoe you borders - we especially like this one as we don't have any!
2. Start mowing the lawn weekly - love this one as ours gets a good brush occasionally as we have lazy lawn!
3. Shade the greenhouse to prevent plants getting scorch. I am just loving these 10 things to do - as we don't have a greenhouse either! If it's not as sunny where you are as it is here then just open the greenhouse door on warm days.
4. Plant out summer bedding. My sheets go to the laundrette so that's that bedding taken care of and as our garden is low maintenance there's very little to replant. Most comes back year after year. But Katie did plant the pots a few weeks ago.
5. Apparently, we should have pruned our spring flowering shrubs - Katie says she's done this and she check for nesting birds before doing it
6. Sit back with a nice cuppa (panad in Welsh) and enjoy Katie's hard work. My favourite top gardening tip. I notice many of our guests at The Hilary enjoy this activity too.
7. Check the BBQ is ready - checked ours and it wasn't so tried one of those disposable ones at Easter - what a laugh and no cleaning up afterwards. First time I'd ever BBQed wearing goggles though - it was a tad smoky.
8. Ooh apparently, if you're growing tomatoes you should start checking for side shoots and pinch them out. We're not so we haven't.
9. Make sure you've divided/thinned out any areas of spring flowering bulbs that are getting too clumpy
10. Sit back with a nice cuppa (panad in Welsh) and enjoy Katie's hard work. It's essential to repeat this step as many times as you are comfortable with. If it does get too repetitive, swap the panad for something long and cool
Katie and Deborah's top North Wales Gardens To Visit
For such a small place we have a lot of everything in Wales and gardens is one of them: National Trust Gardens, famous gardens, award winning gardens.There are many of these beautiful gardens within easy travelling distance of our Llandudno guest house.
Plas Newydd is home to the Marquess of Anglesey and the biggest collection of the work of Rex Whistler. The gardens are based on a Henry Repton design.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-plasnewydd
The world famous Bodnant Garden - 80 acres with views of the River Conwy and Snowdonia. Bodnant Garden is home to plant species from all over the world, a 55 metre-long laburnum arch and, at an amazing 47 metres high, the UK’s tallest California Redwood. Plus another 18 record-breaking trees for good measure. Whenever you visit, Bodnant Garden is truly magnificent.
http://www.bodnantgarden.co.uk
Erddig, Wrexham.. The Grade I listed gardens at Erddig were landscaped by William Eames in the late 1700s. Today, it’s one of the most important surviving 18th century gardens in the UK and has over 13 miles of footpaths.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-erddig
Gwydir Castle - Garden Grade 1 listed status. An important example of the formal Renaissance garden of the Tudor and Stuart periods. The sweeping views and formal vistas make it one of the most romantic gardens in Wales.
http://www.gwydircastle.co.uk
Bodelwyddan Castle is set in 260 acres of parkland and formal garden originally designed by Thomas Mawson in 1910. There's a maze too.
http://www.bodelwyddan-castle.co.uk
Portmeirion was opened in 1926, but the gardens are much older than this. Conifers, Wellingtonia and Himalayan Firs from the mid -1800s are still here. Plus many new additions and probably the largest willow-like Maytenus Boaria in the UK. When Sir Clough William-Ellis busy at Portmeirion, Plas Brondanw took up all his spare time. Climb the stairs of the lookout tower for one of the best views around.
http://www.portmeirion-village.com
Bodrhyddan's historic gardens covering 8 acres include a formal Victorian parterre designed by W.A Nesfield. http://www.bodrhydda.co.uk
This list is by no means exhaustive - it's just a few of our favourites. Also take a look at the NGS, Gardens Open For Charity, website
http://www.ngs.org.uk
After a day visiting these beautiful gardens why not enjoy a nice cup of tea in The Hilary's award winning garden. Dead heading and weeding are most appreciated! Guests often take cuttings and seeds from The Hilary's garden - after asking first, of course! In fact, we now have a cutting swapping service and have several plants that started life in guests gardens that are now doing very well at The Hilary.
Happy Gardening
Hwyl fawr
Deborah
