Gardening Guides

Hints & Tips from Hortlands

A GUIDE TO SOIL TYPES

In our opinion it is far better to have a garden full of plants that will establish and thrive to their full potential rather than a group of plants that simply survive and give an average show.

Identifying and understanding your soil type will help you to find the best plants for your garden.

CLAY SOILS
  • High in nutrients
  • Heavy, wet and cold during the winter months
  • Hard and dry during the summer
  • Hold water and drain slowly
  • Easily compacted and can suffer drainage problems
SANDY SOILS
  • Low in nutrients
  • Light, dry and warm
  • Often very acidic
  • Dries out quickly and requires a lot of watering
CHALKY OR LIME-RICH SOILS
  • Can be light or heavy
  • May contain lumps of chalk or limestone
  • Often very alkaline
  • Contain calcium carbonate or lime
SILT SOILS
  • Fertile
  • Light and retain moisture
  • Easily compacted
  • Well drained
LOAMS
  • Mixtures of clay, sand and silt soils that avoid the extremes of each type
  • Fertile
  • Well drained
  • Easily worked
PEAT SOILS
  • High in organic matter
  • Holds moisture
  • Very fertile
Guides
Garden Information Guides

Hortlands have a wide range of gardening guides to benefit your garden.

Acer Palmatum / Japanese Maple
‘Beautiful’, ‘Stunning’ and ‘Graceful’, deserved comments of the much loved Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) trees. A must have plant for so many gardeners.
Benefits of Instant Hedges
At Hortlands we believe our fully formed instant hedges are horticultural wonders but why do our customers rate our hedges so highly?
Carpinus Betulus / Hornbeam
A long living, tough tree that grows on most soils that are not too poor but with a preference for loamy ground.
Guide to Watering
Water is required by plants all year round but mainly between April and the end of September.
Horse Friendly Hedges & Trees
View our recommended plants that can produce good hedges in their own right or as creative mixtures and are horse friendly.
Japanese Holly Hedges
Hortlands recommend our Ilex crenata (Japanese holly), as the best alternative or replacement for Buxus hedges and topiaries.
Lawn Care and Maintenance
For newly laid turfed lawns, begin mowing after 2-3 weeks when the roots have anchored the turves into the soil.
Lawn Scarifying Tips
Good lawn care practice covers many aspects of our work and here we consider the benefits of one of them; raking and scarifying.
Native Mixed Hedges
Our native hedging plants provide food and protection to a hidden world of creatures and wildlife.
Plants For Coastal Areas
The following plants can produce good hedges in their own right or as creative mixtures.
Pruning Hedges
All hedges require regular pruning to keep them tidy and within bounds.
Soil Types Explained
In our opinion it is far better to have a garden full of plants that will establish and thrive to their full potential.
Tree Guards and Shelters
Newly planted trees need to quickly create a link with the soil in their new home.
Tree Size Guide
Read our handy guide on tree sizes and compare measurements of different types of trees.
Trees for Small Gardens
There are numerous trees that are small enough for planting into limited spaces.
Trees for Wet Ground
There are numerous plants that are capable of surviving in damp ground situations but only a few that can cope with periods of flooding.
Turfs and Topsoils
We use a quality ornamental lawn turf that can be used for landscaping where fine garden lawns are required.
Weed Control Guide
The first control should take place as soon as the soft growth phase begins which is mid to late spring.
Quote - Lauren McNeil

“We love to create outdoor spaces for our customers who appreciate an escape from the strains and stresses of everyday life, a composite of motivations that reflects how we feel. The testimonials we receive on the completion of our projects are wonderful and inspiring, they drive us on.”

Lauren McNeil | Horticultural Consultant