As plant lovers, visiting one of the UK’s many gardens is a great way to find inspiration, improve your gardening knowledge, or simply reconnect with nature.
In this article, you will discover our picks of the five best gardens to visit this summer. We’ve made sure to include different gardening styles and activities, so you can have fun whether you’re visiting alone, with your significant other, your little ones, or your furry friends!
The best gardens to visit this summer:
Important: Most gardens have special arrangements in place and will require you to book in advance for Covid-19 prevention, so make sure you plan your trip ahead of time.
Location: Kendal, Cumbria
Why it’s famous: The world's oldest topiary gardens
Entrance price (House & Garden): Adult: £14.50 - Child: £5.00 - Family: £36.00
Website: https://www.levenshall.co.uk
Photo credit: Levens Hall
Levens Hall is home to the world’s oldest topiary gardens, which have remained largely unchanged since their creation in the 17th century. As you wander through the estate and discover the delicately shaped shrubs and trees, be sure to look out for the rose gardens, herbaceous borders and fountains.
Why not explore the history of the estate and its occupants while you’re at it? The 13th-century Elizabethan house, which sits at the centre of Levens Hall, possesses a fine collection of furniture, clocks, paintings, and other fascinating artefacts sure to arouse your interest.
If you fancy a break, be sure to treat yourself to an afternoon tea or get a taste of the Morocco Ale, an exclusive recipe brewed exclusively for Levens Hall! The award-winning kitchen also serves seasonal dishes made from locally grown produce.
Location: Stourhead, Wiltshire
Why it’s famous: The filming location of a famous movie
Entrance price (House & Garden): Adult £15.00 - Child £7.50 - Family £37.50 - Free for National Trust members
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead
Photo credit: National Trust
Described as “a living work of art”, Stourhead offers a breathtaking landscape with a magnificent lake as its centrepiece. If it looks familiar, it’s because the stunning hills, trees, bridges, and classical temples at Stourhead served as a backdrop for the movie “Pride and Prejudice” starring Keira Knightley.
Have a picnic in the park or wander through the wider Stourhead estate and explore the chalk downs, ancient woods and farmland. Throughout May and June, you can join in the Floralia celebration, a festival honouring Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
You can also revisit the past with a tour of the Palladian house, home to a unique Regency library and a large collection of paintings and furniture. Before you leave, make sure to drop by the farm shop and the art gallery to bring home a souvenir!
Location: Westonbirt, Tetbury
Why it’s famous: One of the largest plants collections in the world
Entrance price (House & Garden): Adult: £11 - Students & job seekers: £7 - Child: £4 - Free for children under 5
Website: https://www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt-the-national-arboretum
Photo credit: Westonbirt
Westonbirt is home to one of the largest plant collections in the world and plays a vital role in research and conservation. The arboretum is also known for its beauty, with a design inspired by the Picturesque movement. What started out as an ambitious personal project during the Victorian era has become a national endeavour and treasure since its opening to the public in 1961.
In the summer, enjoy the dove tree and the sweet scent of mock orange as you stroll through the summer trails, or contemplate the forest from higher up by taking the STIHL Treetop Walkway. If you’re visiting with kids, the Gruffalo Spotters trail is a must-see.
You can also visit the Woodworks to discover what happens to the trees when their lives come to an end and learn green woodworking techniques from craftsman Paul Hayden.
Location: Lower Beeding, Horsham
Why it’s famous: Ornamental rock garden and lakes (Grade I listed garden)
Entrance price (House & Garden): Adult: £13.50 - Child: £6.50 - Family: £36
Website: https://www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/rock-garden
Photo credit: Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
Born from the collection of plants Sir Edmund Loder gathered on his travels, Leonardslee is home to a Grade I listed garden and several beautiful lakes. It has just reopened in 2019 after a 10-year closure during which the garden was almost lost.
Discover the rock formations as you walk through the different paths. Watch out for the renowned Rhododendrons and the clump forming Chusan palms as they are unique to Leonardslee Garden.
If you’re visiting with your little ones, you should pay a visit to the famous Leonardslee wallabies, or explore the miniature version of the Edwardian Estate in the Dolls’ House Museum. If you’re visiting with your significant other, delight them with a wine tasting session in England’s first Pinotage Vineyard.
Location: Woking, Surrey
Why it’s famous: Flagship RHS garden
Entrance price (House & Garden): Adult: £14.95 - Child: £7.45 - Free for RHS Members and children under 5
Website: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley
Photo credit: RHS Wisley
The flagship garden of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society), RHS Wisley is a treasure trove of inspiration for all horticulturists. You can spend days walking around its 240 acres precincts, and the planting schemes frequently get updated, so there’s always something new to discover!
In the summer, we recommend a visit to the traditional English mixed borders and the glasshouse borders. At the end of the path, you’ll find the famous Glasshouse, a cathedral-like building the size of 10 tennis courts displaying tender plants from all around the world.
If that wasn’t enough, three new gardens will open at RHS Wisley on June 24, along with the RHS Hilltop, the UK’s first horticultural scientific centre of excellence.
There you go, 5 amazing gardens to visit this summer in the UK! It was hard to choose among the thousands of great gardens across the country, so let us know if we missed your favourite!
June is here! The month that sees spring transition into summer. The month with longest days of the year. The busiest time of the year for every gardener. Weeding, planting, watering, and dead-heading being only a few of the tasks essential for this prosperous month.
]]>June is here! The month that sees spring transition into summer. The month with longest days of the year. The busiest time of the year for every gardener. Weeding, planting, watering, and dead-heading being only a few of the tasks essential for this prosperous month.
The workload is worth it though, as this month fully rewards your efforts by offering heaps of sunlight, the first delicious strawberries of the year and plenty of vibrant colour displays across your garden. So let's get right into it. We have put together our top tasks for June to get you right on track for summer!
June marks the start of the summer with plenty of sunny days to look forward to
Alternatively, you can head over here for more information on how to plan out the gardening seasons and discover plenty of useful pointers for the individual months.
What we’ll cover in this article:
With the arrival of the warmer summer temperatures, your plants are growing stronger than ever. Make sure to water them regularly so they don’t dry out in the heat and deadhead any spring flowering plants that have gone over by now. Be careful not to overwater any of your plants or fields, though.
Make sure your plants get plenty of water in June
June marks the ideal time to really get your garden looking its best, so make sure to remove any eyesores and take cuttings of coleus, fuchsias, pelargonium, verbena and perennial wallflowers as you go. Don’t forget to get a bundle of fresh lavender and hang it upside down in a warm room to dry out.
June marks the beginning of our vegetable garden's first harvest, providing potatoes and sweet strawberries as a reward for the previous weeks' efforts. Nothing beats the flavour of freshly picked strawberries!
Watch out for the season's first strawberries
Birds and other animals will be attracted to your habitats now as they are bursting with colour and full of various scents. There are lots of fruits and seeds to feed on, so cover your crops and fruit trees. Using mesh netting or copper take can protect your fruit from snails, slugs, beetles and worms.
Now is also a great time to feed any plants that are fruiting or flowering at this time of year at least once a week. This maximises flower production and achieves more abundant crops. Make sure to fertilise your ornamental shrubs and don’t forget to also feed your patio pots for healthy flowers and fruits.
Your summer flowering bulbs should be in full bloom this month
On top of feeding your flowers, you will want to remember to offer additional support to any tall plants. Your tall perennials may be in full bloom this month, so make sure to secure them for windy and rainy days by tying their stems to a frame.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of soft grass under your feet with a cold drink and some tasty summer snacks to welcome this season. Why not use this harvesting opportunity to prepare a delicious fruit salad with your own sweet strawberries or go for a more hearty potato salad fresh from your garden?
Make sure to start thinking about your gardening plan for July. If you want to get a head start on the rest of the year, you can read about our best tips and tricks for each season.
For your gardening needs, feel free to browse through our range of premium gardening tools, designed by gardeners, for gardeners.
Today we are going to talk about the inevitable question every gardening novice is bound to ask themselves at some point. The most common difference you will notice when shopping for gardening tools is the mention of ‘anvil’ and ‘bypass’. Whether you are looking for snips, pruners, shears, loppers or secateurs, you are bound to come across these two terms.
So, what’s the difference between anvil and bypass secateurs?How do I know when I should use anvil shears and when I would be better off going for bypass loppers? Read on to find a definitive answer to these crucial questions and watch your gardening skills grow in no time.
In this article, we are going to cover:
When visiting any gardening supply shop or browsing through gardening tools online, you are sure to come across the terms ‘anvil’ and ‘bypass’. Understanding the difference between the two will save you time, money, and energy. But most importantly, using the correct tool will allow you to achieve your best gardening results and help keep your plants healthy.
First and foremost, the most distinct difference between the two is the positioning of the blades and the motion this creates during use. Anvil pruners, though seemingly similar-looking to bypass pruners, feature a sharp blade and a metal surface, or pocket, that the blade crushes upon. Whereas bypass pruners, with their slightly more scissor-like appearance, feature a sharp blade and a counter blade. When in use, the two blades bypass each other to create a clean cut.
Let’s take a closer look at the different designs and their functions.
Traditionally, the term anvil describes a metalworking tool that is forged or cast from a large block of steel. Its distinctive flat top is used as a worktop upon which another object can be struck or hand-hammered.
Front and back view of Davaon Pro Anvil Secateurs
Now, when we consider secateurs, pruners, or loppers, the term ‘anvil’ describes the flat metal (or sometimes plastic) surface the razor-sharp blade nestles down into. It mirrors the way a kitchen knife works when chopping onions, carrots or garlic on a cutting board. It’s a powerful cutting mechanism that smashes or pinches any material that is put in between the blade and the anvil. Its distinctive design ensures the blade will never twist or allow for resistance.
Much like the term ‘anvil’ has its traditions, the term ‘bypass’ is commonly used to describe the process of avoiding something by going around it. The cutting mechanism displayed in bypass pruners, shears, loppers, and secateurs lives up to this notion of circumvention. It consists of two blades, with the top blade moving downwards to bypass the counter blade, creating a scissor-like motion.
Front and back view of Davaon Pro Bypass Secateurs
On the downside, this movement creates room for resistance and allows the blades to twist when faced with materials that are too large or hard-wearing. On the other hand, however, the bypass cutting mechanism allows for pristine and smooth cuts.
By now we know anvil pruners create more of a crushing sensation than a traditional, scissor-like clean-cut. Understandably, this eliminates anvil pruners as the preferred option for precision cutting. It also makes them unsuitable for most living plants, as its slashing mechanism can damage the small tissue found in stems, petals and branches and interfere with their healthy regrowth.
On the other hand, however, the powerful slicing motion most similar to chopping makes anvil secateurs an ideal tool for trimming hardy branches and deadwood. As mentioned previously, the up and down motion doesn’t allow for any resistance or gaps, thus making anvil pruners an excellent choice for tough jobs.
For best results, we recommend investing in a collection of different sized anvil pruners for cutting and trimming different sized stems, branches and deadwood.
Bypass pruners are a gardener’s everyday go-to tool as the familiar design lends itself towards a plentitude of gardening tasks. Like scissors, they offer a simple yet precise cut and reliable results.
However, with the blades passing one another, bypass secateurs are not suitable for trimming hardy or dried out wood. They can also be quite difficult to use on larger pieces of wood as the bypass motion, at times, allows the blades to twist and create gaps, making them ineffective. Similar to those paper scissors you have put to the back of your drawer after using them on different materials and finding them to now be unsuitable for cutting paper, this can be easily avoided by ensuring you are using the right tool for the task at hand.
Bypass pruners are an excellent tool for pruning rose bushes, collecting fresh herbs, and taking flower cuttings. The gentle cutting mechanism does not damage the plants’ soft tissue and leaves you with a clean cut - creating an ideal environment for your plants and herbs to regrow healthier and stronger.
Next time you browse through the vast collection of different gardening tools, consider what you are trying to achieve by cutting, pruning, trimming and snipping your plants. Remember, the bypass mechanism is an excellent choice for any living plants and greenwood, whilst the anvil cutting action is ideal for rough branches, dried-out stems and deadwood.
Head over to our shop to browse through our collection of professional gardening tools for every need - or treat yourself with one of our premium quality anvil and bypass secateurs sets to get the best of both worlds.
P.S. For your convenience, you can even filter our tools by ‘Use’!
May is here and spring is in full force! This month marks the start of the season's first barbecues, as the days lengthen and the warm summer breezes feel close enough to touch. This is an excellent month to set yourself up for a successful summer.
If you followed our previous months' tips and tricks, it's time to enjoy lots of gorgeous colour on your hanging planters and patio displays. Take a moment to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labour in full bloom. If you're lucky, you might even spot some first strawberries to enjoy!
Enjoy the eye-catching colours from your garden this month
What we’ll cover in this article:
Click here for more information on how to plan out the gardening seasons, as well as a wealth of useful tips and tricks for each month.
Let's start the month off by removing spent flowers, picking deadheads and trimming back spreading plants. This allows you to put more energy back into the bulbs, strengthening them for the next season. Of course, it also just makes everything look nicer.
Trim any spring-flowering shrubs and take cuttings of soft-wood shrubs such as sage or verbena. Our classic bypass secateurs are an excellent choice for pruning shrubs, flowers and branches as you go. The adjustable grip width lets you switch from fully open to 50% of the width in seconds for all your pruning needs.
If you haven’t placed your plants outside yet, now is the time to get your bedding plants, hanging baskets and patio containers on display. Keep any last signs of frost in mind, though, as the colder temperatures creeping up at night could potentially undo your hard work.
To avoid this, you can leave half-hardy plants outside during the day and bring them back inside in the evenings. Doing this for about a week helps to harden off your garden plants before planting them outdoors. As soon as the risk of frost has passed, tender exotics and dahlias can be added to your flowering beds. Towards the end of the month, it’s finally time to exchange your spring-flowering bulbs with your summer bedding.
It's time to put the plants and flowers you've been growing on full display
Having taken care of your flowers, it is now time to tend to your patio areas and pathways to get your garden ready for outdoor events. Make sure to brush up any furniture that might have gotten weathered over the last few months. Why not spend some time transforming a corner of your garden into a beautiful area to rest and enjoy food this summer?
Prepare your patio for the post-lockdown good times this summer
If you followed our gardening tips for April, your beds should now be ready to transplant tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins. If you haven’t done so already, plant shallots, onions and potatoes. If you planted potatoes in the previous months, they should now be ready to be earthed up.
Whenever possible, make sure to protect your grow-your-own area from pests and birds. May is also a good time to plant out any strawberry seedlings that you have planted in the previous months.
May sees spring coming to an end. This is an exciting time for us gardeners, as the combination of rain, warmer temperatures, and increased sunlight creates an ideal climate for us to flourish! Spend some time outside this month with Davaon and get your garden ready for a flourishing season.
Make sure to start thinking about your gardening plans for June. Get a head start on the rest of the year by reading about our best tips and tricks for each season.
Whatever your gardening needs may be, feel free to browse through our range of premium garden tools, designed by gardeners, for gardeners.
Spring has finally sprung! Temperatures have gradually risen and frequent rainfall is keeping our gardens well watered, providing an excellent environment for a thriving garden.
If you followed our tips and tricks from the previous month, your patio displays and hanging baskets should be well on their way to a successful season now. Read on to discover our list of essential gardening tasks for April to look forward to a successful summer harvest.
Full-blooming flowers in April will make you not want to leave your patio!
Click here for more information about how to successfully plan out the gardening seasons and discover plenty of useful tips and tricks for the individual months.
What we'll cover in this article:
Plant perennials to give a pop of colour to your garden
Now, let's talk about top-dressing and mulching your boders and beds! Doing so helps give your emerging garden a great season and supports herbaceous plants that died in the colder winter months to make a re-appearance in the coming months.
When it comes to your lawn, we recommend getting a head start on moss control and repairing any bald patches. You can use mulch to suppress the weeds for the summer months to come. Be sure to use generous amounts, as this helps keep them under control. It also keeps your gardening landscape moist! Additionally, distributing some fertiliser around your garden encourages strong root growth and rich green foliage.
Mulching helps suppress weed and improve the soil around your flowers
If you followed our gardening tips for March, you are already on the way for a successful veggie patch. If you haven’t, do not worry. All is not lost. You can start by covering up any open areas where you are planning to plant your summer crops. This helps warm up the soil. Warmer temperatures give your crops the best possible start for a successful harvest in the months to come!
As we feel the gentle sunshine on our skin and breathe in the scent of spring rain, we are reminded of rebirth, regrowth and renewal. April marks the perfect time for new beginnings and invites us to take action. This is a great month to paint your sheds, deckings and fences and to get all those jobs done, so you can be sure to enjoy your garden at its best this summer.
Make sure to start thinking about your gardening plan for May. If you want to get a head start on the rest of the year, you can read about our best tips and tricks for each season.
For your gardening needs, feel free to browse through our range of premium gardening tools, designed by gardeners, for gardeners.
Temperatures are rising and blue skies are on the horizon - Spring is just around the corner! March is one of the most crucial gardening months of the year. The seeds you sow in March set the tone for a thriving garden in the summer and autumn months to come.
]]>Temperatures are rising and blue skies are on the horizon - Spring is just around the corner! March is one of the most crucial gardening months of the year. The seeds you sow in March set the tone for a thriving garden in the summer and autumn months to come.
We have put together our top gardening maintenance tips for March to help you achieve flourishing growth in no time. Whether your goal is a lovely fuchsia display on your patio or you are aiming for a grow-your-own corner full of fresh strawberries, potatoes and spring onions, following our list of essential gardening tasks for March makes sure you are on track.
March announces the start of the growing season
What we'll cover in this article:
Now is the perfect time to sow seeds and get those plants potted up! This way, you benefit from a head start when it comes to transferring your plants to hanging baskets and patio pots, allowing you to put together your best flourishing display as of yet!
Good news for all the grow-your-own fans out there: March is the perfect time for early sowing of crops, such as lettuce, carrot, beetroot, and of course, spring onions! Make sure to protect your shoots from slugs.
Why not plant some delicious strawberries once you are done with your vegetable garden, too? By propagating your own vegetables and fruits in March, you can look forward to harvesting some mouth-watering, homegrown foods as early as June or July.
Start sowing crops in March to get plenty of mouth-watering veggies for your dishes
As things are slowly waking up in spring, it's an excellent time to prepare your beds and borders. We recommend starting by clearing away branches, cutting back winter stems and keeping weeds under control. Check out our range of anvil pruners and geared secateurs for best results!
Now is also a great time to trim your bushes and prune your rose garden. Our rose secateurs guarantee a precise and clean cut, creating the perfect environment for your plants to regrow healthier and stronger! Make sure to keep all your clearings for compost, and remember to dress your perennials and shrubs with fertiliser as you go.
In March, stunning Magnolias, Tulips and Daffodils start to bloom and add vibrant colours to our landscapes. As we smell the first notes of fresh flowers in the air, we are reminded of new beginnings.
Make sure to start thinking about your gardening plan for April. If you want to get a head start on the rest of the year, you can read about our best tips and tricks for each season.
For your gardening needs, feel free to browse through our range of premium gardening tools, designed by gardeners, for gardeners.
It doesn’t matter whether you are just getting into gardening or whether you are a seasoned horticulturist; planning and preparation throughout the year are key to every successful garden.
Here at Davaon, we have put together a step-by-step gardening guide to help you achieve a thriving garden no matter your experience. Follow the steps below to be well on the way to a blooming-successful garden that will leave your neighbours stunned.
What we'll cover in this article:
The meteorological seasons place winter between December 1st to February 28th, giving you plenty of time to get into the nitty-gritty of planning and mapping out your garden for the upcoming spring season.
To get started, you should spend some time thinking about what to plant and how much of it you should plant. It's important to plant spacing and height. Keep in mind your plants’ differing tolerances to temperatures!
To get started, spend some time brainstorming and decide on everything you would like to plant. When deciding what to place where, you should keep in mind the direction each bed faces to determine whether it would create a healthy environment for your plant to grow in.
The spring season sees its official beginning on March 1st and is here to stay until May 31st each year. Spring is the known as a time for new beginnings, making it a favourite for many gardeners. The combination of frequent rainfall and sunshine creates an optimal environment for any seeds and crops you sow to transform into blooming plants and delicious veggies.
If it frequently rains in your area, you might need to weed more often - once or twice a week should suffice! Check out our April blog post for some tips and tricks on how to control your beds and borders.
If you cannot rely on frequent rain, you will need to water your beds, borders and potted plants based on the specific plant needs. We go into a little more detail about when to sow which plants in our post about which gardening tasks to do in March.
Once it gets to May, spring is in full force! Take this opportunity to plant any remaining seeds for the summer. If you’ve been growing your plants in a conservatory up until this point, we recommend checking out our May blog post, where we go into detail about how to harden off your plants before moving them outdoors.
The season we have all been waiting for starts on June 1st and is here to stay until August 31st; giving us gardeners plenty of time to reap the rewards of our preparation work from the previous months! The crops planted in spring are getting closer to being ready for harvest, reminding us of why we started a garden in the first place.
Now is the perfect time to experiment with new recipes and to prepare some delicious summer meals. After all, there is nothing quite like the taste of homegrown herbs, veggies, and delicious fruits.
The end of the summer season marks an ideal time to prune your rose bushes and perennials and to give your garden a quick tidy. Remove any deadheads, as this enables you to enjoy a thriving season at the end of the summer.
The autumn season sees its beginning on September 1st and gradually comes to an end towards late November. It's a great time to prepare your garden for the cold months ahead while there are still a few sunny days every now and then.
Now is also a great time to mulch your plants to protect from stormier weather. Give all of your shrubs a good trim, collect those autumn leaves and add them to your compost, and pick the last remaining fruits from your grow-your-own corner.
As you can see, there is always something to do in the garden. We hope this overview has equipped you with a good idea of how to achieve a thriving garden all year round!
To be fully prepared for a wildly successful garden at every point of the year, we recommend you check out our blog posts of the individual months and read up about our best tips and tricks to leave no seed unplanted.
For your gardening needs, feel free to browse through our range of premium gardening tools. Designed by gardeners, for gardeners.