Category: Blog

Delivery

At Garden Plants Online, we are committed to making things easy, by bringing beautiful plants direct to your door while keeping costs to a minimum.

We work as speedily as possible and aim to deliver your order within 3-5 days. However, if any plants or trees are not in stock at our UK nursery then they will be brought in from the Italian nursery and delivery could take up to 2 weeks. You will be informed about the availability of stock at the checkout or by a Sales Representative, if you’re ordering over the phone.

Delivery charges are as follows:
NOTE: These prices exclude Garden Accessory items (Lighting and Irrigation).

  • Items up to 20kg in weight and under 250cm in height are delivered at the price of 15.00 per item.
  • Items over 20kg in weight and under 250cm in height may be subject to minimal additional charges depending on the weight of the product. The heavier it is, the harder it is to move!
  • Items over 250cm in height and/or anything considerably heavier than 100kg will be quoted a delivery price based upon either your postcode or the total weight, depending on which will work out better value for you. You can still finalise your order online, if you’d like, and a Sales Representative will contact you via email with a price for delivery. No payment is taken before we receive confirmation from you that you’d like to go ahead with the order. Only once everything is confirmed do we take payments and begin arrangements for delivery.

If you’d like a trip out, don’t forget that all Garden Plants are available for collection at our nursery in Alton, Hampshire – just get in touch and we’ll book you in.

If you have any unanswered questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.

Bonsai Tree Care – Part 1

In the first part of our week-long series on Bonsai Care we start with an introduction to Bonsai trees:

INTRODUCTION

The Japanese word ‘bonsai’ literally means ‘tree in a pot’. For many hundreds of years bonsai have been cultivated by both the Chinese and the Japanese and are considered to bring harmony and nature to the home. More recently bonsai trees have become much more popular throughout Europe as Westerners discover the delights and rewards of this fascinating hobby.

Bonsai can be categorised as follows:

Tropical or subtropical trees, which benefit from being kept warm throughout the year. Minimum recommended temperature is around 10 celsius. These can be kept indoors all year (though will benefit from being placed outside for periods during the summer) in a window position with natural light (avoid full summer sun as this will scorch the tree) and keep in mind that your bonsai should not be trapped behind curtains during winter nights.

Subtropical or temperate trees that are reasonably hardy but still require protection from frost. These can be kept indoors or outdoors but must be protected from frost during winter. As above, they will benefit from being placed outside in summer and, when kept indoors a cool, light position is best.

Hardy outdoor trees that must be kept outside all year, except during the worst winter freezes. They are then best kept in a cold greenhouse or porch. It is recommended that these trees are displayed indoors for short periods only.

Tomorrow: Bonsai Care Basics

 

FAQ

FAQ

What is ‘pot size’?

Pots are measured in litres and are an indication of the plant’s size. 

Can you offer gardening advice?

Unfortunately, we can’t. Suggestions as to the suitability of any particular plant type or species for any purpose or location are general indications only. It is the buyers responsibility to check that the intended location and prevailing weather conditions are suitable for a particular plant before placing an order. We have however tried to include as many helpful details on each product page, such as facts and care guidelines, and our Links page will take you to some useful sites.

Do you provide photographs?

For larger specimen plants, we can usually supply a photograph but, unfortunately, we are unable to take and provide photographs for all orders or we’d have no time to care for the plants!

Can I choose a particular plant if there are several available?

If an item is in stock, customers are more than welcome to visit our nursery by appointment and choose which exact plant/tree they want but for online orders you’ll have to trust us that all the plants of the same variety are as uniform as possible.

Can you get me plants that aren’t on the website?

We can usually source varieties that aren’t featured online give us a try!

Which are indoor plants?

With the exception of the conifers and other trees, most can be grown indoors if you feel you have the space and suitable conditions.

Where do these plants come from?

Our UK nursery works in partnership with an Italian nursery, based in Pistoia.

Are these plants suitable for growth in the UK?

All plants on the website are suited to a UK climate.

Do you sell gardening equipment?

We now sell bonsai care kits. Keep an eye open for other gardening equipment.

Can I open a business account?

We work with numerous garden centres and landscape designers so get in touch with us and we’ll see what we can do for you!

Where are you based?

Our nursery is in Guildford, Surrey.

Can we visit the nursery?

Of course! However, visitation is by appointment only so get in touch and we’ll book you in.

Can you position the tree for me when it arrives?

The courier service and our own drivers are obliged to deliver to your door only.

Can you give me a more precise size?

Sometimes, if an item is in stock, we will be able to measure it and give more specific dimensions, although this will delay your order and not necessarily reserve the plant, but if the item is out of stock, we can usually only supply these approximations, as plants are living, growing things!

Why does my ‘Order Status’ show ‘Credit Card Awaiting Validation’?

This just means that the payment hasn’t been processed yet.

Can I return the plant if I don’t like it?

Of course. You have up to 7 days to return it. We will then issue a credit note, minus the intitial delivery cost.

What if the plant is damaged?

Our plants are packaged securely so this is rare but, for our records and stock control, we will always ask you to kindly take a photograph to send to us via email within 7 working days. Then we can arrange a replacement for you.

Why does MCG Timber show up on my bank statement?

Not to worry, MCG Timber is our parent company.

DELIVERY

How long does delivery take?

Items usually take between 3/5 days, unless they are out of stock, in which case we advise you to expect delivery in up to 20 working days, though it is not normally this long.

How do you deliver?

We use a courier service for anything under 150cm in height and our own vans for larger plants.

Why does the website say I’ll get a quote for delivery and can I still order online?

Of course, no problem. If you’ve ordered a plant that is too large for our usual courier service then we use our own vans. For these private deliveries, we will calculate a price based upon your postcode. You can still finalise the order online and within a day or two a Sales Representative will contact you via email with a price for delivery. Don’t worry, no payment is taken before we receive confirmation from you that you’d like to go ahead with the order. Only once everything is confirmed do we take payments and begin arrangements for delivery. Private delivery charges do not show up on your online invoice but they will be confirmed in an email from a Sales Representative.

Can you deliver on an exact date?

For larger items and bulk orders we can usually arrange a date for delivery that is most convenient for you. For smaller items and orders, we try to give as precise a delivery date as possible but this is only an approximation and we cannot 100% guarantee your plants will be delivered on the advised day.

Can the driver call me before he delivers?

For private, quoted deliveries we can request the driver to let you know when he is nearby but we cannot guarantee that the courier service will do the same.

Do I have to sign for my deliveries?

Even with your permission for an item to be left unattended, a signature is usually required, although we can request otherwise. Our private drivers can leave plants without a signature should this be more convenient for you.

Do you deliver on weekends?

Not usually, though sometimes this will be arranged for the private deliveries.

If your questions are still unanswered, try our Contact page.

The Main Facts Regarding Vitis Vinifera (Grape Tree)

Vitis vinifera (Grape tree), also known as grapevine, is native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe and some parts of Asia. The plant has grown in these parts of the world for over 65 million years. It is classified in the order Vitales and family Vitaceae, the only one found in this order.

Over time, the tree has been spread to many other parts of the world. It can grow in virtually any part other than the Antarctic region. It earns many countries huge economic benefits. The main products for which it is grown include wine, raisin and table berries. Wine production has taken place for as many as 7000 years in some places.

The vines grow to a height of about 35 meters. They give rise to berries whose size vary depending on whether the plants are cultivated or are wild. Wild berries are smaller and measure just about 6mm in diameter compared to the cultivated ones that average 3 cm. A ripe berry may be green, darkish purple or red. Humid conditions and a good water supply are necessary for good yields.

In ancient times, grape trees were used both as medicine and for nutrition. Their sap was believed to cure several eye and skin conditions. The leaves were used to alleviate symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions. Originally, it is the wild varieties that were used but with the onset of the agrarian revolution farmers took up cultivation of the trees. Wine making is a practice that took place throughout ancient Greece. In Egypt wine was mainly drank by Pharaohs, their guests and the priests.

Farmers may choose to either grow the plants from their own roots or they may graft them on old plants. The former option is often preferred as the latter has no known benefits. In fact on some occasions, old roots may have been destroyed by low winter temperatures. Cuttings are collected after pruning and induced to start growing. This is done in the seasons of late winter and early spring.

Cuttings of about 0.8 cm are cut into smaller bud sections (3-6). They are put in bunches and covered with damp, well-drained soil. They stay there till summer when they can be removed and planted. One should ensure that they are well callused and have formed roots. Rooted vines that can be planted immediately are available commercially.

A distance of about 7 feet is required between one cutting and the next. Buds need to be protected from direct sunlight in the early period. Fertilizer is not a requirement during plant. Later, it is applied depending on the nutritional requirements. Pruning is avoided in the growing season as fruit is produced and done in the next dormant season.

The Vitis vinifera (Grape tree) is a plant that grows perennially. Harvest time is variable and depends on what the fruit is to be used for. The fruits that are harvested earliest are those that are to be used for jelly. This helps avoid sugar crystals that are formed as the fruit matures. These crystals usually cloud the product. Table berries are best harvested when their color and taste are at their peak. If the berries are intended for making juice, then it is important that they fully mature.??

Pineapple Guava for Sale

Pineapple Guava

What makes the Pineapple Guva a good purchase?

What is the pineapple guava?

One of our most common fruit trees is the Pineapple Guava plant also known as the Feijoa Sellowiana or Acca sellowiana.

As a small, perennial, evergreen, fruit bearing plant, the Pineapple Guava is grown for it’s delicious guava fruit.

The guava has many uses including smoothies, yogurt, fruit drinks, jam, ice cream, cider and even vodka!

Due to it’s size and slow growth the pineapple guava is considered an easy plant to grow, making it an ideal present.

How do I find out more?

View our Pineapple Guava product page for more information.

Jargon Guide

Jargon Guide

STANDARD
These are trees with a clear stem of at least 180-220cm and a head of a further 150/200cm.They are usually measured and listed by their trunk GIRTH; however, the height is roughly consistent throughout the girth options.

HALF STANDARD
These are smaller trees with a clear stem of at least 80-120cm. They are usually measured and listed by the DIAMETER of their crown. Other plants such as topiary balls may also be listed by their diameter.

MINI/QUARTER STANDARD
These are miniature standard trees that have clear stems of approximately 60-80cm.

HEIGHT
Where a height approximation is listed (e.g. 150/200cm), the plant is usually a shrub, or in bush form.

CLT.
Container Litres. This is the POT SIZE. Pots are measured in LITRES (often abbreviated to ‘Clt.’) but a rough guide of their diameter is as follows:

Clt. 3 = 16cm

Clt. 5 = 20cm

Clt. 7 22cm

Clt. 10 = 24cm

Clt. 12 = 26cm

Clt. 15 = 28cm

Clt. 18 = 30cm

Clt. 25 = 33cm

Clt. 30 = 40cm

Clt. 35 = 45cm

Clt. 50 = 50cm

Clt. 75 = 55cm

Clt. 100 = 60cm

All sizes are in CENTIMETRES unless otherwise stated.

If you have any further questions try our frequently asked questions page

English Yew For Sale

Why is the English Yew so popular?

The Taxus Baccata also known as the English Yew and sometimes known as the European Yew is a conifer.

Why is the English Yew so popular?

It’s a slow growing evergreen tree. Most parts of the tree are toxic.

What forms of English Yew does Plants & Trees Online offer?

Here at Garden Plants Online we sell the taxus baccata in many forms, we have our most popular taxus baccata:

How to Plant a Tree

A few simple steps can be taken to ensure that your newly planted tree will thrive and give you years of pleasure.

In general there are two ways of buying trees bare root and container, since all of the trees for sale on Garden Plants Online are of the container type we can leave bare root alone for now.

The first thing you are going to need to do is not dig the hole but to give your new tree a really good drink. Fill the container to the top allow the water to soak through and repeat.

Now you can start doing the fun bit, digging the hole! You should aim to have your hole one and half times bigger than the tree container, The first layer of soil that you are digging through is top soil and this is the good stuff. Place the top soil on one side. Then you will hit a tougher rougher looking soil this is called sub soil, place this on another side of your hole.

Now that your hole is dug you need to break up the bottom of the hole to form a loose crumbly type soil.If you have some general purpose compost mix in a couple of spade loads.

Place tree and position it to show of the best features from the main viewing point.

You will now need a sturdy tree stake, take the tree stake and angle it down into the base of the hole at a 45 degree angle and drive it into the ground when finished the higher part of the stake should be quite close to the tree trunk so you may affix the tree tie.

Fill the hole with water allow to drain, then add the top soil firming around the tree as you go and finally add the top soil making sure you are firming down with your foot. The last thing to do is sprinkle half a handful of a balanced feed like grow more around the tree.

Try to keep the soil moist as the tree gets established.

Gardening jobs for April

It is now starting to warm up and the sap is beginning to rise and the garden is coming to life after an overlong winter. So lets get out there and do some gardening . Here at Garden Plants Online we have a good list of things for you to do

It’s time to knock some of those shrubs into order, if your forsythia has finished flowering you can prune this back to the shape and size you want it. You may also prune back Buddleia ( this can be cut back by a third ) also the cornus may also be pruned back. With cornus the harder they are pruned the better the stem colour next winter

Now the soil has started to warm up you can plant a host of plants ( and at www.gardenplantsonline.co.uk we have a host of plants to delight you ) including sweet peas dahlias and all shrubs.

The worst thing about this time of the year is that the weeds start growing, so if you get on top of them as they rear their ugly little heads then you will win the battle. You could to help keep down the weeds and keep in the moisture mulch your beds ( depth of mulch should be 2 )

A general clean up of all your plants, cut out the dead wood and take off the dead leaves, if you have any rose bushes prune them back and make sure they are firm. Also you can sow half hardy bedding plants.

Have a look at your lawn, and if needed give it a cut but not too low and tidy up the edges, if your’re feeling keen, give it a good going over with a lawn rake.

Look out for our lawn care tips coming soon.

Bonsai Tree Care Part 5 – Re-potting

Following on from Part 4 we cover the process of re potting your bonsai in order to keep it healthy

RE-POTTING

Periodic re-potting is required to maintain the health of your bonsai. If the roots become visible all around the root ball then it is time to re-pot. Spring is the ideal time, just before the start of the growing season.

Before commencing, select a slightly larger pot

Carefully ease the tree from its pot

Loosen the compost from the edge of the root ball (you may need to use a root hook)

Comb out the roots and trim them back by 20-25%

Cover the drainage holes of the new pot with mesh

Thread wire through the drainage holes and mesh (to secure the tree firmly in the pot)

Place the tree into its new pot using fresh compost and secure it with threaded wire.

Water well

Allow the roots to recover for one month before starting to feed.

Interesting Information On Vitis Vinifera (Grape Tree)

Vitis vinifera (Grape tree) is more popularly referred to as grapevine. It is classified under the order Vitales. This order comprises only one family referred to as Vitaceae. The grapevine is native to central Europe, some parts of Asia and the Mediterranean region. Evidence shows that grapevines existed in these areas more than 65 million years ago.

Due to globalization, the tree has spread to almost every part of the world. It has, for a long time, been an important economic fruit crop for many countries. It is grown principally for wine production but may also be used for raisin and table berries. Production of wine from the grapevine has been around for a long time with some historians claiming that the activity may be as old as 7000 years.

On average, the tree grows to a height of about 35 meters. It produces berries known as grapes. The appearance of the fruit depends on whether the tree is a wild or a cultivated species. Wild grapes are about 6 mm in diameter while those from cultivated grapevines are about 3cm. Ripe fruits range in color from green, purple and red. The vines do well in humid conditions that are accompanied by an adequate water supply.

For many years the vines were greatly valued for their medicinal and nutritional values. Sap was extracted and used in treatment of a number of eye and skin conditions. The leaves were important in arresting bleeding and reducing pain associated with inflammation. Early farmers and foragers relied mainly on the wild types but with time, they learnt that they would get much more by domesticating the plants. Accounts from ancient Egypt show that wine had a special place in the society. It was reserved for the Pharaoh, priests and visitors at state functions.

Grapes may either be grown from their own roots or grafted onto old rootstocks. The latter option is not, however, associated with any benefits. On the contrary the old roots may have been destroyed by low winter temperatures and so new roots should be used as much as possible. Cuttings are collected after pruning has been done and induced to grow.

A good cutting should be just about as wide as a pencil (0.8 cm). Cuttings are divided into 3-bud to 6-bud sections and bundled up in groups of about 10. They are then placed in damp soils that should be well drained. This is done in late winter or early spring. When the weather warms up (in April and May) they are dug up and checked. Those that have callused well are picked and can be planted. An alternative is to use commercially available rooted vines.

Cuttings are planted with shoots facing upwards at a distance of about 7 feet. The buds usually require protection for the first few days. There is no need for fertilization at the start. Its use during growth is limited and is determined by presence of symptoms in the foliage. In the growing season, pruning is not done to allow for bearing of fruit. It is done in the next dormant season.

The Vitis vinifera (Grape tree) grows perennially. The timing of harvests largely depend on the purpose of the berries. If they are being grown for jelly, then they are harvested early. This is done to avoid formation of sugar crystals which usually cloud the product. Table berries are harvested when their flavor and color reaches the peak. Juice berries too have to be harvested when fully mature.

Important Facts On Vitis Vinifera (Grape Tree)

Vitis vinifera (Grape tree) or more popularly, grapevine, is member of the order Vitales. There is only one family in this order known as Vitaceae. The tree is native to Europe and some parts of Central and South Western Asia and the Mediterranean region where it has existed for what is estimated to be more than 65 million years.

Today, the grapevine is grown all over the world and has become one of the most economically important fruit crops in the world. It is mainly planted for production of wine, table berries and raisin. Wine production is believed to have been taking place as far back as 7000 years ago.

The tree grows to be 35 meters tall. The fruit, a berry, is referred to as a grape. Grapes from wild species measure about 6mm in diameter. When ripe, they are darkish purple and have a pale wax bloom. The fruits are much larger in cultivated plants. They measure up to 3 cm in length and may be purple, red or green. Grapevines thrive in humid conditions where there is good water supply.

Historically, grapes were used for both medicinal and nutritional value. For example, the sap was used to cure a number of skin and eye conditions while the leaves were important in management of bleeding and inflammatory disorders. At first, they were harvested from the wild by foragers and the early farmers but over time, they became domesticated. There is evidence that wine was very popular among ancient Greeks. In Egypt, it was reserved for the Pharaohs, priests and guests at state functionaries.

Grapes are usually grown from their own roots. There are no benefits gained from grafting on a preexisting rootstock. It is also wise to grow the new root as an old may have suffered the effects of extremely low winter temperatures. Suckers emerging from the root can also be replanted elsewhere as new plants. Most people simply gather a number of cuttings and induce them to grow. This is usually done during either late winter or in spring when vineyards are being pruned.

An ideal cutting is about 0.8 cm in diameter (approximately the thickness of a pencil). The cuttings are cut into 3 to 6-bud sections and tied in bunches of about 10. They are then put in damp, well-drained soil. They are retrieved in the months of April or May when the weather has warmed up. Well callused cuttings from the bunch are selected. Rooted grapevines are available for individuals who do not wish to prepare their own.

Cuttings are planted 6-8 feet apart. Buds need to be protected from sunlight for a few days. Fertilizer is not necessary during planting but thereafter, it may be done depending on the nutritional needs which can be worked out using foliage symptoms. The grape plant is not pruned and is allowed to bear fruit during the following growing season. The next pruning is done late in the second dormant season.

The Vitis vinifera (Grape tree) is grown perennially. Timing of the harvest depends on the intended use for the fruit. Fruits grown for jelly are harvested early. This is done to prevent formation of sugar crystals that would otherwise cloud the product. For those that are to be used as table berries, one has to wait until the color and the flavor are at their peak (just before the fruit drops from the bunch). Juice berries are harvested when fully mature.