Autumn is here, and with the darker days and cooler air, comes an inevitable slow-down for your garden. Your plants lose their colour, your trees lose their leaves and your lawn loses its natural brilliance. But all is not lost! There are many things you can do to prepare your garden in the autumn. Just with a little extra ‘TLC’ and this beginner’s guide, you can keep your garden thriving during the winter, and prepare it for a beautiful flowering season when the sun returns in spring. 1. Winter-hardy plants Horticulturally speaking, winter can be a wonderful and rewarding time of…

Face your fears at Court Farm Garden Centre this Halloween with our fantastic creepy crawlies encounter. In this exciting experience, will give you a chance to learn about and handle our range of exotic animals including tarantulas, snakes, lizards, millipedes, sugar gliders and more! Hosted by the wonderful Creature Courage, you and the whole family are sure to have fun with this unique and magical animal encounter. Running every day from 12:30 till 3:30pm on the 28th to the 31st, this is an ideal Half Term activity for Halloween. Single tickets: £5 each (Children and adults) SAVE with our family ticket: (2…

Flowers and plants are one of the most personal gifts you can present to a loved one or friend on their monumental days and anniversaries, as they all have different symbolic meanings and connotations. Flowers have long been a symbol for love and gratitude, as well as good wishes, so we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you decide on the best flowers and plants for the occasion. What are the best flowers to give for a birthday? Depending on whose birthday it is, the perfect flowers to gift may differ. If you’re buying flowers for a partner,…

Plants are crucial to our existence on this planet, providing food and oxygen to humans and animals. To provide us with these necessities they need to complete the process of photosynthesis to ensure they can keep themselves functioning properly. In this article we will take a look at what keeps scientists so interested in plants and answer some of the most common questions surrounding plants and their growth.  How does photosynthesis work in plants? Plants need enough energy to keep themselves alive. They do this by removing carbon dioxide from the surrounding atmosphere and water from the soil, and absorbing sunlight…

For many, the word ‘zen’ refers to feelings of relaxation and peacefulness but in actuality, Zen is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism that practices meditation. Meditation is an exercise used to focus the mind on a particular object, activity or thought. This mindfulness training is a long process that Buddhists will perform regularly in order to achieve a clear mental and emotional state. The link between the slang use of ‘zen’ and actual meaning of it is quite different, as the slang is a passive feeling, whereas the real definition is to take part in an activity that works to…

This month Court Farm are here to discuss the 13 top garden paintings by famous artists from Monet to Matisse and many more. So if you’re a lover of gardens and art and enjoy all artwork from the most classical to contemporary paintings, read on…   Claude Monet – The Artist’s Garden at Vétheuil (1880) French painter, Monet, was one of the founders of the French Impressionist movement and regarded as the most creative practitioners of his time who was able to express nature in a beautiful, alternative way. Monet’s mission was to capture and document the French countryside throughout the…

Horticulture and gardening activities are well known for evoking feelings of tranquility and satisfaction, so it comes as no surprise to find out that there are plentiful health and miscellaneous benefits that come along with this relaxing hobby. This month, Court Farm will be taking a look at why and how so many people are incorporating theses wonderful  pursuits into their day-to-day lives.   The benefits of gardening activities  Studies have shown a positive correlation between gardening and mental health – showing that greenfingered pursuits have improved symptoms and benefited those with health concerns. For example, garden therapy has helped with:…

If your New Year’s resolutions are to improve upon your gardening by growing your own vegetables, introducing new flowers to your flower patch and beginning a compost – read on. The professionals at Court Farm Garden Centre are here to help our keen green-fingered friends to achieve their admirable plans for 2019. New Year’s resolution: grow some vegetables  If you’re anything like us, you will want to know how to grow the best produce, that not only grows well but tastes delicious, too. So for starters, let’s talk about when to grow your favourite vegetables: March-May, springtime is the perfect time…

As we have been told many times, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and with that in mind, thousands of people are ready to spruce up their homes and shop fronts with stunning visual displays. So why not spread the seasonal cheer and get ready for family, friends and time off work with a few new decorations that’ll be right on trend this year? If you thrive on the festivities the Christmas seasons brings, you’ll certainly enjoy the new Christmas decorations trends of 2018! This year, our festive team at Garden Care are here to offer a little…

The festive season is coming around quickly, and with that comes the seasonal family trip to purchase a perfect Christmas tree. There are a lot of considerations to bear in mind when selecting your tree, including the size, care and type of tree. Court Farm Garden Centre have compiled this guide to give you tips on how to pick your perfect Christmas tree. Wouldn’t I Be Better off with an Artificial Tree? Our opinion – a big no! Many fall into the trap of believing that artificial trees are more cost-effective and better for the environment than real trees because they…