Our big autumn 'spring clean'......!!

NO ... this is not the new nursery gnome!! It's Philip tackling the job we all love to hate - the big autumn clean up. It's dank, gloomy, getting colder, on-site customers (except the very keen and brave) have gone into hibernation - oh dear!. Never mind, put on a smile, on with the layers, out we go and time to get the vulnerable. more tender plants cleaned up and put under cover for the winter. 

(The glorious red haze in the background btw is Cornus alba 'Sibirica').

The greenhouse has been scrubbed clean both outside and in and is already filling up with plants that need some frost protection - dahlias, cannas, some of the S African bulbs etc. In a few days time every available space will be taken up in here.

                           

Meanwhile the crated plants below, and many more yet to be sorted, will be overwintered in well ventilated polytunnels mainly as a precaution not knowing what the next few months will throw at us!. These can withstand frosts but can suffer from winter wet when in pots of water retaining compost. In the garden situation with reasonably drained soil they will be fine. Come the spring they will be back in their outside beds, looking good and saying 'buy me'!

 

And finally the toughest (plants not staff) will be left to overwinter in situ (as above) once the beds have been sterilized, shingle replaced where necessary. If all goes to plan before the end of November after which we start the same process with the shrubs! 

And you thought we spent the these quieter months sitting in  the office playing cards ... ha !!

Mail ordering

Mail order is now in full swing and here we see Kevin packing boxes ready for dispatch by courier later in the day (has just arrived to collect today's consignment as I type) arriving at our customers within 24 hours. Plants are carefully packed in sturdy boxes using plenty of fresh straw to ensure they arrive in good condition. Each year we send out hundreds of boxes, mainly in the seasons when plants are dormant, with many repeat orders from satisfied customers.

Customer requests are received via telephone, email or an order form available to download from our website - www.beechesnursery.co.uk then click on the 'Ordering' section on the left column. If certain items are out of stock we can recommend a near alternative or a more suitable plant - a system which ensures our customers can often complete a planting scheme in one hit!   

Plants are dispatched in our standard pots complete with descriptive label. We can send up to 25kg per box. We are able to send any plants from our huge range, ie herbaceous, shrubs, roses up to 1.0m tall but regret no trees. However we now have an arrangement with one of our main growers who will arrange delivery of trees and fruit from their huge stock direct to you. 
Payment by card is deducted from the customer account on the day of dispatch.
So if you are looking for plants and want a personal service with good experienced advice why not give us a call? You will find listing of plants on our website - see the link above. In the unlikely event that you are not satisfied with the quality of our plants or service we will offer you a full refund.