Garden inspiration & ideas

We get so happy with spring! Especially now that early flowering shrubs announce spring with their floral splendor. One of the first spring flowering shrubs is Chaenomeles, also known as flowering quince Already in early spring, this shrub brings an explosion of colour to your garden. With its spectacular flowers, Chaenomeles is a true eye-catcher. Be surprised by this versatile beauty!

It is perhaps the most frequently described chore in the garden: pruning. Many gardeners are quite reluctant to do it because they are unsure about the approach. What is the best time, how much should be taken off? Pruning stress lurks. But relax! Many Proven Winners© shrubs don't need pruning to stay healthy and beautiful. And if you do want to prune, think about the reason.

In February, the garden slowly awakens from its winter sleep. Carefully, the first buds appear on trees and shrubs. Meanwhile, it can still be quite cold, so you'd rather be indoors than outside. And that's fine, because there is not much to do in the garden yet. An ideal time to start planning for the new garden season next to the warm stove!

Winter brings an enchanting calm to the garden. Plants slumber in hibernation and there is a serene atmosphere in the air. There are still a few small chores to do before the cold sets in but then a period of rest begins for the gardener too. So put aside the pruning shears, rakes and hoes because you won't need them for the time being. In fact, your plants benefit from being left alone for a while. Besides, the Proven Winners plants are all hardy, so there is no need to worry. Find out why 'doing nothing' in winter might be the best thing you can do for your garden.

Would you like something different than the average garden plant? There are many ways to turn your garden into something extraordinary and planting a special variety is one of them. With unusual plants, you can create a unique atmosphere or appearance in your garden. These may be plants with remarkable leaves, a striking flower colour or an unusual inflorescence.

Autumn is sometimes called the forgotten planting season. Most people get to work in their gardens in spring, when the supply of trees, shrubs and plants is at its greatest. What a pity! Because autumn is also an excellent time to plant. October is perhaps the best planting month of all. We would like to explain to you why planting shrubs in October is a very good idea.

The days are getting shorter and the sunlight takes on that special warm glow. The garden is slowly starting to get ready for the approaching autumn. Many plants are getting past their prime and the summer bloomers are putting on their last show. Yet this does not have to mean that it is done with colour in your garden. On the contrary, in autumn you can still expect a great show of colour from plants that are at their best in September and October. These are our favourite shrubs for autumn.

Summer is here and that means only one thing: endlessly enjoying the beautiful flowering plants in your garden or on your balcony! You can choose from many kinds of summer flowering shrubs, in all kinds of colours and with different flowering times. With these tips, you will have colour in your garden all summer long and your plants will come through the summer in good shape.