Plants at Hilltop Garden Centre

With our fantastic range of quality plants, your garden will soon flourish! Whether you're looking for shrubs, perennials, trees, or bedding, we have it all and more at our family run garden centre!

Acer

Acer Plants at Hilltop
Acer Plants at Hilltop
Acer Plants at Hilltop

Adding an Acer shrub or tree is a perfect way to introduce autumnal colours into your garden or outdoor space. Acers are easy to grow both in the ground and in containers because of their compact size. This makes them ideal for transforming your garden regardless of the amount of space you have. Acers are slow-growing, deciduous trees.

Dependent on which acer you choose depends on how much sunlight they will require. A red or purple-leafed acer will prefer lots of direct sunlight to keep its rich colours. A green-leafed acer will require light shade during hot days.

Acer trees maintain an aesthetic shape. Combined with their slow growth, they don’t require pruning to achieve a desired shape or size. You should prune an Acer to remove any dead leaves or branches.

Do this when they are dormant between winter and early spring. Acers prefer acidic soil conditions, so we recommend using acidic soil and slow-releasing fertiliser.

Growing Acers in the Ground

If you grow your Acer in the ground, plant it between early autumn and early spring. When planting your acers, add a support stake to protect them from harsh weather whilst they grow and establish their roots. Once you’ve planted your Acer, water the area well and ensure that you continue to do so for the first year.

Growing Acers in a Pot

When planting an acer in a pot or container, ensure sufficient drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Acers have shallow roots that prefer lots of oxygen. We recommend planting your Acer with acidic compost, which thrives in acidic conditions. When your Acer's roots outgrow the pot, replant in a larger container to allow for growth. Ensure the pot is double the size of the roots for successful replanting.

Alpines

Alpine Plants at Hilltop
Alpine Plants at Hilltop
Alpine Plants at Hilltop

Alpines are small, hardy garden plants that live for several years and originate from mountainous regions. They produce vibrant colours and require low maintenance while thriving in sunny, dry conditions. They thrive among gravel or rocks to reflect their natural habitats. Alpines dislike constant damp conditions. So, give them free-draining soil and potash fertiliser to encourage the plant to flower.

When choosing a time to plant your alpines, the best time is spring or early autumn. Planted alpines will struggle to establish their roots in cold weather. So, avoid planting in late autumn/winter periods.

Alpines are compact, small plants, ideal for those with small gardens or who wish to add plants using containers. Once you’ve planted your alpines, you can benefit further by adding a layer of gardening grit. This helps to keep the plant leaves away from damp compost. If planting in containers, ensure water, as the compost will dry out quicker than planting in the ground.

We offer many alpine varieties, including our popular mixed packs chosen by our expert team of gardeners.

Mixed trays may include:

  • - Sedum Cape Blanco
  • - Veronica Georgia blue
  • - Aubrieta axcent dark red
  • - Iberis Golden Candy Candytuft
  • - Erysimum Golden Jubilee
  • - Aubrieta Dr Mules Variegata
  • - Arenaria Blizzard compact
  • - Arabis rose delight
  • - Dianthus silver star
  • - Santolina lemon fizz
  • - Sagina lime moss
  • - Sedum coral carpet
  • - Saxifrage aipino early lime
  • - Cerastum tomentosum snow in the summer
  • - Campanula muralis
  • - Sedum Cape Blanco
  • - Viola Mrs Lancaster
  • - Arabis little treasure white
  • - Armeria Rubrifolia
  • - Campanula garganica
  • - Phiox Candy cane
  • - Antennaria alex Duguid
  • - Leptinella Platts Black
  • - Thymus Lemon King
  • - Sedum Purpureum
  • - Dianthus Whaifield Gem
  • - Ajuga Metallica Crispa
  • - Achillea King Alfred
  • - Dianthus Mendiesham mix
  • - Lychins alpine

 

Bedding Plants

Bedding Plants at Hilltop
Bedding Plants at Hilltop
Bedding Plants at Hilltop

Bedding plants are great for adding colour to otherwise dull raised beds, hanging baskets, or containers. They can be biennial, tender perennials, or annual bedding plants. A few hours in hot weather can cause your bedding plants to wilt. That’s why ensuring you water them during the warmer months is important.

You must water your bedding plants daily in summer, including those in containers. Otherwise, they will dry out much quicker than if planted in raised beds. The ideal time to water your summer bedding plants is in the morning, as this will reduce the risk of scorching the foliage.

Also, be sure to dispose of any old flower heads once they start dying. This way, the plant can direct all its energy into producing new flowers. This allows you to enjoy a full display of colours throughout the season.

Certain bedding plants will drop their flowers on their own, but others will not and will need a helping hand. So be sure to read the label on your plant or ask our team for assistance.

We may have petunias, nemesias, pansies, geraniums, verbenas, violas, and more throughout the year! The bedding plants we have available change based on the season throughout the year. To check out our stock, please let us know, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Climbing Plants

Bedding Plants at Hilltop
Bedding Plants at Hilltop
Bedding Plants at Hilltop

Climbing plants are a perfect way to add vibrant colour to otherwise dull walls. They’re also perfect for those with smaller outdoor spaces who don’t have the option to plant large shrubs. When choosing your climbing plant, you can select either self-clinging or twinning.

Self-climbers hug the wall or fence using aerial roots or adhesive pads. Twinning climbers, such as honeysuckle, wrap themselves around trellis, wires, or stakes. When adding climbing plants to your home, remember that placing them next to a wall may shelter them from rainfall. In this case, you should ensure additional watering.

Establishing whether your wall/fence is north, south, east, or west-facing is important. This will determine how much light your climber will get. Certain climbing plants will require more light and warmth than others. Climbing plants thrive by adding supports such as a trellis, which you can purchase from us.

If you choose to plant your climber in a container, you can do this at any point of the year. Just make sure the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. However, the optimal time for planting is either spring or autumn. If you plant your climber in the ground, tie the plant to its canes and tie new shoots with soft twine. This is because harsh weather can damage new shoots.

Climbing plants have different favourable conditions, so always check labels and nearby signs before purchasing. You can also ask our helpful gardeners for assistance; they’re always happy to help!

Edibles

Edibles at Hilltop
Edibles at Hilltop
Edibles at Hilltop

When you create an edible garden, you provide fresh produce for yourself and your loved ones. It also provides support to your local bee population and other local wildlife. Also, depending on how many edible plants you add to your outdoor space, you could save some money in the long run!

When curating an edible garden, it’s important to consider placement. That’s because edible plants prefer plenty of sunlight and easy access to water. Also, remember that you can curate edible gardens in various environments. So, if you have a garden, a porch, or a balcony, you can still grow some delicious fruit or vegetables.

We stock all kinds of edible plants throughout the year. Some of our edible plants include various strawberries and apples, raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants, blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and more!

We may stock rhubarb, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, blueberry, strawberry, apple, and many other edible plants when available. Our stock depends on the time of year. So, when visiting us, feel free to ask our helpful team. We will be able to advise you on what we have available.

When planting edible plants, we recommend using well-draining soil enriched with organic matter to add essential nutrients. You can also use various fertilisers, including bone meal, manure, fish emulsion, or seaweed fertiliser.

Have you ever thought about introducing herbs into your garden or home?

Fragrant herbs can grow on your kitchen windowsill or in your outdoor space in planters or tubs. Our expert team of gardeners hand-pick the herbs we offer, and with our large variety, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Our herbs choice includes chives, thyme, rosemary, oregano, lavender, mint chocolate, peppermint, parsley, salad Burnett, catmint, sage, and more!

Houseplants

Houseplants at Hilltop
Houseplants at Hilltop
Houseplants at Hilltop

Even if you have a small or non-existent outdoor space, you can still enjoy gardening! Houseplants are a perfect way to brighten your home, regardless of whether you’re a gardening novice or an expert. We stock many house plant breeds, from snake plants, spider plants, monstera, ferns, philodendrons, cacti, succulents, air plants, and much more!

Most houseplants require little attention to stay healthy and are easy to care for. However, be mindful of how much water you use. That’s because each houseplant will vary in its watering requirements. When unsure, lean on the dry side when watering rather than giving your plants too much. Excess watering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death.

Once a plant has outgrown the container, make sure to replant it. An easy way to check if your houseplant has outgrown its space is to check the roots. If they’re circling the inside of their pot, it’s best to repot into a larger container.

When re-potting, ensure that you use fresh potting soil. Once you’ve potted your houseplant, remove all dust once a month with a cloth, as dust can prevent photosynthesis.

The indoor plant stocks we have available change based on the season throughout the year. If you’re looking for a particular houseplant, contact us today, and we’ll do our best to assist you.

Perennials

Perennials at Hilltop
Perennials at Hilltop
Perennials at Hilltop

Perennials are popular because they are colourful, low-maintenance outdoor plants that can thrive for many years. They are perfect for planting in beds or borders. Planting in the spring or autumn is ideal, when the weather is quite moist, as perennials thrive when well-watered.

You can make two choices when choosing perennials for your garden. Evergreen perennials will produce foliage all year round, whereas herbaceous perennials will bloom every spring and die around autumn. When planting your perennial, it is important to choose well-drained soil with good fertility and water afterwards.

The optimal time to plant your perennial is either in autumn or early to mid-spring on a cool, cloudy day. Perennials will lay dormant until the soil starts warming up in April. A new perennial garden will benefit from adding mulch. This helps retain moisture and keep away pesty weeds.

Deadheading your perennials will also help them thrive, encouraging new blooms. Remember that they will grow bigger year upon year. So, if they are growing in a container, you may need to upgrade every few years to accommodate their roots.

We stock many perennials throughout the year, all hand-picked by our expert gardeners. While many perennials are hardy plants, some need more care. Always check the label or ask our team for help if you need help. We also have a range of flower bulbs in store that are ideal for growing in containers.

Roses

Roses at Hilltop
Roses at Hilltop
Roses at Hilltop

The colour and pleasant fragrance make Roses a popular choice. They often bloom throughout the summer or all at once. You can find a rose to suit everyone, as we have climbing roses, shrubs, and smaller roses that suit patios in all colours.

When choosing your rose, it’s important to think about size. Some roses will stay compact and are perfect for patios, whereas others will grow to a large rambler-sized bush. Planting your rose is dependent on whether you are using a container. Plant bare-root roses in late autumn to early spring, whereas you can plant container roses all year round.

Roses last for many years, so look after them through direct sunlight and well-drained soil. Then, many blooms will reward you for years to come. As roses are deep-rooted plants, they survive through moisture in the soil.

Water into the soil during dry spells rather than watering the rose heads. Otherwise, this can induce fungal infections. Avoid planting in exposed, windy areas. Support your roses by adding support stakes, stabilising the top of the rose, and deadhead to prevent seed pods and encourage new growth. Roses are quite adaptable to most soils. However, we recommend well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.

We know that the large variety of roses on offer can be overwhelming. So, when you visit us, speak to our expert gardeners who can assist you.

Summer Hanging Baskets

Summer Hanging Baskets at Hilltop
Summer Hanging Baskets at Hilltop
Summer Hanging Baskets at Hilltop

Our expert gardeners make our summer pre-made hanging baskets in-house, and they come in all shapes and sizes! Our pre-made baskets could include Begonia, Lysimachia Nummularia, Fuchsia, Petunia, Sanvitalia, Seranuium, Verbena, Bacopa, Calibrachoa, Namesia, Glechoma, and more. All plants come in various vibrant hues to add colour to your outdoor space.

When caring for your hanging basket, it is important to water it daily during summer. If the handing basket is already wet from rainy weather, avoid watering. You can check whether the baskets need feeding by nudging or lifting them. If the basket is lightweight or dry, then it will lack water.

Be sure to deadhead your hanging baskets. This encourages new growth and prevents them from using energy for seed production. Also, do not overwater until water runs out of the bottom of the basket. Otherwise, this will wash away essential nutrients.

Shrubs

Shrubs at Hilltop
Shrubs at Hilltop
Shrubs at Hilltop

Planting shrubs in your garden provides huge benefits. Shrubs offer long-term and dense coverage. They also attract various forms of wildlife, providing shelter and food. You can identify shrubs by looking for multiple woody stems rather than a tree with a singular trunk.

When caring for your shrub, it is important to plant it in the right place. Otherwise, it can weaken and hinder growth. We recommend annual pruning to ensure your shrub stays in top condition. If your deciduous shrubs flower from July to October, pruning in spring will encourage new growth before flowering.

Evergreen shrubs tend to keep their leaves throughout winter. As the weather is too cold for them to regrow, pruning in autumn or winter can damage the plant. Consider pruning evergreen shrubs once they start flowering as you can deadhead and remove damaged growth. Pruning after an evergreen shrub is flowering is the optimal time for pruning. When pruning, consider deadheading and removing damaged growth.

We have many shrubs available in many shapes, sizes, and colours! Whether you’re looking for something that blooms vibrant hues or grows fruit, we have it all. Our expert gardeners are on site every day and can assist with all queries about the best way to look after your shrubs.

Trees

Trees at Hilltop
Trees at Hilltop
Trees at Hilltop

Trees benefit your garden for many reasons. One reason is that they provide natural shade and shelter for the local birds and other wildlife. When planting a young tree, it is important to water it. You should provide support using stakes during harsh weather, such as strong winds. This helps protect it from breakages and other damage.

When planting a tree, you must consider many factors, such as size. This is essential for those with smaller gardens. Our on-site gardening experts can help with all questions about our substantial tree selection.

When planting your trees, we recommend using loamy soils. While trees are hardy plants, fertilisers can still provide additional nutrients once established, so we encourage using complete fertilisers.

We offer a local delivery service for items bought in-store, such as plants. With our service, you can have your plants delivered straight to your door. Local delivery service is available within a 15-mile radius. The delivery fee is £25.