Plants at Hilltop Garden Centre

With our fantastic range of plants we'll have your garden flourishing in no time! Whether you're looking for shrubs, perennials, trees or bedding, we have it all and more!

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 regardless of the amount of space you have, as acers are easy to grow both in the ground and in containers due to their compact size. Acers are slow-growing, deciduous trees, and 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 help keep their rich colours, whereas a green leafed acer will require light shade during hot days.

Acer trees have a naturally aesthetic shape, and due to them being a slow-growing plant they do not need to be pruned to be kept at a desired shape and size. The only time you may need to prune an Acer is to remove any dead leaves or branches, and the best time to do this is when they’re dormant – between winter and early spring.

Acers prefer slightly acidic soil conditions, so we would recommend using ericaceous soil and slow releasing fertiliser.

Growing Acers in the Ground
If choosing to grow your acer in the ground, the optimal time to do so is between early autumn and early spring. When planting your acers, ensure to add a support stake to protect from harsh weather whilst it grows and establishes its roots. Once you’ve planted your acer, water the area well and ensure to continue to do so for the first year.

Growing Acers in a Pot
When planting an acer in a pot/container, ensure that there are sufficient drainage holes to prevent any waterlogging, as acers have shallow roots which prefer lots of oxygen. We recommend planting your Acer with ericaceous compost as thrive with acidic conditions. Once your Acers roots have reached the sides of your pot/container it is important to re-plant into a container that is double the size of the roots.

Alpines

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

Alpines are small, hardy plants that live for several years and originate from mountainous regions and produce beautiful, vibrant colours. They are low maintenance and prefer to be kept in sunny, dry conditions, and thrive among gravel or rocks to reflect their natural habitats. Alpines don’t like to be kept in constant damp conditions, so be sure to 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 to do so is either in the spring or early autumn time. Newly planted alpines will struggle to establish their roots in cold weather, so ensure to avoid planting in late autumn/winter periods.

As alpines are compact, small plants, they’re ideal for those who have small gardens or wish to add additional plants using a container. Once you’ve planted your alpines, it is beneficial to add a layer of horticultural grit to assist in keeping the leaves of the plant away from damp compost, and if planting in containers water regularly as the compost will dry out quicker than planting in the ground.

We offer a large variety of alpines, including our popular mixed packs which are carefully 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 a great to add colour to otherwise dull raised beds, hanging baskets or containers, and can be an annual, biennial, or tender perennial.

It’s important to ensure that during the warmer months you water your bedding plants regularly, as a few hours in hot warmer can cause them to wilt. During summer, you will need to water your bedding plants every day, especially if they are in containers as they will dry out much quicker than if planted in raised beds. The ideal time to water your bedding plants during summer is in the morning, as this will reduce the risk of scorching the foliage.

Also be sure to dispose of any old flower heads as soon as they start to die. This is so that all the plant’s energy can be directed into producing new flowers and you can enjoy a full display of beautiful colour all throughout the season. Certain bedding plants will drop their flowers on their own, however 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.

Throughout the year, we may have petunia’s, nemesia’s, pansy’s, geranium’s, verbena’s, viola’s and much more! This is subject to availability and season; if you would like to check our stock you can send an enquiry to us direct and we will respond as soon as possible.

Climbing Plants

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

Not only are climbing plants a perfect way to add vibrant colour to otherwise dull walls, but they’re also perfect for those who have smaller outdoor spaces and don’t necessarily have the option to plant large shrubs. When choosing your climbing plant, you can select either self-clinging or twinning; self-climbers will naturally hug the wall/fence using aerial roots or adhesive pads, whereas twinning climbers such as honeysuckle will wrap themselves around trellis, wires or stakes.

When choosing to add climbing plants to your home, be sure to remember that they may be sheltered from rainfall if placed next to a wall, so ensure additional watering is carried out. Not only this, but it is important to establish whether your wall/fence is north, south, east or west facing as this will determine how much light your climber will get, as certain climbing plants will require more light and warmth than others. Climbing plants thrive when adding supports such as a trellis, which you can purchase from us direct.

If choosing to plant your climber in a container, you can do this at any point of the year, so long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, however the optimal time for planting is either spring or autumn. If choosing to plant your climber in the ground, ensure to tie the plant to its canes, and tie new shoots if necessary with soft twine, as new shoots can damage easily in harsh weather conditions.

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

Edibles

Edibles at Hilltop
Edibles at Hilltop
Edibles at Hilltop

When you create an edible garden, you aren’t just providing fresh produce for you and your loved ones, but also providing support to your local bee population and other local wildlife. As well as this, dependent on how many edible plants you add to your outdoor space, you could save yourself some money in the long run!

When curating an edible garden, it’s important to think about placement, as edible plants prefer plenty of sunlight and easy access to water. It's also important to remember that edible gardens can be curated in all kinds of 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 from various strawberries and apples, raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants, blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and more!

When available, we may stock rhubarb, raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, blueberry, strawberry, apple and much more edible plants. The stock we have is dependent on the time of year, so when visiting us feel free to ask our helpful team and we will be able to advise what we currently have available.

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

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

Herbs are beautifully fragrant and can be grown on your kitchen windowsill or in your outdoor space in planters or tubs. Our expert team of gardener's hand pick the herbs we offer, and with the large variety we have, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

The choice of herbs we offer include chives, thyme, rosemary, oregano, lavender, mint chocolate, mint peppermint, parsley, salad burnett, catmint, sage and many 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 expert. We keep a huge range of houseplant breeds in stock from snake plants, spider plants, monstera, ferns, philodendron, cacti, succulents, air plants and much more!

Most houseplants will not require a huge amount of attention to stay healthy, and many houseplants are easy to care for, however be sure to water appropriately! Although each houseplant will vary on their watering requirements, when unsure it’s best to lean on the dry side rather than give your plants too much, as overwatering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death.

It’s important to repot your plants once they’ve outgrown their container. 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 slightly larger container. When repotting, ensure that you use fresh potting soil. Once you’ve potted your houseplant, be sure to remove all dust once a month with a cloth, as dust can stop your plant from photosynthesising.

Our stock of house plants is always changing based on availability 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 incredibly popular due to being colourful and low maintenance plants which can thrive for many years. They are perfect to plant in beds or borders, and it is preferable to plant them either in spring or autumn due to weather being quite moist as perennials thrive when well-watered.

There are two choices you can make 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 time. When planting your perennial, it is important to choose well drained soil with good fertility, and water immediately 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 to warm up, which is approximately April time. A new perennial garden will benefit greatly from adding mulch as this will retain moisture and keep way pesty weeds. Deadheading your perennials will also help them thrive, as it will encourage new blooms. Remember that they will grow bigger year upon year, so if growing in a container you may need to upgrade every few years to accommodate your plants roots.

We have a huge range of perennials stocked throughout the year; all hand chosen by our expert gardeners. Whilst many perennials are hardy plants, some do need some additional care, so always check the label or ask our team for assistance if unsure on how to care for your plants.

Roses

Roses at Hilltop
Roses at Hilltop
Roses at Hilltop

Roses are an incredibly popular choice due to their colour and pleasant fragrance, often blooming either throughout the summer months or all at once. There’s a rose to suit everyone, as we have climbing roses, shrubs and smaller roses which suit patios in all kinds of colours.

When choosing your rose, it’s important to think about size, as some roses will stay compact and are perfect for patios, whereas other roses will grow to a large rambler sized bush. Planting your rose is dependent on whether you are planting using a container. Bare-root roses are best planted in late autumn to early spring, whereas container roses can be planted all year round.

Roses last for many years, so be sure to look after them through direct sunlight and well-drained soil, and you’ll be rewarded with many beautiful blooms for years to come. As roses are deep rooted plants, they survive through moisture in the soil, however on dry spells be sure to water directly into soil rather than watering the roses themselves as this can induce fungal infections, and avoid planting in exposed, windy areas. Support your roses by adding support stakes, as this will stabilise 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 a well-drained soil that is full of organic matter.

We know that the large variety of roses on offer can be overwhelming, so when you visit us be sure to speak to our expert gardeners and they’ll be happy to assist.

Summer Hanging Baskets

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

Our summer pre-made hanging baskets are all made in house by our expert gardeners and are available in all shapes and sizes! Included in our pre-made baskets could be Begonia, Lysimachia Nummularia, Fuchsia, Petunia, Sanvitalia, Seranuium, Verbena, Bacopa, Calibrachoa, Namesia, Glechoma, and much more – all in various vibrant hues to bring extra colour into your outdoor space.

When caring for your hanging basket, it is important to make sure they are watered every day during summer weather unless already wet from rainy weather. A simple way to check if the baskets need to be fed is either nudging or lifting them. If the basket is lightweight or dry, then they will be lacking water.

Be sure to deadhead you’re hanging basket plants regularly to encourage new growth and prevent any energy going into seed production, and ensure that you’re not overwatering until water runs out of the bottom of the basket as this will mean essential nutrients will be washed away.

Shrubs

Shrubs at Hilltop
Shrubs at Hilltop
Shrubs at Hilltop

There are huge benefits of planting shrubs in your garden. Not only do they offer long term and dense coverage, but they also attract various forms of wildlife due to the shelter and food they provide. You can identify shrubs by looking out for multiple woody stems, rather than a tree which has a singular trunk.

When looking after your shrub, it is important to plant them in the right place, otherwise they can deteriorate, and growth can be hindered. We recommend annual pruning to make sure your shrub stays in top condition. If your shrubs flower from July to October and are deciduous, pruning in spring will assist in encouraging new growth before flowering.

Evergreen shrubs tend to keep their leaves throughout winter, and pruning in autumn or winter could damage the plant as it would be too cold to regrow. The optimal time to prune an evergreen shrub is just after flowering, where you can deadhead and remove damaged or straggly growth.

We recommend including organic matter when planting your shrub, such as mulch.

We have a huge variety of shrubs available in plenty of 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 on how to best look after your shrubs.

Trees

Trees at Hilltop
Trees at Hilltop
Trees at Hilltop

There are many reasons why planting trees would be beneficial to your garden, including natural shade as well as shelter for the local birds and other wildlife.

When planting a young tree, it is important to water regularly, and provide support through use of stakes during harsh weather such as strong winds to protect from breakages and other damage.

There are many things to consider when planting a tree, such as the size, especially if you have a smaller garden. Our on-site gardening experts can assist with all manner of enquiries concerning our substantial tree selection.

When planting your trees, we recommend using loamy soils. Whilst trees are hardy plants once established, fertilisers can still provide additional nutrients, so we encourage the use of a complete fertiliser.