A specialist plants centre in Shropshire is preparing for a busy autumn planting season as gardeners plan to add a dash of winter and spring colour to their gardens.

Tim Robinson, manager of Love Plants at Emstrey, Shrewsbury, says the autumn is an ideal time to plant trees, shrubs, hedging, perennials, soft fruit trees and spring bulbs. 

“The autumn is a great time for planting as the ground is still warm and that gives the plants time to establish before winter,” he said. “Winter flowering shrubs, such as Witch hazels, Chimonanthus praecox (Winter Sweet), Callicarpa bodineri ‘Profusion’ with its purple berries and dogwoods, which have colourful stems, all add colour to the winter garden.

“Many gardeners think only about summer gardens but you can also have an attractive winter garden with hellibores and silver birch trees. An important tip for the garden is to add Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi at planting time to extend the root system of plants and give much stronger healthier growth.” 

Love Plants is awaiting a fresh supply of bare root soft fruit trees and cost-effective hedging whips for October, which can be planted before the ground becomes frozen. Hedging whip species include hornbeam, yew, privet, laurel, rose, beech and blackthorn, to name but a few.

Now that summer flowering baskets and containers have faded, Mr Robinson says gardeners will be turning their attention to autumn patio displays with cyclamen, ivy, conifers, heathers and winter flowering pansies, violas and primulus offering a wealth of textures and colour. 

Love Plant also has a good stock of bulbs to provide a burst of spring colour to gardens after the dark winter months, including daffodils, aliums and tulips. For the vegetable gardens there are garlic and onion sets, winter cabbage and cauliflower.

Located alongside award-winning caravan dealership Salop Leisure, Love Plants prides itself on spending time with customers and providing expert advice about the huge range of plants on offer

The experienced team of staff has different areas of expertise as well as a strong interest in horticulture and gardening as a whole. 

Love Plants has been developed by Salop Leisure in association with the renowned Dingle Nurseries and Derwen Garden Centre, Guilsfield, near Welshpool, which supply all the top quality plants on offer.