Best Plants for Late-Summer Colour

Posted on 7th August 2026 at 10:20

By August, many gardens start to look quite different from the colourful displays they had at the beginning of summer.

Early-flowering plants may be going over, some bedding plants can begin to look tired and gaps that weren’t obvious in June suddenly become much easier to see.

The good news is that you don't start again.

Choosing a few plants that naturally perform later in the season can bring fresh colour and structure back into borders, pots and patio displays, while also helping the garden make a smoother transition from summer into autumn.

There are plenty of perennials, grasses and flowering plants that can still be providing interest during August and September. The important part is choosing plants that suit the conditions in your garden rather than simply picking whatever happens to be flowering at the time.

Late-summer flowering plants at Old Oak Farm Nurseries near Preston

July Garden Jobs in Lancashire

Posted on 14th July 2026 at 12:51

July is often when gardens across Lancashire are at their fullest.

Hanging baskets are flowering, pots are packed with summer colour and borders are starting to fill out. But warmer weather, longer dry spells and weeks of active growth can also place plants under pressure. A little regular care now can keep pots, baskets and borders looking good for much longer, rather than waiting until plants begin to struggle.

Colourful summer flower border surrounding a lawn in a mature Lancashire garden.

June Garden Jobs Pots Baskets Borders

Posted on 8th June 2026 at 08:03

June is one of the best months to enjoy the garden, but it is also one of those months where a bit of regular care makes a big difference.

Pots start drying out quicker, hanging baskets need more attention, borders begin filling out, and anything planted earlier in spring is now putting on real growth. It is also the time when gaps can start to show, especially if spring flowers have gone over or baskets are beginning to look a little tired.

The good news is that June is a brilliant month for adding fresh colour.

Whether you are planting up patio pots, refreshing hanging baskets, filling border gaps or looking for something to attract bees and pollinators, there is still plenty you can do to keep the garden looking bright through summer.

At Old Oak Farm Nurseries, June is always a busy month for bedding plants, perennials, shrubs, hanging baskets, basket plants, vegetables and garden advice. Here are some simple June garden jobs to help keep your outdoor space looking its best.

Colourful summer bedding plants and hanging baskets at Old Oak Farm Nurseries in Lancashire

May Garden Jobs Before June

Posted on 26th May 2026 at 08:24

May is one of those months where the garden suddenly starts asking for attention.

One week everything looks like it is just waking up, and the next week the pots need planting, the borders need filling, the hanging baskets are ready, the grass has taken off, and there are ten jobs that all seem to need doing at once.

That is normal for this time of year, especially here in Lancashire where spring can be a bit stop-start. We can have sunshine, wind, rain and a chilly evening all in the same week, so it is worth choosing plants and products that suit real gardens rather than just what looks good for five minutes on a warm afternoon.

If you want your garden looking good before June, now is the time to get organised. Not perfect. Just organised enough to give your pots, borders, baskets and planting areas a strong start before summer properly gets going.

At Old Oak Farm Nurseries in Hoghton, near Preston, we see the same questions every year around this time:

- What can I plant now?

- What works well together in pots?

- Are hanging baskets ready?

- How often should I water everything?

- What compost should I use?

- What do I need before the weather warms up?

So, here is a practical guide to the May garden jobs worth doing before June arrives.

Colourful May garden plants at Old Oak Farm Nurseries near Preston

Easy Plant Combinations for May Gardens

Posted on 11th May 2026 at 11:39

May is one of those months where gardens suddenly start asking for attention.

The grass is growing, borders are filling out, pots that looked fine a few weeks ago are starting to look a bit tired, and plenty of people start thinking the same thing: right, I need to get some colour in here now.

The only problem is knowing what to choose.

It is easy to walk into a garden centre, see rows of lovely plants, pick a few that look good on the trolley, get them home and then realise they do not quite work together. One might want full sun, another might sulk in dry compost, one might grow much taller than expected, and another might disappear behind everything else within a few weeks.

That is why plant combinations matter.

You do not need to be a professional gardener to put a good pot or border together. A lot of it comes down to choosing plants that enjoy similar conditions, give you a mix of colour and structure, and keep the display looking good for more than five minutes.

At Old Oak Farm Nurseries, we spend a lot of time helping customers choose plants that work together in real Lancashire gardens. Not show gardens. Not perfect magazine gardens. Normal gardens with sunny corners, shady patios, awkward gaps, old pots, windy spots, and borders that need a bit of life putting back into them.

So, if you are wondering what to plant in May, here are some easy plant combinations for pots, containers and borders.

Best plants for shade and part shade in Lancashire gardens

Posted on 13th April 2026 at 18:19

Shady areas can be some of the trickiest parts of the garden to get right.

One corner stays damp and cool, another sits under trees and dries out quickly whilst another only gets a bit of morning sun before falling into shade for the rest of the day. It's no surprise that many people in Lancashire end up wondering what will actually grow there!

The good news is that a shady garden doesn't have to be dull. In fact, some of the most beautiful spring plants and best foliage plants thrive in shade or part shade. The key is understanding what kind of shade you are dealing with, then choosing plants that suit it.

In this guide, we will look at the best plants for dry shade, part shade and damp shade, along with some reliable spring performers, good options for pots, and one simple planting combination that works well in a sheltered shady spot.

How to plant early potatoes

Posted on 16th March 2026 at 17:37

Growing your own potatoes is one of the most rewarding jobs in the garden. Early potatoes are particularly popular because they are easy to grow, mature quickly and can be harvested in early summer.

If you’re new to growing vegetables, early potatoes are a great place to start. With the right timing and a few simple steps, you can enjoy your own homegrown crop just a few months after planting.

Here’s how to plant and grow early potatoes successfully.

What’s Flowering in March in Lancashire?

Posted on 6th March 2026 at 10:41

March is when Lancashire gardens finally start to wake up after winter. The soil is still cold and the weather can be unpredictable, but there are already some brilliant plants putting on colour. If your garden still looks a little tired after winter, this is the time of year when early spring plants begin to take over, bringing colour back to borders, beds and containers.

Here’s a real-time look at what’s flowering right now in gardens across Lancashire.

Preparing Your Garden for Spring in Lancashire

Posted on 24th February 2026 at 15:32

By late February, most gardens in Lancashire look tired. Lawns are patchy, borders are bare, and everything feels stuck in limbo between winter and spring. But this is actually the most important time to get organised. Preparing your garden now makes spring easier, cheaper and far more enjoyable. A few hours of work in February can save weeks of effort later in the year.

This isn’t about making things look perfect. It’s about putting foundations in place so your garden grows properly when the weather improves.

What to Plant in February in Lancashire Gardens

Posted on 9th February 2026 at 09:32

February often feels like the longest month for gardeners. The days are still cold, the ground is wet, and spring feels a long way off. But in reality, February is one of the most important months for getting ahead in the garden - if you plant the right things.

In Lancashire, the key is understanding what can cope with cold, damp conditions and what needs to wait. Planting now isn’t about instant results. It’s about giving plants time to establish so they’re stronger and healthier when spring growth kicks in.

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