Can you plant perennials, ornamental grasses, ferns, bamboos, herbs, water and marsh plants, and bulbs into the ground at any time?
Yes, unless it is freezing.
All of these plants have been cultivated in the pot at our nursery. Since the entire root system is in the pot, there should be minimal damage to the roots when transferring the plant to the ground. The plants will root quickly, which is why you can plant them out into the ground at any time of the year – except when it is freezing.
It is a general misconception that you can only plant in the autumn and in the spring. Only plants with bare roots, as for instance certain trees and shrubs, should be planted between November and February i.e. while they are fully dormant.
Why do I have to order one week in advance? Is that really necessary?
This is not absolutely necessary, but we recommend it as it is in your own interest.
Our nursery is fully stocked in September. However, some plants sell out quickly as the season progresses. If you order a week in advance, we will be able to source plants that may have sold out and therefore be able to complete your order.
If all the requested plants are in stock it is not necessary to place an order a week in advance. Please contact us to check for plant availability.
Why do we always ask you to write down the Latin name if you pick up the plants yourself from the nursery?
Because some plants are difficult to recognise when they are not in flower.
We regularly see people putting plants into their shopping cart without writing down the names. We are generally able to recognise them by their leaves, but there are some like Astilbe, Phlox, and Echinacea etc. which are only recognisable if they are in full bloom.
We advise customers to come to the office and ask for some blank labels and a pencil so that you can write down the full Latin name (not the Dutch name). The labels can then be inserted into the matching pot – there is no need to write down the price code.
Once you have the correct name we can add it to the delivery note and if you wish to buy more of that same type of plant (because you did not pick up enough), you will know exactly which one you are looking for. Labels that are in the pots at the nursery should never be removed.
When is the best time of year to view plants at our nursery?
From the beginning of September until mid-October.
The plants are at their best during that period, the nursery still has a full selection and many of them are in bloom. The different ornamental grasses also look their best at that time. At the beginning of October you will be able to see a lot of them change into their beautiful autumn colours – Molinia stems turn more yellow, the leaves of some Panicums turn a deeper shade of red, to name but a few.
Many perennials flower in May and June which is also the best time for foliage plants like Hostas. It is a less favourable time of the year for ornamental grasses of course, because most of the deciduous ones have been pruned. By May/June they will have regrown a lot, but they are usually not yet in bloom. The evergreen ornamental grasses such as Carex, Luzula, Festuca, Koeleria on the other hand will have all their leaves.
We are closed to the public on Saturdays in December, January and February because there is less for the public to see during that period. Most of the perennials and ornamental grasses will have shed their leaves. However, you will still be able to pick up any orders you have placed beforehand.
Can we obtain garden advice from you?
Yes, as long as the advice you are seeking is purely on plants.
We can give limited advice and recommendations on plants for your garden. However, we do not design gardens or provide any suggestions in that area. It is also difficult for us to advise you on plant combinations because that is a matter of personal taste.
The best time to come to us with questions is early in the morning because we tend to get busy later on.
When does the new selling season begin and when will the nursery be open to the public again with new stock?
In September.
Many people assume that the new season begins in the spring, once the sun starts to get warmer. That is not the case at all. The new season for us begins in September and we open our doors to the public again on the first Saturday in September.
We start potting up young plants (from root cuttings, divisions, tissue culture and seedlings) in late spring and throughout the whole of the summer. These young plants need time to grow into fully mature and sellable plants. Therefore, we are closed in August. In September all our plants are fully grown and ready to sell.
Why are you not open to the public during the month of August?
Because most of the plants have been pruned and we are taking inventory.
August is definitely not a quiet time at our nursery. It is the last month in which we replant and prune many of our plants so that they will turn into bushy, beautiful strong plants.
During this period the nursery also undergoes a complete overhaul so that everything is in good shape in September. We take stock of all 3750 types of our plants and record them in our database so that we know exactly where everything is. A label with plant name and other necessary information is placed next to each type of plant. This is a time-consuming job, which is why we do not have time to help you in August. However, we can prepare plants for you to pick up if you order in advance.
Are you a nursery or a garden centre?
We are a nursery, not a garden centre.
In a garden centre you can find everything in one place. The perennials and ornamental grasses are usually placed together in alphabetical order or by theme. The plants generally also have a picture label. You will often find visually pleasing plants that are generally in bloom around the time you visit the garden centre.
At a nursery the plants are not set up in alphabetical order (perennials are repotted from early June until late August, based on the plant’s growth rate). However, we can write down the plant stocking locations for you so that you can easily find them if you would like to select the plants yourself.
Our nursery has 3750 different perennial plants, ornamental grasses, ferns, herbs, aquatic plants and bamboos. As far as we know, there is no other nursery of our size that has such a unique and extensive variety of plants in stock as we do.
If you place your order beforehand and you come to the nursery to pick up your order, each type of plant will have its own label with the plant’s Latin name. The delivery note will be ready for you at the same time. We also have customers who enjoy coming to the nursery without a list so that they can pick out their plants depending on how they look at that time. September, October, April, May and June are the best months to select your own plants.
However, please note that there may be disadvantages in selecting your own plants at our nursery. The plants you are looking for might:
1) be sold out at that moment
2) be located in another area that is not accessible to the public.
Therefore, it is always advisable to order in advance.
Is it necessary to bring your own packaging for the plants?
No, there is always packaging materials available at the nursery.
When can we pick up our order (that we placed beforehand)?
You can pick up orders during the week and on Saturday mornings (see opening hours).
Please note: If you are coming to the nursery to select your own plants, you can only do so on Saturday mornings (see opening hours).
Why do you not ship any plants by post?
We have decided against shipping plants due to limited demand and because it would be too time-consuming with all the other work we have at the nursery.
Does non-invasive bamboo exist?
Yes, Fargesia.
Most bamboos are invasive, but Fargesia does not spread at all. These bamboos grow upwards in the shape of a pole and they do not form any underground runners. You can plant them without a root barrier. The plants do grow in thickness each year (their diameter increases).
They are perfect for pruning into a hedge. If you prune the plant regularly, its structure will become thicker and you can shape it into form. It is not difficult to prune: you simply cut plant to the desired size and shape it with a hedge trimmer or shears during the months of June, July or August.
We will also give you a bamboo planting and fertilisation guide when you pick up your bamboo order.