The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012 kicks off this week and after months of preparation, this year’s show is as spectacular as ever. Today, we've been checking out the gorgeous blooms at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show (and can't wait to see which gorgeous celebs will be there this week too!). Have you ever wondered about all that behind the scenes work and what it’s like to design and build a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show? To find out, we asked gold-medal-winning de...View more
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
May 20th, 2012
2012 is a year for celebration – we have the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and last but not least, the reinvention of the garden room. This summer, you can add a little Chelsea Flower Show style to your garden and create a brand new living room just beyond your back door with sofas, chairs and loungers from the new exciting ranges of affordable, all-weather furniture that blur the line between outdoors and in. You can take a tour of ACHICA’s range o...View more
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
May 19th, 2012
They say it's set to be dry this weekend and now's a great time to plant strawberries for delicious, sweet fruits this summer. They’re so easy to grow, and a great idea for children, who can join in the fun and will be amazed to see how the little flowers turn into juicy red berries as the weeks pass.
There are lots of strawberry varieties to choose from, with early types, such as Honeoye and Christine, fruiting from late May, mid season crops developing later in the summer, and everbearer or perpetual...
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
May 11th, 2012
Spring has sprung at last, but if winter’s taken its toll on your garden and it’s in need of some serious TLC, help is at hand. We’ve asked leading garden designer Sam Brown for a few of her expert tips to help you update your garden style and inject that essential “now” factor.
I want year-round interest in my urban garden. What do you suggest?
'Use foliage plants, such as clipped box, which will look great all year. A row of box cubes or balls always looks stylish and will suit both a formal and country garden. P...View more
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
April 9th, 2012
It may still be a bit nippy outside but with spring well on the way, there’s no time to waste if you want to enjoy some delicious home-grown veg this summer. Tomatoes, courgettes, chillies and other crops from warm climes should not be planted outside till the end of May, but by sowing them on your windowsill or in a greenhouse in March, you will have sturdy little plants by then, which will produce earlier crops. And you can give tougher veg, like cabbages and chard, a head start by sowing them insi...View more
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
March 23rd, 2012
If you’re wondering what to give your mum this Mother’s Day, beautiful flowers say it best. The Rhodes sisters of florists Hayford & Rhodes run a Flower School and are experts at putting together stunning bouquets. ACHICA Living asked the sisters, Amy (left), Laura (centre) and Joanna (right), for their top tips on creating beautiful flower arrangements for the home. Here's their expert advice...
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
March 13th, 2012
Just because the sun sets before 6pm, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy our gardens in the evening. All you need is a bit of expert lighting positioning...and possibly a warm jacket! But if outside is lit with a warming glow, it's easy to enjoy your garden from inside too. As spring approaches, now’s a great time to start planning your garden lighting. To find out how to create the perfect outdoor lighting plan, we called upon the expertise of leading garden designer, Janine Pattison. Janine has won many awards for h...View more
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
March 6th, 2012
If your garden is looking lifeless and in need of a lift, check out your garden centre for evergreen leaves to liven up the proceedings. Go for a range of different colours, textures and shapes for dazzling displays that will add winter sparkle, even in the depths of a freezing February.
Patio panache
For pots and containers, opt for sophisticated plant partners to inject a touch of class into your patio or balcony displays. I planted up this arrangement for a friend’s birthday pres...
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
February 15th, 2012
Growing your own veg is most definitely de rigueur for 2012, but if your garden’s no bigger than a potting shed, and there’s a five-year waiting list for your local allotments, how can you keep up with the gardening fashionistas? The answer is to plant in pots. Garden companies have sussed that space is an issue for many of us, and they’ve come up with loads of great ideas for productive patios, including stylish wooden raised beds and growing tables, and a wide range of v...View more
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
January 26th, 2012
Liven up your garden with colour and song this winter by inviting your local birds to a tasty feast of nuts and treats, washed down with some cool, clean water. This is a great time for a spot of twitching, since birds are easier to see when plants are stripped bare of their leafy camouflage, and you may be surprised at the number of different species that pay you a visit at this time of year. Here's how to get the party started...
First, set up a bird café, with an assortment of feeders and smorgasbord...
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Posted by Zia Allaway, Garden Expert, ACHICA Living
January 14th, 2012
