Hello again! We are Ross & Ian – The Fixer Upper’s, known on Instagram for our house and garden renovations. We are currently embarking on our second renovation of a Victorian House and Garden in Hampshire and working with Hillier to bring our garden ideas to life!
Catch up with us on Instagram @ross_and_ian
As we head into June – officially the first month of Summer – we look forward to the longest day of the year and the opportunity to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee.
Our garden borders are coming into their own, all the Roses have multiple buds on them and will soon be in bloom along with the Penstemons, Geraniums and Verbenas. You may, like us, notice some spaces in those borders for some new plants and so here are our top plant picks for June, all available online with delivery from the Hillier Nursery direct to your door.
Founded in 1864 by plantsman Edwin Hillier, the company remains family-run with the fifth generation now actively involved in the family business, looking to inspire the creation of green living spaces for now and the future. Through the Hillier plant nursery situated in Hampshire, over one million plants are grown each year!
Over the years, Hillier has been responsible for numerous plant introductions, many of which have become essentials in British gardens and it continues with the tradition of innovation and the introduction of new garden plants in the present day. Along with plant introductions, Hillier is also the most successful exhibitor in the history of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, having been awarded 74 consecutive gold medals!
Alstroemeria Inticancha ‘Dark Purple’
A clump forming perennial that is best in full sun. From early summer to mid-autumn, it produces dark maroon and dark purple flowers with even darker purple veining and speckling across the petals. Perfect for a mixed border but also containers.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
0.3m x 0.3m | Pull finished flower stems from the base rather than cutting | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Astilbe ‘Rheinland’
If you’re looking for a showstopper and a pink one at that, then look no further than Astilbe Rheinland. A hardy perennial with divided, dark green leaves which are bronze when young. Spires of pink feathery flowers produced in spring. Great for mixed and herbaceous borders, woodland or planted near water.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
0.5m x 0.5m | Cut back after flowering | Moist but well drained soil | Full sun to partial shade. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Continus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’
One of our favourite Hosta’s in the garden. It has green leaves with a white outer edge. This will also flower with spikes We love the dark foliage on this deciduous shrub which gets even more intense in the Autumn.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
5m x 5m | Prune in winter to control shape and size. Hard pruning produces vigorous, straight shoots | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to partial shade | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Deutzia hybrida ‘Raspberry Sundae’
A compact, fragrant shrub that would work well in a small garden. Flowers from Spring into Summer.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
1.5m x 1.5m | Prune young plants to encourage a bushy habit | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Digitalis x valinii ‘Illumination Rasberry’
One of our favourite Cottage Garden Plants! So many varieties to choose from but this is a winner in our eyes! The perfect colour for any border. Also take a look at Canary Berry which was on our list last year.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
0.9m x 0.45m | Cut back the main flower spike as it fades to encourage a second flowering | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Geranium ‘Salome’
Geraniums are perfect for the front of a border or used as under planting for Roses. Remove flowered stems and old leaves to encourage the production of fresh leaves and flowers.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
1m x 50cm | Cut back faded flower stems and foliage in autumn | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun to partial shade | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Geranium ‘Summer Skies’
A beautifully elegant double flowered Geranium. A great plant for the mixed border or edging the front of borders.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
60cm x 60cm | Cut back faded flower stems and foliage in autumn | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to partial shade | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’
We have a confession to make. We are getting a bit obsessed with Heuchera’s. So many to choose from, but this is a perfect colour companion with purple flowers. This Heuchera is a semi-evergreen, mound-forming perennial with ruffled, bright lime green to chartreuse leaves.
Small white flowers on wiry green stems are borne above the leaves in summer. Great in a mixed border, rock or gravel gardens and ideal in a patio pot.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
0.4m x 0.45m | Remove faded flower spikes. Cut back any dead or untidy foliage in spring | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to partial shade. | Keep well watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Zorro’
Who doesn’t love a Hydrangea?! This is a garden must have with its interesting lace cap heads that fuse pink, purple and blue tones.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
1m x 1m | Prune in late winter to early spring to remove the old flowerheads | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to partial shade. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Salvia greggii ‘Icing Sugar’
This is another Salvia that can be found in our garden border ‘Veronicas Corner’. It will flower all summer long and come back year after year.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
0.9m x 0.9m | Remove faded flower stems to encourage re-blooming and rejuvenate fresh foliage. Cut back in winter | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
Another great plant for underplanting in Roses. The deep purple colour will stand out in any border.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water | Caution |
0.75m x 0.6m | Remove faded flower stems to encourage re-blooming and rejuvenate fresh foliage. Cut back in winter | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun to part shade | Keep well-watered until established. | Harmful if eaten |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Salvia Rockin’ ‘Deep Purple’
Plant these Salvias at the back of a border and the huge spikes of colour will be loved by Bees and Butterflies!
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
0.7m x 0.5m | Remove faded flower stems to encourage re-blooming and rejuvenate fresh foliage. Cut back in winter | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Stipa tenuissima
A hardy, deciduous grass that forms a compact upright tuft of thread-like green leaves. Pretty, arching, feathery flowering panicles are produced in summer. Looks stunning in sunny gravel gardens creating sea-like movement.
You can add grasses to your garden to soften a border and add movement. Grasses can add extra wow factor in late summer.
Hillier plant care advice
Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
1m x 0.5m | Remove faded leaves and flowers as necessary | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
About Ross & Ian
Ross and Ian met in June 2014 and purchased their first property together in August 2016, a 1930’s semi-detached house in Berkshire which was in need of being ‘fixed up’. The house has been rented out for 19 years so was in need of some serious TLC, a lot of the original features were moved (including fireplaces and internal doors) which meant the house had lost its charm and character and this was something Ross and Ian wanted to add back to the house.
So with an exciting renovation challenge ahead, Ross and Ian decided to document their journey through Instagram as a way of looking back on all the things they would go on to achieve as well as share updates with friends and family, and so, ‘Our 1930s Fixer Upper’ was created.
Fast forward to 2022 and now with an audience of over 100,000 followers, Ross and Ian have sold their 1930s home and have moved into a new Victorian ‘fixer upper’, that is once again in desperate need of being brought back to its former glory.
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