Hello! 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
This is the first of our ‘Top Gardening Picks’ Series and we are so happy to be partnering with Hillier to share with you some of our favourite plants – all of which are grown at the Hillier nurseries in the UK!
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!
If you’re like us, you are probably excited about seeing the first signs of spring. Most of the bulbs are coming up through the ground and we are all longing for the summer months to come. When we think of spring, we instantly think of Magnolia and Blossom Tree’s, Bluebells and Tulips and (hopefully) a change in the weather so we can all get out in our gardens.
If you are looking to add some colour to your garden this year, we say add lots of pink! So many different shades, plants and shrubs to choose from and works well with almost all colours in the garden. We have chosen some of our favourite pink varieties with you that will bring a smile to your face all year round!
We will be back next month to share more of our favourite Hillier plants.
Erysimum ‘Red Jep’
This stunning wallflower offers different tones of colour so would work perfectly in most boarders. Remove spent flowers and it will reward you with continuous colour throughout the year.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.25m x 0.4m | Trim lightly after flowering. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Lavatera x clementii ‘Burgundy Wine’
A bushy semi-evergreen shrub which is a perfect plant if you need to fill a space in the garden. It can grow up to 2.5 metres in both height and width (if left unpruned) and will provide a wonderful spray of flowers in the summer.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 3m x 3m | Cut back as necessary in late winter. Can be cut right down to basal shoots if necessary. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Alcea ‘Spring Celebrities Crimson’
A compact, dwarf, bush perennial with crimson double flowers in summer.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.7m x 0.4m | Remove old flowerheads when finished. | Moist, but well-drained soil. | Full sun. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Ribes sanguineum ‘Amore’
A hardy, deciduous shrub with blackcurrant-scented, lobed leaves. Hanging clusters of romantic red-pink flowers are produced from spring, are held all along the branches and are pleasantly scented with vanilla. Use in a mixed border for an early flower or as part of informal hedge
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1.5m x 1m | Prune to shape after berries, remove and diseased or damaged branches. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun. | Keep well watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Armeria pseudarmeria Dreameria® Daydream
Evergreen Perennial that flowers from early spring until late autumn. Beautiful, small flowers which are great at the front of a border. Remove dead heads for repeated growth.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.25m x0.25m | Pinch growing tips to keep compact, deadhead often to encourage repeat flowering. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’
Can be found in ‘Veronicas Corner’ in our garden. We have planted this at the front of the border. It has dark burgundy foliage with splatters or bright pink to make this one of the most interesting Heucheras there is. Creamy white flowers on purple stems are produced in summer.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 0.5m x 0.5m | Remove faded flower spikes. Cut back any dead or untidy foliage in spring. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to part shade. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Cytisus x boskoopii ‘Hollandia’
This deciduous shrub will add important structure to a garden border with its upright stems – it will offer an impressive display of flowers in late spring. Available in other colours.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1.5m x 1.5m | Prune to shape after flowering | Any good, well-drained soil | Full sun. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Available in your local Hillier Garden Centre.
Magnolia ‘Genie’
Every garden should have a Magnolia Tree in their garden. Why not chose this beauty for its dark pink/crimson colour? A showstopper if we have ever seen one!
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 4m x 1.5m | Only prune in summer when they are in full leaf. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to partial shade. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Magnolia ‘Heaven Scent’
Another perfect pink-coloured Magnolia. Tulip shaped, fragrant flowers that bloom later than most Magnolia’s. Perfect for a small garden.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1.5m x 2m | Only prune in summer when they are in full leaf. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to partial shade. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’
Pale pinks buds opening into a white flower with a deep pink centre. This will also give your garden some spring and autumn interest.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 2.5m x 2.5m | Trim to shape after flowering. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Viburnum ‘bodnantense Dawn’
A deciduous shrub that provides clusters of pink flowers from the stems in the winter. Plant this in the middle of a border.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 3m x 2m | Prune after flowering to improve shape. | Moist but well-drained soil. | Full sun to part shade. | Keep well-watered until established. |
Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.
Escallonia laevis ‘Pink Elle’
A bushy evergreen shrub with large heads of mid-pink flowers. Would also look great in a container.
Hillier plant care advice
| Height x Spread | Pruning | Soil | Sun | Water |
| 1m x 1m | Prune after flowering to shape. | Any good, well-drained soil. | Full sun to part shade. | 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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