Ross & Ian’s Top Gardening Picks This May

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

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This is the third 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 Hampshire!

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!

As we head into May, our gardens are changing every day. The warmer, longer days are giving us all the opportunity to spend longer in our gardens and work on putting those final touches for early summer.

May and June tend to be our favourite garden months as everything is freshly green and it’s when most roses and herbaceous perennial plants come into their own.

For our plant picks this month, we have picked a lot of the plants that can be found in our garden from the borders we call ‘Veronicas Corner’ and ‘The Queen of Lilac Elegance’. This will hopefully give those of you that asked for the plant names in 2021, the opportunity to purchase these plants directly from Hillier and have them delivered to your front door.

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Verbascum ‘Pink Kisses’

Verbascums are so pretty, we love their upright stems of colour and will look great in any border.

Also take a look at Verbascum ‘Plum Smokey’ and ‘Sugar Plum’ – all available from Hillier.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.3m x 0.45m	Remove faded flower spikes.	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Heuchera ‘Silver Gumdrop’

Another shade loving evergreen plant that will add lots of interest to any border!

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.4m x 0.4m	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.

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Hosta ‘Patriot’

One of our favourite Hosta’s in the garden. It has green leaves with a white outer edge. This will also flower with spikes of funnel-shaped, lavender-blue flowers.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.5m x 0.5m	Remove dead foliage at the end of the season	Moist but well-drained soil.	Partial to full shade	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’

This repeat flowering perennial worked so well last year and it was the first time we had grown it. We loved it that much we have purchased a pink variety called Scabiosa Pink Mist – also available from Hillier.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.45m x 0.40m	Cut back faded flowers as necessary and remove any dead foliage in winter	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Allium ‘Millennium’

Allium ‘Millennium’ is a fantastic mid- late-summer-flowering allium, bearing large, rounded heads of pink-purple flowers in June and July. Like all alliums, its blooms are extremely attractive to a wide range of pollinating insects, the bees love them!

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.5m x 0.5m	No pruning required	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Astrantia ‘Sparkling Stars White’

Astrantia’s are probably one of our favourite perennial plants and you will be finding lots of these in our garden. Can be planted in a shady spot or under a tree. They like moist soil so if you soil is dry like ours, make sure you mulch it!

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
80cm x 35cm	Cut back after flowering	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Athyrium filix-femina’

Ferns love a shady area in the garden. Mix with Hosta’s and other shade loving plants like Astrantias.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.6m x 0.9m	Cut back fronds after flowering	Moist, but well-drained soil.	Full sun to part shade	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum

Another beautiful fern. We have already purchased three of these from Hillier this year for one of our planned borders. Perfect with pink plants!

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.3m x 0.6m	In cold areas in late autumn protect the crown of the plant with a dry mulch of straw	Moist, but well-drained soil.	Full sun to partial shade.	Keep well watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Carex oshimensis ‘Everest’

Add grasses for additional texture to a border. They can be planted in most soil types so perfect for any garden.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
50cm x 50cm	Cut out dead leaves in summer	Any good, well-drained soil.	Full sun to partial shade.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Dahlia ‘Bishop of Canterbury’

Dahlias are great as cut flowers from your garden and will flower right up until the first frosts.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
50cm x 50cm	Cut out dead leaves in summer	Any good, well-drained soil.	Full sun to part shade.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Digitalis x valinii ‘Berry Canary’

This stunning Foxglove, was found at the back of the border and added some much need height. Pink on the outside with a peach/apricot centre, the bees will be loving this addition!

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water	Caution
60cm x 50cm	Cut back the main flower spike as it fades to encourage a second flowering	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.

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Geranium sanguineum ‘Album’

Geraniums are fantastic plants for the front of any border or planted under Roses. After flowering, cut back to the ground for a second round of flowers in the summer.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.5m x 1m	Cut back faded flower stems and foliage in autumn	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’

We grew Nepeta last year for the first time and we were so happy with its performance. Masses of purple flowers what the bees will love.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.5m x 0.5m	Cut back flower spikes for continuous blooms.	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Penstemon ‘Blackbird’

Another one of our favourite perennials is a Penstemon. Flower all summer long and even into December! Don’t cut it back until the Spring as the previous year’s growth will protect it from frosts.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
1m x 0.5m	Remove faded blooms often to prolong flowering. Cut back in spring when new shoots appear.	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun to part shade.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’

Ross’ favourite Penstemon. The colours that come from this plant are so pretty. Looks great with David Austin Rose ‘Queen of Sweden’ and Verbena Bonariensis.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
1m x 0.5m	Remove faded blooms often to prolong flowering. Cut back in spring when new shoots appear.	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun to part shade.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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Salvia x jamensis ‘Amethyst Lips’

Fantastic bright purple and white flowers that will flower all summer long. As this is a Sage plant, you will get a lovely aroma from it when brushing past it in the garden.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.60m x 0.40m	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.

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Saliva ‘Love and Wishes’

One of the main plants in our border ‘Veronicas Corner’. Cut back spent flowers for another flourish later in the summer. Protect from winter frosts.

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.8m x 0.8m	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.

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Zaluzianskya ovata ‘Star Balsam’

From early to late summer, it produces highly fragrant, saucer-shaped, crimson-backed white flowers; these are closed during the day and open in the evening – the smell is incredible!

Hillier plant care advice

Height x Spread	Pruning	Soil	Sun	Water
0.25m x 0.6m	Remove old flowerheads when finished.	Any good, well-drained soil	Full sun to part shade.	Keep well-watered until established.

Visit your local Hillier Garden Centre to purchase.

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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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