Page 58 • The HERALD • 19th February 2026 v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 12TH MARCH v DOWN THE GARDEN PATH SPADEWORK Family Landscaping & Fencing Team ] Decking & Natural Sandstone Paving ] Patios ] Driveways ] Block Paving ] Turfing ] All Types of Domestic & Commercial Fencing ] Security Fencing Supplied & Fitted Tel: (023) 8089 4909 Mobile: 07703 566814 u Free Estimates u Fully Insured • HEDGE CUTTING • FENCING • PATIOS • TURFING • GARDEN CLEARANCES & MORE For a FREE quotation please call 023 8122 4550 or 07548 355262 AUTUMN LEAF GARDEN WORKS • All types of trees expertly felled, topped & pruned • Stump Grinding • Hedges pruned & trimmed • Lawns Laid • Fencing & garden work • Rubbish Clearance • Patios & drives jet-washed • Patios & Drives resurfaced or replaced Registerd Waste Carrier Licence CBDU374716 H Fully Insured H Evening: 01794 522092 Daytime Mobile: 07511 863693 Email: treefellers@gmx.com All Aspects of Garden Work Undertaken • Driveways • Paving • Artificial Grass • Turfing • Decking • Fencing • Hedge Cutting • Landscaping Hythe Garden Contractors Family company established 1977 For a free quotation please call 023 8084 3556 or 023 8084 0378 oughtful gi ing is evolving, with more people choosing plants over cut owers, buying living gi s that can last months or even years rather than just a few days. While cut owers look beautiful for a week, living plants keep growing, providing colour, interest and enjoyment season a er season. ey are kinder to the planet too, with many varieties lasting for years, o en supplied in recyclable pots and frequently grown in Britain, helping to reduce air miles and support UK growers. e team at British Garden Centres has put together ideas of living gi s for every occasion, from compact roses and elegant orchids to ready-to-go pre-planted planters, showcasing why living gi s are set to bloom in popularity throughout 2026. Roses: Choose from bare root roses for traditional garden planting or potted patio varieties that are ready to go straight away. Potted roses ower again and again with a lovely scent and work beautifully on patios or balconies. Miniature roses are perfect for windowsills. Whether it’s a bare root for a keen gardener or a potted patio rose for someone with limited space, they’re ideal for anniversaries or saying thank you properly. Orchids: e classic Phalaenopsis orchids come in white, pink or purple and ower for months. Dendrobium varieties give you those pretty sprays of delicate blooms. ey’re easier to keep going than most people think, and are the perfect gi for a loved one, friend, teacher, or just to show someone your appreciation. Houseplants: Peace lilies forgive you if you forget to water them and clean the air. Snake plants are brilliant in bedrooms. Pothos trails beautifully down shelves. Rubber plants make a real statement with those big, glossy leaves. Parlour palms bring that tropical feel without the hassle. Pre-planted arrangements: These arrive looking the business and are perfect for instant impact in the garden, windowsill or patio. Winter violas with ivy, spring bulb collections, summer displays with vibrant bedding plants, autumn heathers, or mixed herbs for the kitchen windowsill. Whatever the Give A Sustainable Gift That Grows Advice from British Garden Centres taste and their gardening skill, we have the gi for the special occasion that will bring a smile to any face. Garden stalwarts: ese are permanent gi s that establish and improve year a er year. Dwarf holly produces masses of glossy red berries from November through February, perfect for adding winter interest to gardens or large pots. Hebes provide evergreen structure and produce ower spikes in summer with minimal maintenance. Lavender owers profusely from June to August, attracts pollinators, and can be harvested for drying, whilst azaleas deliver spectacular spring displays with masses of blooms in vivid pinks, reds, purples or whites. All come back bigger and better the next year and make a stunning long-term gi for dedicated gardeners. Herbs: Why not give the gi of aroma and taste? Pots of rosemary, thyme, basil, chives, mint or parsley are perfect for the kitchen windowsill or patio. Cooks love these because there’s something genuinely satisfying about snipping fresh herbs straight into the pan rather than buying those sad plastic packets from the supermarket. Rosemary and thyme are evergreen, so they keep going through winter. Basil brings that summer Mediterranean avour, whilst mint is perfect for mojitos, teas or new potatoes. ey’re practical gi s that get used almost daily and smell incredible when you brush past them. Succulents and Cacti: Perfect gi s for busy people, students, or anyone who›s killed a few houseplants in their time. Echeveria forms gorgeous rosettes in silvery blues and greens, whilst jade plants develop into little trees with thick, glossy leaves and can live for decades. String-of-pearls trails beautifully down shelves with those distinctive bead-like leaves. ey all cope brilliantly if you forget to water them for weeks. Low maintenance, architectural, and nearly Continued on page 59
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