When you’re sorting out or revamping your garden you’ll need a great garden centre you can trust. Here are some of the best in Suffolk that will deliver just what you’re after

Great British Life: Woolpit NurseriesWoolpit Nurseries (Image: Archant)

Woolpit nurseries

Woolpit Nurseries Ltd, Old Stowmarket Rd, Woolpit, IP30 9QS | 07766 312201 | 01359 240370

Things to do in the flower garden

Dead head the daffodils and narcissi. Treat the lawn for moss, which may have been a problem this winter.

With the mower, don’t lower the cutting blades too early. Support any of the taller perennials, such as delphiniums. It’s a great time to plant new perennials. Keep watering baskets and containers, liquid feed once a week. In a dry spell, any newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials will need watering. Keep on top of the weeding, by hand and the hoe.

If you require any more advice, then please contact them through the website linked above.

Follow them on Facebook and Twitter

Great British Life: Caribbean BlindsCaribbean Blinds (Image: Archant)

Caribbean Blinds

Woodhall Business Park, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 1WH

Make the most of your home and garden with Caribbean Blinds luxury external shading systems, that perfectly control the ambient conditions, transforming the use, functionality and enjoyment from all types of spaces.

From stylish patio awnings that provide instant shade and shelter, to innovative external blinds that offer unbeatable solar heat and light control and award winning louvered roof Outdoor Living Pods that allow year round use of the outdoor space, whatever the weather, they have the perfect external shading system for your application and budgets.

Designed, engineered and built to last, their external shading systems are proudly manufactured at their factory in Sudbury, Suffolk by highly skilled craftsman and state of the art machinery to ensure they meet exacting standards and are the very pinnacle of precision. Their team take great pride and care in crafting every external shading system to clients exact specification and requirements, ensuring every detail and finish is perfect, right down even to the colour of the stitching. Installation is carried out by their own trained technicians with minimum fuss and maximum attention to detail, ensuring a seamless journey from concept to completion.

Take control of the weather and enjoy sun, shade or shelter at the touch of a button. Caribbean Blinds has got you covered.

Follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Great British Life: TomlinsonTomlinson (Image: Archant)

Tomlinson Groundcare

Hall Orchard, Buxhall, Stowmarket, IP14 3DL | 01449 736060

To achieve the perfect lawn you will require three main things; weather, equipment and time. No one can control the weather but the correct choice of equipment will influence how much time you spend on lawn maintenance. When looking to buy a new lawn mower work out what size of area you need to cut and also think of the terrain as this will make a huge difference to what mower is required. Tomlinson Groundcare Ltd is situated in 20 acres of lovely grounds at Buxhall nr Stowmarket and offer ‘try before you buy’, free advice and the option of demonstrations at your premises. The company was founded by the late Robert Tomlinson in 1991 who always wanted his customers to have an experience rather than just purchase a mower. That is still their ethos and their motto is: ‘We can’t sell you time but we can sell the right equipment to save you time’. So if lawn maintenance is a chore rather than a pleasure contact them to discuss all your requirements from a hand trowel to a 125hp tractor.

Facebook and Instagram

Great British Life: HillcrestHillcrest (Image: Archant)

Hillcrest Nurseries LTD

Hillcrest Nurseries, Barningham Road, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds IP31 2DU | 01359 250327

Hillcrest is a family run Plant Nursery, Farm Shop, Butchery, Delicatessen and Coffee Shop whose doors have been open for over 25 years. Starting off as a small plant stall on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds, it has grown into a place that can be enjoyed by all.

We cater for all abilities within the gardening world with our staff always on hand to offer in-depth knowledge into our range of fantastic plants.

Being part of a loyal community allows us to love what we do and for us, being able to offer a range of perennials, annuals, bedding, trees, shrubs and more give us joy throughout the seasons. Hillcrest has everything you need to make your garden just that little bit more special this year!

We are located just off the A143 on the B111 in Stanton with ample free parking. Shopping locally has never been so easy…

Facebook

Great British Life: Tattingstone Garden CentreTattingstone Garden Centre (Image: Archant)

Tattingstone Garden Centre

The Nursery, The Heath, Tattingstone, Ipswich. IP9 2LX | 01473 327777 | 01473 327737 (for garden machinery) | sales@tgclawnmowers.co.uk

Their successful garden machinery service with a showroom features a vast range of machinery from well-known manufacturers and they have recently extended their range into robotic lawn mowers so come and see our demo model on site.

Their fully-equipped workshop offers repair and servicing facilities alongside their own well-stocked parts department. They also offer a collection and delivery service if required.

If you want to keep your lawn in tip-top shape this season you will need to start mowing as soon as you notice growth. Set your mowing height quite high so no more than one quarter of the length is cut off.

It is best to mow little and often during this time. As the season moves along be sure to gradually reduce the height of the cut to achieve your desired finish.

Follow them on Facebook

Great British Life: MarlowsMarlows (Image: Archant)

• Marlows Garden Centre

Marlows Home and Garden Ltd, Hollow Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7AP | 01284 763 155

Marlows Home & Garden Centre is the home of perfect plants, horticultural expertise, stylish living, mechanical genius and a tasty café - all wrapped up in a recently re-developed, Scandinavian inspired venue for a great trip out.

The planteria has a great variety of seasonal plants in stock and lots of expertise on hand to help you. You can pick up some bedding plants that make you smile, grow something delicious or simply add a decorative focal point to your garden. Marlows receive seasonal deliveries of amazing specimen plants and topiary from Italy, hand-picked by their very own plantsman, Pete.

With everything from bedding plants to 80 year old olive trees, there is something to inspire everyone. The Tripp Batt mower & machinery department boasts one of the best showrooms in East Anglia. You could even wave goodbye to mowing the lawn, should you buy a robot mower from one of the trained machinery experts.

The lifestyle section is brimming with stylish homeware, beautiful gifts and a huge range of quality garden furniture and BBQs. The Kitchen café has a cool relaxed vibe and is an ideal venue for meeting friends, family or working lunches with free Wi-Fi. During the warmer months you can enjoy the delicious food and drink out in the sun on the terrace.

Great British Life: KatiesKaties (Image: Archant)

Katies Garden

6 Ipswich Rd, Newbourne, Woodbridge IP12 4NS | 01473 736717

Katie’s Garden is an independent, family run nursery in Suffolk. Unlike garden centres, their focus is purely on the plants. Their experienced staff offer a friendly, helpful service and the quality plants are sold at a competitive price.

Whether gardening is your passion, or you just want something simple and easy to brighten up the patio, they have the plants for you. Most of the stock is grown by them on the two-acre site, so you can be confident that the plants sold are strong and healthy and should thrive with the right care.

Their carefully selected range includes perennials, roses, lavenders, bedding & annuals, herbs, alpines, climbers, grasses, shrubs, ferns, trees and conifers as well as fruit bushes, vegetables, bulbs and more, depending on the season.

They can plant up your tubs and hanging baskets to order and will usually have pre-planted pots and baskets available to buy - perfect for gifts, or as a treat for yourself! Unlike garden centres, their focus is firmly on the plants - with the exception of compost and a small choice of pots they sell nothing else. The knowledgeable staff offer a friendly, helpful service and buying direct from the grower means you save money without having to compromise on quality.

Follow them on Facebook

Great British Life: BellflowerBellflower (Image: Archant)

Bellflower Garden Centre

Woodfarm Business Centre, Stonham Rd, Crowfield, IP6 9TH | 01449 711103

Established in 2014 on the site of the existing garden centre at Stonham Barns in Stonham Aspal, Bellflower Garden Centre has undergone a transformation over the last 4 years with a lot of work having been undertaken to renovate and improve the garden centre. There has also been a shift in focus towards providing quality British Grown plants, many of which are grown locally in East Anglia.

Having studied horticulture at university, worked in garden centres in both the UK and Australia, worked on three Chelsea Gold Medal winning displays with Thorncroft Clematis, and with over 10 years in the industry it is safe to say that Manager Gareth Roberts is now an expert in his field. Giving customers knowledgeable advice, hints and tips, Gareth is passionate about ensuring customers get the best out of their plants.

Bellflower Garden Centre work closely with Thorncroft Clematis and offer a good range of Clematis from Thorncroft as well as hosting Thorncroft’s annual Clematis Pruning Demonstrations every February and March.

In addition to plants the garden centre also offers an extensive range of other garden products such as tools, pots and compost where again the focus is on providing quality at affordable prices, as well as a good range of animal and pet feeds and accessories.

Follow them on Facebook

Great British Life: Cherry Lane Garden Centres - Early Dawn NurseriesCherry Lane Garden Centres - Early Dawn Nurseries (Image: Archant)

Cherry Lane Garden Centres

Early Dawn Nurseries and Garden Centre by Cherry Lane, Rushmere Road, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, NR33 8HA | 01502 477041

Cherry Lane - Long Melford, High Street, Long Melford, CO10 9DH | 01787 311889

The country’s seventh biggest garden centre group, Cherry Lane is the UK’s only chain of value garden centres.

Each Cherry Lane Garden Centre offers a fantastic range of plants, trees, and everything else for the garden, not to mention an amazing range of outdoor garden furniture and lighting. The stores also have well stocked pet care and wildlife departments, plus great value clothing, giftware, indoor furniture and homewares and much more. With welcoming onsite coffee shops, a visit to Cherry Lane is a great day out.

Cherry Lane prides itself on amazing prices at all times so you can always be sure of the highest quality but at the lowest possible prices. Its expert buying team ensure quality and stock levels are consistently high all year round. Many of Cherry Lane’s plants are homegrown too, delivering the freshest possible plants to help you make the most of your garden this summer - and beyond!

Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

______________

Follow Suffolk Mag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram