Manor Nurseries

Who's Frank?

Frank the Manor Man - a creation of local sculptor Giles Penny (of the famous Body Shop people) - is the main man at Manor Nurseries in Angmering. He now stands just inside the entrance, to meet and greet people and make them feel welcome. Although he is a man of few words, he will regularly be sharing a few words of seasonal wisdom.

Click on Frank for a few fun photos!

Frank says ...

It's been unusually mild for January but don't be tricked into thinking winter is over! Leave the hard pruning a little bit longer ... a sudden hard frost could do the pruning for you. Make sure the pipes are well lagged, and keep those tender plants wrapped or sheltered.

Frank suggests ...

Do you really need to burn it?

Autumn and winter are the traditional seasons for bonfires, but consider the environment ... all those damp leaves smouldering on for hours, pushing more smoke particles out into the atmosphere ... not a good idea. A lot of garden rubbish could be composted, or run through a garden shredder then spread ... it does much more good for your soil too! Spread the leaves out on the beds, brilliant stuff. The earthworms love that!

But if you must have a bonfire, make it a proper big one! Burn it fast then put it out. And please watch out for hedgehogs or other little animals who might have made their home inside ...

Our Plants

For more information on the actual plants that we stock, please look at the sidebar on the left to find the Plants at Manor Nurseries page. There, listed under Additional Pages, you will find sections on Shrubs, Climbers, Perennials, Trees, Roses, Fruit, and we soon hope to post a page on Herbs.

For more general information regarding the best plants for your garden, please check out the Plants for Purposes section, which again has Additional Pages covering a wide range of garden conditions.

Feeding and Fertilizers ...

I know we keep going on about this, (you will find a similar paragraph on the Plants at Manor Nurseries page), but that's only because we keep being asked the same question ... why has my plant died?

One of the biggest problems we have been seeing this year, which has probably been made worse by last winter's harsh weather leaving root systems weakened, has been root damage caused by excess use of fertilizers.

Don't add fertilizer on planting or potting up. Most garden soils contain enough nutrients, and all the proprietary composts are well balanced. Too much fertilizer burns new roots! Better to top dress your garden with organic compost or mulch once the plants are established. Plants in tubs might need feeding a couple of times during the growing season ... apply the feed to moist soil, following the instructions carefully. Don't feed plants during the winter. At best, you're wasting your money ... at worst, you'll kill your plant!

If an existing plant looks sick ... again ... DON'T feed it! Think how you would feel if you were forced to eat steak in a rich cream sauce while feeling poorly ... too much! If the roots have been damaged by harsh weather or overwatering, extra fertilizer will kill them completely. Talk to them tenderly by all means, but let them settle.

A similar problem can be caused by over-watering ... give it a good drink when you plant it, but don't drown it afterwards. If in doubt, dry it out.

Frisky Feral Foxes ...

Another thing we keep nagging about, I know! We are aware of an increasing problem with foxes in this area. PLEASE don't be tempted to feed the urban foxes. They AREN'T pets ... they are wild animals. The newspapers are not just sensationalizing. Foxes can attack children, cats, chickens, fish in your pond ... and they do a lot of damage in the garden. They carry fleas and ticks which will happily jump on to your pets, and they can pass lungworm and mange on to your dogs. They dig up your plants, they eat your bulbs, they smash your flowers to pieces. They chew up furniture, fish ponds, electric cables, fountains, pumps ... just ask our outdoor plant person ... they've even been going into her house, dragging things outside!

They're cute and clever ... but they belong out in the countryside!