Andy Connolly
Cornflowers may be beautiful but they can be frustrating too. Plant them with the wrong plants or flowers and it can spell disaster. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when cornflowers end up with bad neighbors. So I’ve got a list of plants that really don’t work together when it comes to planting companions for cornflower. …
Anemones are delicate and beautiful flowers. But they need the right plants around them to work. After a number of seasons watching what works (and more importantly, what doesn’t) with them I’ve put together what I consider the definitive list of plants to keep away from your anemones. Understanding Anemone I’m not going to sugarcoat …
Every beautiful garden has its secrets. And when it comes to growing ranunculus they need to have the right partners. So the following plants are what actually works (and what definitely doesn’t) when it comes to companion planting these fussy flowers. Understanding Ranunculus Ranunculus are buttercup relatives, and have paper thin, multi-layered blooms that look …
Alstroemeria’s (or Peruvian Lily if you prefer) colorful blooms can transform gardens with their lily-like flowers. They alap have and impressive vase life of up to two weeks. But plant them with the wrong neighbors and you’ll have garden drama on your hands. So if you’re planning on planting alstroemeria then there are certain plants …
After spending years trying to grow the perfect cottage garden I’ve killed more Campanula than I would like to admit. Campanulas beautiful bell-shaped blooms have broken my heart more times than my first girlfriend. But I finally cracked the code on what works and what definitely doesn’t when planting them. So I’m going to share …
After spending years watching my garden beds succeed and fail I know very well that what grows next to what matters more than fancy fertilizers or perfect soil conditions. So I’m going to take you through what I’ve discovered about Gypsophila – or Baby’s Breath as most of us call it – and why some …
It’s the dream of many gardeners to have beautiful white gardenia blooms filling your garden with their intoxicating fragrance. After many years of gardening trials (and plenty of gardenia failures), I’ve learned that gardenias can be downright picky about their neighbors. So I’m going to go through what actually works – and more importantly, what …
Scabiosa, or pincushion flower as it’s also known because of the look of its flowers, is beautiful. But if you’re going to plant some then it’s also important to know what not to plant with it. So I’m going to go through what you won’t want to be planting with Scabiosa and why. Understanding Scabiosa …
Eryngium (or Sea Holly) are prickly, thistle-like perennials that attract wildlife and make a dramatic statement. I’ll be honest, I think they look neat. Those coneheads are really striking. But if you’re thinking of growing them then there’s a few plants you’ll want to avoid. They don’t get on with well with any and every …
Growing lisianthus is great. It’s a cracking flower. But choosing what to plant with it, and more importantly what NOT to, is something you have to consider. Some plants just don’t vibe together. And in the garden, those vibes can seriously mess with your blooms. So I’m going to take you through which plants to …