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Fulham Palace Garden Centre

Alleyn Park Garden Centre
The emphasis here is on quality – the olive trees are hand-picked in Tuscany and many of the plants are sourced from small UK growers. Knowledgeable staff are happy to help novices and expert landscape gardeners alike. Plants are displayed by type, such as ‘plants for shady places’ and ‘drought-resistant plants’.
Best-sellers Herbaceous perennials like hostas, peonies, salvia and nemesia; camelias.
Alleyn Park Garden Centre, 77 Hall Rd, SE21 (020 8670 7788/www.alleynpark.co.uk) West Dulwich rail. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm.

Camden Garden Centre
This award-winning garden centre employs disadvantaged Londoners. Here you will find a good selection of plants for window boxes and hanging baskets as well as terracotta pots, medicinal herbs, trellises and fencing.
Best-sellers Trellis fencing, geraniums, pansies and rhododendrons.
Camden Garden Centre, 2 Barker Drive, NW1 (020 7387 7080/www.camdengardencentre.co.uk) Camden Town tube. Open Apr-Sept Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat 9am-5.30pm, Wed, Thur 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm
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The Chelsea Gardener
A fine selection of garden equipment, plants and paving stones are available at this Chelsea institution, founded in 1984 on the site of Old Brompton Hospital. There’s much emphasis here on quality garden furniture, including giant copper and terracotta vases, posh La Hacienda and Weber barbecues and chic Kettler outdoor tables and chairs. The garden centre also offers a landscaping service.
Best-sellers Olive trees, jasmine and small vegetable plants.
The Chelsea Gardener, Chelsea Farmers’ Market, 125 Sydney St, SW3 (020 7352 5656/www.chelseagardener.com) Sloane Square tube or 11, 19, 22, 49, 211 bus. Open Mon, Tue, Thur-Sat 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-8pm (late opening during summer months only), Sun 12noon-6pm.

Clifton Nurseries

Clifton Nurseries
This is one of London’s oldest (established in 1864) , located in the heart of Little Venice. There’s an excellent range of quality plants, trees and cut flowers plus conservatory furniture, tools, accessories and a plant finder service.There’s also an airy branch of Daylesford Organic where you’ll find luxurious but understated garden accessories and organic produce. Throughout the summer, Clifton is running garden-themed events on Wednesday nights from 5.30pm until 8pm.
Best-sellers Ivy, herbs and Mediterranean plants.
Clifton Nurseries, 5a Clifton Villas, W9 (020 7289 6851/www.clifton.co.uk) Warwick Avenue tube. Open Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri, Sat 8.30am-5.30pm, Wed 8.30am-8pm (late opening during summer months only), Sun 10.30am-4.30pm.

C Rassells
A wonderful, traditional garden centre selling a wide range of plants and seeds as well as fertilisers, pots and tools. Locals love this place for its old-fashioned charm and no-nonsense service.
Best-sellers Annual bedding plants including geraniums, lobelias and the more unusual scented tobacco plants.
C Rassells, 80 Earl’s Court Rd, W8 (020 7937 0481) Earl’s Court tube. Open Apr-mid-July Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat 9am-5.30pm, Thur 9am-6.30pm, Sun 11am-5.30pm.(during summer months only otherwise closed Sundays)

Fulham Palace Garden Centre

Fulham Palace Garden Centre
At this large garden centre on leafy Bishops Avenue, the staff are helpful and the selection of plants is strong. The fine bedding plants and shrubs make it stand out from local competition. There’s also an attractive shop selling everything from handsome terracotta pots to chic gardening gear and posh pet accessories.
Best-sellers Evergreen climbers such as honeysuckle and jasmine.
Fulham Palace Garden Centre, Bishops Avenue, SW6 (020 7736 9820) Putney Bridge tube. Open Mon-Thur 9.30am-5.30pm, Fri, Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm.

Ginkgo Garden Centre
This jungle-like garden centre is a hidden gem. Here you’ll trip upon an inspiring mix of trees and plants from orange trees to New Zealand ferns. Topiary, herbaceous plants and climbers can be found outside while in the greenhouse you’ll unearth fruit and vegetables. Ginkgo also offers an award-winning landscape design and build department, a makeover (Two people £149 for 2 hours plus VAT) and garden tidy-up service and tree surgery.
Best-sellers Herbaceous perennials including astrantia major (masterwort), ligularia dentata (golden groundsel) and macleaya microcarpa ‘Kelway’s Coral Plume’ (plume poppy).
Ginkgo Garden Centre, railway arches, Ravenscourt Avenue, off King St, W6 (020 8563 7112/ www.ginkgogardens.co.uk) Ravenscourt Park tube. Open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

Growing Concerns
Hidden between the Union Canal and the St Mark’s Gate entrance of Victoria Park, this community garden centre is staffed by a team of horticulturalists and garden designers who are intent on improving the environment for those living in the East End. You can sign up for one of its gardening classes which include learning how to make a hanging basket. They also serve up a splendid carrot cake in the very pleasant café.
Best-sellers Strawberries and herbs such as lavender, rosemary and mint.
Growing Concerns, 2 Wick Lane, E3 (020 8985 3222/www.growingconcerns.org) Bow Rd tube or F2, 8 bus. Open Tue – Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm.

North One Garden Centre

North One Garden Centre
This Islington company – recently voted Garden Centre of the Year for 2007 by the Horticultural Trades Association – could entice the most reluctant gardener to get their hands dirty. The owner imports seasonal accessories such as furniture, pots, lanterns and outdoor candles from Holland, based on high-street trends; look out for the stunning lavender-hued glazed pots and black stone table and stool set currently in stock. Plants, which include a fine range of indoor and outdoor varieties and some tropical species, are displayed in complementary groups so it’s easy to see what will work together in your flowerbed or window box. North One also offers a design and maintenance service so you can enlist the help of award-winning garden designer Julie Zelden (Maintenance from £25 per hour/ Design from £45 per Hour).
Best-sellers Lavender and Mediterranean herbs such as basil and coriander.
North One Garden Centre, The Old Button Factory, 25a Englefield Rd, N1 (020 7923 3553/www.n1gc.co.uk) Essex Rd rail or 76, 141 bus. Open daily 9.30am-6pm, Thur until 7pm.