IF you’ve not seen the hype around the Salix Flamingo tree in recent weeks, then you must’ve been living under a rock.
The bargain buy, which features a stunning bright pink plumage, has sent gardening fans into a frenzy, with many saying they’re the perfect way to inject a pop of colour into your outdoor haven with minimal effort.
Amongst them is a social media user named Hari, who took to TikTok (@all_things_hari) and urged his followers to “run and not walk” to Asda for their £13 Salix Flamingo trees.
Demonstrating how he then used them to transform his garden, he explains: “I dug out the holes, popped some compost in, added the plants and the trees, then went in with the weed membrane and spread some bark over the top to finish it off.”
Delighted with the results, Hari goes on to say that the flower beds look “so much better” than they did before and expressed his excitement for the trees to grow and look even more “fabulous.”
The Salix Flamingo, also known as the Hakuro-Nishiki willow tree, are also a great way to add height, which is perfect for both shade and privacy.
Love these trees – got one in my front garden it’s grown lovely over the past 7 years
Social media user
Plus, they’re super low maintenance and require pruning just once in the summer and winter – and should flower every spring, making them the ideal choice of amateur gardeners.
It wasn’t long before Hari’s post went viral, racking up a whopping 370k views and several comments from very impressed social media users.
“Love these trees – got one in my front garden it’s grown lovely over the past 7 years,” praised one.
A second penned: “My Flamingo tree is beautiful and huge now… 3 years to get to that size…they are pretty quick.”
A third branded them “gorgeous,” while another added: “”Yes, I love these!”
And it turns out Hari isn’t the only shopper who managed to get his hands on them in recent weeks.
Another delighted customer named Zara Parry took to money-saving Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK and told how she snapped one up from Asda for just £13, too.
Notifying other social media users of her bargain, she enthused: “Asda’s flamingo trees are in.”
But with Asda’s Flamingo Salix trees selling out, some told how they raced to B&M where they managed to snap up an even cheaper version.
The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared her top five bulbs to plant in your garden or in pots, over the next couple of weeks to have a lovely display during the summer months.
Summer bulbs are guaranteed to bring light and colour to your outside space and are a perfect way to transform a drab bed or area.
Have a look at online voucher sites like Wowcher or Living Social which often have incredible deals on summer bulbs – the other day I spotted 300 bulbs for £29.99, bargain!
They can be planted – pointed end up – about three times the bulb depth. And they can go straight into the ground or into pots.
The beauty of pots is that they can be moved around the garden to brighten up a corner – or if you fancy a bit of a transformation.
When it comes to colour, designers suggest that you go for bright reds and yellows near your back door – which tricks the eye into making your garden look bigger.
And if you go for paler blues and pinks at the end of the garden, it makes it look longer. So experiment with different colour schemes to see which brings you the most joy.
If you fancy a tropical theme – you can go for bulbs like Crocosmia – which show off big greeny space filling foilage for months – then stun with bright yellowy orange spikey flowers later in the summer.
It comes back bigger each year – which is great and not so great when it starts to take over. Calla lilies, Cannas and lilies are also very tropical looking.
Gladioli are fabulous and showy for cottage garden feels, and not only do Peonies look fab – they come back year after year, which is great for your budget.
Dahlias are absolutely all the rage at the moment – garden influencers love them because they’re an instant Instagram hit. They take a bit of work with pinching out and supports – but are absolute showstoppers.
Fabulous previously told how amateur gardener Fran revealed she’d found Salix Flamingo trees in her local B&M for under £20.
Rushing online to share a snap of the plant of the moment, she penned: “If anyone missed out on the Salix Flamingo trees at Asda the other day, B&M have lots in stock, and better still, they’re only £10!”
Fran added: “I picked up 3 from B&M Dartford this morning. There’s still loads left!”
Elsewhere, some B&M bargain hunters told how they were rushing to buy ‘best little trees’ scanning for £4.
