Features

With vibrant colours that brighten up any outside space or more subtle tones that can create a relaxing floral oasis geraniums can transform gardens, patios and terraces – whatever the size. Loved for their stunning flower heads, geraniums (also known as Pelargonium) are real beauties with gorgeous green leaves and fabulous flowers in a variety of colours such as red, white, pink, purple, lilac and orange. Great as a pop of colour in the summer garden, Pelargonium for Europe know that geraniums take centre stage when it comes to garden makeovers and container planting. The joy about…

LifestyleGarden®, the pioneer of the ground breaking DuraOcean® chair and stunning outdoor furniture ranges backed by an environmental and sustainable business agenda, has taken steps to ensure that extensive stock of its leading product portfolio is readily available to its customers including those set-up with transactional webstores, in a bid to meet consumer demand during the nationwide lockdown. Since the Government ordered all non-essential retailers, including garden centres, to close their doors just weeks before the peak Easter sales period, LifestyleGarden® has vowed to support its…

From gardening tools to revolutionary new product designs, too often those behind the original design forget to ensure their intellectual property is protected, says Adam Turley, Intellectual Property specialist at Baines Wilson LLP. The effects of doing so can have tremendous consequences on businesses financially, as well as rendering the benefits of originality virtually invisible. Knowing how to protect and maximise your intellectual property, particularly within the garden trade, ensuring that it is solely you and your team who reap the rewards of your creation, is fundamental.…

Owning a dog and having a beautiful garden do not have to be mutually exclusive; however when tending to your garden and planting for spring it is important to consider the plants and products that can be poisonous, in order to look after your pet’s health. It's a well known fact that foods such as chocolate are toxic to dogs, but there are hundreds of plants which can also pose a danger without owners realising. For example, most mushrooms are non-toxic to dogs so their risks are discussed less, however a small few can cause paralysis or even death so it is safer to remove all mushrooms from…

Many of us feel anxious and depressed at some point in our lives. In the UK, nearly a fifth of adults experience depression or anxiety, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data also found that women were more likely to report that they suffer from the conditions than men. Key reasons were said to be overthinking and big life events, including family bereavement. Of course, anyone can be at risk of the illness, but certain genetic variations may make some more prone to the condition than others. Unfortunately, while anti-depressants are prescribed to help as a mood…

Unfortunately, in recent years the bee population has seen a drastic decline — a third of bees have died, and if they became extinct this would have devastating effects on our ecosystem. This is because bees pollinate around 70 of the 100 different crop species that provide food for 90 per cent of the global population. It can be extremely rewarding helping wildlife thrive by attracting animals to a garden – here's what to invest in to help create a natural haven for animals… Water features Ideally, if your garden is big enough, you’d be able to integrate a pond.  This, no matter how big or…

Natural Grower is a nutrient rich organic, vegan fertiliser that is free from any animal matter and made from the by-product of a renewable energy plant that is fed with maize to make electricity for the National Grid. The business which launched last year is Organic Farmers and Growers, The Vegan Society and Soil Association approved and won the GIMA Innovators award in September 2019. The brand is looking forward to being stocked nationwide in 2020, with a distribution partnership agreement confirmed with Decco. Decco are the biggest national wholesaler and distributor to the garden centre…

Gena Lorainne from Fantastic Services speaks to Garden Trade Specialist magazine about the best ways to prepare your garden for Spring. Spring is an ideal time to start off the “gardening season”. So take the time during late winter to prepare the garden for all the new plants and flowers you will sow, by following these steps: 1. Rid your lawn of weeds The removal of weeds is the first essential step you need to take when preparing your garden for spring. Partaking in this chore will help tidy up the space where your plants will be sown. Make sure the soil is moist before you start weeding…

Every idea has to start somewhere and in the case of the annual Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk it started at a bar where many “great” ideas begin!   The brainchild of Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, the Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk has become an integral part of the Garden Re-Leaf agenda, and to-date it has seen hundreds of walkers rack up the miles in places such as London, Cambridge and Buckinghamshire.   Now in its sixth year, the event welcomes almost 100 people from across the garden retail sector as well as other Greenfingers supporters – a far cry from the 30 walkers who embarked on the first…

Kali Stileman Publishing was established in 2002 by Kali Stileman, the owner and designer, who has previous experience in ceramics and teaching. The business focuses on design led luxury greetings cards, gift wrap and homeware for children and the young at heart, and has gone from strength to strength since its small beginnings.  Kali Stileman Publishing stands out with its joyful and unique designs, which are printed on luxury thick board. Their tiddly widdly range, a vast selection of mini cards, has had huge success. Their latest designs include the wordy tiddly widdlies, which feature…

Thorndown is delighted to introduce the new Somerset Heritage Colour Collection, celebrating the beautiful tones and colours of the countryside. These 18 new colours provide an additional palette to compliment the 48 colours in the Wood Paint range, and are made with the same leading eco water-based technology that makes Thorndown’s Wood Paint so high-performingly brilliant.   As the county of Somerset abounds with nature, this collection of eighteen new wood paint colours is rustling with the browns and greens of hill and field, and brimming with the deep reflective blues of the water…

Following a period of unprecedented growth, Primeur, the leading suppliers of environmentally friendly and innovative garden products, has continued to roll out its instore merchandising displays, revolutionising garden retailers’ sales floors in the process. The Eco Garden range, which includes Primeur’s award winning recycled rubber stepping stones and garden borders, were originally housed on pallets and took up a large footprint instore.  Following customer feedback, the merchandising units were transformed into attractive and streamlined stands with of footprint of just 0.8m². Now coming…

When Crufts airs on our televisions this year (5th-8th March), some of the best-groomed pooches in the nation will be gracing our screens. Grooming treatment is not just for the dogs taking to the stage next month, though; it also plays an essential part in keeping them healthy overall. From clipping their nails to brushing their coats, a bit of pampering is an essential part of maintaining your dog’s overall health. Regardless of whether your dog is best in show, or prefers to stay at home, care, attention and careful grooming treatment can prevent a range of health issues, such as…

Teak is a product of natural beauty and as such, no two examples are ever exactly the same. The unique blend of grain and colouring can vary from light to dark brown. Occasionally you may see a pinkish tint which is due to the kilning process and is particularly apparent on items that have been stored in cartons. On exposure to natural light, any colour variations will steadily even out. With time teak wood will gradually weather to a soft, silver grey. Once teakwood has weathered, the colour will be enhanced by an annual scrub with soapy water to remove accumulated dirt. Alternatively, you…

New Century Glasshouses Ltd is a family run business specialising in the supply and erection of second-hand refurbished Venlo glasshouses. The Managing Director, Ken Sharpe has over 50 years experience in the horticultural supply business and he leads a small team of dedicated staff to ensure the services provided are of the highest quality. The Company employs its own Site Team of specialised and experienced erectors, led by the Site Manager Graham Dixon, who has worked with Ken for over 30 years. Based in Lincolnshire, the experienced and friendly staff, handle work across the UK…

The Ace Supply Company Ltd (trading as Streetwize Accessories), who are now in their 34th year of trading, are expanding their Gardenwize range with the introduction of decorative planters, a new solar light range and soft garden furnishings which include scatter cushions, ottomans and seat cushions. The new decorative planter range by Gardenwize are all made from fiberstone to withstand various weather conditions and are ideal for both flowers and plants. They’ve been elegantly designed to add character and reinvigorate your garden.  The solar light range brings your garden to life during…