Features

New garden products for growers are in abundance on exhibitors' stands in the British pavilion at spoga+gafa 2017.  Among the latest innovations in the growing sector are biodegradable seed pods, raised beds, grow pots, growhouses, self-watering pot systems, plant nutrients, nursery greenhouse products, a simple-to-use weather responsive digital tap timer and a range of gifts for gardeners.   Other sectors of the garden market are also well served with new solar powered lighting, outdoor refrigerators, wall trellis, bird control items, animal deterrents, decorative obelisks, garden storage…

One of the most anticipated horticultural events of the year, the RHS Flower Show took place at Tatton Park, from 19 - 23 July 2017. For its own show feature, Tatton Park built a recreation of one of its earliest and most popular Garden features – the Tatton Maze – complete with a host of secret treasures, such as a 200 million year old meteorite, a priceless seventeenth century Van Dyck painting and lots more.   Tatton Park recreates – the Tatton Maze for RHS Flower Show Established by the 1790s, the Garden Maze was built out of hornbeam and in its centre lives the Green Man, which was…

Burgon & Ball, the UK’s longest-established manufacturer of garden tools and accessories, has won top honours at the GIMA Awards 2017 with its RHS endorsed Ergo Deadheader, an ergonomically-designed compact deadheading tool. In a year of record numbers of entries for the awards, the Sheffield-based manufacturer took first place in the ‘Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements’ category. The Ergo Deadheader is a pint-sized pruner that packs a punch, and has been cleverly designed to be held in a new way. GIMA award win for Burgon & Ball’s Ergo deadheader The finger loop, uniquely…

Maximise your sales and profit with Kings Seeds and Suffolk Herbs collections. The Suffolk Herb collections extend your range of packets that you can offer to your customers whilst appealing to a completely different, subsequently, wider market. All seeds are Tested in Kings own laboratory, stored in our computer controlled store room to ensure the highest possible standard for germination and is packed by Kings to the highest quality control based on over 126 years in the seed industry. The Suffolk Herbs collections - extend your range We have had many memorable events over the last 126…

For over 25 years, we have manufactured quality ultrasonic animal deterrents in the UK. Our products deter cats, foxes, mice, pine martins and other pests from gardens and homes. We are the makers of CATWatch, the only cat deterrent tested and approved by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The device has successfully completed a two-year scientific trial by the RSPB to determine its deterrent effect on cats in residential gardens and has been approved by the RSPB ever since. Ultrasonic animal deterrents CATWatch Ultrasonic Animal DeterrentsAll of our devices which we…

Whether you’re looking to transform your garden into a space to wine and dine this summer, or simply a tranquil place to unwind and relax, Forest Garden’s range of timber garden furniture has a little something to make living outdoors a joy. For alfresco dining or an evening’s entertainment, Forest Picnic Tables are available in a range of sizes with either rectangular or circular table tops. For something more contemporary, Refectory Tables and Sleeper Benches are available individually or in sets of 1.2m and 1.8m - they’re stylish, sturdy and easy to assemble. Refectory Table and Sleeper…

Utilise your outdoor space as another room The trend in recent years has been to utilise your outdoor space as another room and not just as a place for growing plants or as a football pitch for the children. Create an enclosed space by putting up screens and covering them with climbers; add a parasol and you will have created a private, enclosed space.  You can make your garden almost as warm and comfortable as being indoors, with stylish fire-pits and outdoor fires, comfortable all-weather furniture and warm snuggly throws. Gone are the hard ornate cast iron and plain wood garden sets and…

Dog toy brand Chuckit! launches innovative new ‘Hydro’ range of dog toys. Set to transform summer adventures with a water-absorbent core for constant hydration. ‘Hydro’ range of dog toys combining fun and function for Fido.  The unique range, unlike any other on the UK market, is designed to keep parched pooches cool during the hottest summer months, without compromising on play time. Benefitting from a unique ‘HydroSqueeze’ concept, the HydroSqueeze Duo Tug (Medium RRP, £15.99) HydroSqueeze ball (Medium RRP, £6.99) and HydroSqueeze Bumper (Medium RRP, £14.99) are reimagined versions of…

Do you have rattan furniture in your garden? With it being one of the most popular choices for garden furniture there is a good chance that you do. Rattan furniture is exceptionally popular due to the fact it needs very little maintenance. Good quality rattan furniture is rust-proof, weather resistant and easy to wipe clean if there are any unavoidable spillages.  However, that doesn’t mean you should neglect your furniture completely. At White Stores, we believe taking care of your furniture means that it will exceed its guarantee and continue to serve your needs for years to come.  A…

At the recent RHS Chelsea Flower Show miniature gardening made an appearance alongside the amazing show gardens, floral displays and trade stands. Working with the Horticultural Trades Association and Perennial, the Gardener’s charity, Fiddlehead produced a large fairy garden on the roof of a garden shed, as part of the HTA show garden 40 Sunbury Road.  Using live moss and over 100 Alpines & Conifers, plus a wide selection from the Fiddlehead range, the fairy garden attracted a lot of interest from the media and public alike. The show garden won a silver medal for the best inspirational…

Germany’s oldest consumer-goods fair banks on the latest outdoor trends with real plants and outdoor furnishings Green is often in short supply in urban settings. And this even though the colour spectrum from lime to moss has a particularly soothing effect on the human psyche. There is no doubt that many townspeople, suffering from permanent stress, lack a calming influence. Hence, the trend towards natural structures and colours for the home, decorations and tableware is almost self-explanatory. A ray of hope for many people who yearn for more forest, countryside and meadows in the hustle…

Coffee Logs Coffee is the drink which powers many of us through the working day – but thanks to bio-bean, thousands of tonnes of the UK’s spent coffee grounds are now being transformed into a revolutionary new product to power our homes. Coffee Logs – a carbonneutral solid fuel, ideal for woodburners, stoves and open fires – have taken the market by storm since their launch in October 2016, attracting attention from the BBC, ITV, The Sun, The Telegraph, CBS and many, many more. Each briquette contains the recycled grounds from 25 americanos, cappuccinos or lattes – and because of coffee…

Everyone’s A Winner Do you run, or have contact with, a local gardening club?  Would you like to encourage new gardeners, especially young ones, to become involved? Fiddlehead, the miniature gardening experts, are giving away trophies to independent gardening clubs, for the winner of the “best miniature garden” category. If your club doesn’t include that category yet, simply create it and contact Fairyglass Ltd for a trophy. There’s no requirement to use commercial miniature garden products, and no cost to the gardening club- even postage is paid for. Miniature gardening is a great…

Vivagreen have produced a series of straightforward information videos which can be personalised for new MossOff stockists. The team from Vivagreen have been working with Diarmuid Gavin to produce a series of short information videos to explain the benefits of their unique new MossOff product.   To support their garden centre stockists they are also making personalized versions of the videos available so that centres can use thems in their own online marketing and social media campaigns. To find out how to become a MossOff stockist, how to contact your local agent and more about how to get…

Who knows what this summer will bring. In the past we have had both drought and flooding, and last year it was cold and dreary in May and June, only to get hot and dry in August. Whatever the weather a beautiful garden needs a well-presented lawn to set it off. You may feel your lawn is for the children to use as their playground, or for adults to use for parties and BBQs. Whatever the demands are for your lawn we all need healthy grass plants to give us green comfort under foot and the secret to healthy grass leaves lies in the grass roots. Healthy grass roots produce denser leaves with a…

A Piece of Cake? HTA Catering Conference and Dinner 13-14 June 2017 Catering continues to play a huge role in the make-up of garden centres accounting for in excess of 25% of sales in many cases. Over half of all garden centres have a café or restaurant with many having invested further to increase their covers and grow their offer. Complex businesses in their own right, there are many elements to consider from menu planning, cost control and staff recruitment to menu development, service options, allergens and much more. Help is on hand!  Bookings are now being taken for the HTA…