'Willpower & sheer idiocy combine in harmony'
New products for gardeners
Calling Doctor Who fans - Tardis bird feeder
DECO-Pak’s handmade homes and feeders for birds has branched out from the architecturally-inspired range to include vintage and new insect hotels.
There's 10 collections, including The Best of British, Beach, Hatchlings, Printed, Christmas and the Signature collection, inspired by classic British landmarks, including pubs, a red telephone box, a dovecote and a Tardis! Prices start from £16.99 RRP, insect hotels from £9.99.
The company’s water feature and statuary range – the Eastern Stone Collection – has sleek lines, sweeping curves and stunning colour swirls in natural sandstone. The range includes seven water features, such as the natural stone Slate Monolith (RRP £199.99), planters (the Tulip, RRP £1899.99 and the Birdbath (RRP £299.99). There's also a bench (RRP £399.99), and the industry acclaimed 900mm Buddha Head.
The 'Downton Abbey' effect has led to a fashion for gravel - and its anti-crime properties. ‘Crunchy gravel’ is so named thanks to the noise it makes underfoot. Police advise homeowners to install gravel paths and driveways, especially around the house and by the garden shed - burglars look for low risk, easy targets.
The Heritage Stone Co. is made up of eight premium decorative aggregates made up of gravel and pot toppers - features colours and styles such as English Rose, Yorkshire Gold, Tudor Marble and Cornish Silver.
The winner of the Tardis bird feeder competition is Julie, @gone_shopping, of West Yorkshire.
For more information on all the above, log on to www.deco-pak.co.uk.
Pictures; Deco-Pak
New season outdoor living collections from Homebase
HOMEBASE has three new outdoor living collections - Modern Simplicity’s relaxed feel, Global Paradise’s exotic colour palette or Country Retreat’s feminine touch.
Modern Simplicity's key products include the Palermo corner dining sofa set, £599.99; Chevron director’s chair £34.99 and Palermo six-seater dining set £599.99.
Global Paradise's Moroccan-inspired furniture mixes bold colours and printed cushions. Top pieces include the Mali six-seater dining set.
Country Retreat has traditional furniture with textiles in deep reds and soft greens in refined florals, plus hints of checks and plaids.
There's a range of barbecues, chimeneas and firepits, from gas controlled Outback Saturn 6 burner, to traditional coal burners and modern pizza ovens including the Louisiana charcoal barbecue and pizza oven.
For more information, go to www.homebase.co.uk.
WHICHFORD Pottery is celebrating its 40th anniversay and its range of hand-thrown clay pots has some real gems, all made on the edge of the Cotswolds - about 600 a week!
There's the RHS Wildflower Collection; the William Morris Range; the Shakespeare range; the Alice in Wonderland Collection, plus many more - you can even have your own personalised pot. All items carry a 10-year frostproof guarantee.
To find out more, visit www.whichfordpottery.com.
Collection's a must for Alice in Wonderland fans or cat lovers
Picture; Whichford Pottery
Gardening clothes that are fit for purpose (finally)!
WET knees, damp bottoms and a cold back - all familiar down sides to keen gardeners out in all weathers.
However, Genus Performance Gardenwear was created by a passionate gardener to right these wrongs. The 3-Season Gardening Trouser for Women and All-Weather Gardening Trouser for Men are the world's first technical, high-performance trousers specially designed for gardening.
They have breathable, damp-proof kneepads; a damp-proof seat panel; lots of pockets designed for free movement; zip pocket for mobiles; two stab-resistant pockets on the legs to carry knives and secateurs. The stretch fabric is tough, lightweight and easy to wash.
In women's sizes 8-18, men's 30-40, they cost £120. Genus also makes a women's gilet, £95; longline tops for both sexes, £55 and £49; neck, collar and arm protectors, £25. For more information, visit www.genus.gs.
Picture; Genus
Irrigation, watering equipment and tools from Gardena
GARDENA'S automatic Micro-Drip-System enables you to enjoy gardening without the stress of watering, from potted plants on the terrace to flower beds.
The Start Set Flower Pots are for the irrigation of flowers and vegetables in pots. The set includes drippers which regulate water flow and prevent continued dripping after the tap is turned off.
The Start Set Planted Areas ensures flower and kitchen garden beds are optimally watered with flexible spray nozzles.
The Start Set Rows of Plants is excellent for watering a planting row or a sensitive kitchen garden, as well as ornamental plants. Root watering is associated with pinpoint accuracy using irrigation lines.
Every Start Set or Micro-Drip-System can be supplemented with a Gardena Water Computer – to fully automate watering. There's also a Fertilizer Dispenser.
There's also easy watering with the Original Gardena System, connecting the water tap to the hose, and other watering accessories. Gardena is the European market leader in consumer watering products.
And sharp, high-grade cutting tools are a gardening essential - check out Gardena’s extensive range, all with a 25-year warranty.
There's bypass loppers for softer green wood (Classic Pruning Lopper 680 B), with sturdy aluminium lever arms and ergonomically shaped handles with endstops.
For older fruit trees, there's the Classic Anvil Lopper 680 A and the Comfort Pruning Lopper 500 BL. Its arms are made of fibre-glass reinforced plastic, making it ultra-light yet robust. It also has a sophisticated ergonomic design - its double end stops are gentle on the wrists. Non-stick coated blades ensure an easy, clean cut.
Branches further up can be dealt with using the Comfort Telescopic Lopper 650 BT, which can be extended by a 25cm.
For reaching tree tops without a ladder, use the Comfort Pruning Lopper StarCut 160 BL, giving you a reach of up to 3.5m.
For more information, visit www.gardena.com/uk/
Picture; Gardena
La Haciena's range of quirky items for garden and home
LA Hacienda's well known for its beautiful and quirky decorative items for home and garden and there was a massive response to win this metal cockerel.
It's made from painted metal and is for indoor or outdoor use (where it will weather over time), making a great garden ornament.
The bird is free standing and measures 55cm high, 42cm wide and 20cm deep, retailing at £27.95.
The winner was Leanna Yates, @leanna_yates, of Morecambe, Lancashire.
If you didn't win, you can still buy the cockerel at Oasis Gardening: http://bit.ly/1Vxsq3h.
LA Hacienda supplies a range of chimeneas, both traditional clay and contemporary, outdoor cooking products and firepits and decorative items for home and garden.
The company started out more than 25 years ago, when two brothers sold ornaments sourced from the street markets of Ecuador.
Two products which caught my eye were the stylish Savannah chimenea, which you can use as a barbecue too (£219.99) and the Artevasi Jasmin bags, which make great hanging pot holders (£7.99).
Find out more about the range at www.lahacienda.co.uk.
Pictures; La Hacienda
TOWN & Country unveiled a fresh, revitalised look at the Garden Press Event.
New range The Collection's has four styles of glove – leather gauntlet (£16.99); premium goatskin leather glove (£14.99): rigger glove (£9.99) and a soft jersey glove (3-pack £5.99), plus patterned kneepads (£7.99) and cloggies (£14.99).
Fun patterns bring a modern, retro feel to a new range of ladies’ cotton gloves, with a contoured design and an elasticated band on the back for improved fit. The knitted wrist will ensure hands stay clean and PVC dots on the palms provide extra grip. They come as a 3 pair pack, £4.99.
Classic cloggies are available in sizes 4-8 and cost £10.99. Kneepads are made from polyester and foam, with adjustable Velcro straps, £4.99.
You’ll find all products at leading garden centres, for stockist information and to purchase online visit www.townandco.com.
THE winner of the Town and Country leather gauntlets competition for Mother's Day is @guynesher123 - congratulations!
Town & Country unveils new look for the garden
Picture; Town & Country
RESEARCH by the UK's leading weed control brand has shown how Roundup Gel is changing the way people are treating weeds. Roundup Gel is now being used once a week in spring and summer to stay on top of the weeds.
The award-winning gel formulation can target weeds in tricky areas without harming the plants and flowers growing nearby.
Roundup Gel is absorbed through the leaves of the weed with a touch of the applicator. The weedkiller enters the sap stream and is carried to the growing points of the weed and kills the leaves, shoots and roots. The unique formula is also inactive upon contact with soil, meaning the area is left ready for replanting.
150ml Roundup Gel bottle can kill up to 1,000 weeds, RRP £9.99, for further information visit www.roundupgel.com.
Keeping weeds under control with a dab of Roundup Gel
Picture; Roundup
Revolutionary Post Buddy fence post fixers
THANKS to a revolutionary product, repairing broken fence posts is no longer the labour-intensive, time-consuming job it used to be.
Post Buddy is a highly effective way of fixing wooden fence posts of all sizes. There is no longer the need to dig up the broken post or dismantle any of the existing fencing.
Repairing broken fence posts with Post Buddy will extend the life of an otherwise solid fence by years.
The Post Buddy system consists of two powder coated mild steel stakes 750mm long. Inserted between the fence post and the existing concrete base, the Post Buddy stakes are able to penetrate the underground timber. The stakes are secured to the above ground post, acting like a splint, bridging the rotten section of wood, making the fence post solid once again.
For more information, visit www.postbuddysystem.co.uk.
The winner of the Post Buddy competition was @TraceyHalpin of Brighton.
Picture; Post Buddy
REINVENTING the wheel might be a big claim but HandiWorld Ltd has managed it with its all-terrain, off-road trolley, the HandiMoova.
Designed and developed in the UK, the HandiMoova uses innovative and patented technology to help shift loads of up to 60kg over rough terrain including grass, sand and gravel and up and down stairs with ease.
The key is the patented Camba Technology, designed over three years by London-based Therefore Product Design.
Hemi-spherical shaped wheels are mounted on separate, inclined floating axles – a unique advancement in wheel technology that constantly optimizes the rolling performance and footprint of each wheel.
The HandiMoova has an aluminium frame and marine grade stainless steel axles. Its tyres are puncture proof and it has a telescopic handle and folding load plate and wheels.
To add to the load carrying versatility of the HandiMoova, a 135 litre fully waterproof HandiDuffel (black or orange) or 190 litre HandiSac (black or green) can be easily attached.
I'm lucky enough to be test-driving one in my garden of steps and gravel paths - I'll let you know how I get on.
The RRP of the HandiMoova is £99.99 and comes with a two-year guarantee. For more details, visit www.handiworld.com.
HandiMoova reinvents the wheel to move loads on rough terrain
Picture; HandiWorld Ltd
Simple way to create a border with Garden On A Roll
ALWAYS wanted a border but don't know where to start? That's where Garden On A Roll comes in.
It's a one-stop pack including plants, a biodegradeable paper plan, pegs, fertiliser, instructional DVD, gloves and trowel, each border designed by award-winning plantsman Antony Henn.
There's six to choose from: Sensory Border, Bee and Butterfly Border, Mixed Shady Border, Mixed Sunny Border, Mediterranean Border and Evergreen Low Maintenance Border.
Borders start at £65, herb boxes from £40. For more information, visit www.gardenonaroll.com.
THE Garden Press Event, held in February each year, is a showcase for retailers to present their new products to the media. Here's my pick of the best for the season.
A different way to battle slugs and snails with Grazers
GRAZERS Slugs and Snails Live and Let Grow! is a novel way of fighting back against these perennial pests.
With its G2 formula, it is completely environmentally safe - you spray the foliage, which makes it unpalatable to gastropods, while leaving them unharmed as a food source for the other wildlife in your garden.
It's fine to use on ornamental and edible crops and strengthens plant growth, as the formula is absorbed into the leaves.
To find out more about the Grazers range, log on to www.grazers.co.uk.
Remin replaces lost minerals to boost your plot's crop
REMIN Volcanic Rock Dust is a soil and compost remineraliser that can boost your plot's ability to provide a bountiful harvest.
Soil is made up of air, water, decayed organic materials, living organisms - and minerals and trace elements. It's these last two where organically-approved Remin comes in.
Every time you pick a crop, you take away some of the minerals and trace elements from the soil. Most plant food just puts back NPK, (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) and little else. However, Remin puts back the full range of minerals and trace elements.
Gardeners are enjoying an improved yield, better pest resistance and flavour, longer shelf life and flowers appearing for first time.
REMIN won the Best Retail Product or Service in The Four Oaks Trade Show 2015 and it is a finalist in The Garden Retail & Garden Industries Award 2016.
For more information, visit www.reminscotland.com.
Picture; Remin
Hose that keeps flowing even when kinked backed by RHS
BEAT the annoyance of a hose kinking with the RHS-endorsed Everflow Garden Hose by Copely Developments.
It allows water to flow continuously, even if the hose is kinked, crushed or knotted, thanks to its unique patented Evercore 'flow protect' technology. However, it's still very flexible, lightweight and easy to handle - and carries a 30-year guarantee.
Available in 25m, 50m and 100m coils, it's fully compatible with all standard UK 0.5" hosepipe fittings. To find out more, visit www.copely.com/garden-hose-pipe/
Picture; Copely Developments
Be the Envii of your neighbours with this trio of products
BIO8's Envii range has developed three new products to help plants cope with environmental stress - Chill Out, Deep Rooter and Early Starter.
Envii Chill Out protects plants from heat stress by using a combination of natural plant extracts and nutritional materials in a unique form of bio-mimicry.
Even in our climate, greenhouse temperatures can soar to well over 30°C, which will cause wilting, growth stops and, if prolonged, can kill plants. Chill Out provides an alternative to expensive water cooling systems and greenhouse shading by changing the plant’s reaction to heat stress at a cellular level. The plant continues to develop side shoots, flowers and fruits, but root development is particularly stimulated.
Tests conducted by The University of Nottingham showed that plants treated with Chill Out produced significantly greater numbers of fruit, were heavier and developed faster.
Envii's second new product, Deep Rooter, is an advanced biostimulant developed in UK greenhouse trials that increases the mass and length of a plant’s roots.
This means that they can get easier and deeper access to water and nutrients which has a dramatic effect on the speed of growth. In the event of drought, plants will survive and grow on less moisture than untreated plants.
Longer and heavier root systems is a benefit on fast draining/sandy soils and on allotments where water accessibility or availability is limited.
Bio8's third product, Envii Early Starter, changes a plant’s behaviour and reaction to cold weather to optimise its continued growth and chances of survival.
It suppresses the genes that make a plant go into ‘survival’ mode when the temperature drops below a certain point. It effectively reprogrammes the plant to generate more root growth, rather than aerial growth, so that it has better access to water and nutrients.
Treated plants grow on longer in the autumn and start growing sooner in the spring. Early Starter doesn't give full protection from frost, but treated plants show reduced damage and faster recovery than untreated ones.
All three products are available from www.unwins.co.uk and www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk, or for more information, visit www.bio8.co.uk.
The winner of the Envii products competition is Claire Davies (@Gerbera4U), of Carmarthenshire, South Wales.
Pictures; Bio8 Envii
