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Whether they are used for dividing, lending structure or simply to add beauty – hedges are the secret of every good garden. And now’s the time to plant them…

Bare-root hedging offers an easy to plant solution to hedging at home and is much cheaper than putting up a fence! It forms an attractive boundary more quickly than many gardeners imagine and maintaining them is not much work – certainly much less than a lawn or border. As well as providing structure to the garden, they can be perfect for wildlife, and particularly nesting birds.

What are bare-root hedge plants?
It may sound like we’re stating the obvious but bare rooted hedging plants are pretty much exactly as the name describes; a plant with exposed roots, as opposed to being surrounded by soil. Bare-roots are available from the end of November to March/April, which is known in the gardening world as the dormant season. This is the natural resting period of plants, which allows them to be lifted, transported, stored and replanted without causing any shock or damage to the root system.

Generally, bare-root plants are deciduous so they can seem slightly disappointing when they arrive as the plants will be dormant. However, what you really get is a substantial root system, a decent amount of stem and side shoots. Once you plant your bare roots you will really reap the rewards come Spring when your plants flourish.

This year we have a great selection of evergreen and deciduous bare root hedging plants now in stock. Choose from:

1) Green Beech – Fagus sylvatica 

2) Purple Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’

3) Field Maple – Acer campestre

4) Hawthorn – Crataegus monogyna

5) Hazel – Corylus avellana

6) Hornbeam – Carpinus betulus

7) Privet – Ligustrum ovalifolium

8) Sloe/Blackthorn – Prunus spinosa

Why are bare-rooted plants so cost effective?

• They cost less to grow – Once planted they are left in the fields for years (until ready for purchase) instead of being re-potted year on year.
• They cost less to transport – They do not carry with them a large weight of soil, so you do not bear the cost of the soil.
• Buy more spend less – If you are planting a large hedge or need very tall plants, bare roots work out much cheaper than the equivalent quantity or weight in other root types.

When should I plant them?

The bare-root type is only available when the plants are completely dormant, from November to late April/early May. We now have our full stock in and we would recommend purchasing within the next month or so before our stocks start to run low, and planting them as soon as you buy them (as long as the soil is not frozen or waterlogged).

Bare Root Hedging £2.99 each (up to 80cm)- Buy 10 or more for £2.79 each (Exc. Purple Beech).
Prices may vary please see individual varieties.

Gardening should always be a pleasure and not back ache, and having the right tools for the job can really make a difference. Here are some of our suggestions…

Top of the list is dealing with Leaves!

You can’t do much better than Kent & Stowe’s Ultimate Leaf Rake with its super strength wooden handle and 30” ergonomic curved head. To top it off, it’s a steal at £7.99!

If raking doesn’t float your boat then try the Bosch ALS 2500 Leaf Blower. Its variable speeds and 2500watt motor can cope with either a light dusting or the more persistent sticky, wet leaves. It has an adjustable handle and padded shoulder strap for comfortable use without pain in your shoulders or arms. It comes with a 45 litre collection bag so you will be able to collect quite a lot before it will need emptying. At £89.99 it’s a bit pricier compared to the rake, but worth it for the time and energy saved!

If all else fails then I find getting the children involved is always a winner! Leaf pick up is an ideal chore for young people who are eating you out of house and home. Make sure they have some quality, well-fitted gloves and let them learn the old-fashioned way! Alternatively, give them some leaf grabs to help them, such as Garland Heavy Duty Hand Leaf Grabs £9.99. Then, when they are ready for power tools, let them grab a hold of that sweet new blower!

Next up – the lawn…

You can’t beat a Traditional Besom Broom for sweeping away worm casts. It’s not the activity of the worms naturally aerating the soil, but the detrimental effect of their casts that cause the problems. The soil making up the casts is very slimy as it consists of natural secretions from the worm’s digestive system. As the casts get smeared across the lawn (by mowing/walking) it doesn’t take long before the whole lawn becomes very muddy and slippery. Plus, as they are the traditional Witches broom they will also be useful for a fly-by at Halloween! £7.99.

Paths and Patios…

As the majority of the autumn months are spent sweeping up leaves and debris, we thought it only right to draw your attention to our Groundsman range of brooms and brushes. For many years Harris has been the UK’s leading paint brush manufacturer. The Groundsman range has been introduced by Harris Victory with the English country garden in mind. We have lots of choice in store so you will be able to find the perfect one for you.

Burgon & Ball have made our lives easy with their Miracle Block Paving Brush (£10.99). The brush removes moss from between the slabs with a single stroke – no scrubbing required! Its strong bristles spring back to shape time after time and best of all…there’s no back strain. There is also a Miracle Patio Surface Brush (£21.99) – Galvanized spring steel bristles gently clean the surface whilst tough flexible polypropylene bristles gather debris…genius!

Leave the mess at the door…

With these highly absorbent cotton Ulti-Mats from Smart Garden (£9.99). They trap moisture and dirt at the door! Plus, they have some lovely autumn designs to choose from.

Autumn, in my opinion the most spectacular of all seasons, is an amazing time to be out in the garden. Here is my list of must have herbaceous perennials that will add texture and colour to your outdoor space during this special time of year.

Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’
With hundreds of cultivars and colours to choose, from the reds of ‘Cherry Cola’ and ‘Fire Chief’ to the lime greens of ‘Lime Marmalade’ and ‘Key Lime Pie’, there is Heuchera for every part of the garden. Happy in sun or shade.

Saxifraga ‘Blackberry and Apple Pie’
Saxifraga is a wide group of plants, however look out for ‘Blackberry and Apple Pie’ this autumn. This fantastic small space filler thrives in shade. Check out the bright red underside of the foliage…spectacular!

Schizostylis or Hesperantha
Schizostylis coccinea ‘Major’
This stunning semi-evergreen perennial has small gladiolus-like flowers and will shine from September all the way to November. This beauty can also take light shade.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
A must for any wildlife enthusiast, Sedums will flower from late summer through the autumn and keep your bees and butterflies happy at a time when most needed.

Anenome ‘Honorine Jobert’
Easy care, reliable and lasting colour from early autumn. The white flowers of ‘Honorine Jobert’ will brighten your garden on any gloomy autumn day.

Euphorbia ‘Glacier Blue’
Very hardy, evergreen and with many different shapes and styles. Silver variegated varieties are a must for stunning autumn foliage. As an added benefit look out for amazing spring flower bracts.

Aster ‘Mönch’
The cheery flowers of Michaelmas Daisies make Asters a must have plant for year after year autumn colour.

Planted pots and hanging baskets are a guaranteed way to add colour and interest to your garden through the autumn and winter months.

A great way to design your own planters is to visit Coolings and fill your trolley, thinking about elements of height, background colour and trailing interest.

Colourful Background Plants

Winter Pansies (1), Violas, Mini-Cyclamen, hardy Primroses, Polyanthus, Ornamental Kale, and hardy Dianthus (2) are all popular choices. Winter Pansies provide flower power from autumn to spring. Autumn planting ensures good bud formation and better winter flowering.

Violas are tough little fellows whose smaller flowers withstand the winter chills. Violas are great for vibrant colour schemes as are Polyanthus and Primrose – both will provide all the colours of the rainbow. Mini-cyclamen are fab for adding instant colour in sheltered locations.

Winter Pansies and Vibrant Violas

Not only do Sweet William offer great colour but autumn planting ensures you will have a fragrant spring garden too.

 Sweet Williams

Autumn flowering Heathers (3) are a superb choice that are also a great sourcer of late nectar for Bees. The Garden Girls Heather series was only introduced to Coolings a couple of years ago but they have been a fabulous introduction. Tough as the hills, these garden beauties will flower for months.

 Garden Girls Heather

Contrasting foliage elements like wiry silver Calocephalus brownii (4) add real interest. The leaves of Heuchera (5) are beautiful and perfectly capture the red, purple and coppery tones of autumn. Small evergreen Ferns are a novel choice if you fancy an unusual element to your arrangement. Look out for the gold splashed fronds of Aristata variegata (6).

Added Height

Starting with a centre plant there are many possibilities.  New for 2017 Solanum ‘Venus’ is an improved variety that is covered with attractive orange berries giving planters a really autumnal feel.

An evergreen grass such as Festuca ‘Intense Blue’ (7) or Stipa tenuissima (8) will make a tactile focal point.

A centrally placed garden Chrysanthemum will give a dome of flowers into the autumn, they also boast bold colours that encapsulate the nostalgic feeling of autumn.

 Chrysanthemums

Small Conifers are perfect in containers. Try slow growing Thuja ‘Golden Smaragd’ (9) which makes an attractive candle of burnished foliage.

Evergreen Trailing Interest

Vinca ‘Illumination’ (10) is a great alternative to Ivy and has glossy evergreen golden variegated leaves. An added bonus are the violet blue Periwinkle flowers in spring.

Gold and silver Thyme (11) are beautiful and bring the added benefit of scent to the edge of planters.

Ajuga, (12) known commonly as ‘Trailing Bugle’, are a less well-known choice but have attractive foliage and unusual flowers in spring.

Trailing Pansies and Violas are a superb choice for cascading colour from autumn until spring.  Our favourite this season is Pansy ‘Coolwave’.

Trailing Pansy ‘Coolwave’

People often make the mistake of delaying re-planting too long. Take advantage of autumn warmth to really establish later season plants before the cold weather sets in. Don’t forget that choosing the right pot is important to really showcase your plants – while at Coolings you can browse our huge range of pots and get free expert advice from our team of staff.

NEW to the UK and to Coolings!

Dutch home interiors company PTMD has a collection of lighting, pots, glassware, furniture, textiles, artificial flowers, candles, diffusers and (wall) decoration that are extremely successful across Europe and are now beginning to arrive in the UK.  Their stylists travel the world to ethically source some of the most unique products, collaborating with professional artists and skilled producers to create the unique, chic and stylish collection.

The Orangery Collection, set up by Lolly Lee, is the UK importer of PTMD and last month they set up the first PTMD “shops” in the UK and guess what…..Coolings was one of them along with Taverham Nurseries in Norfolk!

We are delighted to be one of the first in the UK to stock this premium brand and to offer our customers this sophisticated and elegant collection of garden and home accessories which we handpicked from the huge 7000+ product range available.

We can’t wait for you to see it!

An attractive feature of some plants are the ornamental berries that are produced in autumn.  These are both a welcome splash of autumnal interest and, as the winter progresses, often provide an important food source for birds.

Here we give you our pick of the best plants to grow for beautiful berries!

Pyracantha ‘Golden Charmer’
Perfect shrubs to grow against a wall or fence, producing a curtain of colourful berries as the season progresses.

Pernettya mucronata
Stunning colourful berries are a real eye-catcher.  Requires acidic soil and a male plant for cross-polination.

Cotoneaster dammeri
Amazing evergreen ground cover shrub perfect for trailing over walls to hide brickwork.  Studded with small red berries in autumn.

Hypericum ‘Magical Series’
These attractive dwarf shrubs have yellow flowers in summer followed by masses of attractive berries in shades of red, yellow or white.

Skimmia ‘Pabella’
A fantastic self-fertile introduction that makes a lovely compact shrub and is ideally grown in a pot in ericaceous compost.  Packed with glossy red berries through autumn and winter.

Callicarpa ‘Profusion’
This beauty has iridescent pearly purple berries in autumn.  Plant in pairs for best displays.

Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’
This classy Viburnum has lovely white flowers in spring followed by beautiful clusters of red berries.

Cotoneaster lacteus
Top choice shrub for attracting birds to your garden, this strong growing variety is both ornamental and beneficial to wildlife.

It has been a very wet year, and a lot of us have had problems with moss on the lawn.  Rather than just killing the moss, we need to start with eliminating the cause of the problem.

A good way to do this is to aerate the area with a tine hollow aerator, then fill in the holes by brushing in top dressing, followed by applying a good moss killer.  Our best seller is MO-Bacter which starts at £22.99, but there are several others on the market, for example EverGreen complete 4 in 1. When it has worked its magic, you might be left with bare patches or a very sparse lawn.  The remedy for that is to over seed or patch seed.  We stock a whole range of grass seed from Johnsons – there should be one that best suits your needs, for example shady place lawn seed.

For patch seeding, Patch Magic is an easy solution – just open the tub and sprinkle onto the patches, then water in.  Prices start at £11.99 and will cover up to 13 patches.  If your lawn happens to look very good and just needs a feed, this is the time to apply.  If your lawn is large, we suggest using a spreader when applying to give an even distribution. We stock two different types: Scotts rotary spreader suitable for very large gardens, and also Scotts drop spreader suitable for all gardens.  Both are adjustable for most products.  We also stock a simpler drop spreader that is compatible with the EverGreen lawn foods.  The Scotts spreaders are also handy when applying MO Bacter.

Back beat, the word is on the street that the Wonderwall vertical planting system is out at Coolings NOW!

You are now able to create your own living masterpiece with these stackable, interlocking, eco-friendly, self-watering and easy to use vertical planters.  Whether you are looking to create a real statement wall or just add some colour and interest to a dull corner, these flexible and sustainable planters will transform your space, inside or out and bring wildlife into your garden.

Perfect for fences, arches, walls, window boxes and balconies and will hold anything from fruit, veg and herbs to shrubs, bedding, grasses, perennials and houseplants.

Easy to build, Easy to maintain and DO NOT need a bespoke irrigation system, in fact, once you’ve watered the top row the water will flow down the pots interlocking system and self water right down to the bottom row.

The planters hold 1 Litre sized pots and as we grow the majority of our own plants here at Coolings, we are able to offer you a vast and diverse range of 1 Litre sized plants to fill them with.  A range that few other garden retailers will be able to match.  Simply, pop the pot into the planter – there’s no need to replant.

We are very excited to have this amazing product, which is NEW to the UK and on sale now at Coolings.  You will notice our very own display above your head as you walk through our front doors!

We are offering Wonderwall vertical planters for:

Single Unit (3 x 1L Pots) = £9.99  (£7.99 when buying 5 or more and £7.50 when buying 14 or more)

Take a look for yourself, just what these amazing planters are capable of….. https://youtu.be/Jj6QHsMVxXQ