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Newly Published Memoirs from Michael Cooling

Arthur Cooling:  From Smallholding to Garden Centre is a great read for anyone interested in the history of Coolings.  In his first book, Michael Cooling wrote an autobiographical account of the evolution of Coolings Nurseries from its humble beginnings to his retirement in 2002.

Now Michael delights us with this memoir of his father’s (Arthur Cooling) dedication to building the Coolings business despite many challenges along the way.  He explains how, after he had joined his father in the business, they were able, though not without the occasional difference of opinion, to navigate successfully the many changes in gardening technology and customer expectations that eventually led to one of Britain’s first garden centres.

Arthur Coolings: From Smallholding to Garden Centre is available now (while stocks last).

£6 (RRP £7.50).  A great gift for regular Coolings Customers.

Related title: ‘Blooming Wonderful’ is a personal history of Coolings Nurseries.  Written by Michael Cooling.

This is the time of year when birds rely upon us most to feed them. Providing birds with supplementary food will bring them closer for you to marvel at their fascinating behaviour and wonderful colours. It will also reward them for sharing their lives with you.  Feeding birds is also a great way to enthuse children about wildlife.

Supplementary feeding can’t provide all the natural proteins and vitamins that adult and young birds need, so it’s important to create and manage your garden to provide a source of natural foods as well, through well-managed lawns, shrubs and flowerbeds.

If you provide both natural and supplementary food, your garden will be visited year-round by a host of different birds.  However, you may want to attract a particular species of bird, so what should you provide to encourage them?  Here are some ideas to attract the following birds:

The Tit Family
These are small colourful birds of blue, yellow, white and green. Their natural habitat is woodlands, hedgerows, parks and gardens.  They like caterpillars, insects, seeds and nuts.  I find Tom Chambers Nice Nuts are particularly popular with them.  They are a bird that likes to cling, so a Jacobi Jayne Ring-Pull Pro Peanut Feeder would be suitable.

 

If you would like to encourage them to nest, then use a box with a 26mm hole for most Tits and 28mm for the Great Tit.  These should be sited in a north to east direction so they avoid the worst rain and heat from the sun.  If you tilt the box slightly foward, the rain will bounce off the roof rather than go into the box.

 

Robins
Males and females are identical, with their familiar red breasts.  The young are brown with golden brown mottling.  Although they appear friendly to us, they can be quite aggressive to other birds and are territorial. They can be found all over the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, parks and gardens.

These cheeky birds are quite tame and are often seen nearby if you are gardening in the hope of a tasty morsel.  They like worms, seeds, fruit and insects.  The Tom Chambers Rockin’ Robin Feast is perfect for their soft bills.  They are ground feeding birds, so a Tom Chambers Ground Feeder is ideal for them.

   

The Robin likes an open fronted nest box and the Tom Chambers Slate Roof Multi-Nester is a good choice because you also get 28mm and 32mm hole panels which can be added if a robin doesn’t use the box, to encourage other species of birds instead.

Goldfinch
A highly coloured Finch with a bright, red face and yellow wing patch. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have  a delightful twittering song and call. Their long fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels.  Increasingly they are visiting bird tables and feeders.   Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.  Their habitat is scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants.  They like orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons.

They feed on seeds and insects in summer but are partial to niger seeds.  Tom Chambers Nyjer Nibbles is perfect, but as these seeds are so small and tend to fall out of a normal seed feeder, a dedicated niger feeder such as Jacobi Ring Pull Pro Niger Seed Feeder is a better option.  You could use a bird station to hang the feeders from, such as the Tom Chambers Classic Bird Station.

   

Coolings is full to bursting with wonderful products.  Here are a few of our personal favourites.

Grow Your Own…

If you are about to give growing your own vegetables and herbs a try then our brand new Vegtrug Wooden Nursery Greenhouse and Cover (£99.99) may be just what you need to get started.  It’s a self-contained grow centre which is adjustable to your requirements.  Four shelves can be moved to enable a variety of seeds and plants to be grown with ease.  It even comes equipped with a cover.  If you only have a narrow space try the Vegtrug Wallhugger (£119.99) or Vegtrug Classic (£129.99).  They are both at comfortable working height, so no more bending or kneeling.  Ideal for the elderly and wheelchair users and for keeping produce away from slugs/animals/pets.

For something a little unique try these new Panacea Vintage 10 Gallon Grow Bags.  Canvas construction with faux leather handles and bottom. They are lined for water retention and available in 4 designs.  Why not fill them with tomatoes and feed them with our new Gro-Sure Tomato liquid Food (1 litre) – its packed with nutrients and extra Potash and Magnesium.  Seaweed enriched and simple to dose and use.

If Herbs and berries are more your cup of tea give the stylish, stackable Plantpak Strawberry and Herb Planter (£29.99) a try.  Also perfect for growing flowers.

 

Plant Perfection…

It’s not just us that enjoy extra fuel during the summer months – plants need their own summer feast too!  These five Gro-Sure products are new to us this year so we are keen to know what you think.  Gro-Sure All Purpose 6 Month Feed 1.1kg is great for baskets and containers, feeds for 6 months and is suitable for all plants.  For Azaleas, Rhododendrons & Camellias try Gro-Sure Ericaceous Plant Food Granules 900g, it contains extra iron for greener leaves and feeds for up to 3 months and The Rose & Shrub 6 month Feed 1.1kg contains fast acting, slow release granules full of high potash bloom boosting formula for an added boost.  Gro-Sure All Purpose Plant Food Liquid 1 litre is seaweed enriched and makes 50 watering cans.  Last up, Gro-Sure Ericaceous Plant Food Liquid 1 litre is great for Azaleas, Rhododendrons & Camellias.

Tough Jobbers…

Nothing kills tough weeds faster and prevents re-growth for longer than Job Done Tough Weedkiller RTU 1 litre.  Building on a professional formulation used to clear weeds from rail lines, SBM Life Science has invested in innovative new chemistry, which is now approved for consumer use.   For your paths, patios and driveways try Job Done Path Weedkiller RTU 1 litre – Visible results within 24 hours.

Is Moss thriving on your lawn?  If so you need Evergreen No Rake Moss Remover 200m² (£24.99).  The naturally occurring bacteria “eats” the dead moss – so you will not need to rake it out.  It also contains a slow release lawn fertiliser that feeds your lawn for up to 3 months.

 

Looking Good…

If you’re looking to add talking point to your garden this summer then take a look at the AFK Oriental Bridge.  Beech stain, solid timber construction with a unique bowed design.  Fully assembled base:  Small: H: 0.99m, W: 1.83m, D: 0.84m, £149.99.  Large: H: 0.63m, W: 1.22m, D: 0.5m, £249.99.  I’m also loving the 3 piece, brand new Kelkay Roma Granite Bench (£199.99) – perfect for the contemporary look.

 

Gifts and Treats…

You can’t go wrong with something from our PTMD Diffuser and Candle range.  This contemporary and stylish brand new range of diffusers and candles from PTMD really do make a great gift so someone special.  Available in the following fragrances: Coconut Lime, Stick Fig, White Tea, Sandalwood & Jasmine, Rose & Geranium.

It doesn’t have to be all petunias and marigolds, there is lots of variety to choose from at Coolings…over 350 varieties of seasonal bedding and patio plants to be exact!   As many of you know the majority of the plants we sell are grown here on our nursery behind the garden centre and we are as passionate about inspiring our customers to enjoy planting them as we are about growing them!

Statement pots and baskets

The golden rule to planting statement pots and baskets is to follow the thriller, filler, spiller formula.  A proven recipe for success for planting containers…

Thriller = Central, upright plant to provide height and wow such as Upright Fuchsia, Jumbo Geraniums or large Begonias.

Filler = Lower flowering or foliage plants that form the middle layer of a planter such as: Laurentia ‘Blue Star’, Verbena, Allysum, small Begonias, Coleus, Cineraria ‘Silver Leaf’ or Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’.

Spiller = Trailing plants to cascade down the edge of the container and soften the effect such as: Bacopa, trailing Petunias/Begonias/Verbena/Lobelia.

Upright plants of the same type and variety when grouped together will give the effect of one huge plant – no neighbours needed as they will fill your pot beautifully all by themselves and make a real impact in terms of size and colour such as:

Cosmos – always popular and has a stunning effect when planted in groups.  White and Carmine are popular colours.

Upright Fuchsias such as ‘Dollar Princess’, ‘Winston Churchill’ and ‘Hawkshead’ are a great choice as they excel in flower and are one of the longest flowering garden plants.

Marguerites (Argyranthemums) are another great choice to fill containers.  A profusion of daisy flowers are borne in succession throughout the season.  A top tip to promote repeat flowering is to pinch out the faded blooms as you are passing.  This will encourage the plant to form new buds.

Salvia – the dainty flowers of Salvia are another summer treat for those who like subtle beauty.  They are really easy to grow and three planted together will fill a large pot, their graceful flower spikes swaying in the breeze.  Our favourites ‘Love and Wishes’ ‘Ostfriesland’ and RHS Chelsea Flower Show favourite 2017 ‘Caradonna’.

Arctotis – a sunny corner can be transformed by a pot full of Arctotis.  This is not the most well-known of flowers, but just three of our chunky home-grown plants in a pot will give months of colour.  ‘Flame’, ‘Red Devil’ or ‘Wine’ are a popular customer choice.

 

Colourful Beds and Borders

Upright Petunias – novelty varieties such as ‘Black Velvet’, ‘Pinstripe’ and ‘Phantom’ where introduced last year and have been very popular for their unusual patterns and striking, distinctive colours.

New Guinea Impatiens – these make a wonderful splash of vibrancy and are perfect for a cooler location.

Begonias – one of the most versatile summer bedding plants, Begonias are well loved for their large flamboyant blooms in a wide range of colours, their ability to thrive in both sun and shade, and for flowering continuously throughout summer up to the first frosts.  Upright begonias are perfect for beds and borders and trailing varieties look great in baskets.  ‘Champagne’ is an old favourite with Coolings customers.

Geraniums – a faithful bedding plant for many and for good reason!  These sturdy, sun-loving plants are well suited to hot, dry conditions and flower all summer long.  Primarily available in vibrant shades of pink, white and red.

Sweet Peas – These make fantastic cottage garden bedding plants.  Let them scramble up obelisks or netting to add height to your garden.  Alternatively, try dwarf sweet peas for ground cover at the front of beds and borders.  With their delightful fragrance and wide range of colours, sweet peas are excellent summer bedding plants and also provide bunches of gorgeous fragrant cut flowers throughout summer.  We like ‘Spencer Mixed’.

Upright Lobelia create wonderful dense mounds of colour along the edge of beds and borders.  Easy to grow, long-flowering and generally come in shades of blue which is unusual for bedding!

Nicotiana – beautiful colour, great scent, ideal for sun and shade and easy to grow – what’s not to like!

 

Water and Feed!

Remember to water, water, water and feed your plants! All recently planted plants – especially bedding – and plants in containers and baskets will appreciate a good soak everyday and a regular meal every month to keep them growing well. Use collected rainwater where possible.  We recommend Miracle Grow plant food or a slow release plant food such as Osmocote Plant Food (for beds)  and Osmocote Plant Food Tablets (for baskets and tubs).

Spring is in the air and gardens will be bursting with colour very soon.  Here is our choice of early flowering herbaceous perennials to enhance your outdoor space.

REDS/PINKS:

Dicentra spectabilis
Pink heart shaped flowers hang from arching stems. Also known as ‘Lady in the Bath’.

Erysimum ‘Red Jep’
Given the RHS “perfect for pollinators” mark. These red scented Wallflowers will BEE appreciated
by your garden pollinators.

Scabious ‘Pink Mist’
Perfect partner for a larger blue Salvia, the pink pin cushion flowers will thrive in a sunny spot

WHITES:

Digitalis ‘Pam’s Choice’
Perfect for our garden pollinators, the white flowers are speckled with maroon….BEEutiful.

Papaver ‘Royal Wedding’
What better way to mark this year’s big event than with the beautiful, big white flowers of this ‘Royal Wedding’ Poppy.  It’s bold, black centre and contrasting pure white petals make this a real showstopper and the dried seed heads can be used in flower arrangements.

Paeonia ‘Duchesse de Nemours’
The ivory white flowers and Lily of the Valley scent of this little gem makes it a must have for every garden.

BLUES:

Polemonium ‘Heaven Scent’
Lightly scented blue flowers on chocolate stems surrounded by fern like foliage…heaven.

NEW Salvia nemerosa ‘April Night’
Petite in size with bright blue flowers good for borders and pots.

Veronica ‘Mountain Breeze’
Veronicas are some of my favourite cottage garden plants and this blue dwarf variety fit neatly in front of any boarder.

YELLOWS:

Doronicum ‘Little Leo’
Yellow daisy flowers that work well with spring flowering bulbs.

Geum ‘Can Can’
Soft yellow flowers with a hint of peach, will flower from spring to summer.

NEW Helichrysum ‘Amber Cluster’
Striking colours change from red buds, opening to pink and finally turning orange to yellow.

The humble tulip has always been a favourite spring bulb and was first cultivated by the Turks as early as 1,000 AD.

The flower was introduced into Europe in the 17th century by Carolus Clusius, who was a botanist from Vienna.  The flower is called ‘tulip’ after the Turkish word for turban.

At the beginning of the 17th century they started to be used in gardens for aesthetic instead of medicinal purposes and they soon gained massive popularity, especially in Holland.  The interest in the flower became so great that bulbs changed hands for enormous sums of money, with hybrids and rare varieties sometimes costing more than a house in the Netherlands!

  Tulip ‘Purple Dream’

Traders made huge amounts of money, but like all good things it came to an end due to oversupply.  This led to lower prices and many dealers went bankrupt and people lost their life savings.

  Tulip ‘Johann Strauss’

Today tulips no longer reach the prices of the 17th century and can be bought and admired by us all.  The best place to see them at their best is Keukenhof where over seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are planted.

  Tulip ‘Spring Green’

Tulips can give some fantastic spring colour in your gaden.  Our pick ‘n’ mix tulips are £7.29 a bag or 2 or more bags £6.25 per bag.

All these tulips are available as part of our Pick ‘n’ Mix range, allowing you to create a collage of colour!

When the garden is in need of a vivid splash of colour when little else is in bloom…send in the Camellias! Not only are they an essential part of the spring scene, Camellias are among the most loved of all flowering shrubs and trees, no garden is complete without them. Their bold evergreen foliage is key for giving form and structure, but it is their attractive, large, elegant flowers that will add the ‘WOW‘ factor.

Where do they come from?
The first recorded Camellia in this country was grown by Lord Petre at Thorndon Hall in Essex in the 1730s, and we know it was thriving and flowering by 1745. The first named varieties to attract public interest were C. japonica ‘Alba Plena’ and ‘Variegata’, both of which were brought to England in 1792 on an East India Company ship.

The beginning of the 20th Century saw interest in Camellias decline, mainly because the C. japonica and C. reticulata varieties cling onto their flowers even when they start to fade, making them look like used tissue. The only way to deal with this is to dead-head each bloom by hand – the extra work seemed to decrease their popularity for a time.

They soon came back into fashion again in the early 1920s when John Charles Williams crossed C. saluenensis with an unnamed form of C. japonica, resulting in the Camellia x williamsii. The main advantage this has over its parents is that it sheds its flowers as they fade and is also noticeably hardier than the japonica Camellias. The C. williamsii varieties have smaller leaves so are generally better able to cope with more exposed positions. These hybrids also flower early and long.

One of the best known of these original crosses is Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’ – an exceptionally long-flowering Camellia that produces large, semi-double, soft pink flowers among glossy, bright green leaves.

‘Donation’

Which one should I get?

Our Camellia x williamsii favourites are:

‘Bowen Bryant’

  

‘Debbie’                                                                                   ‘Jury’s Yellow’

‘Ruby Wedding’

If you prefer Camellia japonoica varieties then our favourites are:

 

 ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’

 

Where should I plant them?
Camellias look great in the mixed border, woodland gardens or in patio containers provided their cultural requirements are met. Generally speaking, Camellias do best in an acidic soil with a pH between 5.4 and 6.5 and they like soil with a loose, open structure, so add plenty of compost before planting to allow the right balance between water retention and free drainage.

They are happiest in a semi-shaded position with a westerly or sheltered northerly aspect. It is important to avoid south or east facing positions because the flowers may be spoilt by the early morning sun that inevitably follows a clear, freezing night. Bear in mind that they will not tolerate an exposed windy position or a soil which tends to become waterlogged in wet weather. The light dappled shade provided by trees and other shrubs is ideal as long as there is sufficient moisture at the roots.

Although they need acid soil, they are easy to grow in containers of ericaceous (acidic) potting compost.

How do I care for them?
To keep your plants in tip top condition, they must have plenty of water in their growing season, from April to October and feed them regularly with a balanced fertiliser. We recommend Miracle-Gro Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food.

Watch out for…

1) Sooty Mould – a black fungus, on the upper surface of the leaves. Although unsightly it rarely damages the plant and is the result of a sticky excrement (honeydew). Dropped by an aphid crawling on the underside of the leaf. The mould then grows on the honeydew rather than the leaf itself. Believe it or not the best medicine for this is to wash the leaves with soap and warm water.

2) Petal blight – this gives the petals a rusty appearance, and the whole flower turns brown, dies and falls to the ground, and a fruiting body can form at the base of the petals. It can lay dormant for a long time in the ground before growing into a small mushroom, which will explode in spring and send its spores a vast distance. Avoid the fruiting body forming by gather up fallen blooms as they fall before burning them.

Did you know?
…Tea oil made from camellia seeds is a popular and essential cooking oil for millions of people, especially those that live in southern China

…Sacramento, California is nicknamed the Camellia City

…The Camellia is Alabama’s state flower

…Camellia represents adoration, devotion and loveliness

…Camellia leaves have been used in Asian traditional herbal medicine

The rose has been voted the nation’s favourite plant and at Coolings we offer a huge range of superb home-grown and David Austin varieties. Growing roses successfully in a pot is an ambition of many gardeners; however the choice of pot and variety are the keys to success.

Dwarf patio roses are ideal for growing in containers as their compact growth habit makes them ideal for this purpose.

Our rose expert Terry’s top two varieties are:-

Rosa ‘Sweet Dream’

Rosa ‘Sweet Magic’

When selecting a pot, remember that roses have a deep tap root so pick a pot that has plenty of depth. Roses are heavy feeders and thrive best in rich fertile soil. When in pots we recommend growing roses in John Arthur Bowers Multi Purpose with added John Innes compost, as this is an ideal blend of loam and compost that will hold nutrients. If you were kept without food or water for a period of time, how would you look? Neglected roses will look the same! So water and feed are the keys to good health and performance. A light dressing of Toprose fertiliser in sring and mid-summer is all that is required and a can of water in the summer when dry, avoiding the foliage (this will reduce fungal problems). All roses are best in a sunny location so choose a nice bright spot to place your container. Simply nip out the faded blooms to encourage repeat flowering.

Following this simple advice should allow you to enjoy the charms of Patio roses to their full potential throughout the summer months.

Don’t be put off by the name ‘Bamboo’ as Nandina is no relation.  It is found growing all over the Far East, and in Japanese culture it is attributed with having special powers to ward off bad dreams, so is often planted near the house entrance.

Nandina is evergreen and easy to grow, giving interest throughout the year with white flowers in the spring followed by red berries and rich autumn coloured leaves.

To get the best from Nandina they love a sunny position, with moist but well dranied soil.  The smaller varieties, of which there are several available, will grow quite happily in a container as long as you remember to keep them watered and fed.

No garden should be without a Nandina – fantastic value for money, changing interest with every season.  All of these varieties are available now in 2 litre pots.

Nandina ‘Firepower’
Yellowish green leaves in the summer become orange and red in the autumn and winter:  Clusters of small star-shaped white flowers appear during the summer.  H&S: 60cm x 60cm.

Nandina ‘Twilight’
Copper-pink flushed young foliage becomes irregularly flecked with white variegation before fading to green and sprays of small white flowers in summer. H&S: 1.2m x 0.6m.

Nandina ‘Obsessed’
One of the best fiery red displays on new growth, turning green when leaves mature, and then changing red again when autumn arrives.  Ideal for containers.  H&S: 70cm x 60cm.

Nandina ‘Blush Pink’
The new spring pink growth gives a blushing appearance, and in the autumn turns a rich purple red.  Very compact habit.  H&S: 60cm x 60cm.

Nandina domestica (AGM)
Produces small white flowers in large panicles in the summer, followed by red berries lasting through the autumn and into the winter.  Red new shoots turn green and winter foliage changes to reds and purples.  A taller majestic variety.  H&S: 1.5m x 1.5m.

Nandina ‘Lemon and Lime’ (AGM)
A new introduction with vibrant, bright yellow-green foliage, contrasts with the other coloured varieties.  Does not scorch in full sun.  H&S: 60cm x 60cm.

Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’
A compact, evergreen shrub with bronzy young foliage and white flowers in summer, sometimes followed by berries.  Lovely orange-red autumn colour.  H&S: 1.2m x 1m.

Growing Herbs is easy and rewarding.  Flourishing in tubs and containers they complement modern living and a healthy lifestyle, making beautifully tactile scented displays.  Homegrown cannot be bettered for freshness and taste, plus has the advantage that you can pick and use just what you need.  Here we look at a few popular herbs that are the perfect partner to everyday dishes.

Rosemary – Perfect accompaniment to roast lamb. Loves a sunny spot.

Bay – Add to stews or casseroles and essential for bouquet garni. Grow as a bush or as an attractive topiary feature.

Thyme – Popular ingredient in Italian cuisine, try adding leaves to Bolognese sauce!

Sage – Great with pork dishes or a vital ingredient if you fancy making stuffing!

Chives – Bring your salads to life by adding chopped Chive leaves.

Parsley – Versatile herb great for making parsley sauce and garnishes.

Marjoram – With a sweeter flavour than oregano, Marjoram will enliven a tomato sauce.  Try using in home-made pizza topping.

Mint – Possibly the easiest of all herbs to grow, there is no excuse to ever buy fresh mint in season.  Best grown in its own pot as it can spread.   Perfect partner to new potatoes!

Coriander –  Great with Thai and many Indian dishes or added to soups and salads.

French Tarragon –  Perfect partner to fish and chicken dishes. Will transform a simple Omelette.  Add towards the end as the flavor reduces with cooking and use sparingly.