Autumn has arrived at Coolings! Our ‘Fall into Autumn’ Feel Good Garden and seasonal displays are all about celebrating the transition between summer and winter.
Category: Trees
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Branch Out this Autumn!
Autumn is the perfect time to plant a tree.
Planting a tree is a simple yet impactful action that will benefit you and the planet as a whole. It’s an investment in a sustainable and healthier future.
Planting a tree in your garden has numerous benefits. Not only will a tree add interest and beauty to your garden, but offers shade and cooling once established in the warmer months and provides environmental benefits too – their root systems can help with water and soil conservation, helping to prevent soil erosion and flooding, improve air quality and provide food and a natural habitat for wildlife.
There are trees in all shapes, sizes and varying colours and there is a perfect one (or few!) that will suit your garden! Trees that offer foliage, fruit, flower, form, shade, screening or autumnal colour we have them all, in a wonderful selection to choose from. Available in-store* or online.
*Trees not available at Coolings Lifestyle.
FRUIT…
Malus ‘Halloween’ – a low maintenance option producing gorgeous mini-pumpkin shaped fruits – hence its name!FORM…
Sorbus ‘Autumn Spire’ – perfect for smaller spaces, this upright, columnar tree turns purple, red and yellow in autumn. A beautiful form to add to your scheme.
FOLIAGE…
Malus ‘Royal Raindrops’– One of the prettiest Crab Apple trees with stunning pink flowers and reddish-purple deep cut foliage.
SHADE…
Acer fr. ‘Autumn Blaze’ – A very popular fast growing tree with a spectacular red canopy in autumn.
For more planting inspiration, check out our Autumn 2024 Cuttings magazine here our Branch Out feature is on pages 18 & 19.Why plant in autumn?
Planting in autumn, whilst the soil is still warm and there are plentiful rains, offers a tree just the right amount of time to establish a root system before the ground freezes.
When it comes to planting trees, pick a time when air temperatures have cooled so that newly planted trees can focus on establishing root systems.
Look out the window before planting. If your neighbourhood trees still have their leaves – you’re good to go!
How to Plant a Tree
- Dig a bowl-shaped hole about the same depth as the tree’s root, but as much as five times the width!
- Settle the root in the centre of the hole you’ve dug and then backfill with the soil you removed.
- Gently tamp the soil to remove air pockets, but don’t compact the dirt. The root collar should be slightly above the soil line.
- Water well! If the soil settles too much, add more more of the backfill.
- Water deeply two or three times a week.
See our range of planting equipment and accessories in-store* and online or if you live local to The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Knockholt, you can have our professional tree planting services plant them for you. Charges apply. For more information call 01959 532269.
‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.’ Chinese Proverb
A tree for every garden
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A Tree For Every Garden
It’s plant a tree month here at Coolings! (October 2022)
Add autumn interest in your outdoor space with our top trees that suit any garden. If you are looking for a tree that offers fruit, flower or autumnal colour we have a wonderful selection for you. A tree for every garden! Available in-store* or online.
*Trees not available at Coolings Lifestyle.
Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC)
The Queen’s Green Canopy is a UK-wide initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 by inviting people to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.
The QGC initiative has now been extended to March 2023 to give people the opportunity to plant trees in memoriam to honour Her Majesty. Shop all trees here.
Plant a tree this month to commemorate the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III accession to the throne. Take £10 off all Ornamental Trees with your Coolings Family card (Valid during October 2022 only).
To learn more about how you can get involved, visit The Queen’s Green Canopy’s website here.
Malus ‘Jelly King’ / Liquidamba styr. Worplesdon’ / Parrotia ‘Vanessa’
Sorbus ‘Autumn Spire‘ / Amelanchier ‘Autumn Brilliance’ / Betula utilis jac. ‘Snow Queen’
Why October?
Planting in autumn, whilst the soil is still warm and plentiful rains, offers a tree just the right amount of time to establish a root system before the ground freezes.
When it comes to planting trees, pick a time when air temperatures have cooled so that newly planted trees can focus on establishing root systems.
Look out the window before planting. If your neighbourhood trees still have their leaves – you’re good to go!
How to Plant a Tree
- Dig a bowl-shaped hole about the same depth as the tree’s root, but as much as five times the width!
- Settle the root in the centre of the hole you’ve dug and then backfill with the soil you removed.
- Gently tamp the soil to remove air pockets, but don’t compact the dirt. The root collar should be slightly above the soil line.
- Water well! If the soil settles too much, add more more of the backfill.
- Water deeply two or three times a week.
A tree for every garden
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Jon’s Top Picks for Autumn Colour
Ensure your garden or outside space stays colourful this season with Jon’s top plant picks below. Shop all plants in-store and online. Please note, in-store availability may vary between stores.
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Nature’s time to plant
Autumn is the perfect time to plant! The soil is still warm which allows roots to grow ready to support healthy top growth in the spring. Now is the ideal time to renovate borders or create spaces for additional planting. Here are some reliable choices to pop into newly created spaces for year-round interest.
Build your all season planter…
Autumn is a great time to create hardy planters that will provide a full year of interest. We have a great range of over 40 hardy evergreen patio and container plants in 11cm pots ideal to create lasting impact through the seasons. Here is a planter we created last autumn and photographed in the spring to inspire you to try yourself.
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Spring Blossom
A sure sign that spring has sprung! For an abundance of spring blossom in your garden, look no further than Prunus, more commonly known as Flowering Cherry Trees. Many varieties are ideal for small gardens and will also provide autumn colour with their foliage warming to shades of gold, red or orange. Please speak to a member of the plant team in-store to discover the best variety for your garden.We’ve highlighted some of our favourite varieties below, available in-store and online:
Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’
(Dwarf Variety) An abundance of pretty, very pale pink flowers opening from crimson buds in early spring. Beautiful orange-red autumn colours. Height and spread 2m x 2m.Prunus ‘Brilliant’
(Dwarf Variety) Masses of white blossom in spring and serrated, bronzy young foliage becoming mid-green before gold colour in autumn. Height and spread 3m x 2m.
Prunus ‘Okame’ Produces masses of deep reddish-pink, petite single flowers in early spring. Popular with bees and also people, since its one of our best selling trees! Sharply toothed, dark-green leaves are strongly tinted orange and red in the autumn. Height and spread 4m x 4m.
Prunus ‘Snow Showers’
An elegant weeping tree with masses of pure white flowers in spring. Their leaves colour well in the autumn months. Height and spread 2m x 2m. -
How To Care For Your Christmas Tree
1) Please remember, like all plants your Christmas tree will need to be watered regularly. It’s best to use a stand that holds water (like all those sold at Coolings) as this will save the time you have to spend watering and allows the tree to take up the water it needs.
2) For cut trees it is advisable to saw a sliver of wood off of the base of the tree before decorating. This will help the tree to take up water more efficiently.
3) If possible, do not bring the tree indoors too early. Remember that it is an outdoor plant and will do better outside than in!
4) Keep your tree away from sources of heat such as radiators. If it is near heat this will cause it to dry out quicker, so if you have to put it somewhere warmer, ensure you keep it well watered.
These steps should ensure you can enjoy your chosen tree for as long as possible. Happy Christmas!
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Christmas Trees – Full Range of Premium Real Cut Christmas Trees NOW IN!
How to choose a tree
When choosing your Christmas tree, there are a few things that you need to consider.
Where will it go? Trees prefer cooler conditions so try to avoid a warm spot such as near a radiator, fireplace or heating vent. Measure the height and width of the space to ensure you select the correct sized tree.
How will it stand up? Tree stands are essential as they keep the tree upright and provide a source of water for the tree. A freshly cut tree can consume a gallon of water in a day, so we recommend using a water stand and keeping the water level above the base of the trunk.
How will it be decorated? Straight hanging decorations always look better, so think about the angle and density of the branches as this can affect the decorations.
Remember! Bring your Christmas tree back to your nearest Coolings in January and we will recycle it for you.
Nordmann Premium
Nordmann Premium (cut) have the best needle retention as well as beautiful glossy foliage and fantastic shape. They have a subtle aroma and soft needles and are a lush dark green colour. (Get 10% OFF with Coolings Family)Sizes and prices:
- 4ft (120cm – 150cm) £29.99
- 5ft (150cm – 175cm) £39.99
- 6ft (175cm – 200cm) £49.99
- 7ft (200cm – 250cm) £64.99
- Selection of 8ft -9ft (250cm – 300cm) available at £119
- 10ft (300cm – 335cm) £169
Larger sizes available – Prices on application.
Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce (cut) is the traditional Christmas tree. This premium grade variety has attractive shape and foliage and give off a lovely pine fragrance. Our Norway Spruce are grown in Kent and are farmed specifically for their purpose, therefore supporting local agriculture. (Get 10% OFF with Coolings Family).Sizes and prices:
- 4ft (120 – 150cm) £24.99
- 5ft (150 – 175cm) £29.99
- 6ft (175 – 200cm) £36.99
- 7ft (200 – 240cm) £42.99
- 8ft (240 – 275cm) £49.99
- 9ft (275 – 300cm) £59.99
- 10ft (300cm – 335cm) £99.99
Larger sizes available – Prices on application.
Premium Pot Grown Trees
A potted Christmas tree is an ideal way to have a real tree in your home, without any hassle! Even better, once Christmas is over, they can be planted in the garden to be enjoyed in years to come. Our Premium Pot Grown trees are grown in Kent.These trees are especially good, as after Christmas you can plant them in the garden. Simply plant at the correct depth and remember to keep well-watered.
Nordmann Fir (Pot Grown)
Nordmann Fir (pot grown), this Christmas tree has a lovely shape; its foliage is rich green and glossy. The tree has excellent needle retaining qualities and its needles are soft to touch making it a pleasure to decorate. (Get 10% OFF with Coolings Family)A variety of sizes available (50 – 120cm).
Prices: Prices From £16.99
Norway Spruce (Pot Grown)
Norway Spruce (pot grown) is locally grown for us on a farming estate here in Kent. A classic choice of Christmas tree, combining beautiful shape and evocative, aromatic foliage. (Excluded from 10% OFF Coolings Family)A variety of sizes available (50 – 120cm).
Prices: Prices From £12.99
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Amazing Acer Action
Acer palmatum ‘Inaba-shidare’ (AGM)
A tree with small, finely cut, purple-red leaves turning bright crimson in autumn.Acer palmatum dissectum
A summer green arching variety that turns yellow and orange as the year progresses.Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’
Peach, pink and flame colours on the same leaf in autumn. Quite stunning but the spring and summer foliage is equally dramatic. Pumpkin-green leaves at first with a second growth spurt in summer in which the leaves develop a pink halo.Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Garnet’ (AGM)
Noted for its outstanding colour and vigour, award-winning ‘Garnet’ is medium sized with large, deeply cut, dissected leaves that turn from purple in the summer to a sensational scarlet in the autumn. A very popular cascading, mound-shaped shrub that will stand out in the landscape.Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ (AGM)
Deciduous and slow growing with stunning seasonal foliage. The branches of this Acer display rounded pale, buttery-yellow leaves in the spring with tiny crimson flowers. In the summer, the tree bursts into life with bright yellow/lime foliage, before turning golden orange with red margins in the autumn.Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ (AGM)
This award-winning Acer is medium sized with something to offer every season. Beautiful golden yellow-orange spring growth, a chartreuse for the summer, turning stunning orange gold in the autumn. As the leaves fall, they expose the graceful outlines of the bright-green bark and twigs for the winter. As it’s a slow growing deciduous Acer, it’s ideal for small gardens or a large container. It would look great in one of our lime green National Trust Pots (£39.99) with some Kelkay Green Slate Chippings (£5.99 a bag, or 2 for £10) around it.Where should I plant them?
Acers are adaptable plants, but are unhappy in wet or dry conditions and find very alkaline soils difficult to cope with so we recommend planting with an ericaceous compost such as Levington’s Ericaceous Compost (£4.49, 20L bag). Some shade is an advantage for green-leaved or variegated varieties which may be scorched by strong sunlight, but red leaves do need sun to develop their colour to the full. Cool dappled shade with protection from cold north or easterly winds will suit most Acers & if you can’t provide this in the border, you could choose a smaller variety & keep it in a container instead.Growing in a pot?
Acers are great to grow in a pot as a feature. Select a sturdy pot about twice the size of the one the Acer is already in and carefully consider the position of the pot before you plant. Place in a sheltered spot out of the wind and in dappled shade to get the best displays of colour from your tree. Make sure the pot has good drainage holes and stand your pot on feet so that water can escape in winter. Keep plants well-watered – check that the leaves aren’t preventing the rainfall getting to the compost.