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Category: Plants
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Wild About Wildlife
Encourage Insects
Insects play an important role in our ecosystem, most of them have specific roles to play and many of them serve as food for other species. The easiest way to encourage insects is to not be too tidy with your gardening. Leave wild patches if you can as these provide food and shelter for insects. A fallen log, or pile of sticks is an ideal home for stag beetles whose number are in decline. Leaving areas of longer grass is also great for providing safe havens for insects such as grasshoppers.
Provide a Safe Home for Wildlife
It’s such a joy to watch wildlife in the garden and if they can find a safe home, they may well take up residency in your garden. There are lots of wildlife houses for sale depending on who you’re trying to attract, or why not try making your own with offcuts of wood? Whichever you choose, ensure that you place wildlife homes in a sheltered, quiet area of the garden and if you’re putting houses in trees (for bats or birds), make sure that they aren’t south facing so they don’t get too hot during the day.
Shop for wildlife homes here.
Plant Pollinators
Wildflowers have declined dramatically in the British countryside along with the bees and butterflies that relied on them, so bringing them back to your garden is a great idea to attract wildlife back. Planting wildflowers is easy provided you chose an area where the soil is poor; fertiliser and compost will simply encourage vigorous grass and weeds which smother them, so be careful when planting.
Get started with our Mini Meadow Easy Sow Mix.
It’s not just wildflowers which are good pollinators, you can also plant perennials such as buddleja, hollyhocks, cosmos, salvia and scabious. Blue and purple flowers are particularly attractive to bees, but generally speaking, the bigger and brighter the flower, the more attractive they are to wildlife! Don’t forget to plant plants which flower throughout the year as pollination doesn’t just take place in spring and summer.
Grow Climbers
Climbers are a brilliant garden choice, often hiding fences and adding ornamental interest with flowers and foliage. In addition, climbers can help add to the shelter available for wildlife and can offer pollen and nectar to insects. Some also grow berries to provide food for wildlife! They can provide good shelter for birds, who can use it to nest in. Try ivy, clematis, jasmine and climbing roses and hydrangeas.
Shop for climbers here.
Feed the birds
Attracting birds into the garden is easy and we can do our bit by ensuring that they have enough food, especially over the winter. You can hang a bird feeder or provide a bird table. If you’re feeling creative you can also make your own bird food! Make sure feeders are kept clean and away from any predators and put out the necessary amount of food (too much may attract other animals and too little will leave hungry birds). You could also add a nest box to allow smaller birds to create nests in the garden.
Shop for bird care online here.
Create a Compost Heap
Making a compost heap provides a habitat to lots of minibeasts, who help to decay waste. A large range of materials can be added to your compost include old cut flowers and bedding plants, prunings, dead plants, fruit and vegetable leftovers, grass cuttings, dead leaves, tea bags, eggshells and more! Try to ensure a good mix of items. You could include a piece of corrugated iron and some rubber mat, which will encourage slow worms. These have the extra benefit of being a natural pest control as they will eat slugs. This home-made compost is excellent as a soil improver, helping the structure and health of your soil as well as making plants more resilient.
Make a bee hotel
Bees are key for pollination and perform a vital role in the garden. You can create your own bee hotel to encourage bees to nest. You will need hollow stems with different diameters, providing lots of holes for the bees. Pack these together inside a frame and once complete, place the bee hotel on a sunny wall which is sheltered from rain. If bees lay eggs in the bee hotel, young bees will emerge the following year!
If you’d rather buy a pre-made one, shop for wildlife homes here.
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Growing Geums
If you think everything that is worthwhile requires oodles of hard work, it’s time to get to know Geums – the easy going perennial with all the frills and an abundance of charm. They produce neat, compact foliage and present gardeners with dainty, rose-like blooms that begin in early spring and continue through the summer.
Use them in sunny borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens or as ground cover, plus they make wonderful cut flowers too. These plants are not fussy, and will perform in any PH as long as the soil is moist. Geums will light up your garden with warm-toned flowers that can range from yellow to orange, to pink and scarlet. Deadhead them after flowering and they will produce a prolific and reliable display. They really are a no brainer!
We stock many varieties at Coolings, but below are just a few of our favourites.
Lemon yellow flowers with a whirl of yellow antherns in the centre. Height and spread 45cm x 35cm.
Semi-double yellow-apricot flushed red in early summer. Height and spread 40cm x 40cm.
Purple stems bearing semi-double, rich scarlet flowers. Height and spread 60cm x 60cm.
Reddish-brown stems bear nodding, double, frilly-edged pink flowers up to 4cm across with a lemon centre in late spring and summer. Height and spread 25cm x 30cm.
Semi-double, rich yellow flowers. Height and spread 40cm x 60cm.
Peachy-orange flowered cultivar noted for its long flowering season. Height and spread 90cm x 50cm.
Double, apricot-flushed scarlet red flowers. Height and spread 0.1-0.5m x 0.1-0.5m.
Click here to shop our full range of geums and herbaceous perennial plants online
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Grow With Us
Here at Coolings, we pride ourselves on the fact that plants are our main focus. During the first national lockdown in 2020, according to the Horticultural Trade Association (HTA), over 3 million new gardeners were born. For us at Coolings, that meant that we had a whole new customer group to inspire and educate – what a privilege!With many new gardeners having spades of enthusiasm but lacking gardening know-how, we decided to launch a series of gardening videos. Entitled ‘Grow With Us’, this growing library of videos will cover everything from ‘Growing from Seed’, to, ‘Pruning’, with maybe a bit of BBQ-ing thrown in for good measure! You can find the videos under the Garden Advice – How To tab.
If you’re new to gardening and want to find out how to make the most of your outside space, we invite you to join our loyalty Family, Coolings Family, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram so that you can keep up to date with our latest videos.
Happy Gardening!
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Cheerful Erysimum
These cheerful plants provide vibrant splashes of colour and fragrance from early spring right through to the summer months. Many varieties are hardy perennials, adding attractive evergreen foliage and structure to your outside space even after the flowers have faded. You can’t beat Erysimum for their reliability and longevity!
Great for growing in borders and containers, plant them in well-drained soil in a full sun position. Erysimum are loved by bees, butterflies and other pollinators because of their long flowering season, that’s why we love them too! We stock many varieties at Coolings, but below are just a few of our favourites.
Possibly our favourite Erysimum variety, with beautiful bright and fragrant flowers. Height and spread 70cm x 35cm.
Profusion of large ruby to russet red flowers. Height and spread 40cm x 40cm.
Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
One of the most popular varieties, rich mauve blooms with dark grey-green leaves. Height and spread 100cm x 100cm.
A bright yellow variety from a new range of hardy, evergreen which flower almost all year round, expect in the depth of winter. Height and spread 30cm x 45cm.
Erysimum ‘Walbertons Fragrant Sunshine’
Clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers. Height and spread 50cm x 50cm.
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Current Guidelines at our Centres
Whilst we are delighted that we can stay open, we are of course, well aware that we have to keep our staff and customers safe. Therefore we have restrictions that you wouldn’t normally see at Coolings, please see details of these below. We ask all customers to be respectful of these and to conduct their trips in a safe and considerate manner.
- For the protection of staff and visitors alike, we strongly encourage customers to wear a face-covering whilst in our centres. Although the legal requirement to wear a face covering in England ends on 19th July, the government expects and recommends that people continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces. Please respect other customers and our employees by maintaining safe distances and following these guidelines. Face Coverings are not required for children under age 11, or those with qualifying medical conditions as outlined by government guidelines.
- Track and Trace signage is in place at all of the entrances to our sites.
- Please observe 2m distance when shopping. Our staff are here to help and are happy to, but please be mindful of them too and maintain 2m distance.
- Wipes are available for all our trolleys so that handles can be wiped down.
- We know that it’s tempting to pick plants and products up to have a look, but please only touch products that you intend to buy.
- Some areas have directional signage. Please adhere to these restrictions as they are for customer and staff safety.
- Although we are accepting cash payments, contactless and credit or debit card payments are preferred for the safety of our customers and staff. We are accepting contactless payment up to the value of £45 and Apple or Android Pay up to £150. Chip and pin machines have wipes by them.
- Our tills and customer service areas have been fitted with screens to protect our customers and staff.
- At this time our wheelchairs and electric scooters are unfortunately not available for use due to Covid-19 restrictions.
For more information, please visit http://localhost.coolings0909.com/faqs
You can also keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Thank you for your support and understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back to Coolings.
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1000 Years of Experience!
Coolings Nurseries Team are celebrating hitting the milestone of 1000 years of gardening experience this year.
Originally started as a hobby in 1913 by Arthur Cooling, the company is proud of its family history with Arthur’s grandsons, Paul and David, still on the Board of Directors.
The company which has now grown to include four garden centres across Kent and Sussex, along with a growing online shop, employs over 200 members of staff, some of whom have been with the company for 30 years or more.
One of these is Garry Norris who started with the Robinson family (former owners of the Rushmore Hill Nursery) back in 1979 as a Nurseryman, aged 22.In 2019 Garry was awarded the prestigious RHS London Service Medal for over 40 years’ service in the horticultural industry. Garry says, ‘It only feels like yesterday that I was weeding roses. Time flies when you’re having fun!’.
Managing Director, Gary Carvosso, is the second longest serving member of the team having first started with the company in Chislehurst as a Garden Centre Assistant back in 1984. Gary worked his way up through the ranks and was appointed Managing Director in 2006. He says, ‘My favourite memories over the years have to be seeing people joining our team, going on to grow with an expanding business and then for some, eventually managing their own team. There has been such a great sense of camaraderie over the years in the highs and lows of business.’
Next there is Chairman, Paul Cooling, who says, ‘Many people think Coolings is about plants and gardening. Whilst that is undoubtedly our core business, it is the people involved that have made us what we are today. We have always seen the team as an extension of our family and family values really sit at the heart of the business’.
Paul officially joined the family business full-time in 1987 aged 23, (although he unofficially started work aged 6 clearing trays from under the plant benches at a rate of 1 penny per tray!). He completed a Garden Centre Management diploma at Pershore College and gained experience with several influential garden related businesses in the UK and abroad, before taking up the position of Houseplant Manager at Coolings in Chislehurst and then going on to be appointed as Chairman in 2006.
Outside of Coolings, Paul is active in the garden centre industry, not just in the UK, but internationally. He has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Garden Centre Association for over 20 years, and is currently a member of the Board of the International Garden Centre Association where he will become President in 2023.
Although officially starting work for Coolings in 1990, Nicky Peto first worked with Mike Cooling at his nursery in Chislehurst in 1971. A close friend of the Cooling family, rumour has it that she babysat Paul and David when they were little!Nicky left Chislehurst to train as a florist but was invited to work at Coolings in 1990 to help plant up their hanging baskets. From there her role grew and she is now responsible for buying giftware and houseplants for the company, along with creating the wonderful displays you see in the Rushmore Hill shop.
Mark Reeve joined Robinsons at the tender age of 16 as a trainee Nursery Assistant whilst studying at Hadlow College. He decided to get into horticulture as he was interested in plants and nature and liked the idea of working outside. 30 years later, and with a Gold HTA Retail Plant Care award under his belt, he’s still enjoying working outside, and is the company’s plant guru – what Mark doesn’t know about plants and gardening is arguably not worth knowing!
The fifth longest serving member is Kevin Freeman who joined Coolings in 1990 after a brief stint working on a local farm. Kevin decided he would prefer to work with plants under glass, rather than out in the field every day and he joined the team working on the nursery where he can still be found tending plants today.
The relative newbie in the group is Ian Hazon, Production and Operations Director. Ian is in charge of Coolings Nursery production – he joined the company in 1991 as Glasshouse Foreman following 3 years of training at Hadlow College. Passionate about plants, Ian used to grow flowers at home in his spare time to supply local florists; now he is responsible for the production of over a million plants, home grown, each year at the nursery.The above employees are the staff who have been with the company for over 30 years each; there are many more members of the team whose combined experience amounts to 1000 years!
Careers at Coolings
The team are constantly growing, if you are interested in joining the Coolings team, or would like to find out more about the history of the company, please visit our careers page.
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Hebes – Spring Colour
Low maintenance, easy to grow, compact, attractive flowers, glossy and often colourful evergreen foliage. Hebes are loved by pollinating insects such as Bees, making them the perfect shrub choice.
Part of a Hebe’s appeal has to be in the choice they offer. Big or small leaved? Long or short flowers? High or low growing? There really is a Hebe for every gardener. Flower colours tend to come in a range of white, pinks and blues whilst the foliage can be green, silver, purple or pink as well as some incredible variegated varieties. Hebes are fairly easy to grow and are ideally suited to a warm, sunny and sheltered position with a freely drained soil, they grow equally well in open ground or in a pot.
As always, the team here at Coolings are more than happy to help you choose the right Hebe for your garden, just ask!
There are a huge number of varieties available, but below are just a few of our favourites.
Striking brightly coloured foliage throughout the year. Reaches approximately 50cm x 50cm.
Spikes of bright blue flowers from June to September. Height and spread 1.2m x 1.2m.
Hebe ‘Margret’
Beautiful dwarf bush with attractive blue flowers fading to white in mid-summer. Height and spread 45cm x 50cm.
Attractive leaves that darken through the winter months, spikes of purple flowers through summer. Height and spread 60cm x 60cm.
Profusion of pink flowers from spring, ideal permanent solution for a sunny pot. Height and spread 60cm x 60cm.
Hebe pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’
A dwarf, rounded shape with glaucous grey leaves on purple stems and small clusters of white flowers in early summer. Height and spread 20cm x 40cm.
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Favourite Five Spring Bulbs Ready to Burst into Colour DO NOT REPUBLISH DUE TO IMAGE COPYRIGHT
One of the first signs of spring we all look out for are the brightly coloured flowers emerging from daffodils and tulips. These bulbs should be planted in the autumn months, but if you didn’t manage to plant any spring bulbs, fear not – potted spring bulbs will save the day. Potted spring bulbs can be planted directly into the ground, or into pots and containers.
Here are five of our favourite spring bulbs that are available to buy in pots online or in-store today, ready to burst into colour in your garden this spring!
Anemone Blanda – low growing in a beautiful blue or white variety with daisy-shaped flowers, creating a compact carpet of colour. The white-flowered variety are great to plant alongside other showy bulbs of mixed colours.
Daffodil Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’ (AGM) – Their striking flower heads are a sure sign that spring has arrived! Standing at 15cm high, ideal for planting in containers or at the front of borders.
Fritillaria meleagris (Snakes Head) – for something a little different this spring. Charming pendent bell-shaped pinkish purple flowers with dark purple veining that always draw attention. As you may have already guessed, the name Snake’s head derives from the shape of the flower just before it bursts open.
Muscari – we just couldn’t choose between the blue, peppermint blue or white variety! Muscari look great at the front of a border and spread easily, so you may prefer to use them in a window box or containers.
Tulip – one of the must popular and a must for every garden in spring! Available in a rainbow of colours to instantly brighten up borders or containers. Fantastic for creating bold, contrasting displays.Pictured: Tulip Tulipa ‘Banja Luka’.
How to Plant
Simply dig a hole in the soil of your border or container the size of the bulb pot, place your bulb facing up, fill around the edges with soil or compost, then water!
Once your bulbs have finished flowering, lift them from the garden or pots, dry them out and store them in a cool, dark place for a few months. You can then plant the bulbs again in a few months ready for next spring.
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Plan Your Summer Colour Spectacular!
Planting summer bulbs in the spring will ensure a dazzling display of colour for you to sit back and enjoy in the summer months. With a little bit of planning, you will be rewarded with blooms from late spring right through to autumn. If you’d rather keep things simple, choose one type of bulb but stagger the planting times, adding more each month.
If you’re planting in borders, we recommend planting in groups of at least six for a good display of colour. Most bulbs are happy growing in containers, brightening up even the smallest of outdoor spaces. There’s no set date that’s best for planting summer flowering bulbs but a general rule is once the soil has dried out and the risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, you can plant bulbs in containers now but keep them indoors until the weather warms up. Don’t forget to pick up a bulb planter, not only will it make the job easier and cleaner but a bulb planter will also ensure you’re planting each bulb at the correct depth.
We’ve listed some of our favourite summer flowering bulb categories below, along with their flowering month to make planning your summer colour spectacular a little easier.
Summer flowering bulbs are available to purchase in-store and online now.
AnemoneLong stemmed poppy like flowers creating a carpet of colour.
Flowers in spring.
Pictured: Kapiteyn Anemone Mr. Fokker
One of the most rewarding plants in the summer with their assortment of vibrant colours and long flowering season.
Flowers from July until the first frosts.
Pictured: Kapiteyn Begonia Cascade Sunray
CrocosmiaBeautiful blooms that come in vibrant and pastel colours, providing effortless colour!
Flowers late-summer and lasts until the autumn.
Pictured: Crocosmia George Davidson
Famous for their impressive blooms in a variety of vivid colours and different bloom types.
Flowers from mid-July through to autumn.
Pictured: Kapiteyn Dahlia Blue Bell
Often know as ‘Sword Lilies’, adding structure and elegance to the border in a whole host of colours.
Flowers from July until the first frosts.
Pictured: Kapiteyn Gladiolus Mixed Colours
LilliesScent, scale and drama! Available in a range of types and sizes, they make a stunning focal point.
Flowers from early summer to autumn.
Pictured: Lily Stargazer
NerineShowy blooms in shades of pink, red and white.
Flower late summer into autumn.
Pictured: Nerine Bowdenii
ZantedeschiaFunnel shaped flowers in a fantastic array of colours, particularly effective when grown in groups in a border.
Flower late spring to midsummer.
Kapiteyn Zantedeschia Captain Romance
We love these summer flowering bulb pre-packed colour themes. Combinations of bulbs in themed colours ideal for attracting bees and butterflies.
Available in salmon & orange, red & white, white & blue and violet & pink.
Flower July to October.
