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Category: Plants

  • Best Buy Tools

    Each year, in September, there is a gardening trade show called GLEE at the NEC, Birmingham. It is an event for suppliers to show off their products to garden centre buyers, and for new companies to launch themselves. It was at this show just over a year ago that a new tool company named Crest launched.
    They took a look at the tool market and felt that there was an opportunity for quality, traditional tools in the market.  It is a range that we stock at Coolings, and they have just picked up a prestigious award from Gardeners’ World magazine for their Kent & Stowe stainless steel spade.
    It was awarded ‘Best Buy’ in their trials, which is some accolade having only been in existence for just over a year, and also being up against stiff competition from eleven other manufacturers. They have both carbon steel and stainless steel ranges with very competitive pricing.  As an example, the Kent & Stowe stainless steel spade retails at £29.99.  Yes, you can buy cheaper, but you will not get the same quality.
    Take the backache out of gardening…
    Kent & Stowe have also introduced a new ‘Lighter’ range that you may have missed which is ideal for those of you that may find tools too heavy or too long. 
    We stock a wide range of tools from the British manufactured Burgon & Ball, to Fiskars, Wolf, Crest, Darlac and Spear & Jackson, with their Kew approved tools, and if you can’t find what you want we will try to source it for you.  Getting the right tools for the job makes such a difference.

  • Delight your feathered friends

    There are many mixes of bird food.  With bird seed, the cheaper mixes tend to have a high proportion of cereals, which are favoured by pigeons and sparrows.  Today I am going to explain the importance of three of the staples love by birds.

    Black sunflower seeds are highly nutritious and it is easy for birds to remove the husks.  It is favoured by a lot of birds, particularly Greenfinches and Tits.  However, in the winter I would advise moving to sunflower hearts, as birds use a lot of energy to keep warm and need to feed more quickly to survive the cold and short daylight foraging time.

    Nyger seeds (sometimes spelt Nyjer) are thistle seeds, which are very rich in oil and ideal for birds with delicate beaks such as Goldfinches and Siskins.  This seed is very small and falls out of conventional feeders, so it is best to use a feeder specially designed for Nyger seeds.  We do one sold by Jacobi Jayne for £18.99. alternatively, you can mix it in with other seed.

    Berries and fruit are a good source of moisture, energy and vitamins.  Plants often have red or black berries which attract the birds.  Being eaten by birds helps the plant distribute its seeds further afield.  Fallen apples are also appreciated by birds and other animals.  All of these help to provide food in the winter months when food is scarce.  Examples of plants with berries are Pyracantha and Holly (Ilex).

  • The Greatest Garden Centre Team

    It is time to celebrate at Coolings! We are extremely proud to have won Silver at this year’s The Greatest Awards for the ‘The Greatest Garden Centre Team of the Year’.

    The Greatest Awards are now in their 9th year and are a national competition where an independent judging panel select the top garden centres in each category.

     

    At Coolings we believe it is the people that make a difference, both our customers and our team. We always try to deliver exceptional customer service and an enjoyable experience for all our customers and just as importantly, the 150 strong team that work at Coolings.

    We would like to “Thank You” our customers for visiting us come rain or shine and for keeping us on our toes!

    As Gary Carvosso our Managing Director said ‘I am extremely proud of the team we have at Coolings. Many of the staff have been with us over 20 years and it is wonderful that we still have such a sense of teamwork and pride in delivering a great customer experience.’

     

    At Coolings we continue to always invest in our people, with regular training (RHS Level 2 in Horticulture, external training), retail supervisory courses, Horticultural Trade Association training, all the team training constantly on Garden Centre Association GROW and with over 300 years garden retail experience on our management team alone!. We believe in a team that can really help our customers.

  • Sonic Repellents

    Sonic Repellents
    These days many people are finding that cats and foxes are becoming a real nuisance in their garden and are seeking ways to deter them.
    Most people do not want to harm them, just not have them in their garden.  In search of products to deal with these problems, I came across a compay called Concept Research.  They are British and all their products are manufactured in this country.  They have a number of products that all run on 9 volt batteries and some can also work with a mains adaptor.
    CatWatch is the only product to be tested and approved by the RSPB.  It comes with a 2 year warranty and can also be used in conjunction with a mains adapter that boosts the volume by 30%.  Don’t worry, neither humans or other animals can hear it.  It can deter cats from almost immediately to a couple of weeks.
      CatWatch
    FoxWatch is a similar product, but stops them damaging your home, killing pets and wildlife, spreading disease and disturbing your sleep. Like CatWatch it can be boosted by adding a mains adapter.  Should a fault develop they may be reparied.  If not, then a replacemant can be purchased at a discounted price.
    Both these products will cover approximately 125m².  If you have a smaller garden then try the Catfree of Pestfree which both cover 88m².  Both come with a 2 year warranty and the Pestfree will also deter rabbits.
    Finally, there is the indoor pest controller for mice, which can be used in kitchens, outbuildings, sheds, garages and caravans.  whilst it has been reported to be effective on rats, it is not guaranteed as they are a very persistant pest. Prices start from £19.99.
    Pestfree keeps out almost all mice!

  • 2015 Marks 25 Years in Service for Seven of our Staff!

    As the saying goes ‘happy employees equal happy customers’ and we seem to be getting our sums right! This year seven of our staff, who work across a diverse range of departments, are celebrating their 25 year anniversary with the company.

    As many of you will know, Coolings has seen three generations of the Coolings family at the realm since it was established by Arthur Cooling in 1913, so it’s no surprise that over the years we have discovered the benefits of investing in staff and listening to our customers.

    Our Chairman, Paul Cooling and his father Michael Cooling, along with our company Directors, marked this impressive milestone by hosting a fabulous black tie Dinner. Paul Cooling added “We pride ourselves on making Coolings a great place to work and our talented team has grown with us. We wanted to celebrate and thank our long serving staff members for all their hard work and commitment”.

    Staff included in the accolade are Managing Director Garry Carvosso and Production and Operations Director Ian Hazon, Plants Assistant Nicky Peto, Nursery Assistant Kevin Freeman, Accounts Assistant Frances Maxwell, Customer Service Manager Mark Reeves and E-Commerce Manager/Nursery Technical Advisor and Shrub Manager, Garry Norris.

  • Ferntastic Evergreen Ferns

    Ferntastic Evergreen Ferns
    Architectural, versatile, colourful, dainty are just a few words to sum up this popular group of plants.  They are surprisimgly useful in many a situation, from walls and steep banks to shady woodland stumpery environments or even pots, containers and hanging baskets.
    Below are a few of my favourite evergreen ferns pictured in this article.
    Evergreen ferns (planted in the top of the basket) including:
    Asplenium scolopendrium (hart’s tongue fern):  Native fern with glossy  leathery tongue like fronds.  Will grow anywhere, even in the cracks of walls.  Grows 50cm x 50cm.
    Asplenium scolopendrium:
     
    Cyrtomium fortunei:
     
    Cyrtomium fortunei (Japanese holly fern):  Add an oriental touch to the planting scheme with this vigorous fern which produces sword shaped lime green juvenile leaves.  Grows 60cm x 50cm.
    Polystichum setiferum ‘Congestum’ (congested soft shield fern):  This dwarf fern produces lacy soft fronds with a fine texture which will grow in virtually any shady location.  Grows 30cm x 30cm.
    Polystichum setiferum:
     
    To achieve this look you will need:
    • 1 x 35cm (14″) wire hanging basket
    • 1 x 35cm (14″) natural moss look basket liner
    • Ericaceous compost
    • Water storing crystals to add to compost in order to aid water retention
    • Small log for decorative effect
    • Evergreen ferns (planted in the side of the basket) including:
    • Polypodium vulgare (common polypody): Native fern for all soil types.  Comb like fronds with deeply cut leathery leaves often covered in orange spores.  Grows 30cm x 30cm.
    • Blechnum penna-marina (hard fern): Good ground cover fern. Produces elegant glossy dark green fronds and bronze new growth.  Height 15cm.

  • Trendy Shrubs

    Shrubs form the backbone and structure to our gardens, and can provide seasonal interest throughout the year.  Here we look at a few recently introduced or little known shrubs that we think will be a hit in 2016, and fit well with the current trend for relaxed naturalistic planting.
    Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise’
    Voted Chelsea Flower Show plant of the year 2015, this gorgeous Viburnum has it all.  Beautiful white flowers in Spring followed by red berries loved by the birds, then good autumnal foliage colour.  Never growing too large, it is ideal for smaller gardens.
    Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’
    This little known plant’s common name is Dwarf Summersweet which is a clue to its appeal.  The dainty white flowers appear in summer and have a beautiful spicy-sweet fragrance.  Hummingbird has a compact habit and as an added bonus will happily grow in a shady location.
    Exochorda racemosa ‘Magical Springtime’
    This introduction of the beautiful Pearl Bush is more compact and upright than its hugely popular cousin Exochorda ‘The Bride’.  Smothered in pure white flowers in Spring, it is fully hardy and very easy to grow.  Available in limited numbers so hurry!
    Cotinus coggygria ‘Lilla’
    Dwarf purple smoke tree.  This beautiful new shrub is a compact version of the highly popular Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’.  Growing to just over 1m, it has stunning wine red leaves that turn vibrant red/orange in Autumn.  In summer the fluffy flower panicles on mature plants appear to cloak the bush in a cloud of pink ‘smoke’.
    Sambucus nigra ‘Serenade’ 
     
    This attractive new form of ornamental elder has colourful bronze pinnate foliage and panicles of delicate white flowers.  Perfect for giving borders a soft naturalistic back-drop.
    Lavatera clementii ‘Silver Barnsely’
    Lavatera Barnsley has been popular for many years, but now a beautiful form with soft silver foliage and a profusion of blush white flowers has been developed, making this quick growing shrub the perfect addition to sunny borders.

  • Bold Bulbs for Colour Theming

    Bold Bulbs Colour Theming this Autumn for Spring
    It’s time to start thinking about planting spring bulbs to make sure you have some well needed spring colour in your garden after the winter.
    This bank holiday weekend (Friday 24th August – Monday 27th August 2018) get 20% OFF all spring bulbs.  Plant now to get the sprirt of spring in your Garden next year.
    Use our colour wheel below to get the theme you want…

  • Plant Profiles – Six of the best plants for the autumn garden

    Plant Profiles – Six of the best plants for the autumn garden
     
    Euonymus alatus Compactus
    This is a stand out plant of the autumn garden.  For several weeks in October this compact form of the Winged Spindle produces a blazing display of amazing pinkish red leaf colour, before the leaves drop revealing a fascinating structure of ‘winged’ branches.
    Abelia grandiflora Kaleidoscope
    This compact shrub will fit into any garden.  It has dainty blush white flowers in late summer and autumn that are lightly fragrant.  The glossy semi-evergreen leaves intensify in colour to firey orange-red as the year progresses.
    Ceratosigma willmottianum
    Hardy Plumbago is prized for its vivid lapis lazuli blue flowers produced in late summer and autumn.  An easy to grow garden plant, simply cut back hard in winter.
    Acer Osakazuki
    Regarded as the best Acer for autumn colour.  Green leaves in summer turn to blazing crimson on established plants.
    As with all Japanese Acers best autumn colours are achieved by planting in ericaceous compost.
    New Parrotia Persian Spire
    This fantastic new upright bush has spectacular autumn foliage and is great for adding structure and interest where height is required but space is limited.  Grows to about 75cm wide and 2m tall in 10 years.
    Callicarpa Profusion
    The Beauty Berry gets its common name for good reason.  It is studded with berries that resemble small iridescent purple pearls.  Best planted in pairs to allow cross pollination and a big display of berries.
     
    Why not visit our ‘Autumn Fire’ exhibition showing the best colour that autumn has to offer.  Open from Saturday 24th September – Sunday 30th October.

  • A Few of our Favourite Things (Autumn 2016)

    A few of our favourite things
    Coolings is full to bursting with wonderful plants and products.  Here, our staff pick a few personal favourites.
    Carol – Our Acer Expert
    At this time of year, I think Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ is a perfect addition to any garden, especially if you’re looking to add some autumn interest.  Acer ‘Orange Dream’ is a beautiful golden yellow-orange spring growth, a limey-green for the summer, turning stunning orange gold in the autumn.  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 (£5.99 a bag, buy 3 bags or more £5.49 each) around it.
     
    Reece – Our Roses Expert
    When it comes to roses, you can’t beat the colour yellow.  There are a few gems amongst our new season roses that I personally love:  English Beauty ‘The Poet’s Wife’ is a shrub rose bred by David Austin, and has an exceptional rich fruity fragrance – strong lemon tints at first, becoming sweeter and stronger with age.  Another golden wonder is Rosa ‘Arthur Bell’ which holds prize position in my garden.  I love that it flowers very early in the season, repeat flowers and has good disease resistance.  It also has a fragrance that is rarely matched by any other floribunda variety, but as the saying goes ‘roses for noses and noses for roses’!
    Helen – Our Shop Team
    Candles, candles and more candles! I particularly love our Root Legacy range. As well as the large choice of fragrance, I like that they are available in lots of different shapes and sizes.  At home I’m quite traditional and always stick with a vanilla scent like Root’s ‘French Vanilla’ (Votive £1.99), but if I’m giving one as a gift I can’t resist being a little more adventurous!  My favourite is Root’s Legacy ‘Lemon Frosted Scone’ (Tin £6.99) – it burns for up to 30 hours and smells good enough to eat!  If giving as a gift, I often choose a card from our Quayside range – gardening humour is guaranteed to make my green fingered friends smile!
    Kathy – Our Shop Team
    I’m a keen baker when I’m not working t Coolings so my eye is always drawn to our cookery range of books.
    My latest purchase was ‘500 Baking Recipes’ which is perfect for novices or experienced bakers and was great value at only £4.99 – with that many new recipes I might even give Arthurs a run for their money!  I’m also a sucker for the Fallen Fruits shopping bags (£2.99).  There is an assortment of designs, of which I already have the Farm print range, and the Nature print range will definitely be on my Christmas list!
    Garry – Our Shrub Expert
    Autumn has always been the best time for planting.  It’s only since plants have been containerised that people prefer to plant in the spring sunshine.  In the autumn the soil is still warm, the nights are cooler, the rain and dewy mornings all combine to get plants rooting before the winter sets in. Once the spring arrives, the plants get off to a flying start.  Some of my favourite larger specimens to plant nor are Ilex, Euonymus alatus, Magnolia, Viburnum, Prunus lusitanica and Thuja plicata ‘Atrovirens’ benefit the most from this early establishment, helping them to grow strongly during the next summer.