Make the most of your outdoors, indoors! A Garden Room gives you so much flexibility for outdoor living and entertaining allowing you somewhere to really appreciate the beauty of your garden whilst enjoying a cooling G&T or an afternoon tea, whatever the weather!
Category: Seasonal
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‘Celebrate Summer’ Feel Good Garden
The new Feel Good Garden is centred around celebrating the joy of long summer days and thoughts of the Mediterranean’s blue sea and sky. Launched ready for the summer months ahead, it evokes the senses and feelings of wellbeing – it will feel like you are on holiday!
The Feel Good Gardens can be viewed at The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Wych Cross and Potted Garden, please look out for the Feel Good Garden signage.
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Greenhouses Growing with Us!
The display models on show at Coolings The Gardener’s Garden Centre are The Saturn, Apollo and Neptune. Models are also on display at Coolings Wych Cross.
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Spring Lawn Care Tips
As winter’s chill recedes, it’s time to get your lawn ready for spring.
Here’s a simple guide to help make your lawn look beautiful for the warmer months ahead.
- First, you need to aerate your lawn. This means making small holes with an aerator in the ground, to improve oxygen circulation and drainage. It helps the soil breathe and is good for the grass plants.
- Feeding the lawn with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer such as Vitax Organic Lawn Feed is crucial for stimulating robust growth. However, balance is key, as overfeeding can be harmful, making it essential to adhere to recommended guidelines and be careful not to use too much. Use of a lawn feed spreader such as the Westland Drop Spreader is thoroughly recommended.
- The onset of mowing is a delicate art in early spring. Starting with higher mower settings and gradually lowering them helps in nurturing the grass gently back to health, encouraging a thicker, healthier lawn without undue stress. Simultaneously, early spring presents a strategic opportunity for weed control. Whether by hand-weeding or using a lawn specific weed killer such as Weedol Lawn Weedkiller Concentrate, it’s best to address these intruders when they’re young and prevent them from overtaking the lawn later in the season.
- Areas thinned by winter can be revitalized through over-seeding. Choosing the right seed mix for the local environment (for instance, shady or wet area and whether you want a fine or general purpose lawn seed) and ensuring consistent moisture can transform sparse patches into vibrant grass. Westland Gro-Sure Smart Lawn Seed is a good general purpose seed, with a mix of seed, that will help to ensure its establishment in different lawn areas.
- As the season warms up, watering your lawn the right way is important. Instead of watering a little bit every day, it’s better to water deeply but less often. This helps the grass roots grow deep and strong.
- Keep an eye out for moss and bugs. If you see any, treat your lawn early before they spread. Early treatments using moss reducing products such as Viano MO Bacter Organic Lawn Fertiliser and Moss Killer and regular monitoring can prevent these issues from escalating, ensuring a healthy lawn.
- Finally, to complete your spring lawn care, the aesthetics of a lawn are heightened by neatly trimmed edges with a lawn edger, and by following these simple steps, you can have a beautiful, green lawn ready for the warmer months.
Coolings offers a professional Lawn Care Service, which can take care of all your lawn feeding and scarifying needs. Please call us on 01959 532269 for more information.
*Please note this service is only available to areas local to Coolings The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Sevenoaks.
Come and visit us in-store or online to find all of our Lawn Care range.
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Plant Now for a Summer of Sensational Colour!
Summer flowering bulbs are available to purchase in-store and online now.
Bulbs are not just for spring! It’s a common misconception that we only get bulbs blooming in our gardens in spring, when in fact there is a whole host of beautiful blooms that are from summer bulbs.
Planting summer bulbs in the spring will ensure a blooming wonderful display of colour for you to sit back and enjoy during 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.
Please note, we have a wide range of summer flowering bulbs at The Gardener’s Garden Centre, Wych Cross and Potted Garden only. The varieties listed below are available online, varieties in-store will vary in these sites and are subject to availability. Coolings Lifestyle does not stock summer flowering bulbs.
- Originating from South Africa, Agapanthus are free flowering, with loose clusters of flowers in rich intense blue, white or with some varieties a mix of the two colours. The gorgeous trumpet-shaped blooms sit atop slender stalks, with arching, broad strap-shaped foliage at the base. Spectacular when planted in bigger swathes.
- Long flowering period.
- Flowers June/July through the summer.
Pictured: Taylors Agapanthus Dr Brouwer (250478) £2.99
- Crocosmia are multi flowered perennials that come in a range of fiery colours.
- Easy to grow, thrive in a range of soil types and will grow in sun or partial shade.
- Flower all summer long.
Pictured: Taylors Crocosmia ‘Emily Mckenzie’ (222668) £3.99
- Dahlias are grown from tubers.
- Famous for their impressive blooms in a variety of vivid colours and different bloom types, dahlias are unrivalled for giving a showy display. Try growing in rows to give lots of cut flowers for your home.
- Flowers from mid-July through to autumn.
Pictured: Kapiteyn Dahlia ‘Crazy Love’ (217950) £3.99
- Scent, scale and drama! Available in a range of types and sizes, they make a stunning focal point and exude a timeless charm with delicate petals and captivating colours.
- Flowers from early summer to autumn.
Pictured: Simple Pleasures Lilium ‘Monte Negro’ (306521) £4.49
- Create a taste of the tropics with Canna. With flashy blooms and dramatic foliage, Canna are dramatic and eye-catching. Tender perennials that produce bold leaves and flowers in reds, yellows, oranges and pinks.
- Technically, the roots of cannas are rhizomes, but they are commonly referred to as bulbs because the root structure closely resembles that of a classic plant bulb. Can grow up to 6ft.
- Flowers throughout the season – June to October.
Pictured: Taylors Canna Sol Happy Carmen (292517) £3.99
- Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis, bears arching racemes of bell-shaped, white flowers with an extremely rich perfume, from late spring.
- Planting period: May – September.
- Place in well drained soil. Dappled shade to full sun.
- Makes an excellent cut flower.
- Flowers May – July.
Pictured: Prins Convallaria Lily of the Valley (257548) £3.99
7. Gladiolus
- Flowering plants part of the iris family. It is sometimes called the ‘sword lily’.
- Tall stalks of trumpet-shaped blooms that fill gardens in summer with an array of beautiful, bright colours.
- Make beautiful cut flowers with their velvety petals.
- Attract lots of pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden.
- They can grow up to 1.8 metres tall so best placed in the middle of your borders.
- Flowers July – September.
Pictured: Prins Gladioli Giant Flowering Mixed (278414) £3.99
- The flowers stand up to the weather really well which is why they have become a favourite of parks departments over the years.
- You can start the corms off indoors as early as February.
- Begonias put on a stunning show in beds, pots and hanging baskets.
- Flower from June then throughout the summer.
- Although technically Nerines are late summer flowering members of the Amaryllis family, we thought they were too beautiful to leave out! ‘Firework’ shape blooms that come in vibrant and pastel colours, provide effortless colour! Showy blooms come in shades of pink, red and white.
- Patience maybe required as Nerines do not always flower in their first year after planting.
- Flowers late-summer and lasts into the autumn – with a long flowering period.
Pictured: Nerine bowdenii (250468) £4.99
- 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, and white & blue. Priced at £14.99 each.
- Flower July to October.
Pictured: Kapiteyn Blooms Bees Butterflies Garden Violet-Pink (228956) £14.99
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Early Bird 2024 Sale Top Picks
Our biggest sale event is back! The 2024 Early Bird Sale is here, with some of our best prices that you will find all year, available both in-store and online until the end of February.
Early Bird offers are exclusive to our Coolings Family members and they are the perfect helping hand for tackling all your gardening tasks in the new year, and an opportunity to get a head start and prepare for the growing season ahead.
Our Plant and Shop Experts, Jon and Andy, have chosen their favourite offers from this year’s Early Bird Sale.
Here is Jon’s favourite offer the 3 for £10 Pick & Mix offer on 1 Litre Herbaceous Perennials. He has selected just 5 of the plants from the extensive range, which are all normally £6.99 each. To see more plants within the offer click on the link above, and for more plants savings in the Early Bird 2024 sale, come in-store or shop online
Digitalis purpurea ‘Pam’s Choice’
Papaver orientale ‘Royal Wedding’
Andy has picked 5 of his favourite shop offers from our Early Bird Sale 2024, but you will find a much wider choice in-store and online.
Miracle Gro All Purpose Peat Free Compost 40 Litres – Early Bird Offer 4 for 12 in-store or Online offer 3 for £12
I’m sure you won’t find this premium compost cheaper anywhere else. A fantastic opportunity to stock up and save ready for the growing season ahead.
Miracle-Gro All Purpose Continuous Release Plant Feed 900g
Using a continuous release feed at the start of spring will feed your plants for the whole season, removing the need for regular feeding. Suitable for indoor or outdoor plants.
A great price for a hard surface treatment that works in days, and lasts for months, with no scrubbing or pressure washing needed.
Tom Chambers Fabulous Fat Balls 50 Box
Excellent value for high energy fat balls, to feed the birds particularly over the colder months. Comes in plastic free packaging to help the planet and garden birds.
Solar Centre Firefly Solar Garden Lights
Add a bit of theatre to your garden with these quality solar lights, that sway gently in the breeze, creating an ethereal effect.
If you’re a Coolings Family member you would have received your Cuttings Early Bird 2024 Sale magazine. This issue is packed with exclusive offers that you can take advantage of as a member (don’t forget to present your Coolings Family card at the till!). You will find many more fantastic offers in-store.
Not a Coolings Family member? Doesn’t mean you have to miss out, simply join in-store and take advantage of our Early Bird Sale straight away or join online.
Pick up your copy of Cuttings Early Bird in-store or click here to view online now.
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Early Bird Sale 2024
Our biggest sale is now on; The Early Bird Sale. Kick start the new year with some of our best prices you will find all year!
This event will run until the end of February 2024, but don’t leave it too long to visit us as we can’t guarantee everything will be left.
If you’re a Coolings Family Member you will have received your Cuttings Magazine to your doorstep between 5th January 2024 – 9th January 2024. Packed with all the exclusive offers you can take advantage of as a member. Perfect to help you tackle all your gardening tasks in the new year. Or get a head start and be prepared for the start of the gardening season this spring. Plus, save money in our Restaurants and Tea Rooms with our page of exclusive vouchers.
Not a member? Doesn’t mean you have to miss out, simply join in-store or online. And grab your copy in-store from the 9th January 2024.
Make sure if you are a member that you are signed up to receive our e-news to be the first to get a sneak peak of some of the offers available online before each mailing of Cuttings goes out. Also follow us on our social channels and keep your eyes peeled to ensure you don’t miss out!
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Green Gift Guide 2023 – Our Top 10 Outdoor Plant Ideas
Gorgeous Green Gifts from Coolings make thoughtful presents and leave a lasting memory.
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Super Delicious Soft Fruit Season is here!
An exciting, fresh new delivery of soft fruit bushes has arrived! In stock are the some of the most popular and much-loved varieties, including blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, red, white and blackcurrants and more unusual varieties of grapes, fig, boysenberry, loganberry and kiwi.
If you haven’t grown soft fruits before, don’t be daunted! They are surprisingly easy to grow and care for and can bring an abundance of delicious fruits for relatively minimal effort. Savouring fruits you have grown yourself brings a great sense of satisfaction and well-being too.
Soft fruit bushes will grow in most garden soils that are free draining and can be planted either bare root into the ground or into containers or pots, so contrary to what you might think, you don’t need a large garden.
The addition of fruit bushes can add interest and variety to your garden borders or patio’s and attract wildlife through their abundant mix of flowers, fruits and foliage. Plant a variety of types and you will have something to pick and enjoy throughout the growing season. You can also freeze most berries and currants to enjoy later in the year.
HINTS & TIPS FOR SOFT FRUITS SUCCESS!
When to Plant: Best between October and early spring. However, container growing soft fruits can be planted at any time of year.
Where to Plant: Happiest positioned in open sunny spots – near a wall or fence helps too, where they can shelter from cold winds. They hate being water-logged, so look for a free-draining area in your borders.
How to Plant:
For containers, ensure to
place stones or broken crockery over the drainage hole in the bottom of the container and fill with good-quality compost, mixing with one third grit or perlite.Soil consideration: Will grow in most soil types, but ideally rich and well-draining is best. If you have clay soil, dig in lots of organic matter. Create a good soil mixture by using half garden soil with half general-purpose compost.
Watering: Water thoroughly once a week in dry weather, especially during the first year. In later years water during prolonged dry spells. Don’t let containers dry out, keep moist at all times.
Feeding: In spring, top up with mulch, such as compost, laying it at least 5cm thick and away from the canes or stems of the plants, to avoid them rotting. In containers, the plant uses up all the nutrients quicker, so liquid feed every 1-2 weeks during the main growing season May-August.
Pruning: Prune every year in later winter/early spring. The general rule is to prune out the dead and diseased. With most fruit bushes, prune all the shoots right back to encourage new growth. With mature bushes, prune out about a third each year. Regular pruning keeps fruit yields high.
Support & Safety: Some bushes need support – such as wires or canes. Have these in position prior to planting out. Keep fruits safe from birds, who also love the fruit when it appears with a fruit cage or netting over containers.
Check plant labels for individual care needs. For more help and advice, speak to our experts in-store
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Autumnal Acers
If there is one tree above all others that captures the spirit of Autumn then it has to be the Acer. These versatile trees come in a spectrum of colours, but Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum varieties) are possibly the most ideal for creating Autumn colour in the garden. At Coolings we grow hundreds of these plants each year on our own nursery.
Growing tips:
• Acers are happiest grown in acidic soil (ericaceous) and in dappled shade. The best Autumn colours are achieved in these conditions.
• Ideal for smaller gardens as they grow well in large containers for a stunning focal point, select a study pot around twice the size of the one the Acer is already in.
• Autumn is the best time to plant an Acer.
• Plant in a mix of equal-parts ericaceous compost and John Innes No.3.
• Good for a shady spot in the garden.
Did you know?
The changing colour of Acer leaves in autumn is caused by the shift in concentration of three photosynthetic pigments in the leaves, brought on by reduced daylight hours and lower temperatures. The three pigments represent green, yellow/orange, and red/purple. The leaf colour changes as these pigments break down and this is affected by environmental conditions, which explains why plants of the same species produce more spectacular colours in different geographical areas or from one year to the next.
Here are some of our favourite varieties for Autumn and Winter interest…
Acer ‘Sango Kaku’
The coral bark maple leaves turn a golden yellow in Autumn and the striking red bark is a stunning Winter feature.Acer ‘Bi Ho’
A fabulous variety with orangey-yellow stems for Winter interest, providing all year round interest.Acer ‘Osakazuki’
This stronger growing Acer is regarded as the very best for Autumnal colour change as it transforms from green to a blazing mix of yellows and reds.
Acer ‘Garnet’ This fantastic Acer is the perfect choice for growing in a pot. The beautiful dissected purple foliage is carried from Spring to Autumn.Acer ‘Shaina’
Lovely maple with leaves that turn crimson in Autumn.
Don’t forget to pick up some Acer Feed to encourage healthy growth and vibrant colours, suitable for Acers in borders, pots and containers. For best results, apply to the soil during planting – one feed lasts a whole season and the packet is resealable ready to store for next season.