Blogs

After producing the world’s first brewing shed where you can make and sell your own beer, outdoor building manufacturer, Tiger Sheds, has gone on to take an in depth look into why Brits are choosing to start businesses from the comfort of their own homes or even back gardens.

All big companies start from humble beginnings, but, as government data highlights, over 620,000[1] new enterprises registered in the UK last year alone, and around 70% of companies start in the home. With this in mind, it seems that business really is booming for home-based startups.

But which city…

DIY and gardening retailers are being given an opportunity to benefit from the launch of a new kind of expanding hosepipe, the Hercul-Easy Hose, which is seen as a true game-changer for all hosepipe users—whether they’re watering the garden or washing their car.

Since expandable hoses first appeared five years ago, they have faced plenty of criticism—chiefly because of problems with bursting and their inability to expand fully in areas with low water pressure. Now, the drawbacks of those early products have been overcome by a radical new patented design and manufacturing process…

It’s the time of year when everybody wants to be outside. Products which bring living outdoors – and are not only hardy and functional, but easy on the eye too – are the biggest hit with customers. Editor Victoria Galligan chooses her Top 10 buys…

1. Dusk Till Dawn Lighting 20 Bulbs string lights, £32.94 at Amazon.co.uk

This range of lighting is truly the icing on the cake for customers who want to party into the night. These bulbs contain tiny pink flowers. See Bonningtons.com for the full range and trade prices.

2. The Q9, Muztag Outdoor Fires, £759.99…

Andrew Singleton, Sales Director at Bradstone, answers Garden Trade Specialist’s questions on the aggregate products company…

Tell us a little about the history of Bradstone.

“Bradstone is an Aggregate Industries business, with over 60 years’ experience in helping homeowners transform their outdoor spaces. We have been offering an all-encompassing range of garden and driveway products since 1956 and, calling upon these years of experience, we are able to design and develop products that set the standard for quality, performance and visual appeal. The philosophy behind the…

Tong garden centre has strengthened its senior management team with a board level appointment.

Sharon McNair has been promoted to the newly created position of Commercial Director as the business seeks to enter an ambitious growth phase. Respected in the industry, Sharon has worked in the sector for her entire career and brings almost 30 years' experience to the board with a breadth of retail knowledge in leisure, gardening, catering and seasonal ranges.

Of the promotion, Managing Director, Mark Farnsworth said: 

"Sharon was one of the first appointments that we…

British summer can be temperamental at the best of times - one minute it’s blazing hot sun and the next it’s a torrential downpour. This kind of changing weather can be good for your garden, but tough on your shed or garden furniture. Offering its expert advice, garden building specialist, Tiger Sheds, has put together five tips on how to keep your shed looking its best all summer long.

1. Treat your garden shed with preserver

To get the best out of your shed, treat it with high-quality wood preserver at least once a year. Preserver is essential to prolong the life of your…

By Andrew Tokely, Horticultural Director at Kings Seeds 

Many people think when you get to July, and summer has arrived the only need to enter the garden is to sit in a chair relaxing or lighting the barbecue. How wrong they are: July is always a busy month harvesting crops of peas, beans, courgettes and salad vegetables. Once the ground has been cleared, rather than leave it empty there are still plenty of crops that can be sown for later harvests, keeping the soil productive. 

Late sowings made this month of dwarf French beans will be ready for a late harvest in September…

Haskins Garden Centre in Snowhill receives regular visits from Happy Cats Childminders based in East Grinstead, to purchase salad, vegetables and herbs to replenish Windmill Lane Community Garden.

Five children from Happy Cats Childminders were taken to Haskins earlier this week to choose their preferred plants for growing in the community garden. The children selected runner beans, lettuce, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, beetroot, strawberries, mint and parsley.

Lisa Looker, brand director at Haskins Garden Centre, said:

“We’re really pleased to hear that the…

Haskins Garden Centre is encouraging gardeners to make the most of their home-grown raspberries and blackcurrants this summer, with a berry sorbet recipe.

Alasdair Urquhart, plant expert at Haskins Garden Centres, commented:

“Using the raspberries and blackcurrants from your garden to make your own berry sorbet is simple, delicious and rewarding. Even if you haven’t been able to grow your own berries this year, we still recommend following our step-by-step recipe.

“Late June to early July is the optimum time to harvest your berries and we would recommend harvesting…

A passionate Leeds gardener, from Tong Garden Centre, celebrated her 90th birthday with ITV's Love your Garden presenter Katie Rushworth after winning a personal shopping experience with the celebrity plantswoman.

Born and bred in Leeds, Ivy Dobson was one of ten winners ranging from five to 91 years of age who enjoyed Katie's company and benefited from her gardening expertise at Tong Garden Centre last Saturday.

In addition to choosing low maintenance plants for all year round interest in pots, Ivy was presented with a surprise birthday cake and a planter bursting with…

Summer is here and two Ribble Valley favourites, The Emporium in Clitheroe and The Shireburn Arms at Hurst Green, have joined forces to share al fresco entertaining tips to help stage the best garden parties this season. Here, Holly Tyne, interior design manager at the Moor Lane store and Didier Vincent, general manager of the 17th century inn, list their top pointers.

Al fresco dining can be a glorious garden party, a relaxed picnic or anything in between, but all need key ingredients to make for a memorable event.

Said Holly:

“The setting, the food and the…

To take advantage of the uniquely British obsession with the humble strawberry, leading garden product manufacturer Stewart Garden’s strawberry planter is the ideal solution for keen gardeners who want to grow their own fruit at home, but may not have a great deal of space to do so.

The versatile planter, which can be double or triple stacked to save space or to create an alluring cascade of strawberry plants, can also be used as a herb planter for gardeners who want more choice regarding the produce they grow.

The planter, made in the UK from premium grade, recyclable…

LOFA’s (Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association) LOFAssured initiative ensures that all cushions sold by members comply with current government fire safety regulations.

LOFA is raising awareness of fire safety standards/regulations for garden furniture cushions in this young campaign and, already, seventeen members are certified with 21 in progress and soon to be completed.

Certified members are – 

A Mir & Co - www.a-mir.co.uk 

Besotted pet owners admit their dog is ‘part of the family’ – with almost 50% of the pooches in West Midlands even having their own spot on the sofa, a study has found.

A poll of 2,000 dog owners nationwide revealed just how much love there is for the family pet with six in 10 admitting they often see them as being like one of the children.

Over 60% of dog owners in West Midlands allow their pooch to sleep on their bed while over 20 in this region have turned down nights with friends because they can’t bear to leave their dog at home alone.

It also emerged having…

The ecofective® range from Sipcam, one of the world’s leading plant technology companies, offers unrivalled peace of mind, thanks to its new series of ‘Child and Pet Safe’ products. 

Made in Britain for the ethically conscious gardener, the range does not rely on conventional chemical pesticides or biocides but instead uses natural ingredients with favourable eco-toxicological credentials.

This means the range is inherently safer for both user and the environment, so children, pets and wildlife do not need to be kept away from the treated areas as Matt Jones of Sipcam UK…

Ahead of National Children's Gardening Week, 26 May to 3 June 2018, the Stewart Garden Schools programme is making a last call for primary schools interested in taking on gardening projects as their 6 July deadline for applications looms.

The competition gives children and teachers an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of green space, communal working and growing plants to support their understanding of the world. 

New data released ahead of National Children's Gardening Week shows 94% of primary school leaders believe that school gardening benefits pupils' health and…