Features


Nature Safe range
Introducing Nature Safe – the new range of 100% organic plant and lawn feeds from Hygeia There is no doubt that organic gardening is growing in popularity. Where chemical based solutions once dominated, there is now a clear and distinct shift towards a need and want for greener solutions. The obvious driver of this has been the rise of Grow-Your-Own as consumers look to reduce their food miles and take responsibility for the impact their diet has upon the environment. However, a new revolution is taking over – veganism – which is seeing green and organic product rangesbenefiting from…

Eden project range partnership
LifestyleGarden® reveals how exotic flora and the wonders of nature inspired the stand-out designs of its Eden Project range When leading outdoor furniture brand LifestyleGarden® announced that it was teaming-up with landmark visitor attraction the Eden Project, it was a marriage made in retail heaven. Not only do LifestyleGarden® and Eden share the same common goals of environmental responsibility and sustainability, but both are true innovators, driven by the desire to bring ambitiousnew concepts and products to market. Fresh for the 2020 season, LifestyleGarden® will see its ranges…

Red flowers at Haskins Bulb Festival
With its popular Bulb Festival now in full swing, Haskins wants to encourage gardeners to celebrate and showcase the fanfare of colours which can be achieved through bulb planting. Haskins’ Bulb Festival continues across all four garden centres until Sunday November 17. There are more than 250 bulb varieties on sale, with a focus on British-grown bulbs. Of all the varieties on sale, 24 are UK-grown and include a selection of rare and unusual bulbs. Alasdair Urquhart, Haskins’ in-house plant expert, commented: “Our Bulb Festival aims to highlight how easy it is to create a gorgeous garden…

MO Bacter Instant Lawn Tonic
DJ Turfcare confirms new lawn care innovation for 2020 season Given the climate in this island moss is an ever-present problem for lawns. We can deal it a blow by using products like MO Bacter fertiliser, but moss produces spores which it leaves behind, and these spores can survive summer droughts only to re-infest the lawn during the autumn and can continue to thrive during our warm and wet winters particularly when grass growth is at a standstill. It then suffocates the grass as it tries to establish its self again in the spring.  DJ Turfcare launched the new product at the recent Glee …

Vegepod
Having attended more than 30 shows in the space of six months, it’s safe to say it has been a busy summer for Vegepod! As the show season draws to a close, the Australian manufacturer of innovative raised garden beds is riding high following an incredibly successful GLEE. At the show, the company won a Great British Growing Award, as well as being a finalist in the coveted New Product Awards for best growing container with its new Vegebag, which will be available in 2020. Neil Urry, head of UK sales and operations for Vegepod, commented: “Our aim for the summer was to really get in front of…

Woman wearing the Healthy Back Bag
Beauty and balance are at the core of The Healthy Back Bag brand and all our bags are designed to look good and feel good. The Healthy Back Bag is renowned for its unique, cross-body tear-drop shape specifically designed to contour to the spine which promotes a healthy weight distribution across the back. We make bags that perfectly combine fashion and function, comfort and style. They come in hundreds of different colours and fabrics, they’re hardwearing, and are packed with intelligent pockets that help spread weight around the bag which can be worn 4 ways; on either shoulder or cross body…

Deco-Pak eco-friendly landscaping solutions - Eco-stones
Deco-Pak unveils a new generation of eco-friendly landscaping solutions that combine sustainability with style Deco-Pak, the family-run garden landscaping and decorative aggregates specialist that’s committed to helping retailers inspire consumers to turn their outdoor dreams into reality, is unveiling a new collection of eco-friendly products that raise the bar in terms of commitment to environmental responsibility. The company, which is celebrating 15 years of success, is introduced its new EcoStone collection at Glee - where Deco-Pak’s unique Retail Theatre concept will see the stand…

Johnsons Lawn Seed Dog Patch Resistance Seeds
A new grass seed mix that has been scientifically proven to resist damage caused by dog urine is being exclusively introduced by Johnsons Lawn Seed. Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance is a unique new product that has been formulated to banish the problem of yellow patches and dead areas of grass caused by dogs urinating on lawns. By incorporating naturally tolerant grass species, scorched patches in lawns will be consigned to history, without consumers having to change their dog’s diet or behaviour.Even if slight discolouration occasionally occurs, grass will recover. World-leading grass…

Woodlodge Bee Kind pottery range
Woodlodge launches Bee Kind pottery range in national call to action to help the nation’s pollinators Woodlodge is to launch a range of bumblebee-inspired pottery, helping retailers to boost sales of containers as public concern over pollinator decline escalates. Sales of Bee Kind pots, available in shades of green, grey and white, will support the efforts of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, which works tirelessly to improve bumblebee habitats while encouraging action that can boost pollinator populations. Bee Kind pottery will launch with recommended retail prices ranging from £8.99 to £…

Woodlodge Bee Kind pottery range
Woodlodge launches Bee Kind pottery range in national call to action to help the nation’s pollinators Woodlodge is to launch a range of bumblebee-inspired pottery, helping retailers to boost sales of containers as public concern over pollinator decline escalates. Sales of Bee Kind pots, available in shades of green, grey and white, will support the efforts of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, which works tirelessly to improve bumblebee habitats while encouraging action that can boost pollinator populations. Bee Kind pottery will launch with recommended retail prices ranging from £8.99 to £…

Tom Chambers round planter
Not known for standing still with new products and innovation, the 2019/20 garden season is no exception for Tom Chambers, with the launch of their new Heritage collection of extra heavy duty obelisks, plant supports and a stunning garden arch. All Heritage products are manufactured in the UK and designed from quality 10mm steel with decorative ball finials to give a touch of class to this exceptional product range. The products are plastic coated to give protection against any kind of weather A fabulous new range of Lattice Ironwork with delicate and detailed styling is also being…

A selection of indoor plants
As the market for indoor plants continues to experience phenomenal double-digit growth, Woodlodge is rebranding its indoor pot collection – to be called Root – while expanding its product offering to incorporate fresh new designs that will help retailers to grow category sales. The Root indoor collection will be launched on the Woodlodge exhibition space at Glee (NEC Birmingham, 10th – 12th September). The new additions to the Root indoor pot collection include woven and bamboo pot covers, to cater for consumers who are seeking the latest in style, while the addition of natural designs will…

Schiedel Chimney Systems
Outdoor living enthusiasts can enjoy entertaining to their hearts’ content with the new Garden Fireplace from leading chimney manufacturer, Schiedel Chimney Systems.   The Fireplace is formed from natural pumice, which is sourced from the Hekla Volcano in Iceland, before being processed and then delivered in a complete packaged solution. Versatile and stylish, the Garden Fireplace creates a stunning central focus for any outdoor living space while keeping smoke at bay, making it the ideal solution to alfresco living, dining and heating; a trend which is set to thrive this summer despite the…

William Blake - pot recycling and reducing waste
THE GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) is encouraging its members to do what they can start reducing waste and the amount of plastic going to landfill (August, 2019). Two of its member centres recently worked with Herefordshire and Worcestershire authorities to get non-black PP plastic pots and trays accepted in household and kerbside recycling bins. Will Blake, Director at St Peter’s Garden Centre in Norton, Worcester, said: “There has been a lot of discussions among GCA members about how we can help reduce plastic waste, especially as there is a large amount of it in the garden centre…

Yvonne Bunyan Good in manager taking part in the Static Bikeathon
Employees working at Haskins in Ferndown completed a charity Static Bikeathon in aid of Faithworks Wessex. Staff from all departments in the garden centre and restaurant took part, making a total of 25 riders, aged 17 to 67. Each rider completed 15km on the static bikes which were positioned outside the garden centre. Haskins raised a total of £320 for Faithworks Wessex via individual sponsorship and bucket collections. Donations can still be made via www.localgiving.org/fundraising/Haskins-Static-Bikeathon. Representatives from other charities also attended, including Poole Foodbank,…

BCTGA Christmas tree competition - Downing Street 2018 – John, Linda and Jack Junor
Garden Trade Specialist editor Victor Galligan spoke to Farr North Christmas Trees’ owner John Junor about his farm and supplying the Christmas tree to 10 Downing Street… John Junor has been in the Christmas tree business for over 30 years now, and from his 450 acre-farm in Farr, Inverness-shire, he is currently operating his business alongside his livestock farming role. John says: “We have sheep and cattle here too, and the trees grow alongside them.” With a plantation of 250,000 Norman Fir, Norway Spruce and Alaskan Pine trees, Farr North’s main buyers are wholesalers and John is keen…