We understand that customers may be feeling the pinch and so we will be holding the majority of our plant prices at 2022 levels. We hope that this helps you to continue enjoying your garden and shopping at your local Coolings.
Your satisfaction and trust with the plants you have purchased is vital to us. We therefore guarantee all our hardy nursery stock for 5 years, extended to 7 years for Coolings Family members.
Our team of trained horticulturalists are on-hand to answer your questions and offer advice.
Our nursery produces over 200 varieties of roses, 300 kinds of shrubs, 600 types of herbaceous perennials, a vast range of trees and 80% of our bedding plants.
We offer the widest selection of plants in the South East, with over three acres of display area at our centre in Knockholt alone!
Look out for our Coolings Quality Assured logo on bedding plants this season, this logo means the plants meet the following criteria:
Home grown on our nursery
Grown in 100% recyclable taupe pots
Acclimatised to local environment
Integrated pest management
As we enter spring with anticipation, and the natural world revives and reinvigorates, it is important to acknowledge what has gone before, and I refer to the untimely and early passing of Paul Cooling, aged 58 on the 29th December 2022.
Paul was the third generation of the Cooling’s family and saw the last two decades of the business flourish, growing from strength to strength with tenacity, dedication and humble leadership. I started working with Paul in the mid 1980’s and worked beside him for almost 40 years.
Paul studied at Pershore Horticultural College in Worcestershire making many lifelong friends, before working
briefly for Bourne End and Jardiniere Garden Centres.
Paul’s father, Michael was determined that his son would really have to put the work and effort into taking his place in the Company, which Paul did. Following many months of working for Dinger’s Garden Centre in Cologne, Germany, Paul was deemed ready for the challenge of the family business moving from Chislehurst to Knockholt in the late 80’s.
Paul was always polite, generous, very charitable and keen to see others do well. He was renowned for remembering staff and customers’ names. He really enjoyed encouraging the younger members of staff whom he wanted to inspire into a career in horticulture.
Continued on page 4
Mike and Paul 1991-1992
Paul Cooling with all the team who have worked 25 years+
Paul truly represented everything that is great about our industry. The sharing of information, belonging to a global family of garden retailers, whom he counted as friends, he was until his death, Vice President of the International Garden Centre Association. He represented impeccably, and also sat on the board of the UK Garden Centre Association. Paul was not afraid to innovate and push the boundaries. Everyone says time spent with Paul was a pleasure, he always had time and would thank them for asking a question.
In fact, for over 25 years in board meetings Paul would often pull up an empty chair to the table, and write on an A4 piece of paper the word CUSTOMER. Our decisions would and are still taken with a “How does the customer benefit?” lens.
Under Paul’s stewardship, the Company received many accolades over the years and has sought to have a strong social consciousness in supporting charity and the environment. Paul was a pragmatic, reasoned and passionate eco warrior who would always nudge us to make the right decision, short term or long term that would make a greener, safer future. Coolings Lifestyle remains one of the greenest retail buildings in the UK and he was over the moon to be awarded recently the most environmental business in Kent and was also recognised as the best garden centre in the UK according to Which? Consumer magazine some years ago.
Paul was always immensely strong physically and he took great delight in the fact he could lift anything, which was of a great help to me over the years as he was always very hands on with myself and the team. A week after I started in Chislehurst with Paul all those years ago, a customer asked me if I could actually lift a 300-litre bag of peat into their car and another said “Bless him, if he turned sideways, you would mark him absent!”. Paul also had the memory of an elephant, which was very fortuitous as he pioneered the paper ‘Filofax system’. In fact, for his entire career, he had his notes, plans and thoughts committed to oddments of paper, and never ‘new’ paper, always with the motto reuse and recycle at the forefront of his mind, and notably his actions. As the business grew, Paul eventually adopted a pad of paper and my last meeting with him two days before he was taken ill, we referred to paper notes and primarily information committed to his impressive memory.
Paul will remain one of the most impressive plantsmen I have ever met. He would enjoy spending his Thursday off looking for rare and unusual plants, bringing in a leaf or fruit on a Friday morning from a very obscure tree to test us all, especially Mark, Garry and Nicky some of our senior plant experts whom Paul worked with for decades. Like many of the team, Paul respected them greatly. He knew the difference between his Acer pensylvanicum and his Acer capillipes, a true tree hugger through and through.
Personally, I will miss most the regular warm conversations, working together amongst the plants, his love of staff and customers, followed very closely by his love of a cheeseboard and quirky shirts. Conquering the Three Peaks with Paul for charity will always be a cherished memory.
A devoted family man, he spoke fondly of Carol his wife and two children Jessica and Thomas. The enduring family ownership and involvement was at the fore when Paul proposed the idea of securing the future for the staff by creating an Employee Ownership Trust, the business that with his foresight, is now in the ownership of the staff with remaining shares owned by the family.
As we mourn the loss of Paul, I have been reminded by many people that gardening is something they turn to in order to bring peace of mind, and this year more than most, this rings true. As you enjoy the leaves and flower buds returning to your garden, we will be here to help you in your endeavours and to assist your enjoyment of gardening. In view of months of rising costs, we are expecting to maintain the majority of our plant prices at last year’s prices.
As Paul always said “onwards and upwards”.
On behalf of the Coolings team, and Coolings family, thank you for your custom.
Gary Carvosso
Chairman
We all know that water resources in the UK are under pressure from climate change and population growth. You can make better use of water in your garden by watering early in the morning or in the evening so the water doesn’t evaporate in the heat of the day before it reaches the roots.
There are many products you can use to help conserve water and save money on your water bill, here we’ve listed a few of our top recommendations.
Garland 100 Litre
Water Butt Kit £54.99 (292588)
Bronte Porous Pipe
25m £34.99 (307221)
100% recycled, made in the UK, and comes complete with pipe and fittings. Provides gentle and precise watering above or below the ground. Applies water directly to the root system uses up to 70% less water than normal watering methods.
Hozelock 25 Pot
Watering Kit
£99.99 (236180)
Easy to install automatic watering for your patio pots, hanging baskets, borders, veg patches and greenhouse plants. Drippers deliver water directly to the roots reducing water wastage.
Bark Chips 70 Litres
£9.49 (303501)
Having a layer of bark over your borders helps to stop the evaporation of water and reduce the amount of watering required. The soil beneath the bark retains its moisture to prevent your plants from drying out.
100% recycled, made in the UK, and includes tap, lid, diverter and stand. Water butts are a great way to collect and store rainwater to help the environment and save water. Rainwater is better for your plants and can be used in your garden and for your houseplants.
Smart Aquagel 250g £4.99 (239997)
Water storing crystals help avoid over watering and under watering of plants. The crystals absorb the water and then gradually release it to the plant reducing watering requirements. Perfect for hanging baskets, pots, and containers.
The
In March and April we will be showing you how to Grow Your Own - saving money and food miles.
Last year we launched the Coolings Feel Good Garden at all four of our sites. These display gardens are designed to inspire you and help you realise your gardens full potential. Following great feedback from our customers, we are going to continue them this year changing them bi-monthly to focus on different themes. Each month we will highlight seasonal plants which are looking good, and related products to help you get your garden growing. We’ll also pick out environmentally friendly options to ensure that your garden feels good not only for you, but also for the environment.
In May and June we’ll highlight the benefits of patience! What might not look much now will be worth the wait later in the year.
If you would like to purchase any of the products online, just type in the six-digit number to help you shop easily.
This garden is all about coming together with family, friends, and wildlife during July and August.
The
As Summer comes to a close, we change our focus for September and October to health, peace and mindfulness in the garden.
Mindfulness Garden
Self-reliance Garden
The Togetherness Garden
There is nothing more satisfying than tucking into homegrown produce. With careful planning you can enjoy an array of vegetables and herbs throughout the year saving you money and doing your bit for the environment.
Follow our simple 3 year rotation to help keep your vegetables happy and healthy the natural way! Growing different crop groups in different locations each year helps to stop pests and diseases building up. This method also means that plants with low, moderate and high feed requirements can all be grown together. Simply divide your growing area into three!
Beetroot
Carrots
Parsnips
Potatoes
OUR TOP PICK
Cabbage
Brussels Sprouts
Cauliflower
Salad Leaves and Lettuce
Broccoli
OUR TOP PICK
Beetroot
Boltardy £2.69 (179166)
Cauliflower
All The Year Round £2.69 (179188)
see voucher on page 12 for your
3 for 2 Offer on seeds
Peas
Beans
Sweetcorn
Courgettes and Marrows
Pumpkins
Peppers and Chillies
centres
Recommended product for Roots and Bulbs
Recommended product for Leaf and Shoots
Vitax Super Phosphate 1.25kg £5.99 (179547)
A quick acting traditional fertiliser to encourage strong root growth and healthy plants.
Recommended product for Fruit & Seeds
Vitax Sulphate of Potash 1.25kg £9.99 (179538)
For the finest flowers and masses of juicy fruits.
Vitax Sulphate of Ammonia 1.25kg £4.99 (179545)
A quick acting nitrogen fertiliser to boost leafy growth.
Top 10 hardy herbs to grow yourself for taste, fragrance and beauty. Aromatic herbs can add beauty and fragrance to your outdoor space. Although all can be purchased cut from the supermarket, these are often expensive. It is far more fun and much more sustainable to simply grow your own and pick as and when needed. As most originate in the Mediterranean, a sunny free-draining position or pot is ideal. Many also are loved by bees and butterflies for their flowers in summer. The following hardy herbs are incredibly easy to grow.
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Chives
Parsley
Bay
Oregano
Fennel
Mint
Marjoram
If you would like to purchase any of the products online, just type in the six-digit number to help you shop easily.
See voucher on page 12 for your FREE herb plant
A great way to save money is to plant comeback colour in your garden with herbaceous perennials. These are non-woody plants that become dormant in the winter, but bounce back into life the following year.
Here we list some of our most reliable favourites for spring and early summer interest.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
2 Litre £12.99 (168655)
A low-maintenance plant that will look after itself and thrive in a sunny spot. Their stunning deep blue spires are loved by bees.
Erysimum ‘Fragrant Sunshine’
2 Litre £12.99 (187747)
A popular variety of perennial wallflower that will bring spring colour to your garden with months of fragrant golden flowers.
2 Litre £12.99 (211228)
A Chelsea Flower Show favourite for adding a zingy pop of colour in May and June.
Dicentra ‘Valentine’
3 Litre £12.99 (214958)
Fall in love with this beautiful red heart-shaped flowered spring perennial which will return each year and is a good choice for dappled shade.
2 Litre £12.99 (219603)
Great plant for flower and foliage in dry shade, the silver-washed leaves are complimented with dainty blue flowers in spring.
2 Litre £12.99 (165595)
With purple-tinged foliage and sky-blue flowers, this beautiful perennial is more commonly known as Jacob's ladder due to the shape of the leaves. Good in the shade and reliably rabbit-proof where these are a problem.
2 Litre £12.99 (206606)
Perfect plant for sun or equally happy in dry shade. This robust but dainty Tiarella is a reliable choice for most gardens.
If you would like to purchase any of the products online, just type in the six-digit number to help you shop easily.
3 Litre £11.99 (200045)
This seductive yet classy perennial is ideal for adding soft height and structure to the early summer garden.
In order to redeem your vouchers, simply present your Family card and tell the till operator you would like to redeem the offer, we’ll do the rest!
In order to redeem your vouchers, simply present your Family card and tell the till operator you would like to redeem the offer, we’ll do the rest!
Coolings may refuse to redeem the voucher without your Coolings Family card. If for any reason you have mislaid your Coolings Family card, please speak to a member of our team and we will be more than happy to resolve this for you.
Coolings may refuse to redeem the voucher without your Coolings Family card. If for any reason you have mislaid your Coolings Family card, please speak to a member of our team and we will be more than happy to resolve this for you.
1st - 31st May 2023
40% OFF Normally £5.49
Now £3.29
Doff Universal Bug Control (1 Litre)
Free from harmful chemicals
Offer valid 1st to 31st May 2023. Valid at all four Coolings Garden Centres. Maximum 4 reduced items per Coolings Family card.
1st - 31st May 2023
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE Normally £5.99 each
Homegrown Nemesia Plant (1 litre)
Offer valid 1st to 31st May 2023. One free item per Coolings Family card.
1st - 31st May 2023
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE Weekday Hot Drink
Offer valid 1st to 31st May 2023 excluding Sat, Sun and Mon of bank holiday weekends. Maximum two items per Coolings Family card. Cheapest hot drink free. Cannot be used in conjunction with Coolings Family 10th hot drink free offer. Subject to availability.
With the production of printed brochures having a negative impact on the environment and print costs rising, we’re encouraging Coolings Family members to go paper-free.
If you are happy to receive an electronic copy of Cuttings in the future, please visit www.coolings.co.uk/addmyemail to update your preferences. Thank you for your support,
Check out our May edition of Cuttings to find out what you can save on with our Merry month of May MYSTERY VOUCHER
Cannot be redeemed online. Coolings reserves the right to amend the offer or terms without prior notice. For full terms and conditions see www.coolingsgc.co.uk/terms-conditions. One voucher per Coolings Family card only.
If you would like to purchase any of the products online, just type in the six-digit number to help you shop easily.
Overlooking our one-acre garden, Arthurs offers a peaceful place to pause. With food freshly cooked to order and a delicious range of cakes and scones, we don’t think there is a better place to take some time out.
In addition to the traditional favourites, enjoy seasonal specials including delicious, freshly prepared salads.
Many of the ingredients we use in our kitchen come from right here in Arthurs garden, whether it be green beans, tomatoes, lettuce or even our pretty viola garnish, the food miles are zero and you can’t get much fresher than that!
Possibly the best scones around! Choose from either fruit or cheese, or try one of our seasonal guest scones such as strawberry and chocolate, or cranberry and white chocolate - all freshly baked on-site each morning.
You really couldn’t find a nicer place for a cup of tea than on the veranda at Hybrid Tea Room. Overlooking the rose beds and with views across the Ashdown Forest, this is the place to be.
For less amenable days, our new indoor seating area offers a great alternative in which to enjoy a light lunch, cream tea or a delicious slice of cake. Enjoy a delicious freshly prepared ploughman’s, jacket potato or toastie, or treat yourself to one of our locally baked cakes - coffee and walnut is always a favourite!
Debbie and the team look forward to welcoming you!
at Coolings Lifestyle, Knockholt
With an airy interior and a covered outdoor area overlooking Willows Birds of Prey and Wildlife Trail, Blueberry Café is well worth a visit.
Headed up by Manager, Nicola, the team take great pride in their freshly baked scones, homemade sausage rolls (made with Speldhurst sausage meat), and freshly made seasonal soups. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s always a great range of cakes and tray bakes to enjoy, and the coffee is pretty good too!
Did you know? All of our catering outlets serve Shutelake coffee - we chose them as like us, they are an independent business with a real passion for quality coffee. We hope you love it as much as we do.
If you would like to purchase any of the products online, just type in the six-digit number to help you shop easily.
As the planting season really gets going, we’re full of expectation for a wonderful summer garden packed full of colour.
Bedding is a great way to inject some bright colours into your garden and with the right care will just get better and better.
Perfect for planting out once the frosts have passed in May, Coolings grow a vast range of summer bedding and patio plants to bring joy to your outside space. A small sample of this year’s highlights include…
If you want a summer patio plant with dainty flowers that bloom non-stop well into the Autumn, then Nemesias are the plant for you!
see voucher on page 13 Buy One Get One Free
Grown on our nursery in 1 litre pots, this range of 3 NEW special connoisseur petunias are sure to be a hit. £1 from the sale of every plant will go to Coolings 2023 chosen charity Demelza House Hospice. (See page 23)
A superb patio or basket plant, we are delighted to add two fantastic new introductions
If you can’t wait until May for your bedding, Jon has picked the following plants for injecting some frost hardy colour to your garden during the earlier spring months.
Violas
F1 Mix Multi-Pack £4.49 (182013)
The happy faces of viola bring a smile to the spring. We grow a large range of colours in packs of six.
1 Litre £5.99 (230342)
A relative of the native Buttercup, Ranunculus have attractive double blooms in a bright range of colours.
9cm £2.99 (315504)
£4.49 (181903)
Pansies are the easy choice for colour in spring.
1 Litre Mixed £5.99 (183506) Beautiful scented flowers in late spring and early summer.
Blue Multi-Pack £4.49 (163574)
Forget-me-knots. Don’t forget these heralds of the new year, available in blue, pink and white!
Bidens ‘Electric White’ 9cm £2.99 (315508)
Mix Multi-Pack £4.49 (208993)
Happy ornamental daisies perfect for pots or bedding.
If you would like to purchase any of the products online, just type in the six-digit number to help you shop easily.
Mix 2 Litre £5.99 (160422)
A cottage garden favourite, scented display in late spring and early summer.
Spring is the season of renewal. It is also the perfect time for replanting evergreen shrubs. Whether in the ground or in a pot there is a flowering shrub waiting to burst into bloom! Many spring shrubs prefer their roots in acid (ericaceous) soil. If your garden is chalky they can be enjoyed in pots planted with ericaceous compost.
Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’
£16.99 1.5 Litre (315013)
Plants are studded with cute miniature blooms.
Camellia ‘Margaret Davies’
£29.99 3 Litre (193806)
Glossy green foliage and showy flowers.
Pieris ‘Valley Rose’
£17.99 2 Litre (164961)
Fiery new leaf growth and beautiful little rose pink bell flowers.
Azalea japonica ‘Anouk’
£19.99 3 Litre (238511)
For sheer flower power this dwarf Azalea really packs a punch!
Dwarf Rhododendron
'Wren' £19.99 3 Litre (301672)
A sweet little shrub to cheer in the spring.
Evergreen Magnolia
‘Michelia Fairy Blush’
£29.99 3 Litre (290531)
Something a bit different! This gorgeous evergreen Magnolia is perfect for a sheltered location.
Miracle-Gro
60 Litre
£8.49 (249956)
900g
£8.49
(306251)
Ceanothus ‘Blue Jeans’
£17.99 3 Litre (157605)
A compact dome of blue literally smothered in bloom in early summer. Ideal in a sunny location.
Eriostemon ‘Flower Girl’
White £18.99 2 Litre (294885) This unusual little evergreen has wonderfully scented white star flowers in spring and is perfect for a sheltered pot.
Choisya ‘Greenfingers’
£17.99 2 Litre (289201)
A recent introduction with attractive leaves and scented white flowers.
Hebe ‘Celina’
£17.99 2 Litre (298185)
Lovely little shrub that will never get too big.
Coolings Multipurpose with John
Innes
Peat Free
50 Litre
£9.49 (315623)
Berberis darwinii ‘Compacta’
£17.99 3 Litre (193939)
A compact evergreen with vibrant orange flower.
Lavandula stoechas
‘Great Adventure’
£14.99 2 Litre (315014)
This beautifully fragrant French lavender is a new introduction this spring and is one of the very earliest to flower.
Vitax Q4 4.5kg £18.99 (179544)
There are also plenty of shrubs that can be grown in all good soils or in pots with suitable multi-purpose compost.
top lawncare tips!
Mowing - After winter, and when the lawn is dry enough, it’s time to start mowing your lawn again. It’s important to cut the lawn to the correct height, and not cut it too short. A good rule of thumb is 3cm for general areas, and 6cm for more shaded areas. Cutting a lawn too short can restrict the grass plant’s ability to generate energy from the sun, and over time, weaken the lawn.
Miracle-Gro
EverGreen
Complete 4 in 1 feeds your lawn whilst also working to kill weeds and control moss. The WaterSmart™ formula helps to protect against heat, drought and other stresses. Your lawn will be greener in1week, the moss will blacken and can then be easily raked out, and weeds will be killed within 3 to 5 weeks.
From £14.99 (315329)
Feeding your lawn - Use a general-purpose lawn feed such as Miracle-Gro Evergreen Complete 4in1. Always use a feed spreader, like the Miracle-Gro Rotary Spreader to ensure correct dosage of feed is applied to the lawn. Beware, if too much is applied, damage to the lawn can occur. If there’s lots of moss present in your lawn, a feed with a moss killer can be useful, it will feed the lawn AND remove moss at the same time.
Miracle-Gro
Rotary Spreader is the ideal adjustable spreader for the larger sized lawns for quickly and effectively applying granular lawn products or grass seed. The handle height can be adjusted meaning no bending down and it’s large wheels make it easy to use and manoeuvre.
£74.99 (180211)
Avoid using fertiliser and laying seeds on very warm days. The heat can cause the grass blades to burn.
Scarifying - Spring is a great time to scarify your lawn. This will remove moss, dead matter from the lawn, and allow fresh growth to grow evenly across the lawn. Scarification is one of the most important aspects of fine lawn care. It can be done manually with a rake, or for larger lawns you may want to consider hiring a powered scarifier from your local power hire shop.
Food
has been specially formulated to have an indirect action against moss. The naturally occurring bacteria "eats" the dead moss - so you will not need to rake it out. It also contains a slow release lawn fertiliser that feeds your lawn for up to 3 months and helps prevent moss from redeveloping. Extra Magnesium in the product gives a strong green colour to your lawn.
From £18.99 (251438)
Evergreen
Dressing 25 Litres
£7.49 or 2 for £13 (137867)
2 for £13
Miracle-Gro Lawn Seed Refill Station* Coolings have been selected by Miracle-Gro as one of only two garden centres in the country to test their new refill concept. Not only is this method of purchasing better for the environment, but it also allows you to buy only what you need, and it is cheaper, what’s not to love?!
*Currently only available at Coolings
The Gardener's Garden Centre, Knockholt
Apply a top dressing directly after seeding to the entire lawn to help improve the soil structure. Work the lawn dressing into the lawn with the back of a rake or stiff brush.
If you would like to purchase any of the products online, just type in the six-digit number to help you shop easily.
Make the most of the warmer weather this year and enjoy your garden in style with our range of garden furniture. Here we’ve selected just a few of our favourites this season.
A great hard wearing range of super low maintenance garden furniture. Sleek in design and maintenance free. The chairs are lightweight and stackable, the texteline seating offers great comfort without the bulk of additional cushions. Texteline is an all-weather material that doesn’t fade or go brittle. The dining sets come with a practical parasol adding shade when and where it is needed. (parasol bases sold separately).
Create a stylish meeting place in your garden for your friends and family with the Hartman Singapore range. Perfect for alfresco dining during the warmer months as the chairs have padded seating with Weatherready© cushions, offering great shower resistance. The dining sets come with appropriate sized parasols that will give great sun protection when it is needed.
This year we have chosen to support local children’s hospice charity Demelza. For 25 years, Demelza has provided expert clinical and emotional support to children and young people with serious or terminal conditions, and their families, to live the best life they can. Working across Kent, East Sussex and South East London, the charity’s services include short breaks, therapies, family support, practical volunteer support, end of life care, memory making and bereavement support.
To donate10p with every transaction
Every year Demelza supports over 2,700 beneficiaries. This includes babies, children and young people with serious or terminal conditions but also their mums, dads and carers, their brothers and sisters, their grandparents and other family members. For both organisations, family means everything. So, for every scanned transaction of a Coolings Family Card in our four garden centres, we are donating 10p to Demelza at no cost to you. You can also support the partnership by purchasing our very special ‘Demelza Smiles’ bedding plants this spring.
(See page 16)
To find out more about Demelza and how you can support the partnership please visit www.coolings.co.uk/about-us/charity
April 25th
Nursery Tours at The Gardener’s Garden Centre
May 10th & 13th
Spring Container Workshop at The Gardener’s Garden Centre
May 17th
Coolings Coach Tour
departing from The Gardener’s Garden Centre, visiting Potted Garden Nursery and Wych Cross Garden Centre
June 6th
Coolings Rose Revival Coach Tour
departing from The Gardener’s Garden Centre, visiting Wych Cross Garden Centre
August 6th
Classic Car Show at The Gardener’s Garden Centre
For full events and to book online, please visit www.coolings.co.uk/events
Knockholt Farmer's Market is held on the 3rd Saturday on every month at The Gardener's Garden Centre
Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, Kent, TN14 7NN
Coolings
The Gardener’s Garden Centre
Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 7NN 01959 532269
@coolingsgardencentre
Coolings
Lifestyle
Main Road, Knockholt, Kent, TN14 7LJ 01959 534386
@coolingslifestyle
Antiques
& Collectables
Next date: 4th & 5th March
Coolings
Potted Garden Nursery
Ashford Road, Bearsted, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 4NH 01622 737801 @coolingspottedgarden
Coolings
Wych Cross Garden Centre Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JW 01342 822705 @coolingswychcross
