Cuttings Autumn 2012

Cuttings FREE

FROM COOLINGS

Autumn showcase Garden Tips Autumn Bedding, Autumn Fruit & Spring Bulbs Study with us

© ‘Acer Palmatum’ by Ato Araki

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COOLINGS

The Gardener’s Garden Centre THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING

green & pleasant the natural place to visit

Coolings’ addresses COOLINGS

green & pleasant

The Gardener’s Garden Centre

the natural place to visit

THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING

The Gardener’s Garden Centre Rushmore Hill Knockholt Sevenoaks Kent TN14 7NN

Coolings Green & Pleasant Main Road Knockholt Sevenoaks Kent TN14 7LJ

Tel: 01959-532269 Fax: 01959-534092

Tel: 01959-534386 Fax: 01959-534711

Email: rushmorehill@coolings.co.uk Website: www.coolings.co.uk

Email: mainroad@coolings.co.uk Website: www.coolings.co.uk

Trading hours Opening Times (both sites) Monday - Saturday 9.00am – 5.00pm Sunday 10.00am – 4.30pm

(Coolings, The Gardener’s Garden Centre) Monday - Saturday 9.00am – 4.30pm Sunday 10.00am – 4.30pm

Getting here Local bus routes include the R5 and R10 from Orpington Station, and the 402 from Sevenoaks Station. Telephone 0845-3007000 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk for timetable information.

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(Coolings Green & Pleasant) Monday - Saturday 9.00am – 4.30pm Sunday 10.00am – 4.30pm

Get in touch Email

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Welcome to Coolings Blooming not glooming!

It’s generally accepted throughout the horticultural trade that this season has been the worst for the thirty years. However, gardeners are by their very nature optimistic people and appreciate that the rain throughout April, May and June meant new plants established themselves and have grown well. The lifting of the hosepipe ban eased the concerns of many gardeners who feared that new planting for the whole of 2012 would be difficult and the fabulous-looking new display beds in Arthur’s garden certainly haven’t suffered because of the ‘drought’! As we go into the autumn it’s reassuring to see that our own reservoirs are fuller than they have been at this time in the past few years, too. Record sales of water butts helped offset the slow start to the plant-selling season, so hopefully many of you will be wellprepared for looking after your new spring bedding next year! We will continue to stock an extensive range of water collection and irrigation products throughout the autumn and winter so even if the hosepipe ban is repeated next year, we can all be ready.

Coolings sponsors The Bromley Environmental Awards We were delighted to sponsor The Bromley Environmental Awards again this year. This prestigious event has been fiercely contested (and often won!) by many of our customers over the years and this year has been no exception. Many of the winning entries in the

various categories (Best Front Garden, Best Hanging Baskets & Containers, and A Garden for All Seasons) featured Coolings plants. The judging panel commented particularly on the high standard of entries this year, noting the creativity and artistry of many of the gardeners, as well as the quality of the plants, of course!

Even if you’re not planning on entering such a competition, you can still rely on Coolings for inspiration, tips and advice to help you achieve Gold Medal standard in your own garden throughout the year.

Schools outreach programme Our Schools Outreach team has been busier than ever this year. Almost 600 children visited the Nursery at Rushmore Hill during the spring for special “behind the scenes” tours. We are now working with 20 local primary schools encouraging children to get involved with gardening in many different ways, both at school and at home, hopefully nurturing the gardeners of tomorrow. As all grandparents will know, it’s never too early to get youngsters gardening.

Both our Shops offer a great range of childfriendly tools and equipment to help get them started.

Whether you’re a young novice or a seasoned expert gardener, the Coolings team and I look forward to welcoming you on your next visit.

g Paul Coolin

Chairman

Coolings

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September • Lift and overwinter tender plants before the first frosts • Turf or sow a new lawn • Plant spring flowering bulbs • Plant prepared hyacinths for Christmas • Divide overgrown perennials • Reduce feeding plants this month • Plant spring cabbages

October • Move or plant evergreen shrubs or conifers • Apply grease bands to fruit trees to trap winter moth • Remove pumps from ponds before icy weather • Divide rhubarb if overcrowded • Sow sweet peas now for earlier flowers next year • Plant spring bedding before it gets too cold/wet • Cover ponds with netting to keep out falling leaves

Garden 4 Cuttings from Coolings

WORDS: Mark Reeve

Mark Reeve

I have heard a new disease could be affecting ash trees. What is this and should I be worried?

This is called Ash Dieback and is a fungal problem that causes black spots on the leaves, which then drop off, and cankers can develop on branches causing them to die. It was found on some imported trees from Europe and the plants sold have been quarantined and destroyed. It is a serious problem in Denmark but hopefully it has been ‘nipped in the bud’ before it ever becomes a concern here.

My standard bay tree has leaves which are curling at the edges and going a pale yellow colour during the summer. Is this a pest or something I’m doing wrong?

Bay Sucker is your culprit. This is a tiny sap-sucking insect that causes the damage you mention. It can be quite common on bays in the early summer. Generally the damage is light and the pest can be controlled by picking off affected leaves, as no spray is effective.

Feed the plant with Miracle-Gro Plant Food to encourage healthy new growth.

My lupins are covered with a huge aphid that is plastering the leaves and flowers. Is there a product that will control them?

The Lupin Aphid is really huge and a lot bigger than most other types of aphid. It arrived in this country from the USA in the early 1980’s and is now common. Fortunately there are chemicals that will control it. Try Ultimate Bug Killer, or for a natural spray based on plants try Bug Clear.

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n AutuBm edding

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by Jon Rebur

and left borders, tubs year many people is g to th tin g lan rin -p sp re ut r fo ho With the was the ideal time is n m tu perfect Au . e ar ed plant ing plants hanging baskets un ths ahead. Bedd on m have er ol am co te e ry th h d our Nurse give colour throug o your garden an int t es m er fro int l se ra oo for injecting flo tion for you to ch ng a superb selec been busily potti

Trailing Pansy and Viola Traditionally, apart from ivy there have been few frost-hardy trailing plants for autumn pots and hanging baskets. This year will be different! Hugely successful last autumn was the recentlyintroduced Trailing Pansy ‘Plentifall’ (pictured). We sold thousands and have had a very enthusiastic response from our customers who were delighted with their performance. Look out for our October voucher offer. To complement Pansy ‘Plentifall’ this year we will also be growing an exciting series of Trailing Violas! Viola ‘Avalanche’ is on our September voucher offer. These beautiful plants will make compact cascades and are perfect fillers for mixed planters, producing a profusion of bonny flowers.

Bedding Pansy and Viola We very carefully select the best varieties for flowering during the autumn and winter. Available in packs of 6 in a stunning range of colours, look out for several new shades this year. Hardy and very easy to grow.

Scented Wallflowers We sell traditional field grown bare-root Wallflowers (pictured) which are ideal for bedding displays. Fresh from our very local supplier, they are available in bunches of 10 or boxes of 100 during late September and October. Worth the effort as the colour and scent on a warm spring day is really glorious. We also offer compact varieties in packs of 6.

Mini-Cyclamen Half-hardy cyclamen are great for adding instant colour to pots and containers in shades of pink, red and white.

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Chrysanthemums I am reliably informed by those “in-the-know” that pot-mums are having a renaissance! We grow our own each year from rooted cuttings to give superior plants.

Perfect for providing an instant fix to an empty pot, they will normally grow back to give a second year of pleasure if cut back hard after flowering and planted in the garden.

Scented Stocks and Sweet William (pictured) Available in packs of 6 plant in autumn for a scented spring!

Hardy Dianthus Sunflor Fantastic little hardy carnation flowering through autumn and spring. Worth growing!

Ornamental Cabbages Love them or hate them! Great foliage colour that gets better as the weather cools.

Erica Gracilis These autumn flowering heathers (pictured) are real one-hit wonders! They flower their socks off in a blaze of glory for one season before being discarded. The perfect ‘pop-in’ plant for instant effect.

Forget-me-not Last but not least do not forget to under-plant your bedding with bulbs! For example, Forget-me-nots (myosotis) in shades of pink, white and blue look spectacular in spring when planted with late flowering Tulips!

Top Tip!

Grow-more pellets are the perfect slow release feed to use when planting autumn bedding

Autumn Shrubs WORDS: Toby Davies

Autumn is a superb time of year for hardy plants. Not only is it an ideal planting period for trees and shrubs, but for nature’s ‘wow’ factor autumn is hard to beat.

Here’s a selection of shrubs to enhance your garden at this time of year

Ceratostigma (Hardy Plumbago) This low growing shrub or sub-shrub is a real beauty. Ideal for a sheltered position, the small blue flowers are complemented by tinges of red amongst the leaves. C. will. ‘Forest Blue’ is a taller, woodier variety with blue flower clusters. C. plumbaginoides (pictured) is a much lower, more herbaceous variety. Both generally die-back in the winter and re-shoot in the spring.

Euonymus (Spindle) Spindles could arguably be the best shrubs for autumn colour, very easy to grow and suitable for most positions in the garden. E. europaeus ‘Red Cascade’ is a cultivated form of our native spindle, not only producing brilliant red-pink foliage but also an interesting seed pod with orange fruit. E. alatus (pictured) is a more compact variety with incredible winged-bark.

Nandina Nandina domestica is without doubt one of the most popular shrubs at Coolings. Definitely at its very best in autumn, it is strong on merit for interest at other times of the year. Look forward to a great show of large bright red fruits and foliage of orange and red in the autumn. N. domestica ‘Firepower’ (pictured) is a compact form introducing a touch of pink into the autumn foliage. Nandina is also semi-evergreen so will even keep hold of some of its foliage, especially in milder conditions.

Of course there are other shrubs and some larger trees that are available at Coolings so it’s always worth a visit this time of year.

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Design & planting Services

Garden Design Consultation

Should you require more time at the consultation or further detailed drawings for planting purposes, additional charges will be incurred but these will be discussed with you once the scope of the project has been ascertained. Our Garden Designers are freelance and have worked with us for a number of years.

Plants recommended and used in any scheme will be supplied by Coolings, many of which are covered by our Hardy Plant Guarantee for 5 years.

To help you achieve the best possible look for your garden, we offer professional advice and proposals for layout and planting.

For £75 a qualified, experienced Garden Designer will visit you to discuss your requirements and make suggestions on ways in which you could develop your garden, dependent upon site restraints, personal preferences and budget. A typical consultation lasts one hour and will provide you with ideas and information to move the project in the right direction.

For more information on the above service, or to make an appointment, please telephone Lesley on 01959 5332269 or email designservice@coolings.co.uk

Planting Service Coolings will be happy to plant most things, from borders to just a single tree. Included in the price of planting trees is a product named Root Grow, which is a naturally occurring mycorrhizal fungi.

This product will help the plant establish quicker by increasing the active root area by 700 times and giving it better drought tolerance. Included in the price for larger trees is a pipe for ease of watering.

Coolings’ Planting Service is available within the following postcodes:

DA 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16 SE 9, 12 TN 13, 14, 15, 16 BR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Cost of this service is £45 per man hour. We are very proud of the standard of the service we offer, and our customers agree: “I am very satisfied with this service and hope to use it again, as I am not able to do it all myself.”

For more information on the above service, or to make an appointment, please telephone Lesley on 01959 532269 or email plantingservice@coolings.co.uk

Autumn Tidy Up How would you like your garden to be “put to bed” for the winter during late October or November? With our prestigious service we can get your lawn and borders ready for the winter.

This offer could include raking up leaves,

lawn edging, last lawn cut, cutting back of perennials, pruning deciduous hedges and digging over a vegetable patch.

One Day Autumn Tidy Up from 9.30am to 4pm with a team of two, available in postcode areas as shown above. Only £275.

For more information on the above service, or to make an appointment, please telephone Lesley on 01959 532269 or email plantingservice@coolings.co.uk

2012 Good Luck!

Simply bring your camera next time you visit, pick up an Entry Form in store or download one from our website www. coolings.co.uk, and send us your photos of

Green & Pleasant

This year sees our third annual photography competition taking in the Christmas festivities.

Previously customers have entered their photographs of summer and autumn, with some spectacular pictures of all kinds of scenes, views and images found at Coolings Green & Pleasant.

Your photographs can be of anything here, from wildlife on the Nature Trail to Christmas Lunch in Blueberry CafĂŠ, a visit to Santa or even a product in the Shop that catches your eye - be creative!

he t f o e m o S G

WINNIN

entries

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201ti1 tion

compe

Closing date for entries is Monday 31st December 2012. Judging by awardwinning photographer Kate Radcliffe LRPS DPAGB. Results will be displayed in the Shop from Saturday 19th January 2013.

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Spring

Bulbs

WORDS: NICKY PETO

Let’s think positive! Spring 2013 has got to be better than spring 2012.

On the bright side, the rain this year will have given the bulbs the moisture needed to swell their size to give a bumper show of flowers next spring

W

Crocus Sativus

Daffodil bulbs

Christmas Hyacinths

Our Bulb Store is open now, so call in and see us today!

e are continuing to stock loose “daffodils/narcissi and tulip” bulbs as we know many of you prefer to choose your BUY T own bulbs, ONE GE ONE and also have FREE plenty of pre-packed selections for your convenience.

For spring 2013 we have increased our range of tulips still further and hope you will enjoy the varieties on offer.

One special promotion will be a fantastic Buy One, Get One Free offer on the beautiful fragrant bright orange lily-flowered tulip, “Ballerina”, which was seen in profusion at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. Pack of 20 bulbs just £5.99, Buy One, Get One Free!

Add extra colour to your patio by planting bulbs in containers. Try layers of different varieties for continual flowering through spring and

summer, then plant winter pansies or violas on top.

For extra autumn colour in your garden, why not plant a few autumn flowering crocuses? One of our favourites is the lovely saffron crocus “Sativus”.

These are available now and should be planted as soon Ballerina as possible.

We also stock a wide range of both prepared hyacinths for indoor growing, and bedding hyacinths for outdoor flowering. If you would like a display of hyacinths for Christmas these must be planted before the end of September. Several bulbs of the same variety in your chosen container is most effective. Once planted, keep your bulbs in a cool and dark place, such as a garage, for best results. Move the pot to its flowering position when the shoots are 2.5cm high, this should be around the first week of December.

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O

ne of our most underestimated plants,in my opinion, is grass. There are very few plants that will go dry and brown and then at the first sign of rain will green back up and continue to grow.

After the last two winters our lawns have managed to survive everything the weather has thrown at them. However my lawn could definitely do with some attention to help get it in good condition in case we have another bad winter.

The first thing I need to do is to rake it over to get rid of the dead thatch that will have developed.

This will help the air get down to the roots and improve growth. My front garden is north facing and tends to suffer with moss. I bought a new product earlier this year called MoBacter. This is a feed and also a moss killer. The product has a microbial action that effectively eats the moss, so you don’t need to rake out the dead moss.

Once I have dealt with that I can see if I have any patches that need over-seeding. Johnsons General Purpose grass seed is suitable for most garden lawns. Rake over the area to break up the soil slightly and then scatter the seed. I like to put a thin layer of compost over the seed just to help retain moisture and

improve germination.

Many people feed their lawns in spring and summer, but not so many people realize that there is an autumn lawn feed.

So what is the difference between the two feeds?

Spring/summer feeds have high nitrogen content and it is this that gets the grass growing and greens it up.

Obviously you do not want this to happen in the autumn so the formulation has less nitrogen and more phosphates, which improve root growth.

This increased root growth will get the grass ready for the next spring.

Autumn lawn feeds do not have a weed killer in them, as the weed-killing action works on the growth hormones of weeds by accelerating the growth.

The weed then suddenly grows very rapidly, cannot sustain the growth and dies.

This is most effective when the weeds are actively growing, which of course they aren’t in autumn.

So, with a little bit of work you can get your lawn set up for next spring, when hopefully we will not have the amount of rain we had this year and no hosepipe ban to boot!

Autumn

Lawn Care WORDS: BRIAN ARCHIBALD

by Lesley Webster Where has the year gone? As we go into autumn it’s time to plan ahead. October to December is the best time to plant soft fruit, ready for those delicious berries the following year

Get your beds ready by digging over, to get rid of weeds, and dig in some manure or soil conditioner.

Why not try growing fruit in containers? Blueberries and Gooseberries do well in pots. Blueberries need ericaceous compost, but Gooseberries will be ok planted in multi-purpose with John Innes added.

Use saucers under the containers to help stop the container drying out too much in the summer, (try to use rain water to water Blueberries as tap water is too limey) and make sure you feed from the spring when the plants start to grow (a good fertiliser to use is Vitax Q4).

Pruning Gooseberries is easy. From November to March cut out any dead or diseased wood and keep the plant nice and open, also cut back by half the new growth produced this year. If you have a lot of growth in the summer you can also cut back the side shoots in late June.

Blueberries don’t need much pruning, just take out dead or diseased wood in the winter and again keep the bush open so that air can circulate.

Soft fruit needs to be sited in full sun to ripen the fruit, but a little shade will be tolerated.

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at COOLINGS green & pleasant the natural place to visit

New Displays Coming Soon

Look out for booking forms in the next edition of Cuttings or....

Sign up to our e-newsletter to be the first to receive booking information in early October!

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Santa Natur on the e Tra il

green & pleasant the natural place to visit

All children must be accompanied by an adult

WORDS: KAREN HOWARD

F

ollowing on from the building work last winter, we’ve made a few more changes here in Arthur’s.

If you have visited us over the last few months you will know about our new system for ordering hot food, salads and toasties. It’s very straightforward and has already significantly reduced queuing times. Simply follow these three steps: A member of the team will then bring your food straight to your table as soon as it’s ready. Drinks and cakes are still served at the counter, no need for a table number.

Speaking of cakes, our Bakery Team have been working hard perfecting their delicious cake recipes. Over the last few months they have produced some stunning creations, including cakes decorated with maypoles and flowers, regal crown-shaped cakes and some wonderfully patriotic cakes decorated with Union Jacks. Looking ahead to winter they are cooking up a storm preparing for Christmas!

It’s only autumn but here in the kitchen we always have to be ahead of the game, and no more so than at Christmas time.

Christmas Menus will be available from Monday 17th September to take away and deliberate over. Bookings in person will commence on Monday 1st October and we will accept bookings by telephone from Tuesday 2nd October. Arthur’s Christmas Lunches will then commence on Monday 3rd December and run through until Friday 14th December (not including the weekends). It may seem a little early, but we’re really looking forward to celebrating the festive season with you!

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Brighten up your kitchen with these fabulous funky kitchen accessories – they make great gifts, too!

Giftware

by Sarah Martin

“Alexander the Grater” Mini grater £1.99 each

Mini Measure

“Tina Timer”

£1.99 each

£2.99 each

Oil & Vinegar Bottles Assorted colours

“Jasper Carrot” Vegetable scrubber

“Poach Perfect” Silicone egg poacher

£2.99 each

£3.99 each

£4.99 each

“Flux” flexible door and window Stopper

Banana Guard

Mini Bamboo Colander

£5.99 each

£5.99 each

£4.99 each

All available at Coolings Green & Pleasant 16 Cuttings from Coolings

WORDS: Melissa Clark

Five Star Fabulousness!

Here in Blueberry Café we believe that good food is something worth celebrating! We’re also celebrating having been awarded the top mark of Five Stars in the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, which is run by local authorities in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.

We have a real passion for creating and serving fabulous food for everyone to enjoy, and our team work together to ensure that every dish leaving our kitchen is perfectly delicious, whether it’s a simple sandwich, a hearty soup, a scrumptious cake or a full three-course meal.

Cheese - 5 Fascinating Facts

British Cheese Week Mon 24 – Sun 30 September We’re celebrating British Cheese Week this year with a range of delicious dishes on our daily menu, and a special cheese-themed Food Night @ Blueberry Café on Thursday 27 September – call Melissa on 01959-534386 for reservations or visit www.coolings.co.uk for more information.

• •

•

•

•

Cheese is bought by over 98% of British households.

Cheese is a concentrated form of milk. It takes 10 litres of milk to make one kilogram of Cheddar.

A small matchbox-sized piece of Cheddar (30 grams) contains about 30% of the recommended daily calcium intake for adults; it also contains protein, vitamin B12, phosphorus and 10.5 grams of fat and 125 calories.

We consume around 600,000 tonnes of cheese a year at home, in restaurants and in processed food - which is equivalent to about 10 kgs per person per year or 27.4 grams per person per day. Cheddar is the UK’s favourite cheese, accounting for 55% of house hold purchases.

There are around 700 named cheeses made in the UK.

National Curry Week Mon 8 – Sun 14 October Curry is often cited as “the nation’s favourite dish”, and we’re delighted to have a special week dedicated to spicing things up! In addition, our popular Curry Night makes a welcome return on Thursday 28 October – call Melissa on 01959534386 for reservations, or visit www.coolings.co.uk for more information.

Cuttings FROM COOLINGS FROM COOLINGS

Coolings Coolings news, news, direct direct to to your your inbox inbox Did Did you you know, know, you you can can receive receive Coolings news Coolings news direct direct to to your your inbox? inbox?

Sign Sign up up at at

www.coolings.co.uk www.coolings.co.uk Sign Sign up up before before 12 12 September September to receive our exclusive to receive our exclusive monthly monthly

E-Newsletter E-Newsletter Offer Offer Buy Buy 1 1 Get Get 1 1 FREE FREE

Hellebores Hellebores L L aa d d yy SS e e rr ii e e ss 1 1L L tt rr

Va lid at Va lid at

N ormally £5.99 eac h N ormally £5.99 eac h

with E-Voucher with E-Voucher 18 Cuttings from Coolings

Keep in Touch

by Jane Morgan

Here at Coolings we like to talk to our customers, to let you know what’s going on or to hear what’s interesting you. We now offer a wide range of ways to do just that If you go down to the Coolings website today you’re sure of a big surprise! Back in May we redeveloped our website to bring it up to date and make it easier to navigate. Have a look at our “News” page for the latest new on plants, products and people! On our “How To” page we take a look at what gardeners should be doing in the garden right now and provide information on how you can get the best from your blooms. Planning a visit to us? Look at our “Events” page to find out what’s going on. Our “Contact Us” page had details of how to get here, and a Contact Form which comes straight through to us at Coolings if you need any further information.

Email

Online

On our website you can also sign up to our Cuttings e-newsletter, sent out monthly direct to your inbox. Full of news and offers, it’s definitely worth a read!

Keep an eye out on the website as soon we will be opening the Coolings Online Shop. Perfect for those days when you can’t get here but still need those few garden essentials. Our aim is to bring you a range of our bestselling plants along with the feeds and tools you will need to support them as they grow.

Facebook

Twitter

In-store

Phone

Coolings is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/coolingsnurseries) and Twitter (@CoolingsGC). Each week we will bring you up-to-theminute news as it happens from both of our centres in Knockholt, and information about our latest offers. Post questions or comments to us, gardening conundrums or customer queries. We are always interested in what you have to say and will endeavour to answer all posts as soon as possible.

Finally, if the computer is not your friend don’t forget you can always see us in-store seven days a week and one of our team will be happy to help with any questions you may have. For more complex plant issues pay a visit to Coolings, The Gardeners Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill, where our Plant Doctor can give your shrubs the once over!

Here at Coolings we love to talk to our customers and with so many ways available there has never been a better time.

Speak to you soon!

AUTUMN showcase

by Gary Carvosso

Our Chairman, Paul Cooling, visited Japan in October 2010 with the International Garden Centre Association Congress. He was much inspired by the beautiful gardens there and brought back some fabulous images and ideas. Since then our team have been working hard to bring some of these ideas to fruition, culminating in what promises to be a spectacular Autumn Showcase this year

From ancient times Japan had a design tradition using stones and water. The history of surviving Japanese gardens has been well documented and records show how the introduction of Taoist ideas from China in 7AD had a major impact on Japanese garden design.

These new ideas were adapted to incorporate Japanese spirituality and beliefs, in particular the ancient Shinto religion, with various elements and features of the garden having great symbolic significance.

An estimated 80% of Japan’s historic gardens are in Kyoto, located in central Japan, and our garden includes a beautiful open frame building, reminiscent of the many merchant houses found in the Kyoto prefecture (area). Using gravel, rocks, water and of course traditional planting combinations, our glasshouse

will be transformed into an oasis of calm serenity.

We have been very fortunate to have the Garden Designer Howard Healey involved with our Showcase project. His years of experience in creating Japanese gardens have proved invaluable and his expert advice has ensured our design captures the essence of a traditional Japanese garden. In addition, the Japanese Garden Society will be on hand most days to answer any questions you may have, and will have their own exhibition portraying all aspects of their work as an active and thriving society.

Our ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ Autumn Showcase will be open from Saturday 15th September until Sunday 28th October.

Autumn Showcase promotions Give your garden a taste of the orient with some classic Japanese plants.

Tempting special offers will be running on selected plants for the duration of the Showcase: Japanese Pagoda Bush Enkianthus campanulatus in 4L pot.

Normally £15.99 each - Special Offer £10.00 each Something different for the “Plantaholic”!

Beautiful pendant flowers and lovely autumn colour!

Japanese Painted Fern Athyrium niponicum pictum in 3L pot.

Normally £7.99 each - Special Offer Buy 2 for £12.00 Remarkable foliage colour!

Dwarf Japanese Butterfly Cherry Prunus Kojo-no-mai in 2L pot.

Normally £9.99 each - Special Offer £5.99 each.

Beautiful little spring flowering cherry, ideal in pots. The name means “flight of the butterfly”.

NEW INTRODUCTIONS

We are pleased to offer for the first time four lovely new Japanese Acer varieties in 3L pots: Acer palmatum Kogane-Nishiki Acer palmatum Marlo Acer palmatum Red Wine Acer palmatum Shojo-nomura Normally £22.99 each – Special Offer Buy any 2 of the 4 varieties for just £30 - save £15.98!

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EVENTS

EVENTS

at The Gardener's Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill

at Coolings Green & Pleasant

Saturday 8 September EXHIBITION BY THE ORPINGTON & Sunday 9 September FLOWER CLUB in the Lecture Room Friday 14 September 9:30am

FLORISTRY WITH MYRA LESTER ‘Take Five Sunflowers’* in the Lecture Room see page 24 for details

Saturday 15 September – Sunday 28 October

AUTUMN SHOWCASE - LAND OF THE RISING SUN see page 20 for details

Wednesday 19 September & Wednesday 3 October, 11am–12 noon POLICE SURGERY WITH PCSO JULIE STONER in Blueberry Café to discuss local issues with you

Friday 12, Saturday 13, & Sunday 14 October, 11am FREE GUIDED TOUR OF THE NATURE TRAIL for all Friends of the Nature Trail Annual Pass holders.

No need to pre-book, meet in the Shop at 10.55am

ARTHUR’S CHRISTMAS LUNCH MENU Monday 17 September available for collection from today, or download from www.coolings.co.uk Saturday 22 September 10am onwards Monday 1 October Monday 1 October Tuesday 9 October

FARMERS’ & CRAFT MARKET in the front car park at Rushmore Hill

Saturday 27 October –

Half Sunday 4 November Term y BUSY BEE’S WOODLAND WALK Activit

ARTHUR’S CHRISTMAS LUNCH BOOKINGS taken in person from today, see page 15 for details NATIONAL CONIFER WEEK see page 31 for details

10am-4pm daily follow Busy Bee around the Nature Trail, answer 10 easy questions and win a prize! FREE with Nature Trail entry, no need to pre-book

Tuesday 2 October

ARTHUR’S CHRISTMAS LUNCH BOOKINGS taken by telephone from today, see page 15 for details

Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 October

EXHIBITION BY THE KNOCKHOLT ART CLUB in the Lecture Room

Sunday 14 October 10am-4pm

CRAFT FAIR with handmade crafts from Kent and Sussex in the Lecture Room

Saturday 27 October 10am-5pm

APPLE DAY see page 24 for details

Saturday 27 October 2:30pm

MEET THE EXPERTS An Audience with Steve Bradley* in the Lecture Room, see page 24 for details

Saturday 27 October 10am onwards

FARMERS’ & CRAFT MARKET in the front car park at Rushmore Hill

Sunday 28 October

BRITISH SUMMER TIME ENDS (clocks go back one hour)

Thursday 1 November MEET THE EXPERTS Cleve West - From Spuds to Chelsea* in the Lecture Room, see 10:30am page 24 for details

Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 November

FLORISTRY WITH MYRA LESTER ‘All Wired Up’* in the Lecture Room, see page 24 for details EXHIBITION BY THE ORPINGTON ART CLUB in Lecture Room

Sunday 11 November

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

Friday 2 November 9:30am

Sunday 28 October BRITISH SUMMERTIME ENDS

(clocks go back one hour) Monday 29 & Wednesday 31 October,11am HALLOWEEN COOKIE WORKSHOPS*

make and decorate some special Half Term y Halloween cookies with our Cookery Activit Expert! Enjoy a delicious picnic-style lunch while your cookies are baking! £8.95 per child aged 5+, includes lunch in Blueberry Café Tuesday 30 October & Thursday 1 November 11am BUILD A BUG OR BIRD BOX WORKSHOPS*

these exciting hands-on workshops provide children with a great Half opportunity to build their own Term Activity wooden Bug or Bird Box to take home and use in the garden. All tools and materials are provided, children are just asked to bring along a responsible adult and lots of enthusiasm! £8.95 per child, min. age 5 yrs

Sunday 11 November REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

Thursday 22 November, Evening A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

special Christmas shopping late night opening event, in support of Harris HospisCare Saturday 24 November SANTA ARRIVING AT COOLINGS GREEN & PLEASANT!

STORYTELLING FOR UNDER 5’s*

come and join the fun as favourite children’s stories are brought to life in special storytelling sessions for the under 5’s at 10am, 11am, 12 noon & 1.30pm. £4.50 per child, includes Little Seedlings lunch.

Must be pre-booked.

Thursday 27 September “Handa’s Surprise” Thursday 25 October “Kipper’s Toybox” Thursday 29 November “We’re going on a

bear hunt!”

Tuesday 11 September 10am onwards HARRIS HOSPISCARE COFFEE MORNING

at Blueberry Café, informal, relaxed social meeting

Monday 17 September BLUEBERRY CAFÉ CHRISTMAS LUNCH MENU

available for collection from today, or download from www.coolings.co.uk

Tuesday 2 October BLUEBERRY CAFÉ CHRISTMAS LUNCH BOOKINGS

taken by telephone from today Monday 8 – Sunday 14 October NATIONAL CURRY WEEK

The Blueberry Café menu will feature special curry dishes throughout the week Tuesday 16 October 10am onwards HARRIS HOSPISCARE COFFEE MORNING

at Blueberry Café, informal, relaxed social meeting Monday 29 October – Sunday 4 November CHOCOLATE WEEK

Blueberry Café becomes a chocoholic’s heaven!

Tuesday 13 November 10am onwards HARRIS HOSPISCARE COFFEE MORNING

at Blueberry Café, informal, relaxed social meeting

FOOD NIGHTS @ BLUEBERRY CAFÉ* £19.99 per person. Tables can be booked between 6.30pm-9pm. Blueberry Café is a licensed premises Thursday 27 September “Cheese Night” Join us for a delicious 3-course meal

celebrating the Great British Cheese!

Thursday 18 October “Curry Night” Join us for a delicious 3-course meal

celebrating the nation’s favourite dish!

Thursday 15 November “Winter Warmer” Join us for a delicious 3-course

meal of winter favourites Monday 24 – Sunday 30 September BRITISH CHEESE WEEK

Blueberry Café will be celebrating Great British Cheese all week, check our menu for special dishes!

Monday 1 October BLUEBERRY CAFÉ CHRISTMAS LUNCH BOOKINGS

To book please ring 01959-534386 or print a booking form from our website Items marked with an asterisk* need to be pre-booked

taken in person from today

Cuttings from Coolings 23

Floristry Workshops with Myra Lester £25 per person inc. Lunch Friday 14 September Friday 2 November

9.30am Take Five Sunflowers 9.30am All Wired Up

An Audience with Steve Bradley Saturday 27th October 2.30pm £10 per person

Author Steve Bradley, regular contributor to The Sun newspaper gardening column and presenter on Radio Kent, shares the benefit of his horticultural experience in this interactive garden advice session! Steve will also join our team of Apple Experts as part of Apple Day (see below).

Apple Day

Saturday 27th October 10am-5pm FREE Interested in growing your own? Need advice on how to get started? Our team of Apple Experts will be on hand to help with all your apple-related questions. Also apple tasting, pruning advice, and how to select the best apple tree for your garden.

Award-winning Landscape Designer

Cleve West: “From Spuds to Chelsea” Thursday 1st November 10.30am £20 per person

Cleve provides an insight on his career path to winning the top awards at Chelsea from his humble first forays into horticulture growing spuds!

24 Cuttings from Coolings

COOLINGS

The Gardener’s Garden Centre THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING

Booking form

Coolings The Gardener’s Garden Centre No. of Tickets

Cost

Events

Date

Floristry with Myra Lester “Take Five Sunflowers”

Friday 14 September 9:30am

£25 per person, includes lunch

Meet the Experts “An Audience with Steve Bradley”

Saturday 27 October 2.30pm

£10 per person

Meet the Experts “Cleve West - From Spuds to Chelsea”

Thursday 1 November 10.30am

£20 per person

Floristry with Myra Lester “All Wired Up”

Friday 2 November 9.30am

£25 per person, includes lunch

Total Cost £

Your Information Print Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) .................................................................... Signed.........................................................................

Address .................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... Postcode ......................................................

Telephone Number ...............................................................................................................................................................................

Email .........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Your details will only be used by Coolings Nurseries Ltd and will not be passed to any third parties.

I enclose a cheque for £ ______________________________ (payable to Coolings Nurseries Ltd) *Or please debit my VISA/MASTERCARD/SWITCH* (*delete as appropriate) Card No ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ Issue No (Switch only) _________________________ Start Date ___ ___ / ___ ___

Last three digits of Security No ___ ___ ___

Expiry Date ___ ___ / ___ ___

Please Note: Bookings are non-refundable. All bookings received will be acknowledged.

Return completed form to: Coolings, Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, Kent TN14 7NN

by Lesley Webster

Extending Your

Garden Horizons

How to be a Gardener

Starts: Friday 21 September 2012 Duration: 1 year, Fridays, school term time Tutor: Neil Bone

Starts: Saturday 15 September 2012 Duration: 1 year, Saturdays, divided into 5 modules of 6 weeks each Tutor: Jane Gleeson Modules include: The basics of how to garden; Urban farming: Growing your own vegetables; Wildlife and gardening; Gardening and your health; Gardening and the future. No prior knowledge or experience is required, modules are offered individually

RHS (Level 2) Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture Starts: Tuesday 25 September 2012 Duration: 2 years, Tuesdays, school term time Tutor: Tessa Allen This course can lead to a nationally recognised award, but the exam is not compulsory.

Including both theory and practical elements of gardening, this course is suitable for all keen gardeners regardless of experience

This course is open to anyone who has an interest in gardening and is non exambased. Includes 10 all-day visits to gardens and places of horticultural interest

Jane Gleeson TUTOR

Neil Bone TUTOR

Coolings Garden Design Course

Tessa Allen RHS TUTOR

e To book pleas n o y call Lesle 69 01959 5322

Alex Lindsay TUTOR

26 Cuttings from Coolings

Starts: Wednesday 26 September 2012 Duration: 2 years, Wednesdays, school term time Tutor: Alex Lindsay BA Hons, GD DIP This course covers similar content to the Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Garden Design, but takes a more vocational “hands on� approach to equip students with experience and confidence

green & pleasant the natural place to visit

g form Bookin Green s Cooling t an & Pleas

Events

Date

Storytelling for Under 5’s ‘Handa’s Surprise’ (All children must be accompanied)

Thu 27 Sept

FOOD NIGHTS @ BLUEBERRY CAFÉ Reservations 6.30pm – 9pm (please indicate your preferred time in the ‘Time’ box right)

Thu 27 Sept Cheese Night

Time

No. of Tickets Cost £4.50 per child, includes Lunch

10am 11am 12 noon 1.30pm

£19.99 per person

Thu 18 Oct Curry Night Thu 15 Nov Winter Warmer

STORYTELLING FOR UNDER 5’s ‘Kipper’s Toybox’ (All children must be accompanied)

Thu 25 Oct

10am 11am 12 noon 1.30pm

£4.50 per child, includes Lunch

HALLOWEEN COOKIE WORKSHOP (Minimum age 5 yrs, must be accompanied)

Mon 29 Oct

11am

Wed 31 Oct

11am

£8.95 per child, includes Lunch

BUILD A BUG OR BIRD BOX WORKSHOP (Minimum age 4 yrs, must be accompanied)

Tue 30 Oct

11am

Thu 1 Nov

11am

STORYTELLING FOR UNDER 5’s ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!’ (All children must be accompanied)

Thu 29 Nov

10am 11am 12 noon 1.30pm

Your Information

£8.95 per child, includes materials £4.50 per child, includes Lunch

Total Cost £

Print Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss) .................................................................................. Signed.................................................

Address ................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................ Postcode .....................................................................

Telephone Number ..........................................................................................................................................................................

Email ........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Your details will only be used by Coolings Nurseries Ltd and will not be passed to any third parties.

I enclose a cheque for £ ______________________________ (payable to Coolings Nurseries Ltd) *Or please debit my VISA/MASTERCARD/SWITCH* (*delete as appropriate) Card No ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ Issue No (Switch only) _________________________ Last three digits of Security No ___ ___ ___ Start Date ___ ___ / ___ ___ Expiry Date ___ ___ / ___ ___ Please Note: Bookings are non-refundable. All bookings received will be acknowledged.

Return completed form to: Coolings Green & Pleasant, Main Road, Knockholt, Kent TN14 7LJ

Queen meets famous horticulturalist…Her Majesty unveiled a plaque on the ‘living crown’ sponsored by Coolings in Bromley

RHS student’s presentation evening in July

In spite of it being one of the wettest summers on record, our Chairman Paul Cooling has been out and about representing the company at many events – here are some of the highlights..

With the Olympic torch at Combe Bank School, Sundridge

Our Morris van attracted a lot of attention at the Knockholt Carnival 28 Cuttings from Coolings

Summer Showcase at The Gardener’s Garden Centre “The Best of British”

Book WORDS: KATIE CHRISTIE

Gardening with Shrubs by Eric Sawford is one of our best sellers here in Book Corner. Shrubs form the backbone of any garden and they add year-round interest in so many ways. This practical book covers all you need to know for the successful growth, maintenance and propagation of these versatile plants. Eric Sawford has over 30 years’ experience in all aspects of gardening, from plants to seed and products to machinery. He is a noted plant photographer, and has also had many articles published in the popular Check out page 55 for an gardening press. excellent example of Acer palmatum “Dissectum” (Japanese maple), as seen in our Autumn Showcase!

The Complete Book of Decorative Painting by Tera Leigh is destined to become a decorative painting classic. Packed with solutions to a range of painting challenges, it covers everything from surface preparation to floating techniques to finishing. Full-colour, step-by-step instructions clearly illustrate dozens of easy painting techniques. Whether you’re an accomplished artist or just starting out, this comprehensive book is the perfect reference guide.

Check out page 102 for a great guide to transforming a plain pot into a beautifully decorative container.

Check out page 208 for a delicious “Autumn Pudding” recipe.

Berry Healthy by Maria Constantino tells you everything you ever wanted to know about berries! Often included in the “superfood” category, berries are delicious to eat and highly nutritious. With detailed information on different berry types and their uses, including a great selection of recipes, learn how berries are an extremely beneficial addition to any healthy diet. If you’ve followed Lesley’s tips for soft fruit planting on page 13 of this magazine, Berry Healthy is definitely the book for you - a perfect guide to a perfect fruit!

Cuttings from Coolings 29

spring

by Matt Muskett

S

pend a little time now preparing your garden furniture for the rigours of winter and you can relax and entertain instantly when the sun shines next year.

All garden furniture will benefit from some care and attention to keep it in tip-top condition.

Most wood furniture will require cleaning with a good garden furniture cleaner and then treating with a furniture oil. Restorers are also available if your furniture needs a little extra TLC! Cleaning and treating is best done in the autumn before winter storage, just make sure your furniture is dry before using oil or restorer treatments.

With products from famous names such as Westminster, Hartman and Cuprinol, our range includes cleaners, oils, protectors and preservers for Teak and other Hardwoods, specialist cleaning products for Granite, Stainless Steel, and Stone, and a Stone sealer. We also have a Woven and Textiles cleaner for garden furniture cushions. Prices start from less than ÂŁ5 - speak to one of our Furniture Specialists for advice on which products best suit your needs.

30 Cuttings from Coolings

Quick Fix Solution!

Cuprinol Garden Furniture Wipes have been specially designed for regular cleaning and conditioning of all wooden garden furniture. They are ideal for sprucing up your furniture before and after entertaining and are convenient for wiping up spills. These strong, large wipes are impregnated with Orange Oil and Wax, so as well as removing dirt, grease and grime they nourish your wood with every use.

Once your garden furniture is sparkling clean again, fit a cover to keep it looking pristine.

Bosmere covers come in a range of sizes covering everything from barbecues and gas bottles to tables, chairs, benches, parasols and loungers. These snug, elasticated covers are made from high quality pvc-backed polyester.

With prices starting from less than ÂŁ10, these breathable covers will protect your furniture through the winter weather.

A of

Colour

by Richard Gillham

A

t this time of year we turn our attention to the changing colours of autumn, in particular deciduous trees and shrubs.

However, did you know that many evergreens also provide good colour with the onset of cold during the autumn and winter? Coniferous plants are such an example, with many evergreen and deciduous species metamorphosing into golden and bronze tones.

The changing tones of autumn are due to more visible concentrations of carotenoids and anthocyanins being present in leaves, and the plant’s production of chlorophyll, the green pigmentation in leaves, slows down as the nights lengthen in autumn.

Conifers are far from dull when you consider their spectacular autumn and spring colour transformations. Indeed there are varieties that will fit all shades of the colour spectrum.

Here are a few of my favourite conifer varieties for spectacular spring and autumn colour: Spring colour

Yellow

Juniperus squamata ‘Holger’ • Picea glauca ‘Daisy’s White’ • Podocarpus ‘Flame’ Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lanei’

• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Aurea’ (good all year round colour)

•

Green • Tsuga Canadensis (bright green spring growth)

Autumn colour • Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans’ • Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Karamachiba’ • Thuja occidentalis ‘Amber Glow’ • Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana’ • Taxus varieties (yew)

Blue Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ • Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Carpet’ • •

Purple •

Deciduous conifers Larix varieties (larch) Metesaquoia varieties (dawn redwood) • Taxodium varieties (swamp cypress) • Ginko (Maidenhair tree) •

Abies koreana (purple cones)

Pink

•

• Podocarpus ‘Kilworth Cream’ (pink growth in spring)

Red • Podocarpus ‘Flame’ (rusty red in winter) • Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ (brick red in spring)

Gold and Orange Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’ Thuja occidentalis ‘Sunkist’ • Thuja occidentalis ‘Amber Glow’ (great autumn colour) • •

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COOLINGS COOLINGS COOLINGS COOLINGS COOLINGS COOLINGS

The The Gardener’s The Gardener’s Gardener’s Garden Garden Garden Centre Centre Centre The Centre The Garden Centre T HGardener’s T E HEGardener’s TEXHP EEX EE R PX IEEP RN E IE C RGarden N E I ECIN ES CIG ESRIG O SR W G OIRW N OG IW NG ING The Gardener’s Garden Centre T HT E HEEX P ER CN E CI ES IGSR G OR WOI W NG EX P IEERNI E ING

Rushmore Rushmore Rushmore Hill, Hill, Hill, Rushmore Hill, Rushmore Hill, Rushmore Hill, TN14 TN14 TN14 7NN 7NN 7NN TN14 7NN TN14 7NN TN14 7NN 01959 01959 01959 532269 532269 532269 01959 532269 01959 532269 01959 532269 THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING

www.coolings.co.uk www.coolings.co.uk www.coolings.co.uk www.coolings.co.uk www.coolings.co.uk www.coolings.co.uk

32 Cuttings from Coolings