Cuttings from Coolings Autumn 2017

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AUTUMN

Inspiration for Autumn Planters Page 4

2017

Bulb Personal Favourites Page 12

THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING

Coolings Family Vouchers Page 16

The Gardener’s Garden Centre

Treat yourself this Christmas at Coolings Celebrate with friends this Christmas at Coolings with our special Afternoon Christmas Tea. Available Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th December.

Booking essential, call 01959 532269.

Served from 12pm - 3:30pm. Existing Coolings Afternoon Tea gift voucher is not valid on this special Afternoon Christmas Tea. £19.50 per person (£5 non-refundable deposit required when booking).

Book a Christmas Lunch at Arthurs Booking and menu available from Friday 1st September 2017 online and in store.

WelcomeCoolings

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to

Dear Friends, I am frequently complimented on whatever recent development has improved the experience for visitors to Coolings and it is very satisfying to be on the receiving end of such comments. However, each year when we think we have done everything that could help to make Coolings the best gardening establishment in the south of England someone else has an idea, then another new project starts rolling. Some projects are small but make a big difference behind the scenes, whilst others are more noticeable.

This year we have had many positive comments about the larger shop and more open layout to the plant area. More internal re-arrangements are due in the autumn to help make the most of the seasonal houseplants and to give greater synergy to the gardening ranges. I am proud that my Grandfather’s strategy of re-investing the profits back into the people and the facilities continues to aid our success.

More recently, ‘Waggles Pet Emporium’ has joined Coolings by taking over what used to be the lecture room, and we wish them every success. They bring an expertise to a range that we felt we were not fully engaged with and initial reactions are very encouraging.

The diverse range of horticultural courses we offer will now be taught from purpose-built facilities in the heart of the nursery, which is much more relevant to the subject. Courses, which start again in September, range from a few days duration to eighteen months in

the case of the RHS-accredited General Certificate in Horticulture (Level 2). There are still spaces available so have a look at the listings enclosed and you could find yourself enjoying a new aspect to your favourite pastime.

Arthurs continues to go from strength to strength and in June we were very proud to win another national award, this time one that reflected the fantastic output from the kitchen.

Similarly the Summer Flower Exhibition, which is now in its 21st year, received many great accolades.

Our Railway Children Summer Flower Exhibition this year supporting the great work of Smile International see; www.coolings.co.uk to see how much we have raised this year.

Regardless of whether you feel you are a novice gardener, a leisure gardener or maybe even an expert, you know there will always be something new for you at Coolings. We look forward to helping you achieve success in your garden and hope to see you again soon.

Paul Cooling Chairman Coolings F RO M C O O L I N G S

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Inspiration

Jon Reburn

Starting with a centre plant there are many possibilities.

Vinca ‘Illumination’ (10) is a great alternative to Ivy and has glossy evergreen golden variegated leaves. An added bonus are the violet blue Periwinkle flowers in spring.

An evergreen grass such as Festuca ‘Intense Blue’ (7) or Stipa tenuissima (8) will make a tactile focal point.

Planted pots and hanging baskets are a guaranteed way to add colour and interest to your garden through the autumn and winter months.

A centrally placed garden Chrysanthemum will give a dome of flowers into the autumn.

Small Conifers are perfect in containers.

Try slow growing Thuja ‘Golden Smaragd’ (9) which makes an attractive candle of burnished foliage.

A great way to design your own planters is to visit Coolings and fill your trolley, thinking about elements of height, background colour and trailing interest.

Colourful Background Plants Mini cyclamen

Evergreen Trailing Interest

New for 2017 Solanum ‘Venus’ is an improved variety that is covered with attractive orange berries giving planters a really autumnal feel.

for Autumn planters Words by

Added Height

Gold and silver Thyme (11) are beautiful and bring the added benefit of scent to the edge of planters.

Ajuga, (12) know commonly as ‘Trailing Bugle’, are a less well-known choice but have attractive foliage and unusual flowers in spring.

Trailing Pansies and Violas are a superb choice for cascading colour from autumn until spring. See our September voucher offer for trailing Pansy ‘Coolwave’ on page 16.

8 7 6 Mini Cyclamen

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4

2 Winter Pansies (1), Violas, Mini-Cyclamen, hardy Primroses, Polyanthus, Ornamental Kale, and hardy Dianthus (2) are all popular choices.

Autumn flowering Heathers (3) are a superb choice that are also a great source of late nectar for bees.

Contrasting foliage elements like wiry silver Calocephalus brownii (4) add real interest.

The leaves of Heuchera (5) are beautiful and perfectly capture the red, purple and coppery tones of autumn. Small evergreen Ferns are a novel choice if you fancy an unusual element to your arrangement. Look out for the gold splashed fronds of Aristata variegata (6).

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1 9

12

Pansy ‘Coolwave’

11 3

10

While at Coolings you can browse our huge range of pots and get free expert advice from our team of staff.

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5

Fruit for

Small

Pear ‘Obelisk’ is a sensational selffertile upright growing dwarf variety ideal where space is limited. The fruit ripen in October and store well in winter.

spaces

Autumn is the perfect time to plant fruit trees and bushes. Where space is limited, there are plenty of options for growing tasty crops of fresh, pick-your-own fruit, straight from your garden or outside space.

Pear ‘Obelisk’

Raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’

Raspberry ‘Ruby Beauty’ is the world’s first compact Raspberry and grows to only 1metre tall, making it perfect for growing in pots. An added benefit is that it is thornless, making this variety an ideal plant for children to grow.

Apricot ‘Compacta’

An exciting new introduction for 2017 is Apricot ‘Compacta’. This is a naturally short self-fertile variety that produces lots of tasty orange fruit. Ideal when grown in a sheltered sunny spot. Available from September.

With all this choice from Coolings there really is no excuse not to have a fruitful autumn!

Cherries Stella Compact (Wide) Cherries ‘Stella’ Compact

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Blueberry ‘Lucky Berry’

Blueberries are a really good choice for growing in pots. We stock many delicious varieties which are easy to grow when planted in ericaceous (acid) compost.

This season we will be offering a very exciting new variety called ‘Lucky Berry,’ which has attractive white bell flowers producing berries for 4 months from July until October! Blueberries are packed with vitamins and anti-oxidants and can be easily home grown rather than flown from the other side of the world!

We are excited to be able to offer this year a lovely range of quality dwarf patio standard fruit trees that are ideal for growing in pots. Varieties available include Patio Apple ‘Croquella’, Patio Pear ‘Luisa’, Patio Cherries ‘Stella’ Compact and ‘Piemont’, and Patio Plums ‘Mirabelle’ and ‘Hanna’. For those with a conservatory or cold greenhouse for over-wintering, we will also be offering Patio Peach ‘Bonanza’ and Nectarine ‘Nectarella’.

Nectarine ‘Nectarella’ F RO M C O O L I N G S

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Autumn

There is so much fruit now that to be able to store and enjoy some all winter is a bonus. Here are some tips:

the time of plenty Words by

Annika

You just need to look out of the window this time of the year to see the abundance nature has to offer.

Apples can be stored successfully if wrapped individually in newspaper and layered in wooden crates. We offer Coolings Apple crates at £21 each. Check every apple for cuts and bruises and choose only the perfect ones.

Alternatively, use straw or paper shreddings. Place them in a frost free but cool place (30-35°F). Pears are best eaten when picked or can be made into chutney (see recipe at www.coolings.co.uk).

If you don’t already have jam jars, we have a very good selection of Ball Preserving Jars and accessories, six Ball Preserving Jars and accessories 490ml preserving jars £12.99. When out and about you might come across a damson tree (wild plums) in the hedgerow, even better after a frost. Pick them, they make the best jam (and cordial). It’s very easy (see recipe www.coolings.co.uk).

WOLF-Garden adjustable fruitpicker

Kettle oval fruit basket

Fruit trees are heavy with fruit and the vegetable patch is very lush and ready for rich pickings (It almost feels like it’s too much!). When out walking I always bring a basket (Kettle oval fruit basket £27.50) or trug, because you never know what goodies you might stumble across _ blackberries, damsons or even mushrooms.

Be aware though _ always refer to a book or a reputable source on the internet and only eat what can be identified ‘as edible’.

There are plenty of foraging courses/classes available around the country. I recommend looking at BBC Countryfile’s Top 10 Foraging Courses in the UK. 8

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When picking fruit from trees it might be a good idea to invest in a fruitpicker.

There are many types on the market. We stock the WOLF-Garden adjustable fruitpicker (attachment £19.99) and separate telescopic handles (from £35.99).

It is a traditional picker with a soft cloth bag for the fruit to fall into. Alternatively, we also have Kent & Stowe’s Fruitpicker for £24.99. It is a complete picker with a metal cage on the top.

When it comes to storing vegetables, onions are easy to store.

Let them air dry away from direct sunlight to let the skin harden.

Then store in a cool, dark and dry space. Mesh bags are ideal to use by hanging them from the ceiling.

Kent & Stowe’s Fruitpicker

If leaves are left long when drying, the onions can be platted together and hung up so air can flow freely around each bundle. Being Swedish, I prefer to pickle a lot of vegetables.

Nearly everything can be pickled, either sweet or sharp. My favourite pickled vegetable recipe is on our website.

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Waggles

Pet Emporium A W A R D - W I N N I NG R E TA I L E R Brand new store now open 7 days a week at Coolings Garden Centre We stock an extensive range of premium pet products at competitive prices. ● ● ●

Dogs Cats Caged Birds

● ●

Small Animals Poultry

Waggles Pet Emporium has been serving

pets and their people in the Bromley and West Wickham area for the past 10 years. We are proud to have recently opened our latest shop within Coolings Garden Centre at Rushmore Hill.

To celebrate this event, we are delighted to share the following special offers with readers of ‘Cuttings’.

!

22–31 August 2017

Buy any two, get one FREE

FREE Ancol Squeaky Tennis Ball

Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 22–31 August 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 1–30 September 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

22–31 August 2017

1–30 September 2017

Pet Munchies dog treats

!

Buy any two, get one FREE Dreamies cat treats

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KNOCKHOLT Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill, Knockholt TN14 7NN Tel 01959 535808

wagglespets.co.uk

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WEST WICKHAM 60 High St, West Wickham BR4 0NH Tel 020 8325 1717

10% OFF

selected cat scratchers

Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 1–30 September 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

22–31 August 2017

1–30 September 2017

Poultry: 10% off any purchase from our in-stock range

on any Burns Small Animal Herb Mix

10% OFF

Buy one, get one HALF PRICE

Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 22–31 August 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 1–30 September 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

1–31 October 2017

1–31 October 2017

!

BROMLEY 34 Chatterton Road, Bromley BR2 9QN Tel 020 8290 1457

when you buy any bag of Royal Canin or James Wellbeloved dog food (up to 2kg)

Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 22–31 August 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

!

Come and say ‘Hello’ – our friendly team will be happy to help you.

1–30 September 2017

15% OFF All in-stock beds and blankets

Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 1–31 October 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

FREE PACK – Natures Menu Dog Treats When you buy any dog coat

F RO M C O O L I N G S

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Valid at Waggles Pet Emporium, Coolings Garden Centre Offer valid 1–31 October 2017 inclusive, or while stocks last

Bulbs

Words by

Nicky Peto

my personal favourites Our bulb expert Nicky was lucky enough to make another visit to The Keukenhof Gardens in Holland this year.

I personally chose all of the great varieties of bulbs for Coolings this season, with some old favourites along with a few new varieties. It is great to see them growing rather than just choosing from a catalogue, which often doesn’t do justice to the great colour and structure that spring bulbs can bring to your garden.

Tulip ‘Synaeda Amour’ with ‘Muscari Arnaenicum’

Tulip ‘Ballerina’

I really like to under plant my tulips with another bulb and I think that this combination works really well.

This is a dainty lily flowered Tulip with a lovely scent, which is why we have chosen it as our Coolings Family voucher offer for October (see page 16).

The Allium fountain is a stunning water sculpture centre piece which surely makes anyone want to grow a few of the many varieties of Alliums available, to give the garden an elegant touch. The dried seed heads are very sculptural when touched by frost.

Narcissus ‘Thalia’,Tulip ‘Princess Irene’, Hyacinth ‘Pink Pearl’ and ‘Peter Stuyvesant’

A lovely combination with Hyacinths giving a powerful perfume.

My top picks from this year’s visit My all time favourite, Narcissus ‘Thalia’, with its dainty pure white nodding heads which last well.

Tulip ‘Queen of the Night’

This is an all time favourite, superb dark maroon black flowers giving a sophisticated look to your display.

Tulip ‘Purple Prince’

Tulip ‘La Belle Epoque’

Tulip ‘Estella Rijnveld’

An unusual creamy caramel pink colour, very dramatic when fully opened.

A popular parrot Tulip with feathery red/white flowers, looks stunning in a vase.

Narcissus ‘Thalia’ Tulip ‘El Nino’

The stunning, large flowered, scarlet Tulip ‘Casa Grande’ makes a distinctive powerful coloured display.

Tulip ‘Candy Prince’

Tulip ‘Casa Grande’ 12

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Tulip ‘Purple Prince’ and ‘Candy Prince’, look great when planted together and are good varieties for growing in pots as they are not too tall.

This is a bold Tulip in every sense, large lily flowered, no two flowers are the same _ some speckled, some quite orange. Carried on tall strong stems, when the flowers open they are iridescent.

‘Fritillaria Aurora’ Iris ‘Katharine Hodgkin’

A delicate dwarf Iris with exquisitely marked petals.

Makes an imposing statement piece. Great to plant at the back of borders.

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Herbaceous

Late Bloomers Sam Smith

Words by Autumn, in my opinion the most spectacular of all seasons, is an amazing time to be out in the garden. Here is my list of must have herbaceous perennials that will add texture and colour to your outdoor space during this special time of year.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

Euphorbia ‘Glacier Blue’

A must for any wildlife enthusiast, Sedums will flower from late summer through the autumn and keep your bees and butterflies happy at a time when most needed.

Very hardy, evergreen and with many different shapes and styles. Silver variegated varieties are a must for stunning autumn foliage. As an added benefit look out for amazing spring flower bracts.

Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’

Aster ‘Mönch’

Easy care, reliable and lasting colour from early autumn. The white flowers of ‘Honorine Jobert’ will brighten your garden on any gloomy autumn day.

The cheery flowers of Michaelmas Daisies make Asters a must have plant for year after year autumn colour.

Heuchera ‘Fire Chief ’ With hundreds of cultivars and colours to choose, from the reds of ‘Cherry Cola’ and ‘Fire Chief ’ to the lime greens of ‘Lime Marmalade’ and ‘Key Lime Pie’, there is a Heuchera for every part of the garden.

Happy in sun or shade.

Saxifraga ‘Blackberry and Apple Pie’

Schizostylis or Hesperantha

Saxifraga is a wide group of plants, however look out for ‘Blackberry and Apple Pie’ this autumn. This fantastic small space filler thrives in shade. Check out the bright red underside of the foliage ... spectacular!

Schizostylis coccinea ‘Major’

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This stunning semi-evergreen perennial has small gladiolus-like flowers and will shine from September all the way to November.

This beauty can also take light shade.

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Cuttings Vouchers with ...

1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017

FREE Half Hardy Cyclamen _ 10.5cm pot (Worth £2.99) No purchase necessary Versatile half hardy cyclamen ideal for brightening up pots and containers.

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre Offer valid 1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017 inclusive, while stocks last, an alternative may be offered. Only one free product per customer. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk

All vouchers must be redeemed with your Coolings Family Card and Coolings may refuse to redeem the voucher without your Family Card.

If for any reason you have mislaid your Coolings Family Card then please speak to a member of our team and we will be more than happy to sort this out for you.

1 Sep - 30 Sep 2017

FREE Daffodil Narcissus Tete-a-Tete 10 pack (Worth £2) No purchase necessary

FREE 2 100001 760724

1 Sep - 29 Sep 2017 (excludes Fri 15th - Mon 18th )

1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017

2 pots of jam, 2 pots of clotted cream & a pot of tea for 2

from any of the breakfasts on our table menu.

Cream Tea for Two for £8.50 Inc; 2 fruit scones,

Get your bulbs now to get the spirit of spring in your garden.

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre Offer valid 1 Sep - 30 Sep 2017 inclusive, while stocks last, an alternative may be offered. Only one free product per customer. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk

Valid Mon - Fri, between 2pm - 4pm Valid in Arthurs at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre Offer valid 1 - 14 and 19 - 29 Sep 2017 inclusive. Voucher must be presented at the till at time of ordering. One voucher per person per transaction. Subject to availability.

Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion.

Only valid when you present your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

1 Sep - 30 Sep 2017

free. Voucher must be presented at the till at time of ordering. One voucher per person per transaction.

Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Only valid when you present your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

£4.99 each

2 100001 760663

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre Offer valid 1 Sep - 30 Sep 2017 inclusive, while stocks last. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. One free product only per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

1 Oct - 31 Oct 2017 Only £1 Tulip Ballerina 10 pack (Worth £2.99)

Save £1.99

Offer valid 1 Oct - 31 Oct 2017 inclusive, while stocks last, an alternative may be offered. Only one reduced product per customer. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk

2 100001 760687

1 Oct - 31 Oct 2017

2 100001 760670

Visit Coolings for our amazing range of these versatile evergreens.

1 Oct - 31 Oct 2017

Beautiful evergreen interest for every season.

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre

Offer valid 1 Oct - 31 Oct 2017 inclusive, while stocks last, an alternative may be offered. Only one reduced product per customer. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk

£5 OFF Any Potted Outdoor Rose Bush

Offer valid 1 Dec - 23 Dec 2017 inclusive, while stocks last.

Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. One free product only per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Save £5.00

2 100001 760717

2 100001 760762

1 Dec - 23 Dec 2017

Buy 4 for the price of 3 on Kiln Dried Logs Only £5.49 each, Kindling Only £3.99 per bag Valid at Coolings Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill Offer valid 1 Dec - 23 Dec 2017 inclusive, while stocks last.

Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. One free product only per household.

Purchase must be for either 4 Logs or 4 Kindling (mix and match not available). For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

2 100001 760809

2 100001 760786

1 Dec - 23 Dec 2017

4 Dec - 23 Dec 2017

Perfect for scent and colour in your home and garden.

Valid Mon - Sun, between 9am and 4pm Valid in Arthurs at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre.

Buy One Get One FREE Potted Hyacinth (1 litre) £4.99 each Offer valid 1 Dec - 23 Dec 2017 inclusive, while stocks last. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. One free product only per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

2 100001 760793

2 100001 760700

Offer valid 1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017 inclusive, while stocks last.

Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. One free product only per household. For full Terms & conditions please see www. coolings.co.uk.

2 100001 760755

Choose from our huge selection of the nation’s favourite plant

Offer valid 1 Oct - 31 Oct 2017 inclusive, while stocks last an alternative may be offered. Only one free product per customer.

Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk 2 100001 760694

Buy One Get One FREE Conifers (1litre) £6.99 each

Save £6.99

No purchase necessary

Valid Mon - Fri, between 12pm - 3pm Offer valid 1 - 20 & 23 and 31 Oct 2017 inclusive. Voucher must be presented at the till at time of ordering.

One voucher per person per transaction. Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Only valid when you present your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre

1 Dec - 23 Dec 2017

£5 OFF Any Nandina (any size)

Valid in Arthurs at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre.

SAVE £3.00

2 100001 760748

1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017

Offer valid 1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017 inclusive, while stocks last.

Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. One reduced product per household.

For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Enjoy these free hardy dianthus, courtesy of Coolings.

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre

FREE

SAVE £9.00

Offer valid 1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017 inclusive, while stocks last. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. One reduced product per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017

1 Oct - 31 Oct 2017

Half Price Soup & Roll

(up to 2 people per voucher)

HALF PRICE

Save £4.99

FREE Dianthus Multi Pack (Worth £3.99)

Get your bulbs now to get the spirit of spring in your garden.

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre

Only £6.99 Worth Gardening Heavy Duty Hand Leaf Grabbers (Was £9.99, Save £3.00)

Great choice of low growing perennials

Save £3.99

Offer valid 1 Sep - 30 Sep 2017 inclusive, while stocks last. Only valid on presentation of your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. One free product only per household. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

2 100001 760656

Buy One Get One FREE Alpines (1 litre)

Fantastic trailing variety flowering from autumn to spring.

Valid at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre

2 100001 760731

1 Sep - 30 Sep 2017

Buy One Get One FREE Pansy Coolwave (1litre) £3.99 each

Only £19.99 Worth Gardening Heavy Duty Long Handled Leaf Grabbers (Was £28.99, Save £9.00)

(excludes toast with butter & toasted tea cakes) Valid Mon - Sun, between 9am and 11am. Valid in Arthurs at Coolings the Gardener’s Garden Centre.

Offer valid 1 - 30 Nov 2017 inclusive. Cheapest item

FREE 2 100001 760649

1 Nov - 30 Nov 2017

Buy One Get One FREE Breakfast Choose

Buy One Get One FREE Hot Drinks Any Hot Drink, Any Size Offer valid 4 - 23 Dec 2017 inclusive. Cheapest item free. Voucher must be presented at the till at time of ordering. One voucher per person per transaction.

Subject to availability. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Only valid when you present your Coolings Family card at time of redemption. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

2 100001 760779

Terms and conditions apply to all vouchers: Whilst stocks last. Only 1 voucher per transaction, only 1 voucher per household/customer. No cash alternative. Not valid with a trade card or any other offer.

Please present your Coolings Family Card at time of redemption. Coolings reserves the right to amend the offer or terms without prior notice. For full Terms & Conditions please see www.coolings.co.uk.

Bamboo

The Fabulous Sacred

Words by

Garry Norris

Don’t be put off by the name ‘Bamboo’ as Nandina is no relation. It is found growing all over the Far East, and in Japanese culture it is attributed with having special powers to ward off bad dreams, so is often planted near the house entrance.

Nandina is evergreen and easy to grow, giving interest throughout the year with white flowers in the spring followed by red berries and rich autumn coloured leaves.

Nandina ‘Firepower’

Yellowish green leaves in the summer become orange and red in the autumn and winter. Clusters of small star-shaped white flowers appear during the summer.

H&S: 60cm x 60cm.

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To get the best from Nandina they love a sunny position, with moist but well drained soil. The smaller varieties, of which there are several available, will grow quite happily in a container as long as you remember to keep them watered and fed.

No garden should be without a Nandina _ fantastic value for money, changing interest with every season. All of these varieties are available now in 2 litre pots.

See offer voucher on page 16.

Nandina ‘Twilight’

Copper-pink flushed young foliage becomes irregularly flecked with white variegation before fading to green and sprays of small white flowers in summer.

H&S: 1.2m x 0.6m.

Nandina ‘Obsessed’

One of the best fiery red displays on new growth, turning green when leaves mature, and then changing red again when autumn arrives. Ideal for containers.

H&S: 70cm x 60cm.

Nandina ‘Blush Pink’

The new spring pink growth gives a blushing appearance, and in the autumn turns a rich purple red. Very compact habit.

H&S: 60cm x 60cm.

Nandina domestica

Nandina ‘Lemon and Lime’

(AGM)

(AGM)

Produces small white flowers in large panicles in the summer, followed by red berries lasting through the autumn and into the winter.

Red new shoots turn green and winter foliage changes to reds and purples. A taller majestic variety.

H&S: 1.5m x 1m.

A new introduction with vibrant bright yellow-green foliage, contrasts with the other coloured varieties.

Does not scorch in full sun.

H&S: 60cm x 60cm.

Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’

A compact, evergreen shrub with bronzy young foliage and white flowers in summer, sometimes followed by berries. Lovely orange-red autumn colour.

H&S: 1.2m x 1m.

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PTMD

New

to Coolings

We are delighted to introduce a new range of chic and stylish garden and home accessories from the premium brand PTMD, which will be arriving in store from early September.

Based in Holland, PTMD are highly successful in the European market and are now beginning to arrive in the UK.

Their stylists travel the world to ethically source some of the most unique products.

They also collaborate with professional artists to create the collection ranging from pots and vases to clocks and mirrors.

If you are interested in making a dramatic statement with your garden or home, then you may find this sophisticated and elegant range to be the answer to your needs.

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Pictures are for illustrative purpose only. We may not stock the complete range shown here.

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Bird

The Tit Family

These are small colourful birds of blue, yellow, white and green. Their natural habitat is woodlands, hedgerows, parks and gardens.

They like caterpillars, insects, seeds and nuts. I find Tom Chambers Nice Nuts are particularly popular with them. They are a bird that likes to cling, so a Jacobi Jayne RingPull Pro Peanut Feeder would be suitable.

Attraction Words by

Sandra Califano

This is the time of year when birds rely upon us most to feed them. Providing birds with supplementary food will bring them closer for you to marvel at their fascinating behaviour and wonderful colours. It will also reward them for sharing their lives with you.

Feeding birds is also a great way to enthuse children about wildlife.

Supplementary feeding can’t provide all the natural proteins and vitamins that adult and young birds need, so it’s important

to create and manage your garden to provide a source of natural foods as well, through well-managed lawns, shrubs and flowerbeds.

If you provide both natural and supplementary food, your garden will be visited year-round by a host of different birds. However, you may want to attract a particular species of bird, so what should you provide to encourage them? Here are some ideas to attract the following birds:

... Providing birds with supplementary food will bring them closer ...

Tom Chambers Slate Roof Multi-Nester

Tom Chambers Nice Nuts

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Jacobi Jayne Ring-Pull Pro Peanut Feeder F RO M C O O L I N G S

Jacobi Jayne Pine Nest Box

Jacobi Ring Pull Pro Niger Seed Feeder

If you would like to encourage them to nest, then use a box with a 26mm hole for most Tits and 28mm for the Great Tit. These should be sited in a north to east direction so they avoid the worst rain and heat from the sun. If you tilt the box slightly forward, the rain will bounce off the roof rather than go into the box. The Jacobi Jayne Pine Nest Box 26mm hole would be ideal.

Robins

Males and females are identical, with their familiar red breasts. The young are brown with golden brown mottling. Although they appear friendly to us, they can be quite aggressive to other birds and are territorial.

They can be found all over the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, parks and gardens.

These cheeky birds are quite tame and are often seen nearby if you are gardening, in the hope of a tasty morsel. They like worms, seeds, fruit and insects. The Tom Chambers Rockin’ Robin Feast is perfect for their soft bills. They are ground feeding birds, so

The Tom Chambers Rockin’ Robin Feast

a Tom Chambers Ground Feeder is ideal for them.

The Robin likes an open fronted nest box and the Tom Chambers Slate Roof Multi-Nester Tom Chambers Ground Feeder is a good choice because you also get 28mm and 32mm hole panels which can be added if a robin doesn’t use the box, to encourage other species of birds instead.

Goldfinch

A highly coloured Finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have a delightful twittering song and call. Their long fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter many UK Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain. Their habitat is scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants. They like orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons.

They feed on seeds and insects in summer but are partial to niger seeds. Tom Chambers Nyjer Nibbles is perfect, but as these seeds are so small and tend to fall out of a normal seed feeder, a dedicated niger feeder such as Jacobi Ring Pull Pro Niger Seed Feeder is a better option. You could use a bird station to hang the feeders from, such as the Tom Chambers Classic Bird Station.

Classic Bird Station F RO M C O O L I N G S

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Autumn Words by

tidy up

Andy Daly

As the long summer days draw to a close and it feels like your garden is slowing down, there are still plenty of useful tasks to do so you can carry on enjoying your garden for the remainder of this year and to prepare for the next.

To help keep your lawn in tip-top shape, make sure you rake up leaves regularly and ‘save your back’ whilst collecting them using some long-handled leaf grabs. This will help to prevent waterlogging of your lawn, a common cause of moss, and stop your grass from going yellow due to lack of light. If the weather is mild, you can continue to mow your lawn right up until November. Using EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care or Scotts Autumn Lawn Builder from September to mid-November will help to stimulate root growth and toughen up your grass to see it through the winter.

Sweeping your patio or paths for fallen leaves will help to prevent slip hazards, as well as eliminating a perfect home for slugs and snails. You should continue to use your preferred anti-slug strategy for your borders, such as Neudorff Sluggo, to prevent them breeding over the winter ready to attack your spring seedlings.

Choosing an outdoor storage solution for your garden will not only help to neaten it up but also to protect your treasured garden 24

F RO M C O O L I N G S

possessions from the British weather. It’s a good idea to think about the positioning and size of the storage before purchase, ideally located on a path to prevent muddy feet walking back into the house and not so large that it dominates an area of your garden.

You can hide those unsightly wheelie bins in our small garden shed, which is available in mocha/chocolate to stylishly compliment your garden. An ideal solution for your tools and gardening accessories would be our heavy duty tall cabinet with four shelves and a vertical partition.

Although not everyone’s idea of fun, having a good clean of your patio and paths now will make light work of it for spring next year. To make the job even easier use Hozelock’s ‘small & mighty’ Pico Pressure Washer which is available with a patio cleaner. It will not only help to get rid of the dirt and grime but also the moss or weeds growing in between your paving slabs.

Hozelock Pico Pressure Washer - £179.99

EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care 100m2 - £9.99

EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care 360m2 - £24.99

Small Garden Shed / Wheelie Bin - £189

Neudorff Sluggo Slug and Snail Killer 800g - £6.99

Scotts Autumn Lawn Builder 100m2 - £11.99

Heavy Duty Tall Cabinet £119

Worth Gardening Long Handled Leaf Grabbers - £19.99

F RO M C O O L I N G S

25

Berry Beautiful Words by

Skimmia ‘Pabella’

A fantastic self-fertile introduction that makes a lovely compact shrub and is ideally grown in a pot in ericaceous compost. Packed with glossy red berries through autumn and winter.

Mark Reeve

An attractive feature of some plants are the ornamental berries that are produced in autumn.

These are both a welcome splash of autumnal interest and, as the winter progresses, often provide an important food source for birds. Here we give you our pick of the best plants to grow for beautiful berries!

Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ Pyracantha ‘Golden Charmer’

Pernettya mucronata

Cotoneaster dammeri

Hypericum ‘Magical Series’

Perfect shrubs to grow against a wall or fence, producing a curtain of colourful berries as the season progresses.

Amazing evergreen ground cover shrub perfect for trailing over walls to hide brickwork. Studded with small red berries in autumn.

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This beauty has iridescent pearly purple berries in autumn. Plant in pairs for best displays.

Stunning colourful berries are a real eyecatcher. Requires acidic soil and a male plant for cross-pollination.

These attractive dwarf shrubs have yellow flowers in summer followed by masses of attractive berries in shades of red, yellow or white.

Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’ This classy Viburnum has lovely white flowers in spring followed by beautiful clusters of red berries.

Cotoneaster lacteus

Top choice shrub for attracting birds to your garden, this strong growing variety is both ornamental and beneficial to wildlife.

F RO M C O O L I N G S

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Holidays with Coolings

New!

Why not experience something different with Coolings.

We have a fantastic selection of holidays for 2018.

Bring life to

your home

Wonderwall Spring in the Isles of Scilly Fri 18 May - Thu 24 May 2018

From

£1099 per person*

Great Gardens of Cornwall Sun 17 Jun - Thu 21 Jun 2018

From

£959 per person*

3 for

£30

Wonderwall is a great way of bringing life to vertical areas inside and outside the home.

The system is very easy to install and maintain with its handy locking design and self-watering system.

The compartments are designed to take 1 litre pots, which means you can keep the colour going 365 days a year, with a fantastic range of summer and autumn bedding as well as our hardy evergreen ferns.

Wonderwall can be used in many different arrangements to suit space and budget.

A single compartment is £12, 3 for £30 or 1 metre squared (14 units) for £110.

Spectacular French Gardens Thu 13 Sep - Mon 17 Sep 2018

From

£989 per person*

Tuscan Treasures Tour Thu 4 Oct - Wed 10 Oct 2018

From

£999 per person*

You may have seen our own Wonderwall now over the new front entrance to Coolings, perhaps take a look up at the vertical wall next time you visit!

To find out more about any of our holidays see www.coolings.co.uk, call 01959 532269 or pick up our Events & Excursions brochure in store. *Early Bird rate available until 24.12.17. Flights not included.

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F RO M C O O L I N G S

Perfect partners for your own Wonderwall

Violas F RO M C O O L I N G S

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• RHS Level Qualifications • Garden Design • Beginner or more advanced • Daytime and evening options With gardening and horticultural courses covering a broad range of topics and abilities,

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Meet our lecturers on 7th September interests and time commitments.

or see our website for more details on all our courses

Visit Us...

Coolings Garden Centre Rushmore Hill Knockholt Sevenoaks Kent TN14 7NN T: 01959 532269 E: rushmorehill@coolings.co.uk W: www.coolings.co.uk

Opening Times Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 4.30pm

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Coolings Family is promoted by Coolings Nurseries Ltd.The use of all Coolings Family benefits are bound by our terms and conditions available on www.coolings.co.uk or by request.