Special Feature: Gardening ‘21

Not being able to host last year’s Bord Bia Bloom festival in the physical sense was obviously a disappointment for organisers, Bord Bia, and faithful attendees alike. The annual event brings massive benefits to the gardening industry as we see from research year-on-year. Yet the cloud of Covid was not without its silverlining, points out manager, Gary Graham, as interest in gardening received a major shot in the arm in 2020, resulting from people’s confinement in their homes.

That the past eleven months has been a strange period of time goes without saying but for gardening and amenity horticulture in general, lockdowns and home confinements have not been without their ‘advantages ‘where garden sales are concerned.

Massive interest Bloom show manager Gary Graham notes that a lot of people either rediscovered or discovered their gardens for the first time during 2020. We all hope this trend will continue in ’21.

Figures have cited an impressive figure in the region of 164,000 new ‘gardening households’ which seems a massive amount by any measure.

But, it seems, there has been a massive interest across all levels of gardening.

This ranges from first-time gardeners to those who had perhaps neglected their gardens for a while but got stuck back in with gusto, right through to the far end – the higher end – of the spectrum where, ‘talking to some of the top garden designers they have never been busier’, notes Gary.

Hardware & Homestyle can attest to the truth of this having, of late, spoken to a number of professionals who have been booked out for months in advance.

As Gary Graham notes: ‘Many people looked at their gardens and said: “I can’t go on a holiday and I’m going to be spending more time here”.’ This realisation clearly lead to more investment in the garden as well as indoors.

Good news Gary Graham believes this is all clearly good news for the industry. ‘Like any other industry you are trying to get people to sample it, to try it and hopefully they will like it,’ he says.

Events like those of the past year can seem to fast-track the process.

‘There was less to spend money on, so cooking DIY and gardening were areas that gained massively,’ Gary observes.

‘Last year was a great year for gardening. In the spring of 2020 we had that good weather with the first lock down of course.’

Decent weather, time at home and maybe, for some but not all of course, a little cash at hand; these coming together were great for gardening.

‘In fact, people didn’t have to spend a lot of money,’ notes Gary. And this is important when it comes to the accessibility of this pursuit.

‘You can take on as little or as much as you want,’ he says.

Retailers and Suppliers Meanwhile, retailers and suppliers rose to the occasion in 2020 of course. ‘A lot of stores that never did a lot of gardening got into it and that was great,’ says Gary.

‘A lot of those retailers did quite well.

As Gary sees it: the more places that consumers see plants and gardening, the more chances for them to do gardening and spend money in the area.

Like many observers Gary sees that what Covid has done is to accelerate things such as changes that are already going on.

Take grow-your-own, for example. ‘A lot of younger families might not be into gardening in a massive way but want to get kids to understand where food comes from and to experience the satisfaction and the buzz of growing some food.

‘That has been massive,’ notes Gary. ‘It has been accelerated but it is not new however.’

Last year garden decoration was a big area too. This is often about the instant gratification – where people spend money for instant impact and results.

Different last year was perhaps that people went into the gardening further than they had done before as regards the thought that may have been put into outside spaces.

For example, in creating dining spaces and tackling spaces that could perhaps be used to greater effect.

Eating In 2020, people were eating outside more and, whereas before, some would have never thought of making a serious investment in a paved area, for example, Gary notes that a lot of work like that happened last year.

Also, more money gets spent on furniture and other aspects in times like these. Things we have been seeing at the higher end for some years now – for example, in dining and cooking areas.

‘Even at entry level we have seen this,’ says Gary.

‘People are saying: “We want somewhere more comfortable to sit. We are spending more time here”.’

Bloom 21 At the time of speaking to Gary there are a few scenarios for Bloom 21, the preferred being the physical show of course.

If they are having a physical show it will be one that has been reshaped or re-imagined to take account of developments around the pandemic.

‘It takes a big team and a big investment to make Bloom happen’, says Gary. And clearly all are working hard to realise the next iteration of the event.

Watch this space or contact Bord bia for the latest.

In our last issue we looked at what had been trending outdoors-wise when it came to the ‘Room Outside’. We did this through the lens of the sadly, Covid-19-affected, spoga+gafa event, 2020. What we found was an emphasis on sustainability and green themes – along with the continued march of technology in the garden and the move to create safe havens in uncertain times.

‘Sustainable Gardens’. This was a key theme for spoga+gafa last year. Or rather, it was to be a key theme.

Sadly Covid-19 made its unwelcome mark here – preventing the show going ahead in 2020 – as it did with many others.

Yet trends and themes had begun to emerge in the run up to the show that were, without doubt, extremely enlightening.

For starters, sustainable products were to be under the spotlight, alongside ‘value-adding ideas for the green industry’.

Special lectures and product shows were the focus of planning here along with theme-specific tours.

Unwind, relax, retreat. The room outside is seen as a place of relaxation, escape, unwinding. This is increasingly so at times of uncertainty as we’ve seen over the past year.

Garden work offers a distraction and also helps people to come to rest. Materials including furniture for the space outside are now being designed with an eye to interior furnishings in this regard.

Comfort, durability, sustainability and aesthetics combine in matching accessories and furniture items.

At the smaller end of the scale, you don’t even have to have a garden to take part in the green revolution.Interior growing continues to increase in popularity.

Be sustainable. This is a huge trend that has been significant for some time now.

For example, that garden furniture, those outdoor carpets or those pots often contain plastic from the oceans and PET bottles.

Wood from sustainably managed forests is frequently used for furniture production.

Gardening naturally. We might say that ‘back to nature’ was the motto in many outdoor areas in the run up to spogo+gafa.

What does it look like?

Havens of plants and shrubs for bees, soils and fertilisers made of regional raw materials ensuring sustainable growth, bio-degradable materials where suitable, new coatings made of organic materials for grills and outdoor kitchens that are free from toxic materials.

The disposable grill made of natural and bio-degradable materials such as bamboo and lava-stone is a nice idea here.

Discover simplicity. Another trend is also characterised by the longing for proximity to nature.

Conscious lifestyles are promoting the desire for authentic materials and simple design.

Designers are inspired by organic shapes and colours from the world of nature.

Materials like wood, rattan or bamboo underline connections to the natural environment.

Outdoor kitchens show variety. The manufacturers are also accommodating an increasing desire for diversity. In this way, the equipment of recent times is on a par with that of a small fitted kitchen.

Individual cooking and preparation modules can be individually compiled following the modular principle.

Instead of being limited down to gas or charcoal, different cooking appliances can be installed. And the possibilities are being extended.

The classic stainless-steel look of outdoor kitchens is being enhanced with cladding made of teak and textiles as well as worktops made of terrazzo.

BBQ is becoming more versatile. In general, diversity is called for in the BBQ section – also in extremely confined spaces.

Appliances for healthy gardening. Health is high in trend as we might expect. Keeping the 50+ age group in mind, garden work is becoming simpler and safer.

Surveys show that many hobby gardeners belong to the 70-and-over group. Hence garden appliances are becoming more user-friendly and easier to operate.

Starting systems for lawnmowers facilitate the operation, whereas ultra-quiet robotic lawnmowers take care of the work completely.

Ergonomics is no longer merely a theme for office work.

In order to relieve the shoulders and joints, the construction of the handles of the new garden appliances is being improved.

Offering ‘quality cleaning products for outside and inside the home’, Emerald Clover Ltd is a company that prides itself in providing quality products with a reliable and professional backup service to its customers. ‘If it’s not right in the bottle, then it has no place on a customer’s shelf’ – that’s the motto here!

Spring cleaning comes to mind at this time of year as always. It’s when everyone starts to prepare themselves for the longer evenings and the various jobs around the house.

One company springs to mind offering a full range of chemical products for in and around the home, with a vast array of products, some products tried and tested and some new products with most people being familiar with the Buster brand and Muss Buster, formally Moss Buster the main one that springs to mind.

‘Quality cleaning products for outside and inside the home’. This is a company that prides itself in providing quality products with reliable and professional backup services to customers.

If it’s not right in the bottle, then it has no place on a customer’s shelf: that’s the motto here.

There are a number of brands available as follows – Busters, Farmers Friend, Power Blaster, King Katering, Builders Mate, I Love Birds, I Love Dogs and finally Really Good S**t, a varied range of products that cover the Home & Hardware centre / Builder Merchants / Agricultural / Garden centers / Retail / Automotive sectors.

Quality products

The Busters offer a quality range of products that are for internal and external use and these products vary from cleaning Moss on roofs to cleaning Floors in the home Muss Buster also known as 4-in-1 is the flagship product of the Buster range today. A Fast Action 4-in-1 product, this kills Moss, Algae, Lichen and Red and Green discoloration that is on external walls. The benefits are as follows: This product can be used on Tarmacadam, Concrete, Footpaths, Kerbs, Tile and Slate roofs, patios, Decking, Greenhouse glass, headstones, PVC, pottery and walls.

Results can be seen in 90 minutes, rainproof in 180 minutes, 12 months long-lasting, no bleach or acids, fully biodegradable, as a 4-in-1 product promises value for money and gives great results and people are still buying this product today.

Weed & Muss Buster is a product formulated and used for the treatment of unwanted broad leaved weeds and Algae on Tarmacadam, Brick & Patios, Concrete Kerbs and Paths. This product can also be used around the base of Roses, Shrubs, Hedges and Trees.

Simply dilute the Weed & Muss Buster with water in a garden sprayer or watering can and ensure the weeds and algae are well sprayed – results will be seen in 48 hours.

Lawn Care

There is nothing prettier than a perfect lawn with plenty of colourful plants. This is something to take pride in and to be admired.

We have the products to make your Lawn look like that. Lawn Buster is a new product

that was launched 3 years ago.

Lawn Buster comes in liquid and granular format – the liquid version is packed 1L, 2.5L, 5L, 10L and 25L with Lawn Buster 5L once diluted at 10:1 covering 2,000sq yards.

Lawn Buster is formulated to remove Moss from your Lawn. Lawn Buster can be diluted at 10 : 1, contains Iron which will provide a rich Green lawn and rapidly treats Lawn Moss down to the root.

It will also strengthen your lawn and it will help it maintain its Green colour keeping your lawn Green and Moss free.

Lawn Buster granular is an Organo based Mineral Fertilizer that treats Moss while also feeds your lawn giving your lawn a healthy Green colour that protects your lawn against everyday use.

Lawn Buster granular is a 100% Irish product and comes in 5KG, 10KG, 20KG bags.

The main advantages with this product is it won’t blacken your lawn and there is no need to scarify your lawn once product is applied – if this product comes in contact with your Tarmacadam or Concrete it will not change the surface to red because, unlike some lawn products, it doesn’t contain Sulphate of Iron.

Other products

The company has added other products to the range including Fungi Buster, Concrete Buster, Stone Buster, Brick Buster, Drain Buster, Floor Buster, Grease Buster, Oil Buster, Glass Buster, not to mention a Tile & Shower Buster, Oven & Grill Buster and Multi-Purpose Buster Marble & Granite Buster and Leather Buster to name just a few.

These products are available in different sizes, ranging from 750ML ready-to-use trigger spray bottles to 25L concentrate packs for dilution.

‘We can blend chemicals for clients that might need something special to remove that stubborn stain.

‘A product has to do what it is supposed to do and if it doesn’t people won’t buy it – it’s that simple.’

‘You can sell any product at the start but that will not continue unless the product delivers.

‘The way our product and Brand sales have grown is proof that the Buster products are of the highest quality.

‘We have a great range of products, priced competitively and all are made in Ireland and that’s the way it will remain.’

Gardeners Friend is a new brand and it has a few products to its name – all products come in sizes ranging from 1KG – 5KG bags.

The Gardeners Friend range of products consists of Tree & Shrub Fertilizer, Sulphate of Ammonia, Sulphate of Potash, General Purpose Fertilizer and finally, Garden Lime.

Farmers Friend products are a range that cover the Agri. sector – products include Hypo-Chlorite also known as Chloris and Red Label, Aluminum Trailer Cleaner, Tractor & Trailer Cleaner, Heavy Duty Degreaser and finally Beaded Hand Cleaners.

Farmers Friend Hypo-Chlorite has several uses ranging from cleaning milk lines in dairies, water treatment and even cleaning Concrete.

This product was launched in the Autumn of 2018 and has become a product of choice for stores and end users.

‘This product has been a massive product for us in Northern Ireland and customers have already started to choose our product over well-established brands.

‘We also have a loyal customer base in the south and this is increasing as people are getting more customised to the product and the Farmers Friend brand.

‘The hardware and Agri. stores have always got behind our products and this is reflected in how our company has grown over the past ten years.

‘The support that we have received from all sectors is what really makes these products a success. ‘This has given, and will give us, more scope to develop new products and grow the company even further. ‘Without their support we wouldn’t be able to bring our products to the end user and we would like to thank these people for all their help to date.’

Phone 00353 71 96 48008 Email: sales@emeraldclover.ie

Fleetwood Paints have revamped their woodcare range offering for 2021 with Superflex Wood Paint, Fleetwood 10 Year Exterior Woodstain and updated Fleetwood Mould Resistant Decking Oil.

Full POS solution There is a full POS solution for all 3 products including real paint chips showcasing the colours on different wood textures as well as selling points for each range on aisle fins, shelf strips and shelf talkers.

The tactile nature of the boards will ensure customers can make informed decisions on purchasing the product which is right for their job.

The exponential rise of DIY in home décor in 2020 was a very much unexpected and welcome occurrence within the sector.

From interior emulsion to exterior masonry, the nation as a whole seemed to turn to painting everything including the kitchen sink!

The permissible weather for the painting season allowed homeowners to spend more time in their garden and beautify their surroundings.

From sheds, fences and pergolas to front doors and garden furniture, there was nothing left without a brush of colour or gloss.

Perfecting The Fleetwood Paints R&D team have spent the last year perfecting an ecofriendly woodcare range for budding garden designers and innovating DIYers.

One to watch in 2021 is the Fleetwood Super-FlexWood Paint with a fully tintable base range.

This premium, water-based paint is for all exterior wood, joinery and is ideal for cladding.

The R&D team have developed a Super-Flex base system to allow any colour to be mixed into this product, over 30,000 from the Fleetwood tinting system.

This self priming paint will give up to 10 years exterior protection on wood and will resist crackling, peeling and flaking.

Fleetwood Super-Flex Wood Paint is also available in 8 readymix on-trend colours including black and white.

Ideal Fleetwood 10 Year Exterior Woodstain is a specially formulated water-based woodstain that is ideal for decking.

This was designed to provide an exceptional 10-year exterior protection on all exterior hard and softwoods, and to resist flaking, peeling and blistering.

The hardwearing finish enhances the natural beauty of the wood by accentuating the grain. It is available in 6 readymix colours and in 1l and 2.5l cans.

Fleetwood Mould Resistant Decking Oil is a solvent-based oil that will provide year round protection thanks to its hardwearing formulation.

It is used to penetrate into the wood to replace the natural oils and resins lost through weathering.

Nourishing This nourishing and protecting garden decking oil is available in 4 readymix colours including the new Garden Grey.

Contact your local Fleetwood stockist or your local rep for more info on these ranges and to view the available POS solutions for order.

How often have you heard gardeners say they don’t like to wear gloves when working in the garden and in particular when planting, as they like to feel the soil?

With a lot of gloves, this is completely understandable. They tend to be bulky and cumbersome, with little dexterity and very little tactile sensitivity.

Kind to the planet

If that wasn’t bad enough, they are often made using compounds and coatings that are not only harmful to the skin, but made in a way that isn’t kind to the planet either. That is where ATG gloves differ. Made with a simple philosophy at heart…Comfort, Performance & Cleanliness, they offer the wearer the protection they need, but in a glove that is kinder to the skin and the environment.

At ATG they understand that the primary concern of any glove wearer is comfort.

The hand is made up of over 3,000 individual touch receptors and while a traditional cut and

‘The best way to maximise the empty space in your yard or garden centre is to cover it with a CWP canopy.

Specialise

‘We specialise in bespoke designs for any size area. During this time of lockdown, you can email in pictures of your space with rough measurements. Colm is happy to have a chat about your plans and offer suggestions and advice.

‘We are able to offer a 3D model of what a canopy could look like in the empty space.

‘The canopies go up quickly and can then be finished out with side walls, temporary or permanent.

Approved

‘The steel structural components are CE approved to EN1090-1:2009+A1:2011 and the roof coverings are flame retardant covers.

‘CWP Canopies – affordable and creative solutions for everyone. We want to provide you with the best solutions!’

Contact us on 046 9546007. sewn glove will offer protection to the hand, it will just inhibit its ability to move and feel what is being held.

The lack of dexterity will also mean that more force needs to be applied to hold common garden tools, increasing fatigue and strain on the hand.

ATG gloves use the latest in seamless knitting and dipping technology to deliver a second skin feel, while the super thin coating offers more grip with less force exerted, while still being extremely durable.

All ATG gloves are washed prior to packing in water that is rain harvested and treated in their own water recycling facility, meaning that their gloves truly are fresh from the pack.

They are then independently certified as skin friendly by the Skin Health Alliance, and are the only gloves for gardening to have this accreditation.

ATG gloves can all be washed between uses and are certified to retain their mechanical protection properties, meaning they last longer and need replacing less often.

Taking great care

ATG take great care in ensuring their gloves are not only kind to the skin, but gentle on the environment as well.

With a number of styles available for a variety of uses around the home and garden, ATG Gloves are available from all leading garden centres, hardware and DIY stores nationwide.