Garden And Gardener

Everything for the Gardener and their Garden

New products at Crocus

by Sarah - March 18th, 2010.
Filed under: Crocus, New Products.

New lines today at Crocus

the-handy-3.5hp-hobby-petrol-cultivator
the-handy-3.5hp-hobby-petrol-cultivator £249.99
3.5 HP Briggs and Stratton Engine petrol cultivator for making light work of cultivating the garden3.5HP Briggs and Stratton EngineForward Drive25cm Tilling Depth38cm Tilling WidthTines are Bolted (stronger than welded tines)Transport WheelGuide Rod – Depth GaugeDimensions 1210x510x1020 mmWeight 29 kgFree Oil is supplied with this machine1 year manufacturer’s warrantyHere are a few pointers regarding the machinery part of your order.Machinery cannot be left without a signature, so you will need to sign for deliveryIf you can’t be there, talk nicely to your neighbour and then when you place your order remember to say ‘please leave with neighbour if not in’, so we know what to doMachinery will be easy to assemble (if not already assembled) and will come with an owner’s manual or instruction booklet

oak-whiskey-barrel-water-butt
oak-whiskey-barrel-water-butt £109.99
An attractive water butt made from an ex-distillery, 181 litre (40 gallon) oak barrel.Teetotallers please note: there is a real scotch whiskey smell in the barrel so you may wish to wash it out before first use ! These barrels may have coloured paint on the top this is a feature of these ex-distillery barrels. we would advise this can be painted over using a black gloss paint if required to make it look more natural in the garden. When positioning your barrel ensure you use a brick or paving slab base to enable you to fill watering cans from the tap. It is best to site the barrel in a shaded position as this will give the barrel a longer life. During a hot summer you should never fully empty the barrel so the timber does not shrink and leak.A 83mm hole has been cut in the top to fit most standard sized drain pipes (see instructions at bottom if you want to fit a rain diverter). A 20mm hole has been cut 16cm from the base ready to fit a standard brass tap (simply screw the tap into the wood and it will be nice and tight). This barrel has been photographed with a decorative tap (not included).Fitting a rain diverter It can be done! The hole for the rain diverter needs to be 12cm from the top due to the metal banding on the barrel. This means that your water butt will never fill to the top! To cut 25mm hole – use a hole saw on an arbour that fits a normal electric drill.  25mm Hole Saw and Arbour.   The ‘elbow’ of the rain diverter can then be screwed into this hole and this will normally give a watertight fit (the plastic nut supplied is not required) – if it doesn’t fit – a little plumbers PTFE tape can help.N.B. This water butt is approximately 90cm tall, 200cm girth and 60cm in diameter, and therefore will not fit through a standard single doorway easily.

the-handy-hand-mower-roller-30cm-12″ £59.99
310mm (12″) 5 cylinder bladeAdjustable cutting height 13-23.5mmLarge Rear roller * Only the Large roller gives the Classic Lawn Stipes!Front grass collection 18 Litre Grass boxSafe & eco friendlyHere are a few pointers regarding the machinery part of your order.Machinery cannot be left without a signature, so you will need to sign for deliveryIf you can’t be there, talk nicely to your neighbour and then when you place your order remember to say ‘please leave with neighbour if not in’, so we know what to doMachinery will be easy to assemble (if not already assembled) and will come with an owner’s manual or instruction bookletAny faults occuring within 28 days of delivery will be repaired by an authorised service agent
sevenbark
sevenbark £29.99
Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moist, well-drained, moderately fertile, humus-rich soilRate of growth: average Flowering period: July to SeptemberHardiness: fully hardyOne of the loveliest hydrangeas, this has huge globes of tightly packed, creamy white bracts that look like giant snowballs in late summer. As autumn progresses, the blowsy flowerheads fade to pale lime and the dark green, pointed leaves turn soft yellow. It has an upright habit and makes a breathtaking feature in a wide, partly shady border, particularly when planted in groups or with other hydrangeas. The flowerheads are a popular choice for dried flower arrangements. Contact with the foliage may aggrevate skin allergies.Garden care: Hydrangeas do not like to dry out. In dry weather, soak the roots with a hose and the plant will usually recover. Remove faded flowerheads in spring after the danger of frosts, cutting back the flowered stems to a strong pair of buds. Take out misplaced or diseased shoots. Mulch young plants with a well-rotted manure or compost in spring. Once established, remove a quarter to a third of the shoots to the base of the plant.
lemon
lemon £21.99
Position: a sunny patio outside, or bright conservatory in winterSoil: moist but well-drained soil. John Innes No2 compost should be used when potting upRate of growth: averageFlowering period: April to SeptemberFlower colour: whiteOther features: exceptionally flavoured lemons and deliciously scented flowers.Hardiness: tender (needs winter protection) A remarkable, heavy-cropping, little tree with glossy, dark green leaves and smooth-skinned, bright golden fruit with exceptional flavour. This clever variety is unique in that it keeps on producing flowers from spring to autumn, so it is possible to have flowers, small, un-ripened fruit as well as ready-to-pick lemons on the plant at the same time. One of the hardiest lemon trees available, it can be grown on a sunny patio in summer, but will need an unheated conservatory or greenhouse to over-winter. The plants may not arrive with fully developed lemons, but they are top-notch, quality plants.Garden care: Ideally grow in a pot which is easily moved from terrace to conservatory, in soil-based compost. Feed every two weeks with a special citrus fertiliser (there is one for summer and another for winter), and pot on or top-dress plants in late winter. Move outside after the risk of frost has passed to a sunny, sheltered patio.
hydrangea
hydrangea £14.99
Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moist, well-drained, moderately fertile, humus-rich soilRate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: August to September Flower colour: creamy-white turning pink with ageOther features: the flower-heads make excellent dried flower arrangementsHardiness: fully hardyDense trusses of creamy-white flowers open from the base of the spike from midsummer to early autumn and gradually become pinker as they age. Ideal for adding late colour to the shrub border.Garden care:To enhance flowering prune hard in early spring, cutting back the previous season’s shoots to within a few buds of the permanent, woody framework of the plant.
regal lily
regal lily £6.99
Position: full sunSoil: well-drained, including chalk, enriched with leaf mould, or a loam-based potting compost such as John Innes no. 2Rate of growth: average Flowering period: JulyHardiness: fully hardyOne of the most popular varieties of lily, and its not hard to see why. The huge trumpet-shaped white flowers are flushed with pink, smell divine and provide great wafts of scent throughout the garden when they are open. Alternatively bring them inside as cut flowers and they will fill your home with their heady perfume. Lilies are one of the all time favourite summer-flowering bulbs as they will look superb in any garden scheme. Be warned, lilies are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases, including lily beetle, and as such can be high maintenance and may need replacing regularly. The RSPCA have recently reported that all parts of lilies can be fatal to cats, including the flower, leaves and pollen. For more information, click here.Garden care: Lilies are best planted in autumn when the bulbs are still plump, but they can still be planted in spring. Between August and March, choose a sunny spot where the plant can keep its feet in the shade. Plant 15-20cm (6-8in) deep in a well-drained soil, enriched with well-rotted organic matter or leaf mould, using a marker to minimise any unnecessary disturbance. Stake with ring stakes or bamboo canes in spring before the flowers appear. Deadhead the faded blooms and cut the stems back to ground level at the end of autumn.
wild bleeding heart
wild bleeding heart £6.99
Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moist, humus-rich, preferably neutral to slightly alkalineRate of growth: averageFlowering period: May to AugustHardiness: fully hardyA fast-growing, dwarf perennial with arching stems of creamy white, heart-shaped flowers from late spring to late summer. The blue-green, fern-like foliage forms a soft mound, and is a lovely foil to other plants. Easy to grow,it looks great planted en masse as a groundcover at the front of a shady border or as part of a cottage garden scheme. Dicentras are northern hemisphere plants, growing from Asia to North America. In their natural habitat they are found in moist soils in the cool margins of woodlands.Garden care: Dicentras are happy in any good garden soil that is fertile but not too heavy. Enrich the soil with plenty of leaf mould before planting and apply a mulch in autumn, too. A light fertilising in March will help enormously.
sweet rocket
sweet rocket £5.99
Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: fertile, moist, well-drainedRate of Growth: averageFlowering period: May to JuneHardiness: fully hardyGorgeously scented pure white flowers are held above rosettes of dark green leaves. This is a biennial or short-lived perennial that readily self-seeds itself, and often comes true from seed, so it is perfect for naturising in a wildlife garden. Like all sweet rockets it is highly attractive to bees and other beneficial insects, and the fragrant flowers perfume the air in late spring and early summer evenings.Garden care: Replace plants every two to three years as flowering diminishes with age. Plants will self-seed freely.
alpine strawberry - woodland
alpine strawberry – woodland £5.99
Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: any soilRate of growth: fast-growingFlowering period: MayFlower colour: whiteOther features: makes a useful groundcoverHardiness: fully hardyA great little plant, which will produce edible strawberries in summer provided they have a sunny spot. Unfortunately though the small fruits are not as sweet and full of flavour as their closely relatated, cultivated varieties. Nevertheless, this is a wonderful groundcovering plant with bright green, 3-palmate leaves that remain on the plant throughout the year, except in very harsh winters. A lovely addition to the edge of a cottage garden bed, or for lining an open, woodland walkway.Garden care:Cut off runners from the parent plant and transplant the new plantlets to increase stock.