New products at Crocus
by Sarah - May 30th, 2014.Filed under: Crocus, New Products.
New products today at Crocus
De Wit spork d handle £64.99
We believe that the Spork is destined to become one of the must-have garden tools and will become an essential part of every gardener’s tool collection. In October 2008 it was voted ‘Testers’ favourite’ by ‘Which? Gardening’ magazine. In the ‘Which? Gardening’ trial the Spork was pitched against 9 other border tools by a team of professional gardeners. The trial was conducted over 4 weeks and all tools were assessed for a range of tasks: loosening and turning soil, clearing weeds and planting perennials and shrubs. Seven of the eight Which? testers would happily buy a Spork and 3 would even swap their conventional spade for one. The serrated cutting edge was sharp and easily cut through soil and small roots. The Spork is good for digging, planting and turf edging. ‘It’s an ideal compromise between a spade and a fork -I would definitely buy one said one tester. “It’s great for clay/loam soils, good for digging and turning over soil, and for breaking up compacted ground,” said another. It was light and comfortable to use thanks to the longer length handle. Source ‘Which? Gardening’ October 2008 The Spork was designed by Englishman Robert Todd but is made by De Wit in Holland. It is made from carbon steel with a special burnished finish that protects the metal and allows it to blacken with age like the tools in Edwardian times. The shaft is made from oiled, solid Ash with a traditional T handle. This makes it ideal for allotments and digging over borders. The Dutch are rightly regarded as makers of the finest gardening tools. De Wit have been around longer than anyone. They started in 1898 and the 4th generation of De Wits are now in charge of the business; one is a trained wood turner, the other trained as a blacksmith. De Wit forge their tools from carbon steel in the traditional way. Carbon Steel is naturally tougher than stainless steel and is not prone to metal fatigue. De Wit also burnish their steel. This not only helps to protect it for longer but gives it a patina that blackens it – just like traditional English tools from the Edwardian era. All De Wit tools have turned hardwood handles of oiled Ash. Ash is not only very strong but resists shock better than woods like oak or beech, which is why it was traditionally used for Axe handles. A universal spade and forking tool which penetrates like a fork, digs a spit like a spade. T
Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen’ (Japanese maple ‘Ryusen’) £49.99
Position: partial shade or full sun Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to acid soil Rate of growth: slow-growing Flowering period: April to May Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Add a top-dressing of a well-balanced fertiliser around the base of a newly planted tree in late spring and keep well watered. No routine pruning is required, just remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches in late autumn or winter when they are fully dormant.
Acer palmatum ‘Ryusen’ (Japanese maple ‘Ryusen’) £39.99
Position: partial shade or full sun Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to acid soil Rate of growth: slow-growing Flowering period: April to May Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Add a top-dressing of a well-balanced fertiliser around the base of a newly planted tree in late spring and keep well watered. No routine pruning is required, just remove any dead, damaged or crossing branches in late autumn or winter when they are fully dormant.
Agastache ‘Cotton Candy’ (PBR) (hyssop) £8.99
Position: full sun Soil: well-drained, fertile soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to October Hardiness: hardy (borderline) Garden care: Don’t cut back the faded flower-stems in until early spring, as they provide interest in the winter months. Lift and divide congested colonies in spring.
Geum ‘Lady Stratheden’ (avens) £6.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast Flowering period: May to July Hardiness: fully hardy Semi-double, vivid yellow flowers appear on arching stems from June to August ab ove rosettes of hairy, scalloped, fresh green leaves. This cheerful perennial b rightens up a sunny garden border, especially one based on ‘hot’ colours. Deadh eading the spent blooms should ensure a second flush of flowers in late summer. Garden care: Lift and divide large clumps every year in early spring or late autumn.
Geum ‘Borisii’ (avens) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: June to August Hardiness: fully hardy Brilliant, terracotta-orange, single flowers with prominent yellow stamens (4cm / 1.5 in) across are held on upright stems among rosettes of pretty, scalloped leaves from early to late summer. This vigorous perennial will quickly form a pretty carpet that looks equally at home in a cottage-style garden, a rock garden or in gravel. It needs full sun and dislikes waterlogged soil. Garden care: To prolong flowering, deadhead regularly. Lift and divide large clumps in early spring or late autumn.
Delphinium ‘Guardian White’ (Guardian Series) (delphinium) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June and July Hardiness: fully hardy Standing proud amongst a densely planted herbaceous border, the glowing white flowerspikes add vertical interest with their distinctly upright habit. The ‘Guardian’ delphiniums are fast becoming the growers favourite, as they are known to produce a uniform display earlier in the year than many other types. Garden care: Protect young foliage against slug and snail damage in spring. Stake with bamboo canes in mid-spring, before the flowers appear. During the growing season, apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks and wearing gloves cut back the faded flower-stems to a flowering side-shoot to encourage repeat flowering. At the end of autumn cut back and compost the faded flower-stems.
Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais’ (loosestrife) £5.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: May to September Hardiness: fully hardy Striking, burgundy flower spikes on long slender stems flower continuously from May to September. The attractive, crinkled, rosettes of silver-green foliage are an excellent foil for the flowers, which are also highly attractive to butterflies. A versatile plant that spreads slowly and performs best in a moist border in sun or partial shade, or it can be grown in a pot on the patio. It makes an excellent cut flower, too. Garden care: Incorporate lots of organic matter when planting. Do not allow to dry out. Apply a generous 5-7cm mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plants in spring and lift and divide congested colonies.
Digitalis purpurea ‘Dalmatian Rose’ (Dalmatian Series) (foxglove) £4.99
Position: partial shade Soil: humus-rich soil Rate of growth: average to fast Flowering period: June to July Hardiness: fully hardy A breakthrough in breeding has produced these new ‘Dalmatian’ foxgloves, which will usually flower in their first year. This purple flowered cultivar forms tidy clumps of foliage, but it is for the wonderful spires of thimble-like flowers that open upwards from the base of the spike in summer, that it is best-loved. Garden care:Ensure that the soil is kept moist in summer. After flowering, cut back the flowered spikes to encourage more sideshoots. Cut down to the ground after flowering. Apply a generous 5-7 cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the plant in early spring. These plants are mainly short-lived perennials, although if happy they will produce plenty of new sideshoots and self-seed freely.