New products at Crocus
by Sarah - July 26th, 2014.Filed under: Crocus, New Products.
New lines today at Crocus
Coolaroo 3.6m triangle shade sail – terracotta £44.99
As the Australians know a thing or two about the sun they’ve developed these great architectural shade sails to keep you cool this summer. Their unique shapes and flexibility means the Coolaroo Shade Sail lets you create interesting and unusual angles with it in the garden. Ideal for patio, play areas or even as a temporary car port. Size: 3.6m x 3.6 x 3.6m Features Made using Coolaroo’s famous polyester-weave fabric It blocks 90% of the sun’s dangerous UV rays Colourfast so will not rot, mildew, shrink, fray or tear Easily fixed using existing structures or attached to timber or steel poles Can be cleaned with mild detergent and water Fabric also ‘breathes’ to allow cooling air circulation The Sails are light shower resistant but not waterproof as there is small gaps in the fabric that are designed to disperse heat upwards. Edges are reinforced with polyester webbing Remains totally unaffected by moisture and natural temperature extremes Available in four colours: clockwise from top left – (swatch being updated) 5-year guarantee How To Install your Coolaroo Shade Sail Shade sails can be easily fixed from existing structures or attached to correctly installed steel or timber poles. There are a range of stainless steel fixing accessories for that professional finish. All sails come complete with a stainless steel d ring in each corner, it is recommended that a triangle sail have three pad eyes two snap hooks and one turnbuckle to tension. Fixing kit for triangle sails The importance of sun safety Kids tend to spend a lot of time playing outside and as responsible adults we need to play a key role in preventing skin damage caused by over exposure to the sun. A great way to help prevent this is to use a Coolaroo Shade Sail, which will protect you and your family from the sun’s harmful rays.
Pontederia cordata (pickerleweed) £9.99
This handsome aquatic perennial is perfect for the sunny margins of a pond. Best grown in aquatic planting baskets of fertile, loamy soil in 10- 12cm of water, the closely packed blue flowerspikes provide interest when many other marginals have finished flowering. Position: full sun Depth of water: 10-12cm (4-5in) Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to September Flower colour: blue Other features: lustrous, heart-shaped, mid-green leaves Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Contain in an aquatic planting basket lined with hessian. Before planting apply a 2.5cm (1in) top-dressing of pea shingle or gravel to prevent the top layer of the planting medium from clouding the water
Buddleja ‘Pink Delight’ (butterfly bush) £5.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to September Hardiness: fully hardy Much maligned for its habit of colonising railway sidings, buddleja can be a fabulous addition to a sunny border, with dramatic, fragrant flowers that are attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects. Pruned hard in spring, this shrub produces dense spikes of honey-scented, bright pink flowers with orange eyes throughout summer. The pointed, grey-green leaves turn butter-yellow in autumn. Garden care: Prune back hard in March, removing all of the previous year’s growth to three or four buds.
Helleborus x hybridus Harvington white speckled (Lenten rose hellebore) £4.99
Position: partial shade Soil: heavy, neutral to alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: February to April Flower colour: white with red speckles Other features: all parts of the plant cause severe discomfort if ingested; the sap may cause skin irritation Hardiness: fully hardy Pretty, pendent or outward-facing, saucer-shaped, white with red speckles flowers from February to April and leathery, deep green leaves. This is an attractive variety which is perfect as a ground cover for areas of dappled shade under deciduous trees and shrubs. Like all hellebores they prefer a heavy, neutral to alkaline soil. Garden care: Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould or organic matter to the planting hole. Cut the old leaves back down to the ground in January or February as this will show off the new emerging flowers to best effect. It will also help to get rid of foliar diseases such as Hellebore leaf spot. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in autumn and provide a top-dressing of general fertiliser each spring.
Helleborus x hybridus Harvington red (Lenten rose / hellebore) £4.99
Position: partial shade Soil: heavy, neutral to alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: February to April Other features: all parts of the plant cause severe discomfort if ingested; the sap may cause skin irritation; dark greyish-green leaves give off an unpleasant odour when crushed Hardiness: fully hardy (borderline) Nodding or outward-facing, saucer-shaped, flowers open in February in varying shades from deep pink to clear red. The flowers last for up to 3 months and the handsome evergreen foliage is leathery, deeply cut and dark green. One of the earliest flowering plants, lenten roses have most impact planted in groups at the front of a partially shady mixed border where they can be seen through windows in winter. Or try them as ground cover beneath deciduous shrubs or among spring-flowering bulbs. In former times, hellebores were planted close to cottage doors to prevent evil spirits from crossing the threshold. Garden care: Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould or organic matter to the planting hole. Cut the old leaves back down to the ground in January or February as this will show off the new emerging flowers to best effect. It will also help to get rid of foliar diseases such as Hellebore leaf spot. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in autumn and provide a top-dressing of general fertiliser each spring.
Gladiolus italicus (gladiolus bulbs) £3.99
Position: full sun Soil: moist, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May to June Hardiness: hardy (borderline) Bulb size: 8/10 An unusual, late-spring flowering bulb which produces spikes of up to 20 funnel-shaped, magenta flowers. It looks stunning planted in groups among shrubs, where it will spread freely, or for providing vivid vertical accents among silver-leaved plants. The exotic-looking flowers also make lovely cut flowers. Garden care: Plant corms 10-16cm (4-6in) deep in autumn, on a bed of sharp sand to aid drainage.