Garden And Gardener

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Archive for the 'Crocus' Category

New products at Crocus

Thursday, April 2nd, 2015

Crocus just added these new products

Cornus Venus  ('Kn30-8') (PBR) (flowering dogwood)

Cornus Venus (‘Kn30-8’) (PBR) (flowering dogwood) £99.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to acid soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May to June Hardiness: fully hardy Recently hybridised in the US by Dr. E Orton, this new dogwood is the result of crossing Cornus nuttallii and Cornus kousa var. chinensis. The result is a beautiful small tree that is very tough and undemanding, has good drought tolerance and a high resistance to diseases. Its most striking feature however is the size of its creamy white bracts, which appear for several weeks from mid to late May. These are extremely large and can grow up to 15cm across, which creates a spectacular show, especially as they are usually produced in large numbers once the plant has become established. On more mature plants, these ‘flowers’ may be followed by large, strawberry-like fruits. This tree has the added bonus of providing spectacular autumn colour, when the large, glossy green leaves take on rich shades of yellow, orange and purple. Its compact habit and many interesting features make it a stunning focal point in a smaller garden. Garden care: Incorporate a good amount of well-rotted leafmould when planting. Requires minimal pruning.

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Price reductions at Crocus

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

Crocus reduced the price on this product today

Rhododendron 'Klondyke' (deciduous azalea)

Rhododendron ‘Klondyke’ (deciduous azalea) was £19.99 now £14.99
Position: partial shade Soil: moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil or ericaceous compost Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May Flower colour: orange Other features: looks stunning planted ‘en masse’ Hardiness: fully hardy Glorious trusses of glowing, golden-orange, funnel shaped flowers in late spring , opening from coppery-red buds, and medium sized, mid-green leaves. This deciduous azalea looks stunning planted ‘en masse’ in a sunny shrub border with humus-rich, acid soil. Winter flowering shrubs are good companions, providing interest after it has lost its beautiful autumn leaves. Garden care: Avoid planting too deeply. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of leaf mould around the base of the plant each spring.

New products at Crocus

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

Crocus just added this new item

Self-watering window box

Self-watering window box £19.99
These picket fence planters are great for creating a vintage look to your windowsills are available in a number of colours. Made from plastic and comple te with self-watering tray these are great for sun drenched and hard to access windowsills. Measurements: Water capacity: 3 litres Soil capacity: 7 litres Wide: 50cm, Deep: 22cm, High: 19cm

Price reductions at Crocus

Monday, March 30th, 2015

We've found a reduced price today on this item at Crocus

Sedum 'Blue Pearl'  (Sunsparkler Series) (PBR) (stonecrop)

Sedum ‘Blue Pearl’ (Sunsparkler Series) (PBR) (stonecrop) was £7.99 now £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: August to September Hardiness: fully hardy The colour of the fleshy foliage is reason enough to grow this drought-tolerant sun-lover, as it is a dusky shade of purple that intensifies as the summer progresses, providing a beautiful contrast to silvers and pinks. This plant is also valuable though for its long flowering season, producing small clusters of bright pink blooms, which are irrisistable to butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects. A great little plant for the front of the border or pot. Garden care: Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. Once established, sedums can have a tendency to flop leaving an open and unsightly centre, especially in fertile soil. One technique to help prevent this is the ‘Chelsea chop’. During the last week of May (Chelsea Flower Show week), cut one in every three stems back to the ground. This will produce plants that are less lush and flower slightly later.

Price reductions at Crocus

Sunday, March 29th, 2015

Crocus has cut the price of these products

potato 'Casablanca' (PBR) (potato - first early, Scottish basic seed potato)

potato ‘Casablanca’ (PBR) (potato – first early, Scottish basic seed potato) was £2.49 now £1.24
These come in a ‘taster’ pack of 5 tubers. Position: sun-partial shade Soil: fertile, well drained Rate of growth: fast-growing Harvesting period: June to July Hardiness: protect tubers from frost A new, multi-purpose first early potato with a smooth white skin, shallow eyes and a creamy flesh. It is a handsome potato, that is rapidly becoming the exhibitors favourite, while chefs are lapping it up because it is a dream to chip, bake or boil. It shows an excellent resistance to blackleg and it has been said that it can produce an edible crop just 62 days after planting. Garden care: As soon as the potato tubers have been delivered you should unpack them and start the chitting (sprouting) process. Place them in single layer in a seed tray without compost and leave in a light, cool area protected from frost. This can be started about six weeks before you intend to plant them. Early varieties can be planted out under frost fleece protection, but the later varieties should be planted after the worst frosts have passed in your area – this is generally mid March to mid April. Dig a trench 8 – 13cm (3 – 5in) deep adding a general purpose fertiliser to the bottom of the trench. Plant the potato tubers in the trenches about 30cm (12in) apart, being careful not to knock the shoots off the tubers, and keeping the shoots facing upwards. Then lightly cover with soil. As the plants get to around 20cm (8in) tall you need to bank up the soil around the plant, so the soil covers the bottom two thirds of the plant. Watering your plants well will help improve crop yield and discourage potato scab.

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New products at Crocus

Sunday, March 29th, 2015

Crocus has these new lines today

Dancook 5200 charcoal barbecue

Dancook 5200 charcoal barbecue £89.99
This barbecue is perfect for those alfresco meal times. With a clean, contemporary look, this barbeque is sure to fit into any style of garden seamlessly. Made from anthracite enamel with teflon and featuring two sidetables, it is hard waring and practical. Also supplied with a 6mm chromium plated grid which can be adjusted to four positions for the optimum cooking level. Measurements: Height: 91cm Width: 110cm Depth: 41cm

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New products at Crocus

Saturday, March 28th, 2015

Crocus has these new items today

Streptocarpus Collection (cape primrose collection)

Streptocarpus Collection (cape primrose collection) £34.99
Position: partial shade Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil or fibre-based compost if grown indoors Rate of growth: average Flowering period: usually throughout the year Hardiness: tender (will need to be over-wintered indoors, or in a shaded greenhouse) Grown for their showy flowers, which come in a wide range of colours, these tender perennials make superb houseplants. They will flower from mid-spring to mid-autumn and tend to bloom more prolifically when slightly pot-bound. Mainly originating from woodland, rocky slopes and grassland in southern Africa, they require a frost-free position with filtered sun. Water regularly during the growing season, allowing the compost to get a little dry in-between, during this time they should also be fed with a high potash fertiliser. Overwinter in a shaded greenhouse, or indoors on an south or west-facing windowsill, watering less often. Repot each spring into a slightly larger, shallow pot filled with fibre based compost. They can also be used as summer bedding, grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. In this collection you will receive one of each of the following varieties. Streptocarpus ‘D S Horus’: Strong stems support the giant-sized, slightly ruffled flowers that open a rich yellow, but fade to a soft pink as they age. Height: 40cm. Streptocarpus ‘Falling Stars’: Dainty sky blue flowers appear in profusion putting on a really showy display. Hailed as ‘one of our best’ by the breeder Dibleys, it is ear;y flowering and easy to grow. Height: 30cm. Streptocarpus ‘Scarlett’: Masses of vibrant scarlet flowers, each with a darker plum eye top the stems that rise above mid-green foliage. Height: 30cm. Streptocarpus ‘Marion’: New for 2015, this white and blue-flowering sport (of ‘Katie’) has an exceptionally long flowering season and a neat and tidy habit. Height: 40cm. Streptocarpus ‘Caitlin’: Hairy wrinkled leaves form a neat basal rosette, which is topped with an abundance of upright branching stems bearing two-tone pink flowers. Height: 40cm. Streptocarpus ‘Supernova’: Small bicoloured sky-blue and deep purple flowers appear in large numbers for up to 10 months of the year, making this a real showstopper. Height: 30cm. Garden care: Water regularly during the growing season, allowing the compost to get a litt

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Price reductions at Crocus

Friday, March 27th, 2015

Reduced price on products today at Crocus

Allium sphaerocephalon (round-headed leek / round-headed garlic)

Allium sphaerocephalon (round-headed leek / round-headed garlic) was £8.99 now £6.74
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to August Hardiness: fully hardy Small, egg-shaped, claret-coloured flowerheads appear like drumsticks on tall, slender stems above strap-like, mid-green leaves in mid- to late summer. Planted en-masse in a border in full sun, these diminutive claret flowers look great emerging from a screen of foliage, or against a backdrop of ornamental grasses. They gently fade as summer comes to a close. Garden care: Avoid excessive mositure from late summer when dormant.

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New products at Crocus

Friday, March 27th, 2015

Crocus has these new items today

Folding low metal chair

Folding low metal chair £139.99
Our new italian metal furniture range is made from the highest quality steel with a weather-resistant finish meaning the furniture can be left outdoors all year round. The finish is completed in four seperate process to ensure the best quality and longevity. The final process is the painted powder coating in one of our selected colours, either bronze or green, which is then baked at high temperatures resulting in a highly weather-resistant protective finish. Measurements: Height: 45cm Length: 55cm Width: 38cm Listed below are other items in the folding low metal range.

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New products at Crocus

Thursday, March 26th, 2015

Crocus just added these new products

Delphinium 'Blue Lace' (New Millennium Series) (delphinium)

Delphinium ‘Blue Lace’ (New Millennium Series) (delphinium) £7.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June and July Hardiness: fully hardy Each sky blue floret has a lavender pink flush and a light eye, so the inflorescence is very striking when fully open. Useful for providing a bold focal point in the border where they associate particularly well with Echinaceas, Iris, Paeonias and Eryngiums. Delphiniums are excellent in the mixed or herbaceous border if you want to create vertical interest, and for best effect they should be planted in odd-numbered clumps or drifts. To encourage a second flush of flowers in late summer you should cut the flowered stems back as soon as they have finished. Garden care: For best results, choose an open spot away from taller plants. Stake with bamboo canes as they start to shoot upwards in mid-spring and protect young foliage against slug and snail damage. 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.

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