Plods Blog

I’m sure I’ve used that line before, but this year without a doubt it has more relevance. It started with an exceptional April and no sign of frost in May (so far). All the bedding plants are looking good and with no price increases on boxed bedding this year we will hopefully increase sales. After such a ferocious winter everyone seems to have the odd shrub they need to replace. We are doing our best to supply a good range of plants that will survive ‘proper’ winters. Herbacious plants appear to be the in thing at the moment and luckily we have grown a good selection of all the popular types. Prices as usual are very competetive. We produce plants, we can give you advice on what the plant does and the aspects it enjoys to be at it’s best. I class ourselves as Nurserymen even though we have to catergorise ourselves in the Garden Centre areas of phone books etc. To our regulars, I thank you for your support, and to the gardeners who have yet to discover the difference in value for money that a nursery can give, I look forward to you becoming regulars as well. Where else can you buy 20 F1 Hybrid Geraniums for only £5, 20 Bedding Begonias only £5, 48 marigolds £5, 48 Anthirhinums £5 etc., etc.,packs of Vegetable plants 20 for £2, tomato plants from only 50p, 70litres multi purpose compost £4 or 3 for £10. I could go on but instead why not call along and see what we have to offer. Also. we have now tentatively gone into the pond care market as well.
See you soon
Regards
Plod

Bouncer is the most important member of staff, he is a two year old black labrador, beautiful both in looks and nature, and he knows it !  Bouncer has a huge fan club, more people come to see him than us, and he definitely gets more spoilt than we do ! Come along and meet Bouncer ( and the rest of the staff ) you are sure to get a warm welcome.

Well, here we go again with another Festive season soon to be upon us. Some of the Non Drop trees are in and there are many beautiful specimens this year. I am very pleased with the high quality of the stock. The trees are all UK grown and were only cut last week so freshness is assured. Prices, a good six to seven foot Nordmann will cost you £37.50, eight to nine feet £45. Blue Spruce are around six foot or so and are only £15, grown on the nursery as weel. you won’t get more local than that. Next week we will be open till 8pm on Thursday and Friday.

The cold weather, although uncomfortable should do the gardens a bit of good but try and remember to keep the bird feeders full. Anything that should have been brought in to be protected if it is outside then you will probably have lost it.

See you all soon and don’t forget to wrap up warm.

Plod

Well, after my last post I got to thinking that perhaps a few of you would like to select your own tree whilst it is still growing. I have at present around 150 trees growing on the nursery which I intend to cut this Christmas, they are Picea Pungens Glauca (blueish christmas trees to you and me!) and are 6-7 feet tall. If you would like, you can select and reserve your tree, pay for it (only £20) and we will cut it when you call along anytime during December. Bring the kids; they always know which tree they want. Make sure you wear suitable footwear as my field gets a bit boggy in the wet. I must be mad offering this service but seeing little smiles makes it all worthwhile. Continue reading Pick your own Christmas Tree

For those of you who have been waiting for the hedging to arrive, wait no more!! Almost all varieties are in and look very good (as usual). Laurels – bundles of 5 for for £15. Other varieties bundles of 5 for £6, including Beech, Privet, Quickthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn etc. all 60-90cm with excellent root systems (cultivated on sandy soil). The trees will be in this Saturday and we are very pleased with the range that is available this year. It seems that the hard winter last year has improved the quality of this years offerings. Please call along to view our new stock, I am sure that once you see the quality and our prices you will not be able to resist!!. One last thing, the Christmas shop is now completed and we are waiting with bated breath for the first of the Christmas trees (yikes, must be that time again!!).
See you all soon
Plod

Well, it’s that time of the year when we re-vamp the one part of the sales house and turn it into Christmas stock. Sarah is busy sorting out the shelves etc. after my efforts were deemed ‘poor’. There’s plenty to catch the eye and hopefully tempt the customers. The bauble stand  has large price reductions with many half price or less.

As far as planting is concerned, it is not too late to put in Pansies and Polyanthus as they will still give colour during the grey days of November. Onion sets, garlic, asparagus, rhubarb etc. all are ready to put in also. For those looking for Cabbage etc. I’m afraid it’s a bit late, but never mind, a while spent in the garden clearing and preparing the veg. patch is good for the body and the soul.

Regards

Plod

Well, all the summer plants are eventually looking tired. From a commercial point of view a good frost would be welcome but it is nice to see the summer bedding giving value to the last. At present we have a very good selection of Autumn plants with hardy cyclamen priced at £1 each or six for £5(remember, after they have finished flowering plant them under hedges and shrubs where they will give pleasure for many years). Winter Pansies 24 for £5 (and I challenge any grower to have better quality than we have at present) Polyanthus 20 for £5 (F1 hybrid -Crescendo- take advantage of the Autumn sales because in the Spring the very same plants will be at least double the price).
Won’t be long before the bare root plants arrive so keep us in mind for the roses, trees, soft fruit and hedging. Remember the old saying ‘The proper time to plant hedging is when you need to wear a coat’. This weather at present is wonderful, so we are seeing sales pick up after the terrible wet spell we endured alongside the trade decimating ‘Ryder Cup’. Its a good job we have our regular customers who support us and hopefully we give our customers what they want whilst remaining competetive and enduring.
See you all soon, and don’t forget now is the best time to be preparing for the winter by cutting the evergreen hedges and planting bulbs etc. so when Spring does break you will be ahead and will enjoy the beauty that flowers can provide.
Regards
Plod

Rain, rain go away, come back another day!! Well, thats our sentiments at the moment. With the Spring at least four weeks late there is still time to plant the bare root hedging and organise your boundaries. Vegetable plants are now ready with seed potatoes a must as well. Our rhubarb crowns are particularly good this year and at only £2-50 for an established crown represent good value for money. Don’t forget though, don’t be tempted to pull the first year as this will diminish next years crop. Still a few Primulas left but not many, if you need Spring colour I suggest the winter pansies 24 in a box, £4 or 3 for £10. For those of you working in the greenhouse don’t forget to thoroughly clean it out before filling it back up. You will have better results later on. We have a good range of seeds and sundries as well. For those of you without a greenhouse, how about buying one? We have just received stock of 8′ x 6′ and 6′ x 6′, flat packed and ready to go. Look forward to seeing you all soon.
Regards
Anthony

I suppose most of us will be rather full and possibly gained a little weight. How about feeling better and improving your well being by getting out and doing those winter jobs that now need doing. Prune your fruit trees, grub out those awkward weeds that are inaccesible when shrubs are in full leaf. Consider planting a tree or two to help the local birdlife and enhance your garden. 3 year old fruit trees are only £15 and 6 to 8 feet ornamental trees are only £22. Does your hedge need attention? How about a new one? We have a large selection of traditional hedging plants which include Beech, Hazel, Thorn, etc etc. Priced at £6 for 5 plants, around 3ft high these are remarkable value. Don’t forget to keep feeding the birds as this winter weather will have a severe effect on their numbers if regular feeding is not kept up. This morning I had two Nuthatch’s on my feeder along with a good selection of little birds.
Kind Regards to you all and we’ll see you soon!
Anthony

Well, its been a busy month and almost all of the Christmas trees have sold. I am still cutting some of our own Blue Spruce as and when needed. As such the staff are having a well deserved break from Thursday 24th Dec. until 5th Jan. I on the other hand, will be opening the Nursery the day after Boxing Day in order to keep those of our regulars happy who may wish for some fresh air and some respite from being festive. I will open around 9(ish) and will close sometime early afternoon depending on the weather.
From myself and all the staff we wish you a peaceful Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and most importantly, a Healthy 2010. Thank you for your support during the last year and we look forward to seeing you in the Spring, if not before.

Anthony