Cloche sales rocket as more people ‘grow their own’

Haxnicks, specialists in chemical-free plant protection products, report record sales of cloches in 2006.

Retail sales of the Haxnicks’ Easy Tunnel cloches have shown steady growth over the last five years, culminating in an impressive 57% year-on-year increase in unit sales for 2006. Sales of the standardsized tunnels increased by 41%, and sales of the higher-priced, giant size more than doubled – up 138%.

Haxnicks Easy Net Tunnels showed the strongest growth overall, unit sales up 152% in the last five years, indicative of the growing trend for year-round, chemical-free protection of crops and now accounting for 26% of total tunnel cloche sales. Unit sales of Giant Easy Net Tunnels quadrupled their sales over the same period.

“Without doubt, Haxnicks’ sales reflect the increase in popularity of growing your own vegetables, coupled with the rise in all things organic”, comments Damian Cardozo, Haxnicks’ MD. “More and more gardeners are appreciating the horticultural benefits of cloches, whilst seeking chemical-free alternatives for protecting their crops. Haxnicks’ unique products cater for this rapidly expanding market”.

Keep Your Brassicas Pest-free with Extra-fine EcoGreen™

Haxnicks, the plant protection specialist, has launched EcoGreen™ Micromesh which is now the finest gauge garden mesh available from garden centres.

With a mesh size of only 0.6mm x 0.6mm, it provides the best possible protection for crops against a wide range of insect pests, including cabbage root fly, carrot fly, aphids, leaf miners, onion fly, vine weevil and even flea beetles. It is also effective against cutworms and other caterpillars, moths and butterflies, as well as larger pests, such as domestic pets, birds, rabbits and deer. Slugs and snails can be deterred by burying the edges of the mesh in a 10 to 20cm deep trench. Micromesh also provides a physical barrier that gives protection from weather damage caused by strong winds, hail and light frost.

Micromesh helps create the perfect environment for growing fruit and vegetables. Water and liquid feed can be applied directly through the mesh and air circulation is good. Crops benefit from the superior protection by exhibiting stronger growth and a better eating quality.

Haxnicks EcoGreen™ Micromesh is available as a folded sheet – 1.8 metres wide by 5 metres long – and comes in a pale green colour which makes it less obtrusive in the garden. The tough fabric is re-usable and, if looked after, will last for up to 10 years.

Home Grown Potatoes for Everyone

Haxnicks has launched an innovative new product which will enable anyone to grow potatoes, even if they do not have a garden.

The new Haxnicks Potato Patio Planter is a planting bag made from tough, green woven polyethylene. It comes complete with drainage holes and with handles on both sides so it can be easily moved. The planters stand 45cm high and hold approximately 40 litres of compost. They have been designed for use on patios and balconies, or in small gardens where there is no space for growing vegetables.

The re-usable planters come in packs of three. On the reverse of the pack, there are detailed instructions on how to grow and harvest your potatoes.

“More and more people are coming to appreciate the huge difference in the taste of home-grown vegetables,” comments Malcolm Andrews, Haxnicks Sales Director. “The Potato Patio Planter now makes it easy for anyone to grow delicious home-grown spuds. The good news is that no digging is required!”

Haxnicks Potato Patio Planters, priced at £14.99 for a pack of three.

Wrap it up with a Fleece jacket

As autumn approaches and early frosts threaten, Haxnicks Easy Fleece Jackets make it simple to protect exotic plants, hanging baskets and other semi-hardy plants in patio containers.

Instead of struggling with lengths of horticultural fleece, you can now quickly slip a fleece jacket over your plant and the job is done. Easily secured with the integral, rot-proof drawstring and locking toggle, it provides instant protection against frost, harsh weather and pests.

Easy Fleece Jackets are made from a high-grade 30gsm polypropylene fleece which is heavy enough to provide winter protection, but light enough to allow maximum sunlight and moisture to filter through in order to maintain healthy growth. Ideal for over-wintering any tender plant, they come in a soft-green in colour to blend in against garden foliage, making them as unobtrusive as possible.

Haxnicks Easy Fleece Jackets are available in three sizes, priced at £6.99 per pack

Less watering saves water

Laying a high-performance weed barrier can provide additional benefits beyond weed control. The new DuPont™ GreenVista© Premium Weed Control Fabric can significantly improve moisture retention in the soil when properly installed with a 5cm covering of mulch.

The scientifically-engineered fabric is 100% permeable to water with an impressive penetration rate of 240 litres per square metre per second. Moisture is captured below the fabric and evaporation is prevented by the mulch layer above. With a guaranteed lifespan of 20 years, this is an investment of time and money well worth making. DuPont™ GreenVista© Premium Weed Control Fabric is available in a 15 metre roll (1 metre wide) priced at £15.99, or as a 3 metre by 2 metre folded sheet at £7.99.

DuPont™ GreenVista© Premium Weed Control Fabric

Haxnicks Easy Fleece Tunnel

Fleece rescues carrots and cabbages
Fleece can provide an effective barrier to Carrot Fly and Cabbage Root Fly and the quickly erected Haxnicks Easy Fleece Tunnel cloches are ideal for the job. They allow moisture and sunlight to filter through to developing vegetable crops, whilst creating a warm, sheltered and well-ventilated growing environment. The unique, one-piece concertina design takes only minutes to put in place and is available in two sizes, both three metres long. Giant size (60cm wide / 45cm high) priced at £22.99, standard size (45cm wide / 30cm high) priced at £17.99.

Elegant support for summer displays
Make the most of your summer patio displays with the Haxnicks Container Maypole, an attractive plant support designed for larger patio pots. The black steel centre pole is topped with a decorative finial and four rot-proof, polypropylene strings radiate out from the base of the finial to provide an attractive frame for climbing plants such as morning glory and patio clematis. The Haxnicks Container Maypole is priced at £14.99.

Weed control that works, so you don’t have to

DuPont have introduced two high-performance, scientifically-engineered weed barrier fabrics as part of the new DuPont™ GreenVista® range. Designed to provide innovative solutions to common gardening problems, the GreenVista® range does away with the tedious tasks, such as weeding, so people have more time to enjoy the beauty and sanctuary of their gardens.

DuPont™ GreenVista® Premium Weed Control Fabric is a high-quality, low-maintenance weed barrier for use on flower beds, borders and under decking. The high-tech fabric has the advantage of being 100% permeable to air, water and nutrients, so borders keep well drained and plants stay healthier and better nourished. The environmentally-friendly material is both effective and long-lasting. It comes with a 20-year manufacturer’s guarantee when correctly installed with a 5cm covering of mulch. Available in a 15 metre roll (1 metre wide) priced at £15.99 – or as a flat-packed sheet (3 metres x 2 metres) priced at £7.99

DuPont™ GreenVista® Professional Landscape Fabric is designed to prevent unsightly weed growth on your patios, paths and driveways. It provides a barrier against deep-rooted weeds and prevents air-borne seeds from getting established in any cracks. The fabric is 100% permeable to air and water so landscaped areas stay well drained. The tough material acts to stabilise groundwork and prevents uneven walkways. It should be positioned between the compacted hardcore and the sand/dry mix before laying paving, or if covered with gravel – a depth of 1 inch for small graded stones or 2 inches for larger ones. When installed properly, it is guaranteed to last 25 years. Available in a 15 metre roll (1 metre wide) priced at £19.99.

A Very, Very Handy Planter

The DuPont™ GreenVista® Handy Planter is a tough, long-lasting planting bag which contains and isolates soil and plant roots whilst retaining 100% permeability to air, water and nutrients. Available in two sizes, it is a simple idea with many practical uses in the garden.

Renowned worldwide for its scientific expertise, DuPont has utilised its technically-advanced Premium Weed Control Fabric to make the Handy Planter. Both products have been recently launched in the DuPont™ GreenVista® range, designed to provide innovative solutions to common gardening problems, thus doing away with the tedious tasks so people have more time to enjoy the beauty and sanctuary of their gardens.

Potential uses for the Handy Planter include:

• Soil containment for ericaceous / acid-soil loving plants
• Avoidance of transplant shock when moving or lifting plants - ideal for bulbs, semihardy perennials, herbs and container plants
• Easy handling for over-wintering plants
• Planting out of large and small pond plants
• Reinforcement of pond banks when filled with gravel
• Root containment of mint and other smaller plants
• Elimination of root competition from other nearby plants
• Protection from soil pests
  

The large size measures 50cm x 50cm x 50cm and will hold 150 litres of compost; priced at £6.99 for a pack of 2. The standard size measures 18cm x 18cm x 18cm and will hold 7 litres of compost; priced at £4.99 for a pack of 2.