New Fruit and Veg Planters in time for Christmas

Following the success of the Potato Patio Planters, Haxnicks is launching four more similar products in time for the Christmas market. Orders are being taken now for delivery from September.

A pack of Vegetable Patio Planters contains three planters of varying sizes – deep, medium and shallow – to accommodate different types of vegetable and salad plants. They are accompanied by a detailed growing guide that includes which varieties suit each container and how many to plant in each. Available in either a plain jute design or a fun photo-pictorial design, they will capture the growing consumer interest in both children’s gardening and healthy-eating.

The Kitchen Herb Patio Planters and the Strawberry Patio Planters contain two planters per pack.
The planters have an open top with eight pockets around the side. They have slightly different
dimensions but are both available in dark green with a decorative rim. Both come with detailed growing guides and useful tips for a successful crop.

Now, with Haxnicks Patio Planters, anybody can easily grow organic fruit and veg. They are ideal for use in small gardens, or on patios and balconies. They will appeal to the increasing numbers of consumers who want to ‘grow their own’ and try organic alternatives to the usual supermarket produce. Made from a tough, woven polyethylene (the same material as the Potato Patio Planters), the Patio Planters come with reinforced drainage holes and handles on each side so they can be easily moved around.

All five products in the Haxnicks Patio Planter range have a suggested retail price of £14.99.

Cold Frames and Plant Houses for Autumn plant protection

The Haxnicks Quality Oak Cold Frame and Plant House provide excellent protection for over-wintering plants, hardwood cuttings and hardy annual seedlings – ideal if your greenhouse is overflowing or if your garden is too small for a full-sized greenhouse.

Many plants happily survive the winter months in an unheated greenhouse, and, if sited correctly, a cold frame or plant house will act just as efficiently. They are best positioned against a south-facing wall where they can be sheltered from chilling winter winds and placed on either gravel or mulch to give some insulation against ground frost. Both units are glazed with shatter-proof, twin-walled polycarbonate which lets in plenty of light and provides the best possible insulation from the cold. As they can heat up quite quickly in direct sunlight, they have adjustable lids so the ventilation can be varied and temperature controlled.

The sturdy frames are now made exclusively from a top-quality, kiln-dried oak sourced only from responsibly managed forests that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. They are light to carry and can be easily moved around the garden. Not only do they look attractive, they will last for years.

The new Haxnicks Quality Oak Plant House (RRP £179.99) is available in one size only and contains three adjustable or removable shelves, so it can easily accommodate plants of differing heights. It has large double doors for easy access.

The new Haxnicks Quality Oak Cold Frame (RRP £99.99) has a generous ground area with high sides. An extra strut has been added to the lid to give it extra rigidity.

Haxnicks’ Quality Oak Plant House and Quality Oak Cold Frame come flat-packed for easy selfassembly (all you need is a screwdriver).

Aerated polythene is ripening for success

A unique new fabric from Haxnicks – EcoGreen™ Aerated Polythene – helps gardeners to achieve fullyripened garden produce without the aid of a greenhouse.

Growing ripe melons, strawberries, chillies, peppers, tomatoes and other similar fruit and vegetables outside can be a challenge, but EcoGreen™ Aerated Polythene has been specially developed to promote the ripening process.

This new horticultural fabric is lightweight polythene with unique perforations that perform two vital functions. The perforations are 20mm in diameter allowing easy access for pollinating insects, so plants can be kept protected throughout the season without the need to uncover for pollination. The perforations also ensure that crops are kept well ventilated, allowing air and moisture to freely circulate around the plants, keeping them healthy and reducing the risk of disease.

As an added benefit, the Aerated Polythene provides protection from harsh weather and keeps off the birds. Other uses include weather and pest protection for seed beds and newly sown lawns – when laid flat on the ground it retains warmth and moisture which stimulates seed germination.

Haxnicks EcoGreen™ Aerated Polythene is available as a folded sheet – 1.8 metres wide by 10 metres long – and comes in a pale green colour which makes it less obtrusive in the garden. Priced at £14.99.

Scientific solutions for long-term weed control

Laying weed barrier is a significant investment of time and money, but worth it, as it can save many hours of tedious weeding in future years. DuPont™ GreenVista® high-performance weed barriers are guaranteed to last up to 25 years when properly installed - years longer than other available fabrics.

Well-known for technically-advanced materials such as Kevlar®, Lycra®, and Teflon®, DuPont has successfully applied its scientific expertise to the challenge of long-lasting weed control in the garden. The durable fabrics will not tear or fray and they are 100% permeable to air, water and nutrients. Their unique non-woven structure allows a water flow rate up to 2.5 times greater than other fabrics.

DuPont™ GreenVista® Premium Weed Control is a heavy weight material (68g/m²) designed for use in beds, borders and under decking. It is guaranteed to last 20 years when covered with a 5cm layer of mulch. Available in a 15 metre roll (1 metre wide) priced at £16.99 – or as a flat-packed sheet (3 metres x 2 metres) priced at £8.99.

DuPont™ GreenVista® Pro-advanced Landscape Fabric is an extra-heavy weight material (90g/m²) for using under patios, paths and driveways. The tough fabric helps stabilise the ground underneath, keeping it level, whilst allowing surface water to pass quickly through. It is guaranteed for 25 years when covered with at least 5cm of gravel, paving stones or other landscaping material. Available in a 15 metre roll (1 metre wide) priced at £22.99.

It is advisable to secure fabric to the ground with DuPont™ GreenVista® Anchor Pins: speciallydesigned, u-shaped, galvanised-steel pegs, priced at £3.99 for 10.

DuPont™ GreenVista® weed barrier fabrics are now available in attractive.

Soft on plants, strong on the job

It doesn’t matter how good your plant supports are if the tie used is not appropriate for the job. The award-winning Haxnicks Soft-Tie comes in two widths to ensure that plants stems benefit from the right amount of cushioning, so delicate stems are not bruised or broken.

Soft-Tie has an inner core of galvanised steel wire, which gives it its strength, and an outer coating of a unique, UV-stabilised rubber compound, which gently cushions and protects plant stems from damage. It is easy to secure with just a twist (no need for fiddly knots) and can be easily cut with a sturdy pair of scissors. With a couple of quick twists, the tie may be quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate growing stems. Put a twist between the support and the stem and you have a readymade spacer to prevent damage from chafing. Soft-Tie does not rot, so it lasts much longer than regular ties and it can be washed and re-used. Its natural green colour allows it to blend with foliage making it as unobtrusive as possible.

With a 7mm diameter and a slightly thicker steel core, the Original Soft-Tie (RSP £4.99 for 5m) is the perfect choice for tying up plants that are heavily-laden with growing crops, or for tying up the thicker stems of trees, shrubs, roses, large climbers and fruit bushes. With its superior cushioning and strength, it’s a good choice for any plants in exposed spots that are susceptible to wind damage.

Slim Soft-Tie (RSP £4.99 for 8m) is half the width of Original Slim-Tie, only 3.5mm in diameter, and is designed for use with the thinner, more delicate stems of climbing annuals, young vegetables and shrubs, tall perennials and houseplants.

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.