Winter Wonderland

Brighten up your garden this winter with three new, colourful, designer-print Fleece Jackets from plant protection specialist, Haxnicks. They come in three eye-catching prints, ‘Autumn Leaf’, ‘Snowflake’ and ‘Green Leaf’, in two sizes, to provide instant frost protection for semi-hardy plants in patio containers or borders, for hanging baskets and large exotic plants.

Have a bit of fun and swap them around to keep up with the seasons: start with ‘Autumn Leaf’, then change to ‘Snowflake”, for winter, and back into spring with ‘Green Leaf’. Instead of struggling with lengths of horticultural fleece, you can quickly slip a Haxnicks Fleece Jacket over your plant and the job is done. They are easily secured with the integral, rot-proof drawstring and provide immediate protection from frost and other harsh weather. If you have very tender plants, the jackets can be stuffed with straw for added insulation.

The designer-print Fleece Jackets are made from a high-grade, winter-weight 50gsm, polypropylene fleece which is heavy enough to provide effective winter frost protection, but light enough to allow sunlight and moisture to filter through to maintain healthy growth.

Priced at £7.99 per pack, they will accommodate most sizes of plant. The large size (one per pack) measures 1.8m (6ft) high by 1.2m (4ft) wide and the standard size (two per pack) is 1m (3ft 3in) high by 0.8m (2ft 8in).

Haxnicks Fleece Jackets are available from good garden centres from late October 2008. For stockists or more information, call Haxnicks on 0845 241 1555 or go online at www.haxnicks.co.uk.

New Soft-Tie – woody brown and extra, extra long

Plant protection specialists, Haxnicks, have added a new ‘woody-brown’ colour option and larger pack sizes to their award-winning* plant tie range. Haxnicks’ new Woody Soft-Tie, like the innovative pale green version, is available in two widths, Slim or Original, so you can choose the right amount of cushioning to fit the job and protect your plant stems from damage.

Original Soft-Tie (RRP £4.99 for 5m), with a 7mm diameter, provides superior cushioning and strength and 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. It’s also a good choice for securing plants susceptible to wind damage.

Slim Soft-Tie (RRP £4.99 for 8m), 3.5mm in diameter, is designed for use with the thinner, more delicate stems of climbing annuals, young vegetables and shrubs, tall perennials and houseplants. Both are now available in the new ‘woody-brown’ colour.

Haxnicks Woody Soft-Tie is the discreet choice for tying up woody stems, for training climbers, and for securing cane and willow structures.

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. It’s easy to secure with just a twist (no need for fiddly knots) and can be 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 ready-made spacer to prevent damage from chafing. Soft-Tie is long-lasting, does not rot, and can be washed and re-used.

All four types – Original, Slim, Woody Original, Woody Slim – are available in new Soft-Tie Maxi Reels (RRP £19.99), offering extra value to gardeners with five times the length for four times the price – a saving of 20%. Original is available in 25 metre Maxi Reels and Slim in 40 metre Maxi Reels.

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.