The best clothes, art, tools, and sundries
It’s not just plants that make a garden – gardening art and sundries are important too, and here I’ve listed some of the best around. Artists and sculptors usually take along smaller objects to flower shows, as they have a better chance of selling them.
Traders also offer discounts at shows, so if you’re looking for art or furniture, here’s where you’ll get bargains – it’ll cover your entry fee. Read more on tips for an affordable but glamorous garden. The RHS Chelsea Product of the Year Awards pick out the best of that year’s new releases.
Garden in style
- Backdoorshoes: Lightweight, slip-on mules in bright photographic patterns, in women’s, men’s and now kids’ sizes – new designs, www.backdoorshoes.co.uk.
Gardening art and sundries – Tools
- Bulldog Tools: British-made garden tools since 1780, offering a lifetime guarantee; new premier range, www.bulldogtools.co.uk
- Karcher: A new range of watering equipment, including hoses, spray lances, sprinklers, and accessories, www.kaercher.com/uk
- EGO: Cordless tools with powerful and environmentally friendly lithium-ion batteries, www.egopowerplus.co.uk
- Hotbin Composting: A Hot compost bin that superheats food and waste to 60°C. Mature compost in 90 days, www.hotbincomposting.com
- Dalefoot Composts: Peat-free compost range made from sustainable bracken and sheep’s wool, including seed compost, a mix for breaking down clay and new vegetable and salad compost, www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk
- Plant Supports (UK): Steel supports, from spirals to obelisks, the range is comprehensive and affordable, www.plantsupports.co.uk
- Post Buddy: innovative way of fixing broken fence www.postbuddysystem.co.uk
- WoodBlocX: Building blocks to make raised beds, walls, and ponds, from sustainably-sourced timber in Scotland, www.woodblocx.co.uk
- Garden & Wood: Antique garden tools, furniture, and ephemera; cafe furniture imported from the Continent, www.gardenandwood.co.uk
- Irrigatia: Weather-responsive smart irrigation controller using solar power to power it, www.irrigatia.com
Pest control
- STV: Pest control, advice, and products: ultrasonic cat scarers, ant deterrents, copper bands for slugs, www.stvpestcontrol.com
- Vitax: Organic Slug Gone Wool Pellets & Organic 2 in 1 Plant Invigorator, with natural oils/emulsifiers, www.vitax.co.uk
- Pest-Stop: Anti-pest devices, including pet repellents using ultrasonic and electromagnetic waves, www.pest-stop.co.uk
- Grazers: Slugs and Snails Live and Let Grow! is a novel way of fighting back against these perennial pests by spraying the leaves, www.grazers.co.uk
Gardening art and sundries – Furniture and art
- Ian Gill Sculpture: Award-winning metal sculptor making contemporary works, including giant cherries – and my recycled tyre table, www.iangillsculpture.com.
- Mark Stoddart: Fabulous bronze and glass limited edition sculptures/tables – especially the hippo. One for the lottery winners, but lovely to dream, www.markstoddart.com.
- Twigtwisters: Willow sculptures made to order, in either living or dead wood, all sizes, including life-size horses and Aslan the lion, www.twigtwisters.co.uk
- Lily Sawtell Design: Bronze resin and clay statues, planters, wall plaques and fountains. Check out Painted Ladies planters Gladys, Doris, and Mavis, www.lilysawtell.com.
- Thompson’s Garden Emporium: Antique, vintage and restored horticultural and agricultural ornaments, based in a village just outside Durham City, www.thompsonsgardenemporium.co.uk.
- Gardeco and Supamoss: Wood-burning stove, chimineas, fire bowls and bio-ethanol burners. Supamoss is a biodegradable alternative to sphagnum moss, www.gardeco.co.uk.
