Here at The Garden Factory, we physically store over 60% of our inventory, but we haven’t actually tried and tested all out lines. Look, there are alot OK – over three thousand lines it’s simply too tricky (and expensive) to road-test. So we rely on the recommendations of worthy and reputable suppliers.

One product line that repeatedly pop’s up on the request list is garden statues. These are hard to come by at a price that is affordable. Many are so expensive as to make them viable for a select few, while cheaper stone models can be brittle, poorly cast or just downright ugly. And they’re expensive to send.

What about resin? But often resin looks so plasticky, doesn’t it, with a sheen that catches light like the scratched bonnet of a toy car. And resin models can be a shocker to send; they’re still brittle. Plus most are just plain horrid. Not really sculptures but a laymans interpretation of Henry Moore, with knobs on.

So when one of our suppliers approached me with some contemporary sculptures in resin, I was hesitant, to say the least. But these guys know what they’re doing so we ran with them.

Finally I caught with the sculptures at a recent trade show and was most impressed; contemporary garden statues made from amazingly realistic resin, with attractive curves and nice perspective, desoatched in foam moulded boxes

Here’s a video of Eternal Gaze. The finish is superb; exactly like stone. The light isn’t so good, but this video should give you an idea of the very effective texture that’s been acheived on this range of statues.

And they’re so good, there’s a whole new range popping out next year.

Watch this space.

If you’ve got a barrow that makes your back stiff or is just too high off the ground so your arms ache, take a look at the Realbarrow. It’s a kind of wheelbarrow cleverly engineered with a reinforced metal edge so you can fill it like a shovel.

And it’s absolutely brilliant for mucking out or gathering leaves as the debris muck can be easily shovelled in, as opposed to lifted in.

It’s got two sitting positions and the weight is over the axle making it light to carry. Add in it’s vast capacity – and the wheels which won’t puncture … and it’s prestigious reddot design award …

… still not convinced, have a peek at the video: it’s a belter.

The jury has been out on Rockdust (natural minerals), but there’s nothing like giving it a try to see if it really does make a difference.

My tomato patch lies in poor soil outside on a south facing wall by my house. After applying Rockdust last Autumn, the tomatoes have been beautiful, big, deliciously tasty and relentless – in stark contrast to those planted in the same spot last year.

Admittedly we’ve had wonderful Autumn; ideal weather for ripening fruit of all kinds, but I’m enjoying large delicious outdoor tomatoes in late October!

What makes me think there’s something special going on is that my neighbours crops were riddled with problems and their crops were almost non-existant. One gave in and pulled the whole lot up in August!

How much Rockdust has contributed to this success is hard to define as my trial is totally without any scientific basis but I have grown tomatoes for several years and this years are the best.

Of course, correct watering, feed and sunlight are all vital to the success of any crop, but my watering was erratic (to say the least) and the plants were fed only sporadically. And it really was a lousy summer.

I’d like to think the x-factor is the Rockdust. After all, as any gardener worth their salt knows, the plants and health of a garden has a direct correlation to the soil they’re planted in.

Have a look at the video below. This is from the Highlands and their results in this barren part of the UK are spectacular.

As a further drop in the growing seas of evidence a customer kindly sent in a picture of two young Bay trees – one with Rockdust and one without.

Guess which one had the Rockdust! (Thanks to Mr. Smith of Chelmsford).

Spot The Difference!

It Rocks!

Give it a try. I think you’ll be impressed.

James

Many of you have bought our brillliant Hotspot Gas Light for your entertaining, weddings or camping trips this summer and I’ve received a number of calls about what to do with the mantle. HOW DOES IT GO ON?

It’s scary, right?

Nope. It’s a doddle. In any case, I thought I’d make a little video to help you master the gas mantle phoebia.

Hope this helps and have a great holiday.

James

Ever wanted to smarten up a path or a give a path a new lease of life? The Old Rectory Garden Arch, new in at The Garden Factory will do just that.

Made from square section steel and painted in a powder coated antique white colour this superb arch comes with the side panels as whole units and bears bracing bars beneath giving it additional strength.

But the Old Rectory Arch will look great as not only a stand alone garden feature but will bear out the colours of your flowers and foliage as they wrap their tendrils around the arch panels and top.

Check out our video on the Old Rectory Rose arch below.

A couple of years ago a customer bought a set of cream metal furniture. Returning for a matching bench, she enthusiastically informed me that the whole lot had been painted bright red. Well of course, it’s everyone to their own taste, but a splash of colour on a bench, bistro set or arch really can liven up the dreariest patio or add a sophisticated charm to a quiet corner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTwhK2zyuZoTake our blue Regency half tree seat; solid and great looking it will sit elegantly by a fence or wall and the foliage it surrounds will really benefit from the colour. Half tree seats are wonderful – try two to make a full tree bench circle – practical AND gorgeous garden features.

There are bistro sets and garden benches in antique green, soft blue and cream, and of course we have the beautifully ornate hand-crafted slate mosaic tables as well. But nothing in bright red. (Oh – apart from this great kids bench).http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNQTqwNt1ms

Browse through our selection and I hope you’ll find something that ticks your box. And remember, if it’s on the website, it’s in stock – in our warehouse, as always, at stunning Garden Factory prices.

And if you have any interesing colour schemes in your garden we’d love to hear about it.

Best wishes from The Garden Factory Team.

Reports say that while agriculture and industry will be hit for a percentage of the water they use, regular householders won’t face an outright hose-ban … yet.

There are a multitude of ways to water your garden efficiently. Using a sprinkler at night will greatly reduce daytime condensation, leaky pipes will direct water accurately to your plants and micro irrigation systems operated by water computers give you the control to water not only accurately but efficiently too.

These systems are straightforward to install and operate, and represent an excellent investment for gardeners and garden lovers who plough so much time, effort and money into their gardening.

We have a category dedicated to irrigational matters at specially watered down (ouch!) Garden Factory prices.
And we’d love to hear how you’re getting on in your area.

James

This year sees an abundance of swollen apples dotted on every apple tree, from crab to russet, cooking to cox.  I’ve seen branches hanging so  heavy that wearing a hard hat while picking was not the most ridiculous idea conceived by my picking friends.

But what to do with them? There are simply too many to eat, too many to store and countless windfalls lie scattered all over the grass. I don’t have a pig and there’s no chance of getting one in the near future. So what to do with this delicious fruit apart from rotting into the ground?

Well why not try finding an apple press. Our village is the lucky owner of good quality press and opens it’s pressing screws for a few days every year. For a small fee we had great fun pulping and squashing. And the juice is nothing less than sensational.

We’ve stored some away in plastic milk containers and hope to have another pressing later on this month. The juice is running out fast.

There are some great web resources for finding out more about this. Have a good look round.

Best wishes,  James