Archive for the ‘Garden Centres Wigan’ Category

When looking for landscaping in Wigan or anywhere else for that matter there is quite a bit to learn about a prospective company before employing them. However at the top of your list you ought to have these two statements before anything else.

Are they any good and can I work with them?

So how do you find the answer. Well hopefully you have already begun that task by finding this page where I would like to introduce you to a really great landscaper who works locally around the Wigan area. His name is Jason Otiz.

Garden design and landscaping services has been his vocation for more than ten years and through that time Jason has carved himself a reputation for being something of a perfectionist. Going the extra mile and over delivering on his landscaping designs has become his normal mode of working and his past clients have commented on this aspect of Jason’s nature more than once.

Do you need a complete garden landscape overhaul, new drives, walls or fencing or just someone to tidy your garden from time to time? Do you have a master plan or want to have some brainstorming with someone who has so many landscaping projects under his belt that there is certain to be one that will give you ideas and suit your budget.

Take a look at some of Jason’s work and make up your own mind, then give him a call on 01942-212728 or his mobile 07974-431662.

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Jason has a website just click here to see more examples of patios, paving, brickwork, fencing and decking. Other projects that Jason has completed include full garden design including new lawns and drainage. Water features too are a speciality and when all this work is completed if you need him to provide garden maintenance on a periodic basis this too can be arranged.

A very good way for extending ones living space out into your garden so that you make the most of the summer season and maybe utilizing that nook of the garden which is pleading to become a focal point could be by investing in a Summerhouse.

These kinds of buildings are generally extremely beneficial in developing an additional element to your property, perhaps turning into a hobby room, play area or simply a spot to sit down and unwind and enjoy your garden from.

There few better places to purchase your new Summer House from than Garden Buildings Direct.  Each of our garden buildings supplied by Garden Buildings Direct cost less.

Why?
For the reason that they do not squander lots of money on actual physical stores, printed literature as well as pricey marketing and advertising campaigns. They concentrate all their energy on exactly what matters – your garden building. Therefore it is the garden building that you are investing in – not all these additional behind the scenes expenses. They also have a further advantage that the majority of the wooden garden buildings are manufactured by themselves in their own UK factory eliminating even more charges for you the customer.

We invite you to definitely have a wander around your local garden centre. They can be wonderful places to spend a good afternoon, have a cup of coffee and have a look at the garden building displays. However once you come back to Garden Buildings Direct we’re certain that you’ll recognize several important things, specifically that their garden buildings………..

Represent exceptional value.

Massive range from which to choose.

Can always be ordered online or even by phone from your home.

Can be shipped rapidly.

They look fantastic.

Often include a lengthy warranty.

Are plainly priced (absolutely no puzzling was/now or RRPs).

Garden Buildings Direct’s selection of summer houses include traditional styles, such as the BillyOh Lucia, much more individual and contemporary styles, like the BillyOh St. Tropez and, in case you may need something rather amazing, what about the BillyOh Beach Hut. Remember that Log Cabins likewise make exceptional summer houses also.

Interlocking Log
Log Cabins make use of a construction technique comparable to a 3-D jigsaw, layering blocks of timber which slot with each other, very much just as tongue & groove construction, to make the walls of the building. The main difference being that the client needs to build-up the blocks to create the actual walls rather than them being shipped as a solid wall.

To get a boost in stature a Log Cabin Summer House might be just the thing you need and you will be the envy of your neighbours with this stylish garden building.

Modular Summerhouses
Garden Buildings Direct Summerhouses are comprised of side panels, front and back gables and roof and floor panels, plus veranda flooring and sides where applicable. They’re screwed together to produce a well balanced as well as secure building and by following simple to use instruction guides the buildings are usually erected within two or three hours.

Traditional
Garden Buildings Direct’s include a variety of individual Summerhouses to match numerous tastes. Just about any one of these brilliant structures will greatly enhance the look of your garden and also create an eye appealing location to rest and get pleasure from your garden.

Contemporary
While looking at Garden Buildings Direct’s selection of Summerhouses you will not miss that they’re superbly designed in lots of diverse styles to cover the majority of tastes from the traditional style of the BillyOh Lucia up to the more modern BillyOh Sun Room or BillyOh Cannes Octagonal.

We have a great selection of fireworks this Year including probably the best in the UK from Black Cat. Previously known as Standard Fireworks, they might have changed their name but remain the quality supplier of fireworks in this country.

And the good news is that if you are looking to buy fireworks in Wigan we can give you 20% discount off list price on the entire Black Cat range.

Whether you want a family selection box, rockets or the top of the range multi barrage cakes we have the lot. For you Guy Fawkes pyrotechnics out there the top range cakes fire out over 800 shots for a magnificent firework display.

You can purchase now and take with you or pre-order and we will keep them safely in our firework store until bonfire night.  If you like we will even deliver the fireworks to your home provided your order is over £25.00.

Don’t forget to that we are taking orders for New Year so if you like what you see and are thinking about a firework display for new years eve then order now and again we will keep safe for you until you need them.

We should point out that our licensing allows us to release fireworks for New Year only after Christmas Day but a small deposit will secure any firework until then.

Find out in this short video why we think Black Cat Fireworks are the best you can get….

If you are looking for a simply stunning range of Christmas Trees then you are in the right place. Our Christmas trees are the perfect combination offering quality, pure beauty and most of all affordability. You can choose from our range of super realistic artificial Christmas trees,  a fantastic selection of pre-lit Xmas trees  or our simply gorgeous fibre optic Christmas tree ranges.

Artificial Christmas Trees

(also called Fake Christmas Trees) can be a wonderful substitute for their organic cousins, so when you are searching for an appealing style that can produce a spectacular centrepiece, look no further than Gardens and Homes Direct. Our artificial Christmas trees are available in a terrific assortment of traditional and modern styles, which means you truly will be spoilt for choice.  Real Christmas trees such as Nordman, Pine, Spruce and Frasers are replicated to the extent that they are difficult to distinguish from the real tree.

Pre-Lit Christmas Trees

Pre lit Christmas trees really are a fabulous way of illuminating the home rapidly and exquisitely this festive period, and here at Gardens and Homes Direct we now have an incredible collection from which you are able to choose. The pre lit Christmas trees are available in a sensational range of colours, sizes and designs, therefore make us your very first and only choice.

Christmas Lights

Help to make this December one to truly remember by means of strikingly breathtaking Christmas lighting. Here at Gardens and Homes Direct, we now have an enviable array of inexpensive Christmas lights which in turn will not break your budget. Regardless of whether you are browsing for simple or multi- coloured Christmas Lights, we are guaranteed to have precisely what you require.

Outdoor Christmas Lights

Completely transform your property into the ultimate Winter Wonderland this season with our awesome range of outdoor Christmas lights. We are able to promise that outdoor Christmas lights really don’t come very much more appealing than the designs and styles that we have right here, and no matter whether you need to beautify your whole exterior, door or trees, your property will glow brightly for miles around.

LED Christmas Lights

LED Christmas lights have become a fundamental element of every seasonal decoration, and at Gardens and Homes Direct we’ve such outstanding variety that you simply will not actually have to consider searching somewhere else. Our LED Christmas lights are available in all sizes, design and colour you can possibly imagine, and along with prices to match even the smallest of

Christmas Decorations

Christmas is pricey enough without needing to be worried about spending over the odds for Christmas decorations, and by coming to Gardens and Homes Direct, you could make your home appear wonderfully festive in the least expensive manner ever. So why waste your time and effort hunting somewhere else while our massive choice of Christmas decorations just will not be beaten?!

Lawn Turf  Delivered Straight To Your Door!

Ready to order from Rolawn….you can do so from this link below

Rolawn has become Europe’s biggest producer for cultivated turf as well as being recognised as The United Kingdom’s foremost supplier of best quality topsoil.

Their legendary Medallion® turf is undoubtedly Britain’s number one seller and the most frequently specified, remaining the very first preference for both professional landscapers as well as skilled gardeners who demand only the very best.

Valued clients include The Royal Horticultural Society, championship golf courses and also national house builders. Medallion® turf has been incorporated into a large number of Gold Medal winning gardens for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and is also frequently showcased on TV as well as in the media.

Rolawn is the only supplier that submits turf for frequent independent tests through the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI).

Their topsoils are safe, fertile, certified, of consistent top quality and additionally analysed to BS3882.

Rolawn, are not just a lawn turf producer, at the same time they supply lawn seed and fertiliser, topdressing, soil improver, compost and bark.

For a swift, hassle free home delivery right to your door you may order Rowlawn products through this link.

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Even if you have the best turf that money can by your new lawn must be laid correctly so that you obtain that bowling green finish you may be looking for. Take a look at our lawn turf laying and preparation guide, follow to the letter and you will have a superb lawn for your efforts.

GROUND PREPARATION
Suitable ground preparation is essential for the establishment and future welfare of your new lawn. Inadequately prepared earth will never produce the best results. Surviving turf should be removed by slicing beneath the grass with a spade. For bigger areas, think about hiring a turf cutter. The soil needs to be turned over thoroughly to a depth of 15cm using a spade or a powered cultivator.
Remove stones, weeds, old turf and additional debris.

RAKING
The ground should be raked to create a smooth, level surface. Lightly roll or tread the surface by foot to expose any soft patches which can then be raked level. This procedure should continue until the area is equally firm and level.
The surface should be firm but not compacted. You’re now ready to lay your turf.

ORDERING
Measure the lawn area precisely in square metres or square yards. Each of our rolls covers one square metre. Check this when comparing prices because many of the ‘big shed suppliers ‘ price higher than we do for a smaller roll so watch out for this. Turf must be laid as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours of delivery. In warm weather, keep delivered turf in the shade. It is advisable to prepare the ground in advance of the turf arriving to avoid hold-ups due to poor weather conditions.

LAYING THE TURF
Never walk directly on the prepared soil or newly-laid turf. Use boards to work from and walk on. Start by unrolling one strip of turf around the border of the lawn. Avoid using small pieces at the edges as these can dry out and perish. Check that the under surface of the fresh turf has full contact with the soil below.
Lay the next strip across the longest straight run and proceed to work across the lawn, strip by strip, producing a design similar to brickwork. Butt adjoining edges and ends against one another, but avoid stretching the turf. Overlapping pieces and ends of rows should be cut off neatly with a sharp knife or halfmoon lawn edger.

WATERING
Between March and October, newly-laid turf must be watered thoroughly inside half an hour of installation. Watering should be repeated at least once a day until the roots are established. As a guide, two hours per day of constant watering is necessary across the new lawn area. The hotter, drier and windier the weather, the more water will be required. Water immediately and abundantly on any sign of the turf drying out for example, gaps, lifting, browning or curling.

FEEDING
As a guideline, a balanced fertiliser containing similar levels of Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potash (K) should be applied every four to six weeks during the growing season. Always follow the manufacturers recommendations with reference to the amount, timing and method of applications. A policy of “little but often” will help maintain your lawn in peak condition.

MOWING
Resist the temptation to make the initial cut until your new lawn has taken root. This can be ascertained easily by lifting a corner to see if the roots are attached to the soil beneath. For the first mowing, adjust the lawn mower to its highest setting to avoid stressing the grass. Mow on a regular basis, each time removing no more than one-third of the grass height. When the lawn is fully established, the height of cut can be reduced bit by bit to an optimal height of between 15mm and 35mm. Take care to avoid scalping.

Take a look at these videos from Rolawn on how to turf properly and note that a lot of the work is in the preparation…..

And to keep your new lawn in prime condition follow these lawn aftercare tips…

Ever wonder how the best lawn turf in the UK is produced…. see here

Ready to order from Rolawn….you can do so from this link below

Rolawn Quality Turf

Attract Ladybirds To Your Garden With This Delightful Ladybird Tower...Click Image!

World Alive Ladybird Kit

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Retail Price: £14.99

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“Ladybird, ladybird” would be chanted by a small child when this pretty, little, inoffensive insect landed on their person. If the ladybird did not fly away of its own accord the child would gently blow it away chanting “Ladybird Ladybird fly away home”. This insect is commonly found every summer in the gardens of Britain - the most common colour is red with black spots, less common are the yellow variety. This nursery rhyme is purely situational and has no basis in history for its origins.

Ladybirds should be welcomed in any garden, indeed they are generally regarded with respect and affection by most who come across them. This is probably in part because as children we recognise them through rhymes and stories learned from nursery school onwards. As gardeners our high regard for these small creatures is not unfounded for they are one of our best deterrents against garden pests. Most ladybirds are carnivorous their particular favourite food  being greenfly. However they don’t stop there, they will also eat small caterpillars before they can cause real problems and they will take mealybugs, mites and even some scale insects. And just like bees they help pollinate plants as they move from flower to flower in there busy sort of way.

Little Monsters
Ladybird larvae have a spiky, segmented body with powerful jaws and a ferocious appetite for aphids no wonder that they are often referred to as ‘insect alligators’. Take care not to harm them. The more that survive then the better will be your natural defence against pests.

Life Cycle
Starting as a tiny, shiny, yellow egg, laid in a cluster on a leaf, the ladybird passes through several stages before reaching the adult beetle we are so familiar with. Each egg hatches to release a small, black, 6-legged larva which eats greedily and increases in size by shedding its skin three times in its lifetime. The full grown larva eventually attaches itself to the leaf and forms a pupa, from which the adult beetle emerges 1-2 weeks later. Ladybirds emerge from hibernation in late March/April, to feed and mate. Eggs are laid from late spring into summer. Beetles and larvae feed through the summer; the larvae pupate and produce a new generation of beetles during mid to late summer. These beetles feed and look for hibernation sites. Few of the older (1 year) beetles survive to hibernate a second winter – one year is the common life span of a ladybird. In times of danger, ladybugs are able to roll over and play dead. Their enemies don’t like to eat them because the joints in their bodies give off a fluid that tastes bad. Their bright colouring is said to warn birds of their awful taste.

How Many Spots
Of the 42 different species of ladybird in the UK the most common is the seven-spot ladybird. This bright red ladybird has seven spots and is thought to have inspired the name ladybird: “Lady” referring to the Virgin Mary (Our lady) who in early paintings is seen wearing a red cloak; the seven spots are symbolic of the seven joys and seven sorrows of Mary

Suicide Bomber Aphids
Ladybirds don’t have it all there own way, at least one family of aphids have a way to fight back. Cabbage aphids have an internal chemical defence system which enables them to disable attacking predators by setting off a mustard oil ‘bomb’, new research has revealed. This mustard oil kills, injures or repels the ladybird, which then saves the colony of aphids from attack, although the individual aphid involved usually dies in the process.

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Growing from seed is not difficult, provided you follow some basic rules you will have a garden ful of new plants all summer at a fraction of the costs omapred with buying mature plants. Whether you are looking for Flower Seeds or Vegetable seeds take a peek here to find seeds recommended by ‘Which Magazine’ as a ‘Best Buy’.

The whole purpose of starting seeds indoors is to cheat winter a little. Ironically, even as we cheat nature, we must imitate her. Light, soil, water, air, and a basic understanding of the process of germination are all you need.

Once you know the simple things a seed requires, starting them indoors won’t seem half as complicated.

Seeds are their own energy source, a plant in embryo form. They store energy in a form that is released and used only when water, oxygen, soil, and a close-to-ideal temperature are a part of their surroundings. The proper time for sowing seeds for transplants depends upon when plants may safely be moved outdoors. This period may range from 4 to 12 weeks prior to transplanting depending upon the speed of germination, the rate of growth, and the cultural conditions provided.

A common mistake is to sow seed too early and then attempt to hold the seedlings back under poor light or improper temperature ranges. This usually results in tall, weak, and spindly plants which do not perform well in the garden.

Use a John Innes seed compost, alternatively use a multi-purpose compost mixed with vermiculite or horticultural sand. Unlike potting composts, seed composts have few nutrients in them. The lack of nutrients ensures that there is unlikely to be any fertilizer damage to tender seedlings and that the growth of moss and liverworts is impaired. Seed trays are purpose made for the job but you can use small flower pots, egg containers, yogurt cartons indeed any small container will do provided it is clean.

Plant the seed according to the instruction on the packet. Some seeds may only need to be placed on the surface for them to germinate. Moisten the surface with a fine spray of water. Keep the compost continually moist until the seeds have germinated. At this point the containers should be put into a place where they will get bright light, some sunlight if possible. Be sure the spot has good air circulation. Temperatures should range about 65F to 70F (18C to 21C), for starting seeds, or a little cooler if the seeds tend to get too leggy. As the seedlings grow, be sure to turn the container occasionally so the young plants do not grow lopsided toward the light.

The first leaves that appear from your seedlings are the seed leaves, above them will develop a new set of leaves, these are the first true plant leaves. When your seedlings have developed their first true leaves then its time for you to prick the out. Its very important that great care is taken when lifting seedlings out with your fingers. Pick the seedling up by a seed leaf (the lower leaves) and not by the stem. The stems are very delicate at this early stage in life, the smallest of pressure will destroy the seedling.

Potting On
When the seedlings are starting to out grow their space, then you need to ‘Pot on’ or move them to a more spacious environment. Don’t be tempted to pot one young plant into a large plant pot expecting that it will love it there. Young plants prefer to grow in small pots rather than large ones. Finally when the risk of frost has passed the young plants can be ‘hardened off’ by moving them outdoors for a few hours a day gradually acclimatising them to a cooler environment before planting out either in beds or containers.

Why not try ‘Plug Plants?
If growing from seed is not your cup of tea then plug plants offer a great alternative to getting a head start on Winter. There are many varieties to choose from including those best suited to hanging baskets, Trailing Fuchsia, Trailing Geraniums, and Impatiens (Bizzie Lizzies).

Treat newly selected plug plants the same as potted on seedlings. Keep on a warm window sill, water and feed often until the plant is ready to pot on to another larger  container.  A couple of dozen plug plants started now will give  mature plants ready for those summer baskets or containers once the frosts have past.

Top Tip
Grow six trailing fuchsia plug plants until  May, plant in a 14” basket and you will have a stunning display until the autumn frosts.

These are just a few ideas for you to try, if you want more detailed information and advice please visit

Have a look at a time lapse vid of seedlings growing….

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GardenCentresWigan.com  used to be connected to a well know local Wigan Garden Centre. Despite a massive effort by it’s owners the centre closed at the end of 2009. However this website attracted so many visitors, even from overseas, that we decided to develop it into a major player on line.  If you found us from a local search then its possible that you were one of our loyal customers and for that we give a grateful thanks. We hope that we can serve you even better now we operate entirely online.

Here you will find helpful reviews, information and tips and much more on all things gardening. We hope that both our our local customers and web visitors will find the information useful. If you are interested in anything you see on the site please give us a call all leave an email from our contact us page.

You can navigate through the site by using the menus on the sides of the page. Also don’t hesitate to follow the links you see in bold throughout each post to learn more about the product being spoken about.

I hope you find the information we provide valuable and helpful.

All the best,

The Taylor Family.