Latest Stories

  1. Plant supply to Retirement Village in Cheshire

    Plant supply to Retirement Village in Cheshire

    We have recently supplied a range of plants and trees to an exclusive retirement village in the Cheshire village of Tattenhall, one of the UK’s most coveted postcodes.

     

    The Gifford Lea retirement village will be enhanced by hundreds of top-quality plants and trees provided by our Wholesale Commercial department.

     

    The landscaped gardens are one of the prime attractions of the select development of modern apartments, which also boasts an on-site spa, bistro and beauty salon.

     

    Working with long-standing client and landscaping specialist Ashlea Limited, we supplied a variety of trees, shrubs, herbaceous and hedging plants.

     

    The range of trees we supplied included five Acer campestre (field maple), Crataegus crus-galli (hawthorn), Carpinus betulus Frans Fontaine (hornbeam), four Prunus taihaku (great white cherry) and three Tilia cordata greenspire (small-leaved lime).

     

    We also provided various species of geranium, in addition to more than 260 Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ and around 200 Sarcococca Winter Gem boxwood shrubs.

     

    Hedging plants included 400 Fagus sylvatica (beech) whilst Digitalis purpurea (foxgloves), Bergenia silberlicht (elephant’s ears) and Siberian iris ‘white swirl’ were among the hundreds of herbaceous plants in the inventory.

     

    We are delighted to have played our part in creating the stunning gardens for this sophisticated development in the desirable location of Tattenhall.

     

    We have worked with Ashlea on many previous occasions and they know they can rely on Johnsons to fulfil their requirements for only the very highest standards of plants.

     

    Bruce Tyrer, projects director of Ashlea Limited, added: “The quality of the planting scheme needed to reflect the quality of the buildings themselves, constructed by Seddon Construction Limited. This was the main reason why we chose Johnsons of Whixley to supply the trees and shrubs to this prestigious retirement complex – the plants have helped to transform the scheme.”

     

    We have many years’ experience of supplying quality residential developments, take a look at our work with Spinning Acres as well as our award-winning supplies to Great Kneighton and Tadpole Garden Village.

     

    Posted 30th Aug 9:32am
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  2. Plant supply to luxury Scottish Highland hotel, The Torridon

    Plant supply to luxury Scottish Highland hotel, The Torridon

    Landscaping Project Introduction

    Our Wholesale Commercial department has recently made the scenic journey from Whixley to the Scottish Highlands, to supply our latest project, The Torridon, a luxurious five-star hotel.

    The plant supply, worth more than £5,000, formed part of the new ‘Arturcus’ Gin Garden at the award-winning luxury hotel where guests can relax and unwind while enjoying the Torridon’s own gin, ‘Artucus’. We supplied 460 Buxus Sempervirens (Box), that have been used for partitioning around the star-shaped pool and pergola, 1,500 herbaceous plants including Achillea, Alstroemeria, Crocosmia and Rudbeckia, and four Sorbus Aucuparia (Rowan) trees.

    The Perfect Location

    The hotel has a history of prestigious award wins including the Cateys Independent Hotel of the Year 2018, and has received five stars from both the AA and Visit Scotland.

    The Torridon was built in 1860 as a hunting lodge for William King-Noel, the first Earl of Lovelace, all materials for the building – including the soil for the two-acre Kitchen Garden – were shipped in specially from Ireland.

     

    Refurbs and Results

    A century later, the lodge became a luxury hotel and today also includes the traditional Torridon Inn, as well as the Boat House, a self-cartering option. Current owners are Dan and Rohaise Rose-Bristow who have completed a full refurbishment including a revival of the Kitchen Garden, used by head chef Ross Stovold to create fresh and unique tastes for diners that can be complimented by the hotel’s very own ‘Arturcus’ gin.

    “It’s wonderful to know our plants are making a difference in this stunning part of the world. Our drivers are already looking forward to the next scenic drive to the Torridon and we are really happy with the finished result. The gardens look beautiful and really compliment the stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands. It’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a gin and tonic!”

    This isn’t the first luxury hotel we have supplied, we recently worked with Grantley Hall on their restoration project, as well as supplying the new Dakota hotel in Manchester.

     

     

    Posted 23rd Aug 1:28pm
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  3. Plant supply to Dakota Hotel, Manchester

    Plant supply to Dakota Hotel, Manchester

    We recently worked on a project for the Dakota Hotel, a new luxury hotel in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, teaming up with PWP Design Ltd and Gavin Jones Ltd.

     

    We supplied a range of plants to the hotel, including clipped evergreen shrubs, sculptural feature trees and lush green groundcover for a series of planting areas and pots that frame the terrace and enhance the parking courtyard, main entrance and overall impression of the hotel.

     

    Our supply included hundreds of herbaceous, shrub and grass varieties for the hotel grounds, including Buxus spirals, Sarcococca confusa, Pachysandra ‘Green Carpet’ (to create attractive yet low maintenance ground cover), Agapanthus africanus, Viburnum davidii and Hakonechloa macra.

     

    The Dakota Manchester is situated on Dulcie Street, at the edge of the vibrant Northern Quarter, and features 137 rooms, a Dakota Grill restaurant, cocktail bar, waterside terrace, cigar garden and a grand deluxe penthouse, believed to be the largest in the city.

     

    A lot is happening in Manchester right now, especially in the Northern Quarter, so it’s fantastic to be supplying to this new project. It’s also great to be teaming up once again with Gavin Jones Ltd and PWP Design Ltd, both of whom are long-standing customers.

     

    The collaboration of our businesses allowed us to achieve the luxurious and highly visual impact the client required for the hotel, delivering the quality and style that is associated with the Dakota brand.

     

    This is not the first time we have worked on a luxury hotel, take a look at our recent project, supplying the stunning Grantley Hall near Ripon.

     

    Posted 15th Aug 5:01pm
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  4. Johnsons brings a touch of Chile to Yorkshire

    Johnsons brings a touch of Chile to Yorkshire

    We have recently added to our blooming repertoire with the launch of a new Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ plant line, just in time for our new catalogue in September.

    The award-winning plant, which originally derives from Chile, has been carefully cultivated over the winter by production manager Ian Nelson and the rest of our team.

    He put the plant through multiple tests, finding it able to withstand harsh conditions, require minimal care, as well as being suitable for use across a range of soil conditions.

    ‘Angel Wings’ is identifiable by its striking silver leaves and silky touch. It is also drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant, making it the perfect addition to a coastal garden.

    We debuted ‘Angel Wings’ on our stand at the National Plant Show in June where it attracted widespread attention.

    ‘Angel Wings’, which has also been seen in the Falklands and Argentina, was first discovered by plant developer Lyall Fieldes on a trip to the Patagonia region of Chile. It has since made its mark on the European market, winning a bronze medal at the Netherlands Plantarium in 2016 and the Glee new product award in 2017.

    Ian Nelson,  Production Manager said “We always strive to provide something unique and beautiful that will bring something special to a garden or larger-scale project.

    “As ‘Angel Wings’ is a very robust plant, it is perfect for most growing conditions, while still maintaining its soft and delicate appearance. It requires very little care due to its durable nature and will add a gorgeous touch to flower beds and pots alike.”

    Garden Centre Sales Assistant Manager, Paul Lamb, added:  “We are delighted to be able to offer the sought-after Senecio ‘Angels Wings’ to our customers. We are launching with a 5L version, and as we head into 2020 we will have the plant available in both a 3L and a 5L size.”If you’d like to find out more about Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ click here to contact a sales rep today

     

    Posted 15th Aug 8:48am
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  5. Wholesale Xpress cash & carry celebrates its best trading year ever

    Wholesale Xpress cash & carry celebrates its best trading year ever

    Our Wholesale Xpress trade cash and carry division is celebrating its best year yet, following a 32% rise in revenue.

    The unit is run by a third-generation family member, Luke Richardson, and is a one-stop-shop for horticultural professionals in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.

    The cash and carry have seen revenue rise by 32% compared to the previous year and experienced a significant increase in customers. To further support the impressive business growth, Johnson’s have employed an additional two members of staff to fulfil the surge in demand.

    With only one year in the role as cash and carry manager, Luke Richardson said: “Revenue saw its biggest incline through spring, following small incremental improvements made to our quoting system, tills and the general appearance of the store. We also increased our product offering by 29% which resulted in the sale of a further 134,311 plants.

    “With our sights already set on next year, our focus is firmly on consolidation, given the uncertainty of Brexit and its potential knock-on effect to our industry”

    The trade cash & carry is located 2.5 miles from the A1, Junction 47 and offers a one-stop trade shop to landscape contractors and gardeners, garden designers, tree surgeons, estates, hotels, wedding venues, caravan parks and universities in Yorkshire and beyond.

    Supported by the wider nursery business and with strong links to UK & European suppliers, the trade cash and carry unit boasts a wide range of products including shrubs, herbaceous, trees, hedges, climbers and seasonal lines to suit all.

    A recent plant supply by the cash and carry included an impressive order of plants to restore the grounds of the new 5-star Grantley Hall Hotel. Varieties included a number of large topiary, including Fagus (Beech) domes and Buxus (Box) balls, as well as thousands of herbaceous, shrubs and grasses used for decorative borders, large hedging elements were also supplied to create partitions in the Hall’s gardens.

    You can read more about the Grantley Hall supply here

    Posted 7th Aug 2:38pm
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  6. Jobs to do in the garden this August

    Jobs to do in the garden this August

    Looking to keep busy in the garden this August? Here are the jobs you should be keeping on top of this month:

    1. Cut back the long whippy growth of Wisteria to within 3 buds of the old wood, if they are not required, to extend the area covered by the plant.
    2. Keep dead-heading the best flowering plants to encourage new flowers and stop them from setting seed. Apply a liquid feed as plants will require added nutrition to counter dry weather and heavy watering.
    3. Complete the lifting of last seasons’ bulbs and dry them off naturally in light woven sacks for maximum ventilation.
    4. Collect the seed of the plant which you wish to regenerate next year. Place a brown paper bag over the seed head and shake out contents as they become free. Save the seed in the fridge and sow next spring.
    5. Clean up and dispose of early fallen fruits, such as apples, to prevent disease spread.
    6.  Damp down greenhouse floors to maintain humidity, and don’t forget to open the vents to improve air circulation. It’s best to water early morning/late evening, and not in the heat of the sun. Close doors at night at the end of the month as conditions become cooler, but be sure to open up again the following morning.
    7.  A good time to clean the pond and the pump filter, and perhaps reduce the amount of oxygenating plants.  A fountain will help oxygenate the water for the benefit of fish.
    8. Trim lavenders after flowering but don’t cut into older wood.
    9. Towards the end of the month cut back the canes of fruited cane fruits to ground level, and tie in the young shoots which will provide next year’s harvest.
    10. Divide and replant rhizomatous Iris and layer carnations and pinks, pegging into the soil after carefully cracking a small section of the stem.
    11. Weed between alpines and top up the surface with grit or gravel. Take cuttings of Aubretia, dwarf helianthemums etc., root in a warm propagator.
    12. Continue to water recent new lawns. Probably better to leave laying or sowing a new lawn until next month when the weather is cooler.
    13. Watch out for pests and diseases, warm dry weather encourages mildew and aphids can rapidly increase in numbers. Treat with specific garden chemicals.

    Check out our previous months gardening reminders here

    Posted 2nd Aug 12:02pm
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  7. Beautifying a sloping garden with plants and hard landscaping in the Harrogate area

    Beautifying a sloping garden with plants and hard landscaping in the Harrogate area

    Our wholesale Xpress department recently supplied a selection of plants to enhance the hard landscaping of a sloping garden designed by LWB Landscapes in the Harrogate area.

    LWB Landscapes proved that a garden doesn’t need to be flat and spacious to be beautiful, dealing with a steep slope requires imaginative thinking, and, adding stone terraced flower beds, Indian stone paving and Oak sleepers they have created a beautiful layered garden.

    Using a simple mix of Buxus Sempervirens balls and cones, Lavender Hidcote, Convolvulus cneorum, Carex morrowii ‘Vanilla Ice’ and Pieris jap, we were able to bring the space to life, creating an enviable garden that will be loved for years to come.

    See below for before and after shots of the garden

    Before

    After

     

    This isn’t the only project our wholesale Xpress department has supplied in the Harrogate area; you can read about our supply to Grantley Hall here  and see how our plants helped celebrate Bowcliffe Hall’s Georgian splendour here .

     

    Posted 1st Aug 2:54pm
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