Latest Stories

  1. Recent plant supply makes happy holidays at Hoburne Naish Holiday Park

    Recent plant supply makes happy holidays at Hoburne Naish Holiday Park

     

    We are pleased to be helping people enjoy even happier holidays after supplying plants to a £1m transformation scheme at Hoburne Naish Holiday Park in Hampshire.

    Included in the delivery were more than 2,000 shrubs, hedging plants, herbaceous plants and 21 varieties of grasses all worth a total of £22,000.

    Situated on the clifftop with breath-taking sea views, the site combines the very best of coastline and countryside, from sandy beaches to picnics in the nearby New Forest.

    The holiday park has recently undergone a significant refurbishment of its leisure and entertainment complex, with its family-friendly dining area and improved public spaces, and the design-led regions with comfortable seating options.

    Attractions also include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna and on-site brasserie, along with adventure golf, a multi-sports games arena and play areas for children of all ages.

    The park includes a new development of luxurious holiday homes, set in design-led landscaped areas and offering sea views across to the isle of Wight.

    In total, Hoburne has spent £6m on giving each of its seven-holiday parks in the South West a facelift.

    Mark Preston, Director of Hoburne Properties added “we have been delighted by both the quality of the stock and the level of service we have received from Johnsons, and the feedback from our holidaymakers and owners regarding their first impressions of the recently developed areas has been nothing but complimentary. We look forward to working with Johnsons on some exciting projects we have lined up for this coming winter across our parks”.  

    We are delighted to have contributed a substantial number of plants to help revamp the Hoburne Naish holiday park. Holidays are a very special time for people, full of relaxation, and we hope we can play our part in ensuring visitors have a happy and memorable time amid glorious surroundings.

    This is just one of many holiday parks we have supplied recently others we have supplied include the Sandymouth resort, Cheddar Woods resort and Canterbury Reach which are all part of the Darwin Escapes group

    Posted 30th Oct 12:04pm
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  2. A warm welcome to Kirsten Morgan

    A warm welcome to Kirsten Morgan

    A warm welcome to Kirsten Morgan who has joined our cash & carry team as  ‘Plant Centre Assistant’ and will be answering calls and serving customers.  Find out what she had to say about her new job below:-

     

    1.Where did you work before Johnsons? Farrow & Ball, Harrogate.

     

    2. What was your previous role? I was a Showroom Assistant.

     

    3. What does your new role at Johnsons include? I provide a front of house service, answering the telephone and assisting visitors to the Cash & Carry with their enquiries. I am also involved in the sales side, providing quotations, processing sales, and assembling orders.

     

    4. How have you found your time at Johnsons, what have you enjoyed most? I have been at Johnsons since April this year where I joined the company via an agency. I have enjoyed meeting the Cash & Carry customers and helping them with a wide range of projects. I have also enjoyed working with my new colleagues who have been very welcoming and have helped me settle in my new role.

     

    5. What are you looking forward to in your new role? I am looking forward to the variety that the changes in the seasons will bring to my position. At the moment, the Cash & Carry is full of a beautiful selection of bulbs, and we are also preparing for the oncoming busy Bare Root and Root Ball season.

     

    6.  What do you think the challenges will be? To provide the best possible customer service, understanding and meeting our customer’s requirements, in what is an uncertain economic environment. Keeping warm in the winter may also be a challenge too.

    Posted 28th Oct 11:39am
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  3. Halloween competition terms & conditions

    Halloween competition terms & conditions

    Halloween competition terms & conditions

    Thursday is Halloween and to celebrate we are giving away a Halloween themed hamper. To enter, simply like our Facebook page and comment with a Halloween emoji ???? ????

    1. The promotor is Johnsons of Whixley Ltd
    2. Entrants must like the Johnsons of Whixley Facebook page and have liked and commented on the post as requested to be in with a chance to win.
    3. The competition is open to all UK residents aged over 18 and above.
    4. There is only one prize available (1 x Halloween hamper). The contents include:  x1 Heuchera Fire Chief 2L, x1 Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii 2L, x1 Phygelius rectus ‘Devil’s Tears’ 2L, x1Coprosma ‘Inferno’ 3L, x1 Hotel Chocolat Halloween chocolates.
    5. Multiple entries from the same applicant will be discounted.
    6. The prize is as stated, no cash or alternative prize is available.
    7. The winner will be picked at random from all eligible entries.
    8. The competition will close at noon on Thursday 31st October
    9. The winner will be announced on Friday 1st November on the Johnsons of Whixley Facebook page.
    10. Winners will be asked for their details for collection.
    11. Winners will receive their prize on collection.
    12. The winners are allowed up to five calendar days to claim the prize from the date they are announced. If the winner fails to come forward than the prize shall be forfeited.
    13. Entrants who did not win will not be contacted.
    14. Johnsons of Whixley will not take responsibility for any failure to the plant once the prize is received, replacements cannot be issued.
    15. If you are a winner, the promoter may request you to participate in any publicity or promotion organised by the promoter including promotional photographs.
    16. The promoter reserves the right to withdraw this offer or amend these Terms and Conditions at any time without notice.
    17. In the event of any dispute regarding the Terms and Conditions, the conduct, results and any other matters relating to this prize draw, the decision of the promoter shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
    18. By entering applicants agree to the above terms and conditions.

    Posted 28th Oct 10:17am
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  4. Helping local primary schools bloom

    Helping local primary schools bloom

    Helping local primary schools bloom

    We are proud to be nurturing the next generation of gardeners by donating plants and bulbs to three local primary schools.

    We provided more than 600 daffodil bulbs, 12 bags of compost and 300 pots to Kirk Hammerton Church of England Primary and Tockwith Church of England Primary Academy, where green-fingered pupils will plant and tend the bulbs.

    Four members of the Richardson family, which owns Johnsons, attended Kirk Hammerton primary school, which is just a mile and a half from the company’s main site.

    In addition, we donated 60 plants worth £150 to Coppice Valley Primary School in Harrogate, where our customer Ray Skeltons (Harrogate) Ltd is carrying out a landscaping project. Among the plants gifted to the school were Lavender Hidcote, Hebe ‘Red Edge’ Photinia ‘Red Robin’, Euonymus ‘Emerald Gaiety’, Skimmia rubella and Choisya ternata ‘sundance’.

     

    This latest round of donations brings the total value of plants given to local schools this year to nearly £4,000.  Included in this was a donation of plants worth £2,500 to Springwater Special School, Harrogate, lavenders worth £540 to Tockwith Church of England Primary Academy and £50 of plants to Roecliffe Church of England Primary School.

    Justin Reeve Headteacher at Tockwith School said: “Thank you so much to Johnsons of Whixley’s for giving every child in the school the opportunity to add a bit of colour to their own gardens by donating a daffodil plant. We are very grateful for this generous offering and the chance for our children to plant and tend to the bulbs. “

    Emma Meadus Headteacher at Coppice Valley Primary School said: “We are so grateful to Johnson’s of Whixley and their generous donation. With their help, we are working towards redeveloping the space at the front of the school into a community garden with space for enjoying nature and growing food. The beautiful plants from Johnson’s have become part of our wellbeing space for all the community to enjoy. “

    Kirk Hammerton primary school added: “We are so fortunate to have the support of Johnsons of Whixley who provided daffodils bulbs for all of the children.  The children are patiently awaiting a break in the weather so that they can plant the bulbs in our wilderness garden.  We all look forward to them appearing in the spring!”

    Posted 23rd Oct 1:23pm
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  5. Johnsons make York’s Top 100 business list for the third year running

    Johnsons make York’s Top 100 business list for the third year running

    We are delighted to announce that we have been added to York’s Top 100 business list for the 3rd year running.

    Researchers from York St John University and Make it York have taken an in-depth look at the key business sectors in the city, including leisure, tourism, sciences, transport and technology. The analysis is carried out from key players in the York business community including the federation of small businesses, Chambers of Commerce, Enterprise Partnership and York Professionals where turnover, profit, growth and staff numbers are all taken into consideration when making the top 100 list.

    We are pleased to have placed at number 55 in York’s Top 100 list in 2017 and 34 in 2018 and look forward to this years result being announced on Wednesday 13th November where all businesses within the list will be invited for breakfast at St John’s University.

    The Top 100 magazine will also be launched at the breakfast lunch along with a 48-page supplement that will appear in ‘The Press’ newspaper on this night.

    Chairman John Richardson and Marketing Manager Eleanor Richardson will attend the breakfast-lunch on behalf of Johnsons of Whixley.

    Group Managing Director, Graham Richardson said “ We are delighted to feature again in the list of the York region’s top 100 companies. This year’s awards follow another record year to Sept 2019 which will be hopefully reflected in next years awards.”

     

    Posted 18th Oct 10:25am
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  6. Working with Evoke Landscape Design Ltd to create an outdoor learning area

    Working with Evoke Landscape Design Ltd to create an outdoor learning area

    We recently teamed up with Evoke Landscape Design Ltd to create an outdoor learning area at Hightown Junior Infant & Nursery School, Liversedge.

    The West Yorkshire based junior school already has an extensive allotment and orchard on the grounds as well as an area for rearing chickens and ducks; this helps encourage the children to engage with the outdoor environment.

    The new area designed by Bradford landscape design business Evoke will further enhance the outdoor learning space and hopes to encourage wildlife. With 120 used tyres from a local garage were added to create a living retaining wall around the new area, the tyres have been filled with sensory plants from our Wholesale Xpress department; plant supply included Lavenders, Rosemary, Heathers, Thyme, Mint and a range of grasses and other herbaceous plants.

    It was fantastic to team up with longstanding customer Evoke Landscape Design Ltd to enhance the outdoor learning area of Hightown Junior Infant & Nursery School, we hope the children and teachers enjoy this space for many years to come.

    Headteacher at Hightown Junior Infant & Nursery School, Mr Russell Ingleby, said: “We are delighted with the work that Evoke Landscaping has completed in the school grounds. We are looking forward to seeing how the carefully chosen plants and shrubs add to the outdoor experience for years to come.”

    This isn’t the only school project we have got onboard with recently, we are proud to be working on  a collaboration project between the Landscape Architecture Department at the University of Sheffield and Hunter’s Bar Infant School, Sheffield. The #GoGoGreen campaign will see 100’s of our plants used to help improve the air quality of the school’s playground. You can find out more here – – – > #GoGoGreen

    Posted 17th Oct 12:10pm
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  7. Working with SPA Landscaping to help Costco petrol stations bloom throughout the UK

    Working with SPA Landscaping to help Costco petrol stations bloom throughout the UK

    This year we have teamed up with SPA Landscaping to help Costco Wholesale Corporation petrol stations bloom throughout the UK.

    Throughout 2019 Costco have been constructing new petrol stations at select locations across the UK. The construction of these sites has required a full-scale landscaping renovation from topsoil amelioration right through to tree and shrub planting.

    Sheffield based SPA landscaping’s large in-house team carried out the works across a number of the sites and tasked us with the supply of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.

    Plant varieties supplied to the various Costco sites have included a large number of trees including Sorbus ‘Sheerwater seedling’, Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ and Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’. 1000’s of shrubs were also supplied including Griselinia littoralis 10L, Hebe ‘Mrs Winder’ 5L, Vinca Major 2L, Viburnum tinus 2L, Hedera Hibernica 2L, Spirea ‘Anthony Waterer’, Escallonia rubra ‘Macrantha’, Carpinus betulus and Photinia ‘Red Robin’.

    Before planting, SPA Landscaping used a rotavator to break up, churn and aerate the soil before providing a mulch finish. The benefits of doing such include conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the area.

    It’s been fantastic to work with SPA Landscaping to beautify the grounds of several Costco sites in the UK this year. Costco is one of the best-known names in trade retailing, with 770 shops worldwide, so it’s great to be associated with them and their latest petrol station constructions.

    Alex Anthony, Director at SPA Landscaping, said “We pride ourselves on a high-quality finish to the job at hand, and when working with highly reputable companies such as Costco, we must ensure every aspect meets our standard. This is why we regularly work with Johnson’s of Whixley as their stock is second-to-none, and we know we trust an on-time site delivery.”  

    We also teamed up with Spa Landscaping earlier in the year to supply plants to a healing garden at the Royal Derby Hospital, you can read all about it here —–>  Royal Derby Hospital supply 

    Posted 11th Oct 2:33pm
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  8. Johnsons Garden Centre Sales launches new catalogue

    Johnsons Garden Centre Sales launches new catalogue

    Our Garden Centre Sales has launched a new catalogue for 2020, to promote new and existing lines. The catalogue will be available from early October both on this website and in print.

    The catalogue features more than 900 lines including 31 brand new varieties such as Senicio ‘Angel Wings’, Agapanthus ‘Polar Ice’, Yucca ‘Gold Sword’, Cordyline ‘Charlie Boy’, Astrantia ‘Pink Pride’ and Leaucothoe ‘Burning Love’.

    The catalogue will also showcase various plant collections, including the patio perfect range and prestige collection, ideal for people looking for well-established plants.

    Johnsons has been one of the UK’s leading garden centre suppliers for more than 40 years, with plant lines grown on a number of the company’s specialist production sites in North Yorkshire.

    Garden Centre Sales Manager Mark Reynard said: “We are delighted to present our 2020 catalogue and showcase new lines following another strong year.”

    For your copy email paull@nurserymen.co.uk or call us on 01423 330234.

    Posted 4th Oct 2:15pm
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  9. Jobs to do in the garden this October

    Jobs to do in the garden this October

    Not sure what to do in the garden this month? Here are our garden reminders put together by our chairman and horticulturalist John Richardson.

    1) With October starting with rain, following rain, which followed rain, the land is going to be too sticky and muddy to do much for the next week or so, give the greenhouse or garden shed a good clean, and put away all those tools, labels, canes and bottles that it has been easier to overlook during the good weather.

    2) Give conifers a final trim this month and try and complete the planting of evergreens while the soil is still warm and new roots will then establish before the ground becomes cold.

    3) Give thought to lifting tender plants which you wish to retain, pot them up and store in a frost-free environment. Calla lilies have been very popular this year, but don’t forget they are on the tender side and also need to be lifted and protected during the winter.

    4) If you need to move trees that are going to be too big for their location, do it in 2 stages, this year dig a trench around half the root ball, about 30-40cm away from the trunk and backfill with good well-rotted Compost. This will encourage young roots near to the trunk before you cut the roots on the other side as you move it next autumn. Don’t try this on trees more than two years after the original planting; the root-balls would be just too big and heavy to lift.

    5) As herbaceous plants die back, reduce top growth almost to ground level and compost all soft green material. Remove and store all the canes and stakes. Burn pea-sticks and rotten stakes.

    6) Fix grease bands to apple and pear tree trunks to prevent female winter moth caterpillars climbing up to lay their eggs on the young buds. Choose the correct grease for smooth or rough-barked trees.

    7) Now is an excellent time to clean out the pond and remove the water pump for the winter.

    8) Store top fruit for the winter, by picking only those fruits which are undamaged, wrap in newspaper and store in a frost-free cool shed. DO NOT retain any fruits which show signs of damage; they will only affect those that are undamaged, but you can freeze these fruits.

    9) Rake up fallen leaves around rose bushes to prevent the carry-over of Black Spot to next year.

    10) Take hardwood cuttings of deciduous shrubs and line them out in a trench formed by pushing a spade into the soil to about 10 inches and rocking it to enlarge the slot. Insert the cuttings about 2 inches apart and firm soil back between the feet. On heavy soil run a little sand into the slot before planting the cuttings.

    11) Tall shrubs such as Buddleia and Lavatera, which will be pruned hardback in spring will tidy up the garden if cut back by half at this time to prevent wind rock during the winter.

    12) Dahlia tubers need lifting and storing this month. Cut the stems back to about 4” from ground level, shake off as much soil as possible, hosing off if necessary, and store upside down for 14 days to dry out the stems of the plants. Afterwards, store in dry compost with the stem out of the compost, in a cool frost-free building. Remember to name all plants at the time you lift them from the ground.

    Posted 2nd Oct 9:53am
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