If you’re planning on cooking up a sumptuous meal to share with your loved one, a special candle-lit dinner is a great way to woo them. Our electronic dinner candles help to set the mood but are completely safe – so there’s no need to worry about dripping wax or risk of fire if you get swept up in each other’s company! And best of all, we’ll send them to you on a free next working day delivery, so you can be sure to get them in time for the big day!

As most gardeners know, slugs and snails can be utterly detrimental to your plants and flowers and must be dealt with. An easy method is simply to keep your plants out of the slugs’ reach. You can do this by using hanging baskets or keeping indoor plants. However, this is not always practical or desirable.

There are several methods of dealing with slugs. Covering your plants with netting will help to prevent slugs and snails as well as birds from attacking them. It is important to keep checking them however, in case any slugs have managed to slip through and to make sure that the plants do not get caught up in the netting.

Salt is extremely effective at killing them; however, sprinkling a barrier of salt around your plants may prevent slugs from attacking them, but if it seeps into the soil and is taken up by the plants and flowers themselves, salt can damage those too.

 A tested and safe repellent or slug killer may be a better solution and these are readily available. They are often in pellet form and should be scattered around the plants. The slugs will consume them and perish while your plants remain healthy and safe. Such products are very carefully controlled to be safe for use when children are present or nearby, but it is always best to check if they are suitable for use around edible plants, should you wish to use them near any crops.

An alternative method to pellet-based slug bait and killers is the slug trap. These are fitted into the ground near the plants or anywhere where you frequently see slugs and snails, and the base is filled with beer or yeast. The slugs are attracted by this and fall into the trap, keeping your plants protected.

And it’s not just your hands that can be kept warm, as heated socks are now also available. Perfect for when you’re out walking, hiking, skiing or in your wellies. They focus the heat on your toes, which are of course the most vulnerable areas during the cold. Not only can you get heated socks, but there are also heated insoles to put inside your favourite shoes. And for when you’re at home, you can even get microwaveable slippers or boots, which are perfect for tired and aching feet after a hard day.

Aside from gloves and socks, you can also select from a range of stylish heated jackets and gilets, which circulate gentle warmth to your back and sides, and are perfect for keeping the chill away. Most even come with variable heat settings, meaning you can adjust to a temperature to suit your needs – perfect if you’re going in and outside frequently.

Aside from all the clothing, you can find a whole range of accessories to keep you warm this winter. Why not get a heated scarf for when you’re stood at the bus stop on these freezing mornings? And a heated back warmer is ideal not only for those wanting to keep warm, but for anyone with back pain or sports injuries, and its discreet design means you can wear it out and about and no-one need know!

With all this choice, there is no reason why you should be going cold this winter – with enough choice to suit the entire family, our heated clothing can help beat the freeze!

Water features require different care depending on the season. During spring and summer when the days are hot, water can evaporate quickly so you must keep an eye on the water level in the feature to prevent it running dry. Remember that the pump must always be submerged in water – if the fountain is left running but is without water, this can cause considerable damage to the pump and prevent it working properly in the future.

Likewise in winter it is important to make sure that the water in the fountain is kept above freezing point. Water expands when it freezes, so if it is allowed to freeze within the feature, the pressure can cause a lot of damage, again potentially preventing the fountain from working properly. If you have an outdoor water feature that you can bring indoors, the temperature inside your home should be high enough to prevent the water freezing. However, if you want to leave the feature outdoors, you should either remove any water at the start of the winter, or alternatively try Primrose’s Fountain Frost-Free, an eco-friendly and safe product which you simply add to the water to prevent it freezing, enabling you to continue enjoying the feature throughout wintertime.

Fountains can also be prone to algae growth, particularly outdoor fountains; the supply of water together with plenty of sun provides optimum growing conditions. This can cause the water in your feature to become green. To avoid this, make sure you change the water regularly to prevent a large build up of algae. You can also buy a water feature cleaner which will keep the water clear and free of algae. Primrose recommends Ambienté Fountain Safe as an economical, effective and safe fountain cleaner. This can also be combined with Ambienté’s Stainless Steel Water Feature Cleaner, a fantastic, innovative product designed to prevent limescale building up on stainless steel features and to keep them shiny and clean.

Heated Clothing – Gloves, Socks, Jackets and More

Desperately needed at this time of year, our range of heated clothing will keep you even warmer than standard scarves and gloves thanks to the additional battery-powered heating elements. Stay toasty this winter whatever the weather with heated gloves, scarves, insoles, socks, gilets, jackets, leg warmers and much more!

LED Candles

LED battery candles are a smart alternative to traditional candles with real flames. They flicker like real candles but are flameless and completely safe. Attractive and long-lasting, they’re great value for money and can be placed anywhere. These practical candles come in a multitude of styles and functions, look great and create a wonderful atmosphere. I personally have a set of Two LED Colour Changing Real Wax Candles With Remote Control which sit on a bookshelf, posing no threat to my books, and I have great fun picking colours with the remote control!

Garden Clocks

Practical and attractive, a garden clock is an ideal present. With a range of designs, including wall clocks and bracket mounted, double faced clocks, our beautiful clocks are easy to read and make a delightful gift.

Meerkat Ornaments

Meerkats are overwhelmingly popular, thanks to the TV advert – and now you can fill your home and garden with the cheeky chappies! If you know someone who’s tickled pink by the cute critters, make them laugh this Christmas with an adorable meerkat ornament – from meekats with solar lights (which really work!) and golfing meerkats, to James Bond Meerkat and Meerkat planters, we have the one for you!

Water Features

I know what you’re thinking – water features are for summer, not winter! But now is a great time to grab yourself a bargain and many features can be used both indoors and out, so there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy one in your home during the colder months and move it outside if you wish once spring rolls around. Relaxing to the gentle sound of trickling water is a great way to de-stress after the hustle and bustle of Christmas!

If the thought of labouring outside in the cold does not appeal to you, you can still continue to enjoy gardening within the comfort of your home. Window boxes and trough planters are slim lined and fit neatly on any window ledge, allowing you to continue to propagate your bulbs and seeds indoors, rather than relying on whatever the local florist can provide. Herbs in particular are great for indoor gardening and you can often find handy and affordable herb growing kits which will also sit on your window sill and are ideal for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

At this time of year, protecting your more fragile plants and flowers from the frost and cold is a big priority. If you are anxious about leaving them open to the weather outside, it’s best to store them inside a greenhouse. However, if indoor space is an issue, do not despair! Fleecy plant covers are just the ticket to keep your garden plants protected from frost. Cheap, effective and easy to use, they just slip over the plant and keep it safe from the harsh winter weather while still allowing moisture and light to penetrate through to the plant

Naturally this is very frustrating, but there’s no need to worry – there are a number of methods you can use to get rid of the moles from your garden:

Moles Traps

One solution is to use mole traps. These are galvanised metal traps which are placed into the tunnel, set and ready to catch the moles. They provide a fast solution and are safe for the environment unlike poisons. One benefit is that they can be used year-round, in all weathers, and can be used over and over again. Mole traps are a quick and efficient solution to your problem, but  are not very humane and there are much better alternatives.

Smoke/Powders

If mole traps don’t appeal to you, you may like to consider mole smoke or mole repellent powders. These are simple, humane solutions that are also cheap and effective. Simply place the lit smoke or the powder into the mole tunnel and let them work their magic – soon the moles will head off to another garden! Obviously, once the smoke or powder has been used up, there is the chance that moles may eventually return, meaning this isn’t a permanent, guaranteed solution to rid yourself of moles.

Ultrasonic Repellers

A final solution is to use ultrasonic repellers. These are placed into the ground and work by vibrating. The moles interpret these vibrations as the movement of nearby predators, and will begin to leave the area in fear. To get the best use from the repellers, you should use two or more to ‘herd’ the moles away from the garden, rather than place them in the middle of all the holes. Doing this will result in the moles becoming confused, and they may scatter in all directions. So, for example, you may want to start off with the repellers very close to your house, and gradually move them down the garden to herd the moles away.

These ultrasonic repellers are a great, humane alternative to mole traps, although they may need longer to take full effect. It is possible to purchase solar or battery-powered repellers; the benefit of solar repellers is that they are completely free to run, although their performance may decrease during the winter months due to the decrease in sunlight. Battery-powered mole repellers will work year round, though obviously the batteries will eventually need replacing.

Electric Heaters

Electric heaters are a great source of heat, and are extremely easy to use which is probably why they have become so popular. All you really need to get up and running is a nearby electrical output, although these heaters work best in smaller areas, so are ideal if you’re looking to create an intimate patio setting, and work well in sheltered or enclosed areas.

One advantage is that, contrary to popular belief, electric heaters are actually quite eco-friendly. They don’t consume vast amounts of energy, and also don’t release soot and other nasties into the air. Another plus is that they warm up almost instantaneously, meaning you can have instant heat as and when you need it.

Of course, another advantage is that there are now so many styles and varieties to choose from, that you can find most styles to suit your own tastes. You can have stylish,    free-standing heaters that can blend right in with your other garden décor, or you can have simple, wall-mounted halogen heaters for something a bit more functional. Of course, you have to take into account that they only cover a limited area, but if you’re only looking for a small heated area, then an electric patio heater could be right for you.

Chimeneas

This is another type of garden heater that has recently become very popular. Originating from Mexico, these free-standing open fireplaces make a great addition to any garden, and are a fantastic traditional way to bring heat and ambience into your garden.

Whilst they were originally made from clay, there are now a wide range of materials, designs and sizes to suit all gardens and personalities. From traditional clay, beautiful cast iron and contemporary steel, there really is something for everything.

One thing to bear in mind of course is that you will need a source of fuel, which could start to add up if you don’t have endless amounts of wood laying about! Nevertheless, chimeneas look fantastic and come with added bonuses – My personal favourite is wrapping a potato in foil and throwing it in, for a delicious evening meal. You can also get some fantastic accessories, including scented firelighters to help delicately flavour your barbecues as well as creating a pleasant, fragrant environment.

Fire Bowls, Baskets and Pits

If you’re looking for something a bit different, then a fire pit may just be the thing for you. Whilst it may sound like a bare open hole in your garden, a fire pit is actually a fire contained in a free-standing, decorative basket or bowl on legs. They too come in a vast array of styles and finishes, and many also include safety features which are ideal if you’re concerned about an open fire around small children and pets.

The most basic version are fire baskets, which are literally steel or iron baskets in which to burn wood or coal. Most come with a grill, and it’s also wise to check whether a tray is supplied which can collect the fallen embers and ash, making cleaning up a lot easier.

If you’re looking for something slightly more decorative, then a fire bowl may be just the thing. These are a lot more contained, and usually come with a lid or insert, making them perhaps slightly safer.

All will usually come with grills, meaning they can make a stylish alternative to the standard barbecue. What’s great about them is that they are generally small and lightweight, making them ideal to stick in the back of the car if you’re taking a trip to the beach or going camping. The only downside of these fire pits is that, due to the fact there is no chimney, they can smoke rather a lot.

Outdoor fireplaces

For the ultimate statement in outdoor heating, you could always opt for an outdoor fireplace. There’s nothing quite like the ambient glow of an open fire inviting you in, and these can really enhance the environment if you’re entertaining outside. While this category could technically also include chimeneas and fire pits, the difference in style and cost warrants its own special mention.

They are by far the most expensive of outdoor heating options, but can be such beautiful, permanent fixtures and could even add value to your home. You can opt for ready made fireplaces that make the whole thing a lot easier, and even better means you can take them with you if you ever move home.

It will probably be cheaper to build your own, and whilst this could be a bit more effort, it means that you can build it to look like an existing wall, for a truly authentic feel (although you may want to check your local planning codes beforehand!). Outdoor fireplaces are great both for when you are hosting guests, or even if you just want to relax outside with a book and a glass of wine. You can cook a huge variety of things on them and they can create a real focal point in your garden.

If you’re looking for something a bit less up close and personal than the classic cup + paper technique, you could try out a spider catcher, or spider vacuum, which won’t hurt the spider, but more importantly keeps the thing at arms length! These little contraptions are great to have ready to hand, and can also be used for hoovering up any other unwanted house-guests you may come across.

However, this still may be too close for comfort for some people (myself included!), and so there are also a number of defences you can put up to protect your home. Why not spray spider repellent around window frames and other entrances to create a natural barrier that is environmentally friendly and won’t harm the creatures. Or if you have a real infestation of spiders and other creepy crawlies, you can clear the whole area in one go with a smoke fumigator – perfect for attics and garages, although maybe a little heavy duty for most cases!

Perhaps the most effective way to guarantee whole-house protection is to opt for an ultrasonic spider repeller. This device works in two ways to help clear your house of spiders, and stop them coming back! It uses ultrasonic sound waves thought to be extremely uncomfortable for spiders and other crawling insects to drive them from your home; kind of like nails scraping on a chalkboard constantly. It also uses electromagnetic waves that turn the wiring of your home into one giant repeller- anywhere near a wire will be protected! Sounds perfect no? It is thought electromagneticism affects their nervous system, making them flee your home. Additionally, you can also get smaller, battery-powered repellers – perfect for greenhouses, sheds, attics etc.

So, you no longer need to live in fear of the 8 legged freaks! Take back control of your home, and enjoy a stress-free, spider-free Autumn.

On the plus side, tomato blight seems to be thankfully absent this year – the warm dry weather is to thank for that. However we have had some short, intense periods of rain which have been fantastic for the plants, and also for the weeds!

If you are finding you are running out of space to compost the spoils of your weeding escapades, it may be time to invest in a compost bin! If you already have a bin, a compost rotation system involving two or more compost bins can be a very valuable addition to a well functioning and efficient garden. This system works by filling up one bin whilst the other gets busy composting. You can then empty one whilst the other is composting – fantastic!

Those of you who have been growing your own potatoes, broad beans and other veg will find that you have a constant supply of peelings and shells finding their way to the compost from the kitchen – we’ve found some fantastic compost caddies which can store uncooked kitchen food waste – especially useful when winter approaches and we all feel less inclined to visit the garden!