Of course the English climate is able to support the greatest range of plants on the planet and of course the English sensibility is to thank for the creation of the world’s loveliest cottage gardens.
Bamboo hand rakes imported from Japan are used by the gardeners at Great Dixter As well as for raking leaves in intricate spaces they also come in handy when cutting hedges as...
...they can be used to even up the hedge after the first cut in order to identify any rough bits A Japanese Hand Rake is 10 80 from the Great Dixter garden shop
Before the weather warms up, cover rhubarb to coax it to flourish early.
A Traditional Terracotta Rhubarb Forcer is £60 from Burford Garden Company, which notes: “Simply fill the terracotta forcer with straw and position over the emerging rhubarb bud, to protect from frost and provide a cosy environment.”
Started from owner Tina Guillory’s home on the Norfolk coast, the Carrier Company is known for its stylish, hardwearing gardener’s attire: smocks, aprons, and bags.
Read more about the Carrier Company in The Well-Dressed Gardener.
A weatherproof Traditional Single Handed Grass Shear with carbon steel blades and hardwood handles are the tool of choice for “light topiary use,” says London’s Clifton Nurseries.
Made of cast iron, Barrington Spiral Plant Supports have a dual purpose; in addition to supporting sweet peas and other climbers, they serve as whimsical pieces of garden sculpture; £14 apiece from Garden Trading.
In the garden, cloches protect tender plants from cold temperatures.
A Mini Water Butt to collect rain water measures 26 by 26 by 17 centimeters and is available in three colors including white; on sale for £8.95 (marked down from £15.95) at The Balcony Gardener.
Founded in 1895 in Sheffield, England, garden tool company Joseph Bentley makes two sizes of wood-handled Secateurs with stainless steel bypass blades designed to prune roses and shrubs; depending on size, prices range from 299 to 349 KR from Artilleriet.
For US shoppers, a pair of 8-inch Stainless Steel Bypass Secateurs is available for $19.99 from Joseph Bentley US.
Offered by the garden shop at Great Dixter, “these decorative terra cotta cane tops are designed to sit on top of canes in the border, helping identify them and providing protection to the eyes when working and bending.” An assortment of five Terracotta Cane Tops is £12.50.
Gate Hurdles from rural England for centuries have been hand split shaved and trimmed using the same techniques and tools axes mallets and draw knives At Green Man Wood Crafts in Wiltshire...
...Gate Hurdles are made to order available in standard or custom sizes at prices ranging from 17 for a 2 by 1 foot size to 70 for a 6 by 6 foot hurdle