Watch this interview with our Commerical Manager, David Hall where he talks about our new products, Point of Sale and stands.

Helping your garden survive the heat wave

This summer has undoubtedly been a scorcher and all the gardeners out there in the UK might be getting a little worried about their gardens. So here are a few tips to help out the garden stay in tip-top shape in this heat wave.

Water the plants in early morning/late evening

In this hot weather, watering during the day can seriously hinder the amount of water that the plants actually get. A huge percentage will be get evaporated away by the glorious sunshine that we all love so much. Another reason to do it at these times is that water droplets can magnify the sunlight and cause scorching which is quite damaging.

Bark at the borders

Okay. So you need a dog for this one…Haha. No, but seriously, laying down some Woodland Bark or mulch on your borders will really help with moisture retention in the soil.

Lawns going brown

You may be noticing that due to lack of rain your precious lawns are going all brown and look like they are dying. Don’t be too worried as the grass is very drought tolerant and hardy so when the rains return (as they always do), your grass will also return to its natural and healthy state.

Don’t mow the lawn too much

This leads onto another point about the grass, try to resist mowing it as long grass is much more tolerant of the heat and will survive longer.

Planted Containers

Potted plants need constant and regular watering during drought conditions. As well as the plants taking up water, 25% of moisture is lost through surface evaporation. To combat this effect it is important to Mulch the top of your containers, this prevents moisture loss and also shades the roots. Perfect for this job is Pot Topping gravels, not only do they look good but also they are very effective in retaining moisture.

Another great tip, if you are planting up new containers place a layer (5cm) of Lytag in the bottom of the pot before filling with compost. Lytag is an inert clay aggregate that has great water retaining properties.

Save Water

Did you know that you can water the plants with bath or shower water? As long as you aren’t using it to water anything that you will eat without cooking (e.g. Lettuce) then you are good to go. Saving water in a heat wave like this is critical.

These have been some top tips from the horticulture team at Deco-Pak and we hope they have helped you manage a well-kept garden in this hot weather.

For more information, chat to us on Twitter or ring us on 01422 204 394.

Deco-Pak to launch ‘never before seen’ paving products at Glee 2018

Seasoned Glee exhibitors, Deco-Pak, is aiming to launch the next big thing in decorative landscaping at this year’s Glee exhibition, by introducing two entirely unique paving options for 2019. The latest in a long line of innovations launched exclusively at Glee, each new range is aimed at providing a point of difference for its garden centre retail partners.

 Deco-Pak’s Marketing Director Craig Hall says: “Visitors to our stand will see new paving options that utilise cutting-edge materials and technology in a way that we believe is an industry first. For retailers, these new additions will definitely be something to get their customers excited, whilst also increasing demand for patio landscaping products. For consumers, the main draw for them will be a highly versatile product able to suit any kind of budget and size of garden. Providing decoration whilst also enhancing the functionality of paths and patios in a way you would not expect from a humble paving slab.”

Deco-Pak’s new products will remain under wraps until they are launched to the market exclusively at Glee 2018, with the Glee New Product Showcase a ‘must-do’ for the brand. Glee is the company’s main trade show in 2018 and will showcase its award-winning ranges on a stand that is 25% larger than the previous year.

Find out more

Deco-Pak’s profile can be viewed here: https://www.gleebirmingham.com/exhibitors/deco-pak-1?&azletter=D&searchgroup=libraryentry-exhibitors

Our stand is Hall 20 Y36-Z37 and Y40-Z41

The company’s current ranges of decorative paving, aggregates, growing media, water features and bird boxes can all be viewed on the company’s website, www.deco-pak.co.uk. To speak directly with the sales team call 01422 204394.

GIMA judges award category win to Deco-Pak for ‘whimsical and charming’ bird boxes

GIMA supplier Deco-Pak jumped to the top of the pecking order in the Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care category last night, with a win at the 2018 GIMA Awards gala dinner in South Wales. Deco-Pak’s Quintessentially British Collection of decorative birdhouses and birdfeeders impressed the judges who described it as “whimsical and charming – a fantastic take on the traditional birdhouse.”

The new additions to the well-established Garden Bazaar range include a realistic-looking miniature garden shed, a London Underground sign for nesting birds to hide behind, a wine rack feeder that promotes reusing bottles, and a scaled down No. 10 Downing Street for birds to peck on in protest. The award was hotly contested against a large number of entries this year, including finalists Smart Garden and Wildlife World.

Marketing Director Craig Hall said: “We’d already received a positive reception for our new Garden Bazaar decorative birdbox ranges from customers and the media, but to also win a GIMA Award – our first ever – is just fantastic. In a category crammed full of great products and innovations, the competition is always fierce and this year was certainly no different. On behalf of all of us at Deco-Pak I’d like to say a huge thank you to GIMA and the judges, this is a great deal for us and a key moment in the continued growth of our company.”

Designed by Deco-Pak, the new Quintessentially British range of bird boxes and feeders is priced at £16.99 – £29.99 RRP. Designed to appeal to buyers or collectors looking for quirky garden gifts, and fans of the original range of Garden Bazaar British birdhouses and feeders. Highly functional and made from FSC certified wood, the range was a finalist in the Spring Fair awards at the start of the year.

Check out our Quintessentially British Range!

We are always looking for feedback whether it is negative or positive so come chat to us on Twitter!

Deco-Pak Play sand raises money for Greenfingers

A cheque for £2,550 was presented to children’s hospice garden charity Greenfingers, as a donation from decorative aggregate specialist Deco-Pak at the GIMA Charity Golf and Activity Day (Thursday, 7^th June). 

The money was part-raised over the last 18 months through a play pit sand promotion that is to continue throughout 2018, with the goal of raising over £10,000 by 2020.

Linda Petrons, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Greenfingers Charity, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Deco-Pak this year through the sale of play pit sand. The money raised through this range will help pave the way for more magical gardens for children’s hospices nationwide, enhancing the care to children and families living with terminal illness.  We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of Deco-Pak and look forward to working with them in the future.”

 Deco-Pak director, GIMA council member and Greenfingers ambassador Craig Hall presented the cheque to Linda and outlined the family company’s fundraising commitment for the next year.  “Greenfingers is such a fantastic cause which is needed by and resonates with, everyone in our industry.  At Deco-Pak, we plan to raise £10,000 for Greenfingers by 2020 through the sale of our charity play pit sand, fundraising and other activities. Through the sales of our charity products through consumers and our retail partners, we aim to leave a lasting impression for the charity, and help provide more gardens for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.”

 Deco-Pak’s Greenfingers Play Pit Sand, large pack retailing at £3.99, is ideal for young children taking their first steps in creative outdoor play.  A smaller 10kg pack is also available with a retail-friendly easy carry handle, at £2.99 RRP.

 Find out more

Visit www.deco-pak.co.uk, connect via Twitter @deco_pak, or call the sales office on 01422 204394.

 Images:  Deco-Pak Director Craig Hall and national key accounts manager Rebecca Cox, present a giant cheque to Linda Petrons, Greenfingers Head of Fundraising & Communications

Deco-Pak’s new Decorative Garden Products and how we coped with the bad weather?

After the indisputably poor start to the spring season garden suppliers have been gladly fulfilling customer orders throughout an extremely busy May.  Deco-Pak, decorative garden products supplier rode the storm particularly well – but how did they turn an uncontrollable external factor such as the weather to their advantage, and what will be the bestsellers this summer?

Craig Hall, Director at Deco-Pak, suppliers of decorative aggregates, paving, water features, birdhouses and feeders, said: “Like most other garden products, sales of decorative garden products are reliant on the weather – despite the positive effect they have of brightening up the garden on dismal days.  At the beginning of the season we were faced with an uncomfortable prospect – having to put unwanted pressure on retailers to take stock, so we decided to do the complete opposite – and take the pressure off using our unique strengths.  Unlike some of our customers, we do have the capacity to hold stock.  We have a huge site in a good location and our transport network is super-fast so we were able to ensure retailers had stock for key selling periods, especially weekends and bank holidays. 

New Decorative Garden Products

“Product-wise, this year we have introduced four new decorative bird houses and feeders – all linked to the theme ‘quintessentially British’. They feature a garden shed, wine bottle feeder, London underground and 10 Downing Street, all enhanced with fine features that really set them apart from others on the market.  We also launched new Penny and Half Penny stepping stones to our decorative landscaping range which has become especially popular since its surprise launch on BBC breakfast at GLEE last year.”

About Deco-Pak

Deco-Pak is a supplier of decorative aggregates, paving, growing media, birdhouses, insect hotels, water features and statuary, specialising in creating unique point of sale displays, contemporary heritage-style packaging and hands-on customer service. The family-run company distributes all over the UK from their base in West Yorkshire, serving independent garden centres and national retail chains alike.

Why not talk to us Twitter? Feedback is always appreciated! To see more of Deco-Pak’s range, click here.