Spring’s a big deal
Dobbies offers a wide range of quality plants and planet-friendly products - all great value prices - to help you get the most out of your garden
Finally, spring is here, and as you get back into your cherished outside space, you may want to try gardening more sustainably – and Dobbies Garden Centres are right there with you. With a continued emphasis on developing sustainable gardening products and services, the garden centre has now introduced additional ranges to support you in taking a planet-friendly approach, while also welcoming more wildlife into your garden.
Seeds for pollinators
Dobbies’ new own-brand range of seeds is designed to encourage bees and butterflies to thrive. It includes three types of seed shakers: cottage garden, butterfly & bee and flowers for pollinators, and each one includes a mix of up to 20 varieties of easyto-grow flower seeds that will help create a natural oasis for pollinators. You can also choose from four easy-to-sow seed bombs, which contain different mixes of colourful flowers. To use them, simply prepare the soil, scatter the seed bombs and water, then wait for the flowers to grow and the pollinators to come calling.
If you’ve got a smaller plot, the Butterfly Garden Starter Kit may be a good option for you. Featuring four types of nectar-rich flowers, the seeds can be sown indoors between February and June, then added to pots or a garden border. This kit is also a great choice for children, as it encourages them to get involved in gardening and learning about nature.
Clever compost
Dobbies’ own-brand range of peat-free John Innes compost is a key part of its commitment to sustainability. It’s the first UK retailer to develop five types of this compost, which cover all plant life stages and needs: Seed, Young Plant, Potting-On, Mature Plant and Ericaceous. The winner of the RHS Sustainable Garden Product of the Year award at last year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this innovative collection offers compost options for all plants, fruits and vegetables, and it’s perfect used in pots, containers and baskets. It’ll even feed your plants for up to five weeks, thanks to a balanced combination of nutrients with soil, minerals and organic matter.
Since January last year, Dobbies has only sold peat-free bagged compost to help reduce the extraction of peat from the wild beds and make it easier for you to garden sustainably. Indeed, peat – which takes thousands of years to form – is an important element in the fight against climate change, as it provides an invaluable carbon sink and a rich haven for wildlife. It can even improve water quality and help reduce flood risk.