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OPEN 9am-5pm (Feb' 1st - Nov'1st) Including ALL bank holidays.

Garden Jobs This Month & Social Updates near Watford

Garden Jobs This Month - APRIL.

FLOWERS

  1. Sow hardy annuals, such as love-in-a-mist and pot marigolds, as well as native wildflowers, into gaps in borders
  2. Enjoy instant colour by planting primulas and polyanthus in pots and at the front of borders
  3. Protect the new shoots of hostas, delphiniums, lupins and other vulnerable plants from slugs and snails
  4. Continue deadheading spring bulbs and bedding, so they don’t waste energy setting seed
  5. Plant pineapple lily (eucomis) bulbs in pots for exotic-looking summer flowers
  6. Sow sweet peas at the base of supports, and transplant those sown in autumn into their final positions
  7. Spray the new leaves of disease-prone roses with fungicide to control mildew, rust and blackspot
  8. Take basal cuttings from clumps of perennials, such as delphiniums, campanulas and lupins
  9. Prune hydrangeas, cutting back the old stems to a healthy shoot lower down
  10. Reinvigorate mature clumps of hardy perennials, such as hostas, asters and daylilies, by dividing and replanting
  11. Sow sunflowers in a sunny, open site, then water regularly and protect seedlings from slugs and snails
  12. Check for aphids on roses and rub them off before they develop into major infestations
  13. Add aquatic plants, such as waterlilies and irises, to garden ponds

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

  1. Plant second-early and maincrop potatoes
  2. Place cardboard collars around the stems of brassicas to deter cabbage root fly from laying their eggs
  3. Pinch out the tips of broad beans if they’re covered in aphids, or spray shoots with soap-based solution
  4. Sow outdoor varieties of tomatoes, chillies and courgettes in pots, so they’re ready to plant out in late May or June
  5. Divide clumps of hardy herbs, such as lemon balm and chives, then replant in pots, borders or a dedicated herb bed
  6. Sow small batches of rocket and other easy salad leaves
  7. Continue planting bare-root asparagus crowns and Jerusalem artichoke tubers
  8. Sow flowering companions in the veg plot, such as pot marigolds and borage
  9. Continue planting batches of garlic, shallots and onions every few weeks to extend the cropping period
  10. Sow herbs such as parsley, coriander, dill and chamomile in a sunny bed or container
  11. Protect emerging seedlings from slugs and snails
  12. Sow fast-growing crops, such as radishes, to make the most of any temporary gaps

IN THE GREENHOUSE

  1. Prick out seedlings growing in pots and trays as soon as they produce their first true leaves
  2. Sow sweet peas in deep pots and keep them frost-free in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill
  3. Start feeding houseplants once a week with liquid fertiliser, continuing through to autumn
  4. Sow quick-growing microgreens, such as kale and mustard, for nutrient-rich pickings in just a few weeks
  5. Transplant greenhouse tomatoes into growing bags or large containers and tie in the stems to supports
  6. Plant up hanging baskets and pots with summer bedding, but keep indoors until after the last frost
  7. Sow herbs in pots or trays, including basil, chives, parsley, fennel and coriander
  8. Thin out heavy fruit sets on peaches and nectarines, leaving fruits about 10cm apart
  9. Sow runner beans, French beans, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins and sweetcorn in pots
  10. Pinch out the shoot tips of fuchsias to develop bushier plants
  11. Attach guttering to the greenhouse and install a water butt, so you can make good use of April showers
  12. Clean greenhouse glazing to let in as much light as possible
  13. Maintain good plant hygiene, picking off faded blooms and dead leaves before fungal diseases can take hold
  14. Open greenhouse doors and vents on warm days, or install automatic vent openers, to improve air circulation

AROUND THE GARDEN

  1. Put a bag of barley straw in ponds to discourage algae and keep the water clear all summer
  2. Lay turf or sow grass seed to create a new lawn or repair damaged patches
  3. Cut back tatty old fern fronds to make way for new ones that are starting to unfurl
  4. Keep cloches or large sheets of fleece handy to protect young plants if late frost is forecast
  5. Cut away unwanted suckers growing around the base of trees and shrubs
  6. Hoe between rows of veg seedlings regularly, as weeds grow rapidly at this time of year
  7. Remove moss and weeds in turf, and boost growth with a nitrogen-rich lawn feed
  8. Check that guttering on sheds and greenhouses is clear of debris, so that April showers will fill up water butts
  9. Add new aquatic plants to ponds and divide established plants that have outgrown their baskets
  10. Put pumps and fountains back into ponds, thoroughly cleaning the filters first
  11. Treat problem weeds, such as nettles and brambles
  12. Look out for clusters of aphids on shoot tips and young leaves, and wipe off before they multiply
  13. Keep putting out food for birds, as they’re busy raising their broods

All above information from http://www.gardenersworld.com/what-to-do-now/ & are in no way based on our current stock.

This Weeks Social Media Update.

WEEK 16: Penance.

Good morning Gardeners. We are finding it hard to put a positive spin on today. It would seem that wind, rain, hail & grey skies are our penance for having two nice days in a row. At least it was a nice end to the Easter holidays. Back to reality with a thump.

It would seem that a lot of you were thinking about (& doing) gardening this weekend. Thank you to everyone who visited us. It was a much busier couple of days which is positive. A big ‘HELLO’ to the new customers that found Clockhouse for the first time. We hope that you become repeat visitors.

As so many of you purchased annuals over the last couple of days, we think it best to warn you (as the signage does in our greenhouses) that, if you play by the rules, it is still too early to #plant annuals & #vegetables outside. They all still need protection from frost & cold. If you decide to ‘go ahead’ anyway, please be prepared with an adequate hardening off routine & sufficient frost protection, like horticultural fleece or cloches or some old cotton sheets, to cover your annual plants should the weather change. We just had hail for example.

On the nursery today we are potting some geraniums up into larger containers for later in the season. More bedding boxes need filling plus the next batch of patio plants need potting. Another very large delivery of young seedlings is due so we also need to reorganise our growing houses to make space. Obviously, all of this, whilst keeping the sales area full.

We hope that you have a great week & that we all get chance to enjoy some early evening garden time. Happy Gardening Everyone. 15/04/24

Shopping At Clockhouse

Garden retail like it used to be.

Here at Clockhouse Nursery we pride ourselves in providing reasonably priced plants & the products you need to grow them effectively.

That is all.

So, no need to wade through the tide of unnecessary paraphernalia that you will find in most modern garden centres.

No need to worry about parking either as we have over 150 spaces available.

Please Note !

We are a CASHLESS establishment. Accepted payment metohds: credit / debit cards (contactless or otherwise), Gift vouchers & voucher cards, Apple or Android Pay.

This IS perfectly legal: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-legal-tender

Accessibility

The vast majority of our sales areas are accessible to all. Pathways are either tarmac or concrete both outside & inside greenhouses. We have done our best to make sure that most areas can be reached by wheelchair users although in few areas this has not been 100% possible to achieve. It is an ongoing aim of ours to improve on this situation further.

You will find three designated wheelchair friendly parking zones adjacent to the shop entrance plus several other parking spaces around the car park which provide ample space for easy access to a vehicle once parked. We provide Male, Female & Accessible toilet facilities. Should you need to borrow a wheelchair, we have two, free to use, ‘push along’ style chairs on site. These are available on a ‘first come first served’ basis & you cannot book or reserve their use in advance of your visit. We advise that wheelchair users are accompanied during their visit as there are some slopes that may prove tricky for inexperienced users. Our site is on a natural gradient & we have managed to mitigate this in some areas but not all.

Should you require any internet based services to assist you, you can log onto our free WIFI whilst you visit. Just ask a member of staff for the access code when you arrive.

We have six ‘St Johns Ambulance’ trained first aid operatives within our staff. They are fully qualified in the ‘First Aid At Work’ training module. There are a number of first aid kits at their disposal around our site including an AED device.

Site Plan

Finding your way around our site.

Over recent years we have put a lot of effort into making our nursery as easilly accessible as possible. The entire sales area & car park have hard sufaces made from either concrete or tarmac. Outside pathways are wide and our sales beds are sturdy brickwork allowing customers to sit & take a rest if one of our benches is too far away or already occupied.

We feel that you will be able to navigate our nursery with ease, whether you are here for a leisurely browse or a calculated ‘in & out’ quick shop. Free copies of the nursery map (shown to the right) are available from our customer services desk, they also have a shop layout map on the back of them. Don’t forget, a member of staff will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

We hope that you enjoy your visit.

View site map

View shop map

Discounts

We offer discounts on purchases which are open to everyone.

Discounts do not apply to promotion items, special offer items, gift vouchers, bedding plants, delivery costs or compost.

You Spend Payment
£350-£649 5% discount
£650-£949 7% discount
£950+ 10% discount
Gift Vouchers

The perfect gift for green fingered family and friends

If you have absolutely no idea what to buy for as a gardening gift but you do know that the recipient is a Clockhouse Nursery customer, we can offer you a Clockhouse Nursery specific gift card. Available in four designs & similar to many highstreet gift cards in size. Simply request one at the tills, choose your design & it can then be pre loaded with an amount of your choice. Once loaded the amount on the card can be used as part payment or in its entirety. Please don’t forget to mention to your family & friends that they can become part of the Clockhouse “Garden Gang” by signing up for our loyalty card too!

We also stock & accept “National Garden Gift Voucher Cards” which are accepted at over 2,000 leading UK garden centres, shops and nurseries. With National Garden Vouchers you have the choice of over 90,000 garden products from saplings to pagodas all gardeners will find something they’d like. A National Garden Gift Voucher is great for any special occasion, and whether the lucky recipient is an experienced gardener, or just starting out, they’ll be able to buy everything they need with the thoughtful gift. (Please note that we no longer sell the paper form of these vouchers however, we do continue to accept them as long as they are in date & validated by the retailer).

Plant guarantee & refund policy

We are committed to ensuring that we sell excellent quality plants at what we deem to be reasonable prices. Many of our plants are grown here on site which enables us to maintain quality control to a very high level. Other plants are supplied by trusted companies, many of which have been in business for decades. We are always available to advise customers on the correct care for plants pre-purchase.

Because of this confidence in our product we do not offer a plant guarantee. However should you experience a problem with your plant within six months of purchase we will consider either replacement, refund or we will advise you on a course of action to take to resolve the issue. The plant will usually need to be returned & it must be accompanied with valid proof of purchase in the form of our itemised till receipt. We do NOT accept responsibility for plants damaged by weather conditions ( i.e. frost or extreme heat), or poor aftercare. A plant is a perishable good reliant on correct level of aftercare for survival. As such, after six months we relinquish responsibility for its nurturing & hand that duty 100% to the purchaser.

Refunds and exchanges

Should you change your mind about a ‘non plant’ product after purchase you may return it to us providing that the packaging has not been opened, the product has not been used, the product is still in saleable condition, with a valid receipt, within 28 days of purchase. Also, should the product be found to be faulty, it should be returned to us inside of 28 days with valid proof of purchase. Return or refund outside of 28 days may also be considered if the product meets the previous requirements stated. Plant returns should be within 5 working days. The plant will need to be in exactly the same condition as it was at the time of purchase and accompanied with a valid receipt. You will be offered cost equivalent exchange, or refund to the original method of payment.This will be at the discretion of management.

If a product had been delivered by us its return is soley the responsibility of the purchaser. We will not offer a pick up service unless extreme circustances dictate that there is no other option. In such a case the purchaser may be liable for the cost of pick up. This will be at the discretion of management.

All refunds will be credited in the same fashion as initially received, i.e. if you paid by card, the refund will need to be issued to the same card.

PLEASE NOTE We are now inside the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone. We do not accept responsibility for the the payment of ULEZ fines issued to customers when visiting our establishment nor do we accept responsibility for ULEZ fines issued to customers returning faulty or unsuitable goods.

We do not offer refunds or guarantees on any sale or stock clearance items.

Please keep your receipt as proof of purchase.

This does not affect your statutory rights.

We are now inside the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (blue area on the map).

The closest that you can get to us without a ULEZ compliant vehicle is the west section of Bullsmoor Lane as far as the mini roundabout.

Thank you in advance to customers whom wish to stick with us despite not having a compliant vehicle.

We hope that the savings you make shopping with us can compensate for the £12.50 fine.

PLEASE NOTE We do not accept responsibility for the the payment of fines issued to customers when visiting our establishment nor do we accept responsibility for fines issued to customers returning faulty or unsuitable goods.

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Visit Us

In the Spring and Summer we’re open 9am - 5pm, 7 Days a week, including Bank Holidays!

We are a CASHLESS retailer. Accepted payment metohds: credit / debit cards (contactless or otherwise), Gift vouchers & voucher cards, Apple or Android Pay (Free WIFI available).

In the UK it is not illegal for businesses to refuse cash as payment and, in the same breath, it’s not illegal for them to refuse card payments, either. See what The Bank of Engand say here: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-legal-tender

Our Autumn and Winter times are 9am - 4pm, 7 days a week.
(Nov 1st - Jan 31st) Excluding Christmas closures.

Here is a calender showing roughly what times of year different plants are available.

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Established in 1928

Not many Garden Centres can boast over ninety years of history, and yes, we have seen many changes over that period. Indeed change will continue as we strive always to supply the best in plants and facilities. One thing, however, will never change:

The core philosophy first introduced by Archibald John Mills way back in 1928 remains - the philosophy that built the company’s reputation, sustains it now, and will guide it in the future:

The best way to keep gardeners happy is to offer them plants of the highest quality, sold at reasonable prices.

Read more

Horticultural Trades Association.

We are proud members of the HTA, the Horticultural Trades Association, which is ‘the’ UK’s garden trades association. The HTA has, for over 100 years, promoted the interests of its members and the industry at large.

Being a member offers us various benefits and for you, the customer, the membership should provide you with some reassurance that we are an establishment of quality that takes its responsibilities to its customers seriously.

It also enables us to offer you access to HTA backed schemes such as the national gift vouchers which are redeemable at other HTA partner businesses across the country.

Perennial GRBS

We are also proud to say that our chosen charity is Perennial GRBS (Gardeners Royal Benevolent Society). We are a Perennial Partner which means that we make an annual contribution to this worthy cause whose sole aim is to help people in many branches of horticulture including arboriculture, farming, professional gardening etc during their hours of need. Occasionally we will attach a donate button to our Facebook posts which will enable you to donate directly to this charity should you feel so inclined. Our industry is enternally thankful to those who are able to donate even the smallest amount. To find out more about their work please feel free to visit their website https://perennial.org.uk/

Dog Friendly.

We are a dog friendly establishment. We are listed with www.dogfriendly.co.uk who’s aim is to provide a directory of dog welcoming businesses accross the UK. All that we ask of you as a dog owner is that your four legged friend is kept on a lead at all times whilst wandering around the Nursery and that you clean up after them should the enivitable ‘accident’ occur.

You may access all areas of the Nursery with your pet but we ask that on busy days, you avoid queing at the tills with them especially if they are not very good around strangers. This area can feel a little confined & we feel that for anxious dogs it is best avoided. Most of the time however, you are welcome to queue & pooch may even get a dog treat if they are allowed.

One thing that we frown upon severly is the leaving of dogs in cars whilst owners are shopping. There is no excuse for this here & we have been known to release pets from boiling hot vehicles by all means at our disposal.

Get in Touch

Please feel free to send us a message or ask a question directly via this e-mail form.