It's a hairy wrap

Morning all,
I'm not quite sure which way to turn. It's Saturday morning and there is no potting team in for the first time since early April. We still have plenty to do but I'm hoping we can cope now in 5 days rather than six. It will be good for all those involved to have a bit of a break but it seem eerily quiet but definitely more relaxed, time to get started on my back log of jobs that I haven't been able to get done over the hectic and overheated summer. We've only got until the end of the month to tidy up our Green Impact input for this year's assessment, I think I'm nearly there, just got to bundle together a bit more evidence to back up the commentary which is mostly about adding a few photos which should be simple. With a bit of luck we will get a visit from the assessors this year, last year I may have overdone the evidence in my enthusiasm and put them off coming to see it firsthand.
Over the last couple of weeks we have been looking at the use of the stretchy pallet wrap that we use to hold together stacks of boxes and trays around the nursery, so they don't fall over. It works really well but it is definitely only single use and when using it, on the nursery for moving stuff about it seems a bit wasteful. I had a look on the internet and found a few tough reusable plastic pallet wraps, incorporating solid and mesh plastics, a couple of poles, belts, buckles and Velcro. Looked
good, but at $150+ dollars each, a bit pricy for us when we are not looking at daily reuse. So the challenge was set to design a more economical, practical, but sustainable alternative. The basic concept is to use hessian, thick bamboo cane and a couple of bungee loop ties. All components are cheap and easily replaceable should there be a breakage and making them is fairly simple. The prototype is done and the first trials are looking ok. We've had it out in the sun and rain and reused it several times over the last week and it looks ok. It is adjustable in length, to a degree, and has component costs of well under £5 for a 3ft deep wrap. Material costs obviously rise for a deeper version, such as one that might fit round a trolley or two, and we may have to beef up the hessian weight to add strength and longevity to it, depending on how the trials go. We are going to knock
up a few more to start using on site to see what issues are going to crop up and I've ordered some more material samples to test the heavier hessians and taller wraps so watch this space. I probably should keep this a secret so I can make millions when everyone wants one, but to be honest knowing my design skills I doubt it will cut the mustard in the end, well not enough to charge for.

Here is our 'Hairy Wrap No1' so you can marvel at our high tech solution! 

Availability highlights
Lobelia speciosa Scarlet are in colour again, compact bushy plants looking lush. Our summer/autumn flowering mini garden Chrysanthemums are on the list this week. They produce masses of small flowers on naturally bushy, compact plants and usually flower until the first frosts. All varieties are in now in bud and colour is peeping out on the Branbeach White and Bransky Plum with others not far behind.
Nice vigorous batches of the compact Geum Cooky and Koi are both showing with bright and eye catching colour. The massively popular Erigeron karvinskianus Stallone is sprouting plenty of flower buds, full of promise and dainty colours. Plenty in stock with fresh batches always on the go. They will flower for ages yet. We had flowers on ours outside the back door until Christmas last year.
Fresh batches of ever popular Salvia are back on line, looking fabulous, budding up well and showing colour. All varieties looking great, with Caradonna possibly the most dramatic with its more upright habit, dark coloured stems and deep violet flowers. It's a beauty. Both Erodium varieties are in bud and showing a few open flowers, neat and floriferous. The hot and summery Salvia Hot lips are still going strong and have suddenly started turning two tone in colour again after a rather red flowering session during the heat of the summer.
The compact and floriferous Coreopsis Illico are now producing plenty of bud and a bit of colour, but only a few left. A few of the Asters are beginning to show signs of flowering. Fantastic plants of the mildew resistant Asmo are throwing up plenty of bud, compact and chunky, just beginning to open their pale lilac flowers. One of the earliest and most popular Aster varieties is Flora's Delight which are budding and showing colour already, Viola Konigin Charlotte traditionally flowers in the spring with its deep violet colour and stunning scent, but we find it does produce a pretty smattering in the late summer too and sure enough that is what's occurring now. We have a few Geum Totally Tangerine this week, the odd bud appearing on very strong plants. A new one to us but it was
recommended and I couldn't resist.
Foliage starts to be of interest at this time of year and there are some good shows of colour from the Carex Evergold, Ajuga, Heuchera, Lamium and Euphorbia. E. Tiny Tim is a new one to us this year, a tidy tight habit with bronzed foliage and the E. x Martinii looks fab.
Have a good week from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.