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ABOUT US

Parkhall Garden Centre is one of a very few remaining independantly run retail sites in Cambridgeshire. Set in a rural location on the outskirts of Somersham, we pride our selves on our extensive variety of material and our open, relaxed atmosphere. We have knowledgeable and friendly staff on hand to give expert advice on all aspects of plant care and management.
 Because we grow much of our own stock we have an inherent passion for plants, perhaps not seen at many modern 'supermarket-type' retail outlets. Although a little tucked away, we are incredibly easy to find, once in Somersham we are signposted at the bandstand on the crossroads, exactly one mile along Parkhall Road. Many first time visitors are genuinely amazed at the sheer volume and variety of stock we hold year-round. Indeed, we display what is probably the largest selection of trees and bamboo plants in Cambridgeshire.
 We stock what is also probably the largest selection of glazed and terracotta pots and containers in Cambridgeshire, one of the widest ranges of bagged aggregates and certainly the most extensive selection of hardy bamboo plants.  

SPECIMEN TREES, SHRUBS AND CONIFERS

Although we source stock from many UK growers and import stock from Italy, Spain and Holland we also actively 'grow-on' our own plant material. We will repot smaller shrubs and conifers into larger containers, sometimes for several years such that many specimen conifers and trees in 30-80 litre containers we could not buy in from wholesale growers at our retail price. 
 We also actively produce 7.5 and 10-litre specimen shrubs, mainly evergreen for screening which retail at £15-£20. Again, such material bought in would retail at £25-£35. Many of our tall trees, ranging from 4-6m are grown-on from large bare-rooted stock, meaning the retail prices of £50-£95 are also superb value.
 We also stock a wide range in sizes of the hardiest palm in the UK, Trachycarpus fortunei, from £15-£650, over 8' in height.
We hold a huge selection of topiary plants, ball, standard, spiral in many varieties, Buxus, Euonymus, Ilex, Laurus (bay Tree), Ligustrum, Photinia, Taxus and various varieties of conifer. Specimen standard Wisteria, Olive trees, Hardy Tree Ferns, Callistemon, Citrus trees, cordyline and Phormium species are other strong ranges we retail.
 We offer a planting service for the larger trees that must be well staked and free local delivery for all larger items. We have horticulturally trained staff on site, also trained designers who can offer free advice or site visits to discuss suitable planting schemes.

RARE AND UNUSUAL TREES, SHRUBS AND CONIFERS

We actively source rare and unusual plants, often buying these in as smaller stock to grow on in larger containers, thus producing better value material. We buy in many plants from other specialist nurseries in Devon and cornwall, all fully hardy but propagated as grafted stock, which many large wholesalers will not get involved with. Stock will vary from season to season but will include varieties such as, Acacia, Acer vars., Albizia, Aralia, Arbutus, Betula, Callistemon, Camellia, Carpenteria, Castanea, Catalpa, Cercidiphyllum, Cercis, Chimonanthus, Clerodendron, Cornus, Corylopsis, Cotinus, Crinodendron, Daphne, Davidia, Drimys, Edgeworthia, Eleutherococcus, Eucalyptus, Eucryphia, Euonymus, Feijoa, fredmontodendron, grevillea, Halesia, Hamamelis, Hoheria, Ilex, Indigofera, Itea, Leptospermum, Ligustrum, Liquidambar, Liriodendron, Magnolia, Osmanthus, Ostrya, Parrotia, Paulownia, Pittosporum, Populus, Prostanthera, Prunus, Pseudopanax, Ptelea, Quercus, Stachyurus, Staphylea, Trachycarpus, and Viburnum.
 Specimen Conifers include varieties from Abies, Calocedrus, Cedrus, Cephalotaxus, Chamaecyparis, Cupressus, Ginkgo, Juniperus, Larix, Metasequoia, Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga, Sciadopitys, Sequoia, Sequoiadendron, Taxodium, Taxus, Thuja and Thujopsis. The specimen trees include 4-5m Cedars, Atlantica 'Pendula Glauca' and 'Fastigiata', Deodara 'Aurea' and 'Pendula', 'Sequoiadendron 'Pendula', Ginkgo 'Pendula' and Pinus pinea.

BEDDING PLANTS

We produce all our own bedding plants on site rather than buying them in as most larger retail outlets invariably do. This drastically reduces our retail prices, gives us greater control on the quality of stock and gives us great flexibility in the range we can provide. We produce a wide range of basket or trailing plants and six-pack bedding including Begonia, Busy Lizzie, Dahlia, Gazania, Geranium, Lobelia, Petunia, Salvia and Viola.
 Our single pot plants include Ajuga, Angelmist, Artemesia, Begonia, Centradenia, Fuchsia, Geranium, Helichrysum, Heliotrope, Impatiens, Ipomoea, Lamium, Lysimachia, Osteospermum, Oxalis, Petunia, Scopia, Snapdragon and Torenia to name but a few. We make up hundreds of hanging baskets each year, mainly of the rattan type with top-only planting to show off the many styles of basket in straw, grass, reed, water hyacinth, rope and fern construction. We also grow Autumn Pansies and Viola, Ajuga and many other hardy bedding plants from September

BAMBOO

We display the largest retail selection of bamboo plants in Cambridgeshire and propagate practically all our own stock which drastically reduces our retail prices. Our stock will number hundreds of individual plants, from 2-litre dwarf stock to 50 and 80-litre specimens standing 4-6m tall. At various times of the year we also mail order our plants so collection by a car is easy when these superb plants are tied up, the larger specimens we do of course deliver!
 Most of our larger plants are from the Phyllostacys family, including the ever popular Black Bamboo, Phyllostachys Nigra.
We also stock, Phyllostachys arcana 'Luteosulcata', aurea, a. 'Flavescens Inversa', a. 'Koi', aureosulcata, a. 'Aureocaulis' and 'Spectabilis', bambusoides, b. 'Tanakae' and b. f. lacrimae-deae, 'Castillonis' and 'Castillonis Inversa', 'Violacens', bissetii, glauca, henonis, heteroclada, humilis, n. 'Boryana', n. 'henonis', nuda, propinqua, viridiglaucescens, vivax, v. 'Aureocaulis', and vivax 'Huanvenzhu'. We also stock manyforms of Fargesia and Sasa, Pleioblastus and Pseudosasa.       
 We have been growing bamboo now since the mid-eighties and their popularity is still increasing year by year. By far the most requested of these fantastic plants are the genus Phyllostachys. These are the most vigorous and tallest for screening, they are fully hardy, evergreen and show an amazing array of culm (cane) colour. They make a gentle rustling sound in the slightest breeze and are very low maintenance if given room to develop properly. They are not only  functional, of course, but make the most amazing specimen and feature plants. Their new growth is truly fascinating to watch, often growing several centimetres each day!   
There is nothing as quick, in terms of growth in a season, than this family of bamboo. Mature plants in the ground that are, for example, 4-5 metres in height now will grow the same height, or more, this coming season. This is in the form of new shoots, emerging at ground level, that in general have a 2-3 month growth spurt, and not additional height to existing culms. This means that even a Eucalyptus tree with a growth rate of 1-2 metres a year is no match for most vigorous bamboo. When using trees for screening, there are very few fully evergreen varieties with the added problem of year on year growth. If you do need some privacy, trees will generally always outstay their welcome, unless you have plenty of space.

All bamboo will put some fresh leaf on older culms. However, the new culms each year are so much thicker, stronger and taller, that you can start to prune older, thinner and less luxurious growth away. This is by simply cutting any unwanted culms right down to ground level, which leaves more room for the newer ones. When selling bamboo we always stress that what you are really paying for is inside the container, ( the rootstock ) and not the visible growth. The existing culms and foliage is nothing compared to the potential growth that spring, or following spring if bought later in the year. Container plants are often quite hungry and rootbound after less than one season in the same container and it is these plants that are itching to romp away!

OTHER PLANTS

Of course as well as specialising in specimen trees, bamboo and unusual plants, we stock all the usual plants you would expect to find at any well stocked retail garden centre. We will always have in stock a good range of roses, climbing, patio, floribunda and hybrid tea with fresh, bare-rooted stock in the Autumn. We also take orders for bare-rooted oramental trees and soft fruit in the Autumn, red and black currant, gooseberry, raspberry and tayberry, filbets and cobnuts, always cheaper in this form than container grown stock.
 We hold a huge range of 1-litre herbaceous and perennial plants, all bought in from a local supplier, priced at £2.25 each or £2 each if buying 10 or more. A wide selection of herbs and alpines are on display year-round, again from a local, specialist grower. We display a strong range of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, climbers, dwarf and medium sized conifers, grasses and water plants in season. We always sell only top graded Christmas trees.  

ROCKERY AND BAGGED STONE

We are well known in the area for our huge selection of bagged aggregates and rockery stone. The demand for slate chippings, Cotswold stone, red, green, buff and grey aggregates has seen a steady increase year on year. The slate is available in 20 and 40mm gradings, in a choice of four colours, grey, blue, plum and green. Most of our 25Kg chippings are still £3.95 each or 3 for £10, some are 4 for £10, many sites now retail at 3 for £12. We display a wide range of sizes in Scottish pebbles and cobbles, polished black, white red and yellow pebbles. Our rockery stone we retail by the Kg, rather than by the piece which means you get exactly what you are paying for. Many sites have a set retail price per piece, meaning of course all the large pieces will sell first. Our rockery stone includes large boulbers, slate crazy paving, sandstone, limestone, white marble, silver granite, quartz, slate rockery, granite setts, striated cobbles and Indian and granite obelisks. We stock drilled obelisks, heavy duty plastic sumps to bury in the ground and a good selection of hand carved granite water features.

POTS AND CONTAINERS

We have for many years now stocked a huge selection of glazed and terracotta pots and containers, possibly one of the largest and most varied in the area.  We import direct by the container load and purchase from many suppliers, thus giving us the advantage of variation in styles, colour, price and weight. Many of our pots are frost resistant, the really heavy duty containers are frost proof. The weathered terracotta pots sell in equal volume to the more fancy glazed, colourful containers. Like practically all of our stock, we hold stock levels very high year round.

SUNDRIES AND OTHER GOODS

As a retail garden centre we do of course stock most of the goods you would expect to find. Although our shop is relatively small, it has recently been refurbished so there is now room for more tools, chemicals and fertilisers, seeds, onion sets and seed potatoes, giftware and ice creams! We sell a wide range of composts and barks, organic peat-free and peat based. There is always deals on composts, £3.95 or 3 for £10 for peat based, £4.95 or 3 for £12 for peat free, peat with added John Innes, soil conditioner, farmyard manure, ericaceous and rose, tree and shrub compost, all 60-litre bags.
 We display a wide selection of statues and garden ornaments, garden furniture, chimeneas and patio burners, bird tables and birdbaths, fencing, barbecue charcoal and briquettes. We sell turf by the roll in season.
 Although no cafe as such, we do sell hot and cold drinks, chocolate and sweets.