Investing in quality garden tools and furniture often comes at a price. The truth is, some things are just worth paying for, and the old saying, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ may be more true in the garden space than anything else – workmanship, durability, performance are important measures of desirability, often more so than the price tag on the ticket.
Amazon Prime Day 2024 promises great discounts on top gardening brands, but after looking through the range of deals, we’re left feeling underwhelmed. Either the discounts aren’t as significant as they first appear when we look at the price history, or we’re simply skeptical of the product’s performance at both the RRP and the cut-off numbers on the label.
Instead, we’ve taken the opportunity of this trade day to point you towards smaller brands you may not have heard of, brands that don’t have the massive PR machine or scale to join the noise of mass discounts, brands that take their time to craft products that matter, where every purchase counts. The kind of small business owner who sends a handwritten note in the post thanking you for supporting them with your hard-earned pounds, or the long-standing businesses that have built their brand brick by brick and never take your loyalty for granted.
With a massive discount of up to 50% in OKA’s summer sale, the Karama Daybed is a timeless and elegant addition to your garden space, and is also versatile, as the canopy and curtains can be raised and lowered, making it ideal for added privacy and shade. The OKA summer garden collection is full of dreamy chic designs, and we also love how easy it is to care for the durable, all-weather wicker.
Named after the Tjikko tree, which regenerates its trunk, branches and roots over millennia, we’re pretty impressed with the classic curves of this stunningly durable table. It’s made from pine resin, meaning it can withstand the unfortunately unpredictable British summer weather. Dining al fresco has never been this good, and it’s 50% off too.
KaHo’s exquisite prints are hand-designed in West Sussex and hand-crafted by a two-generation family business in Jaipur. Crafted from organic cotton and inspired by the markets of the South of France, your outdoor tablescape will benefit from the bright, vibrant colours, a statement piece that will make a serious style statement year after year.
Wimbledon may be over, but we’re praying for the picnic sunshine to arrive so we can pack one of Fieldbar’s elegant 10-litre coolers with two chilled bottles of champagne and head to a quiet spot to relax with a good book or maybe be persuaded to play a game of rounders.
Fieldbar is a champion of sustainable design, in fact, all of their cooler parts are repairable and replaceable, meaning it will last for generations. Colorful, with a scratch-resistant finish and replaceable, thick, durable leather handles, it looks like it was taken from a 1950s Amalfi Coast postcard. What could be more fun than that?
Featured in Natasha Goodfellow’s list of the best charcoal grills of 2024, the Big Green Egg has become an icon for good reason. A truly striking centrepiece, it’s eye-wateringly expensive, yes, but it’s a work of art in its own right with the added bonus of cooking a delicious steak.
Crafted from NASA-grade ceramic, the Big Green Egg comes with a limited lifetime warranty and the heat distribution ‘ConvEGGtor’ means it cooks like a charcoal oven, making it ideal for pizzas, pulled pork, freshly baked bread; delicious cooking opportunities galore. This particular model is exclusive to John Lewis, and we’re drawn to the eucalyptus wood tabletop which makes it even more practical for stacking plates or placing utensils.
Sitting Spiritually has been designing and manufacturing garden furniture for 20 years and is the only RHS certified manufacturer of swings, rope swings and benches. If you have young children, the oak swing is a magical addition to the garden, a treasured gift and sure to create happy memories of summer days that will last as long as this beautifully handcrafted swing.
Recommended retail price314 pounds
Available at Not on the High Street
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The English Garden team are big fans of Burgon & Ball and when you try one of their tools you’ll quickly see why. A digging shovel is a gardener’s staple, and this one has been tested to hold 100kg, 82% stronger than the British standard. It will stand the test of time and withstand whatever your garden throws at it. Check out the tried and tested review by Alex Mitchell here.
Burgon & Ball rarely goes on sale and we think their products are worth every penny, but they’re currently running a 7% discount on Amazon so we’ve linked it for you.
We love the story behind Risdon & Risdon, a two-generation company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Carla and sons Alex and James have created a practical apron that is a garden essential to keep your pruning shears and garden rope close at hand. Available in a luxurious, tightly woven cotton or a sturdy denim – each comes with a full-grain vegetable tanned leather strap and pockets. A free lifetime repair service is just another great reason to support this charming, quality brand.
