Profits increased 66% at Homebase despite a 3% fall in gross margin. The successful Argos system for ‘click and collect’ will be rolled out to all Homebase stores. See more... Read more - members only

Garden retailers are to blame for the fact that rose sales are not increasing as much as they should be.  If retailers put the effort in and maintain their roses in peak condition it could transform the market. See more... Read more - members only

Avoncrop in administration is to continue to sell stock items at discounts of 40% w/c 19th October, rising to 60% w/c 26th October. Growers are encouraged to take advantage by calling 01934 820 363 or e mailing sales@avoncrop.co.uk Read more - open to all

According to the GCA, this is the second consecutive month that restaurant/café sales, with revenue up 14%, have outsold in value all other categories including outdoor plants at the UK’s leading garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

In the last of 3 presentations at the recent GIMA meeting from leading retailers, Nicholas Marshall, CEO of The Garden Centre Group, described the changes he has made since taking control of Wyevale in September 2008. He found the management had not got a clue and morale was as flat as a pancake. See more... Read more - members only

This week’s meeting of the garden suppliers association, GIMA, enjoyed revealing insights from 3 of the industry’s leading retailers. The first of three articles covers comments from Bob Hewitt, CEO of the Klondyke Group of 24 garden centres and former CX of Wyevale. See more... Read more - members only

Faversham Furniture Ltd has surprised the garden industry with news that it is to wind down Nova Garden Furniture, which has not traded profitably for the last five years. See more... Read more - members only

Gardening Which? completed a survey of leading seed suppliers, scoring each company on how well their seed germinated and on the quality of instructions on the packet. See more... Read more - members only

The latest results published by Dobbies cover the 16 month period to the end of February 2009, when Tesco out-manoeuvred Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital to take control of the Scottish garden centre group. Since February, sales have been ahead of budget and it’s not just because of the weather. See more… Read more - members only

Canterbury Garden Centre has become the second independent to challenge The Garden Centre Group (TGCG, formally Wyevale) over its decision to rename its outlets with local names. There was confusion when one of the group's staff appeared at the wrong garden centre for training. See more... Read more - members only

Half year profits are up 66% at B&Q and working capital has improved by £163 million thanks in part to lower stocks and taking longer to pay suppliers. See more... Read more - members only

M&M Timber Limited has assumed the UK distribution for the Dutch-owned Outdoor Life Group. It will now offer the garden and leisure industry a complete one-stop shop for all their timber, garden and leisure requirements. See more... Read more - members only

Woodcote Green and its owner, Lawrence Newton, celebrated 50 years of growing and retailing by holding a week of open days. Councillors, schools and allotments societies were invited for a look behind-the-scenes. See more... Read more - members only

Grange Fencing has completed the acquisition of Metpost. It believes this will complement its existing range of products, which include Post Anchor. See more... Read more - members only

Bayer Garden is to replace its network of territory managers with agents by June 2010. It believes this will improve its service to garden retailers. See more… Read more - members only

Malcolm Scott Consultants Ltd has gained double planning permissions for ambitious development at the 14-hectare joint Forest Lodge and Birdworld site. See more... Read more - members only

Kernock Park Plants are the latest nursery to join A.L.P. (The Association of Liner Producers). The Association already consists of 7 of the country's leading liner producers including Aline Fairweather, Fromefield Nursery, New Place Nursery, Seiont Nursery, The Northern Liner Company, West End Nursery and Wyeplants Ltd. Read more - members only

Flying Brands, the company that operates the mail-order brands Flying Flowers and Gardening Direct, has raised £1.76 million by way of a rights issue. See more... Read more - members only

Gordon Rigg Garden Centre on Moss Bridge Road, Rochdale, one of three in the group, was damaged by fire on Saturday night. The centre is trading again, but with no houseplants, pets or aquatics. Read more - members only

The second of 3 prominent retailers to address this weeks GIMA meeting was David Herbert of Mole Valley Group and Scats, with sales of £270m in S of England. He says they are perfectly placed for GYO; Scats is about living life outdoors. See more... Read more - members only

For the second year, Webbs will open two Christmas shops in Midlands shopping centres. One will be at the Pavilions Shopping Centre, in the heart of Birmingham. See more... Read more - members only

William Sinclair, whose trading year ended on the 30th of September, say that trading has been in line with expectations. It has lifted enough peat for 2010 and is pleased that it maintained just-in-time deliveries throughout the season. See more... Read more - members only

Troubled mail-order group Flying Brands has announced a number of changes to Flying Flowers. It has also appointed a new sales and marketing director. See more… Read more - members only

There were over 250 products and plants competing for the New Product awards at Glee 2009. Top product is a Grow Tent from Grow Camp of Denmark that will encourage grow-your-own enthusiasts next year. For all the winners see more... Read more - members only

The dispute between Redwood Stone and Garden Dreams, which came to a head last year at Glee, has been resolved, with Redwood Stone owning the business and intellectual property rights of Garden Dreams. See more... Read more - members only

E.P.Barrus Ltd the importer of domestic and professional garden machinery, has been appointed the exclusive distributor of Wolf Garden products in the UK and Republic of Ireland, replacing Solus. See more... Read more - members only

Bristol-based Avoncrop has been placed on the market. The company is in administration following a failed diversification into a related venture. See more… Read more - members only

The next GIMA meeting, which is open to all, will bring together the current CEO of Wyevale (The Garden Centre Group) with one of his predecessors, now the CEO of Klondyke. See more... Read more - members only

This Friday, Blue Diamond will open one of the most innovative garden centre designs yet seen. It is the shape of an octagonal doughnut, with the plant area filling the middle. See more... Read more - members only

The Flowers & Plants Association recently took an enquiry from the media that amazed them somewhat. Staff are used to handling unusual calls from journalists and editors, but this one was rather surprising. See more... Read more - members only