The Scotsman has published what it claims to be an internal Dobbies memo, which suggests that Scotland's largest garden centre chain is passing on the government's VAT cut to customers only if they complain. To see the full article, click on the website button... Read more - members only

One in four garden centres increased sales during December. For the year as a whole, sales fell 2%. The latest figures from the GCA Barometer of Trade also show that average customer spend in 2008 increased by £3.60. See more... Read more - members only

Supplies of Wolf tools should be unaffected by the insolvency of WOLF-Garten GmbH & Co KG, the German manufacturing company. See more... Read more - members only

Deroma has acquired the Cirencester-based pot distributor, Mondian. Effective immediately, the acquisition gives Deroma a greater share of the outdoor and indoor pots market, as well as a significant projected increase in turnover for 2009. Read more - members only

Tight cost control means that the Home Retail Group, parent of Argos and Homebase, will meet market expectations for profits despite falling sales; while B&Q is to withdraw from sponsoring the British Olympic Association. See more... Read more - members only

Leekes, the Welsh home and garden retailer, is to open four conservatory concessions on garden centres in the southwest. Three will be on Wyevale garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

With the market for repair and maintenance in domestic housing forecast to fall 15% this year, Marshalls, the landscape materials group, is reducing manufacturing capacity and the scale of its consumer initiatives. See more… Read more - members only

Wyevale has appointed a new purchasing director on news that Andrew Livingston, COO, is to return to his DIY roots. CX, Nicholas Marshall is pleased with Christmas and expects his new funding structure to be in place by the end of next week. See more... Read more - members only

With both Next and Debenhams reporting lower sales in the Christmas period, garden centres appear to have fared the festive season better than the high street retailers. See more... Read more - members only

The Pavilion Garden Centre, near Wolverhampton, is holding a closing down sale. See more... Read more - members only

The directors of Craft Central have applied to place the company in administration. The company has stores on 40 garden centres that supply materials for the craft hobbyist. See more... Read more - members only

A press report that Sir Tom Hunter's West Coast Capital would lose all of its investment in Wyevale is ‘erroneous’ according to WCC. See more... Read more - members only

Trees-for-rent: Forget where to buy your Christmas tree this year and start thinking about where to rent because the next big thing in the 'environmental' market place is Christmas tree rental. Read more - members only

103 employees of Forest Garden have transferred from Eardisley to the new expanded manufacturing site at Hartlebury, which will be operational in January. See more… Read more - members only

December's Gardening Which? warns against buying potted Christmas trees. It also carries a survey of mail-order plug plants suppliers. See more... Read more - members only

Wyevale is restarting its management training scheme and is looking for internal and external candidates for the programme that will prepare them for garden centre management. See more... Read more - members only

From April the Turf Professional magazine will be published under license by The Garden Communication and Media Co (TGCMC), who also publish Garden Trade News. See more... Read more - members only

It may take another week to complete the long awaited financial restructuring of Wyevale, the country’s largest chain of garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

The Horticultural Development Company (HDC) has launched a ‘Home Grown’ logo for UK growers, with backing from the NFU. See more... Read more - members only

The wholesale production arm of the Dorset-based Golden Acres Group is upping bedding plant production by nine per cent this year. Christmas was also a success for the retail arm. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA has asked the UK government for clarification after the EU today passed new plant protection regulation without assessing the impact it will have. See more... Read more - members only

The latest Gardening Which? survey of peat free compost shows that, with the exception of Sinclair's New Horizon Organic and Peat Free Growbag, consistency in quality is still a problem. See more... Read more - members only

Latest results from William Sinclair show the impact of difficult trading in 2008 and a poor peat harvest. However, margins are now recovering as inflationary pressures subside. See more... Read more - members only

Gardenforum reported on 18 garden centres changing hands last year. There was also the demise of wholesaler Spread, and a difficult year for Sir Tom Hunter’s investments in Dobbies, Flying Brands and Wyevale. For a review of 2008 and what to watch in 2009, see 'more'... (This article open to non-subscribers to see what you missed!) Read more - open to all

Klondyke has today completed the acquisition of Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, Cheshire, which had been in administration. See more... Read more - members only

Proof that garden centres are recession resistant comes with news from New Zealand of record sales of plants and seedlings. The RHS is promoting Grow Your Own in 2009 as consumers look towards home for their leisure activities. See more... Read more - members only

The winners of the 2008 GCA Christmas display competition are Barton Grange, Brock, in the category for larger centres and Castle Gardens at Sherborne in the class for garden centres with sales under £3m. The judge said she was absolutely blown away. See more... Read more - members only

One of East Surrey's leading plant centres was targeted by armed raiders last Saturday. A woman employee suffered a broken arm in the attack. See more... Read more - members only

The finalists have been announced in the competition to find the GCA Garden Centre with the best Christmas displays. See more... Read more - members only

DIY sales hold up at B&Q despite economic backdrop and wet August. See more... Read more - members only