The HTA has restructured its charges for The National Garden Gift Voucher to protect revenues and make it more rewarding for those that are active sellers. See more… Read more

Two of the leading trade associations are joining forces over training. The HTA is encouraging its members to join training courses provided by GIMA in June. See more... Read more

Just entering the annual GIMA awards presents unrivalled exposure for any company launching a new gardening product. See more... Read more

Encouraged by their experience in 8 garden centres so far, Roman Originals are hoping to open another 10 concessions each year for the next three years. See more... Read more

The HTA has started the search for a new Director General – See Jobforum. The new DG will be expected to make it more relevant and more financially robust; and to represent the trade in the political arena. See more... Read more

The HTA’s report on Garden Retail concludes that 2011 was a tough year and that there is more of the same for 2012 and beyond. With more competition from retailers such as Next, it believes garden businesses will develop ‘competitive positioning’. See more… Read more

The uneasy pairing of Totally Tools & Totally DIY with Spring Fair has ended with the Totally Shows deciding to go it alone in Coventry in 2013. See more... Read more

There are 3380 new plants in this year’s RHS Plant Finder. 540 suppliers are listed but some have had to withdraw due to damage to stocks from the hard winters. See more.... Read more

From tomorrow over 20m people face a £1000 fine if they water a garden using a hosepipe. They will be able to continue to use drip irrigation but there are conditions. The terms of the water restrictions vary between the seven water companies. So where should garden centres go for advice? See more... Read more

Wiseweather suggests that it will continue to be drier than average with cold nights and frosts persisting through the month. Only the North West will see average levels of rain. Easter will be chilly with showers. See more... Read more

First Franchise has teamed up with Bucknalls to provide a complete restaurant service for garden centres. All the retailer has to do is provide the space and take the rent. See more... Read more

Has GYO peaked asks GIMA? “I have no intention of letting it peak,” says Pippa Greenwood. She told garden suppliers they need to do more to help the novice gardener succeed and warned that some products were not fit even for landfill. See more… Read more

Many garden associations including The HTA, RHS and BALI have combined to press Thames Water to give concessions to landscapers as they have to private car wash and window cleaning businesses. See more... Read more

The success of the second Edible Garden Show last weekend has prompted the organisers to consider holding 2 shows next spring. See more... Read more

With more dry weather expected, water restrictions will be introduced from April 5th in the South and East. But HTA lobbying has secured an exemption in several areas for drip irrigation. See more... Read more

36 applications have been received for the post of Director General of the HTA. The post has been vacant since the resignation of David Gwyther last November. See more... Read more

GIMA is warning garden suppliers about overpayment fraud. Police have said a business in Worcester was inadvertently conned out of £40,000. See more... Read more

As of today, landscaping and turf businesses are exempt from the hosepipe ban. See more... Read more

Alan Titchmarsh’s Love Your Garden returns for a second series on ITV 1 in June and garden centres will again be given prior notice of the plants and products to be featured. See more... Read more

The HTA reports a mixed trading picture for garden centres and retail nurseries across the country this Bank Holiday weekend. Many felt that trade was better than expected given the gloomy weather, although trade was down like-for-like on last year. See more... Read more

Plant breeders from Europe and the USA will bring an international flavour to the HTA’s National Plant Show this year. See more... Read more

March sales were up 11.5% but April comparisons will be difficult says the GCA. It also calls on garden furniture suppliers to support its members who are frustrated by online competition. See more... Read more

Tuesday’s talks failed to win an exemption from the hosepipe ban for landscapers even though car wash and window cleaning businesses can continue to use a hosepipe. Thames Water is to look at supplying non-potable water. See more... Read more

Reports from HTA’s regional team suggest garden centre trade in the first three months of the year ended strongly, although sales over the Easter weekend proved disappointing. See more... Read more

Dobbies has announced a bursary worth £150k to be shared between schools, charities and community groups around its garden centres to encourage them to get growing. See more… Read more

It is just two weeks until the first RHS National Gardening Week starts. Garden centres and nurseries planning events between 16 and 22 April should enter them on the new website. See more... Read more

EMAP Connect, the company behind Glee and Spring Fair, has become independent from the other companies within EMAP. It has changed its name to i2i Events Group as its parent restructures and takes the new name, Top Right Group. See more... Read more

The HTA has confirmed that all water companies have agreed to exempt drip watering systems from the hosepipe bans being introduced on April 5th. But tougher control measures could follow. See more… Read more

Garden centre sales were up by 33% in February 2011. So the fact that turnover fell by only 6% in 2012 should be an encouraging sign for the season to come. Plants and garden products have started more slowly. See more... Read more

Barton Grange will host GIMA’s spring conference at Brock, 2012 Garden Centre of the Year. Speakers include Pippa Greenwood, Guy Topping and Klondyke’s Bob Hewitt. There will also be advice on raising the bar at exhibitions. See more... Read more