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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

Glee and the PCTA have agreed to end the twinning of Petindex with Glee. This frees Glee to include pet exhibitors within the main show. See more... Read more - members only

The growth of First Franchise Promotions, a sister company to First Franchise, has prompted a name change to reflect more accurately the short term promotions it brings to garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

It seems that January sales were not as good as last year despite optimism around the trade. 33 of the 54 garden centres reporting in the GCA Barometer of Trade said sales were below Jan 2011. But the trend looks positive for 2012. See more... Read more - members only

Glee’s research of over 1000 visitors showed that buyers and exhibitors now want a show focussed on garden retail. There’s a new layout, a new logo and it will be easier for buyers to see what’s new. See more... Read more - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

Tomorrow’s Garden Re-Leaf day has already achieved national press coverage and has put Greenfingers firmly on the national stage. The day has given the industry licence to create some very unusual events. See more... Read more - members only

The long range forecast for March from Wiseweather suggests that it will remain colder than average, there is no sign of enough rain to fill the reservoirs and there are more frosts to come. See more... Read more - members only

It seems that cultivating the best in horticulture is no longer enough for the RHS. At the London Plant and Design Show it experimented with speed dating and claimed it was a blooming success. See more… Read more - members only

Altons Garden Centre is the third Tillington member to add the Shoot plant database to its website. But they are to go one step further and participate in the Shoot online Marketplace when it is launched this spring. See more... Read more - members only