SmartPlants adds T&M to its growing list of commercial partners.  Customer receipts by the mail-order supplier will soon be accompanied by the newly developed SmartPlant 'button' to provide post sale advice. Read more - members only

Bents and Cowells top the first day’s awards at the 2018 GCA conference. Also prominent were Fairways of Ashbourne, Stratford and Barton Grange Garden Centres. Read more - members only

As well as the acquisition of Darlac, Mr Fothergill’s revealed other innovations, including a new RHS AGM range, a starter range endorsed by David Domoney and the introduction Seasol and Optigrow. Read more - members only

After 25 years at the Bransford Webbs Plant Company Managing Director Geoff Caesar is moving on at the end of July to take up a role with Ball Colegrave as Director at their Bordon Hill Nursery in Stratford upon Avon. Read more - members only

The Daily Mail says that ‘insect-friendly’ plants sold in garden centres and supermarkets are laced with chemicals that could be killing bees. Read more - members only

There was plenty to see and hear at the Garden Press Event including a snail fence, outdoor fragrances, a new urban compost from Scotts and news of some enhanced summer events. Read more - members only

Lovania has teamed up with Floramedia to create a mobile website to aid plant buyers with information and images while shopping the plant area. Read more - members only

Gone are the A-Z beds... Does anybody make their own hanging baskets these days? Where sales of shrubs, perennials and annuals may have shrunk, sales of plants like an £800 potted acer have soared.   Read more - members only

Tim Clapp has transferred to the B&Q parent company where he joins the Kingfisher unification project, taking control of plant and garden ranges across Europe. Read more - members only

Xylella fastidiosa has the potential to have huge implications for the UK horticultural trade. Landscapers, designers, retailers and anyone directly importing plants are now subject to the same stringent measures as growers and suppliers. Read more - members only

Lovania Nurseries acquires Seoint Nurseries and Neil Alcock is made managing director. Read more - members only

“Being a nurseryman can be a lonely occupation.” So says Paul Masters, owner of fledgling nursery Skylark, who has enlisted the help of two former Notcutts colleagues. Read more - members only

On the eve of Four Oaks Trade Show, Westland promises that Sinclair is committed to forging stronger partnerships with the growers. Read more - members only

Wyevale Nurseries has re-opened its Management Trainee Programme and is calling for people to apply for a position. Read more - members only

There has been a transformation at Hillier's garden centres in the last 18 months. Seven have a new look and feel and there is a new confidence in Hillier’s plant heritage. Read more - members only

A new, downy mildew resistant Busy Lizzie bred by Syngenta is to be unveiled by B&Q. The Busy Lizzie is back, said Tim Clapp, “This is the biggest thing I have been involved in over my 20 years in horticulture.” Read more - members only

Hawkesmill Nurseries, the Warwickshire based family company, have had a whirlwind of a year in 2017! Read more - open to all

One of Ireland’s foremost growers of nursery stock, Flannery’s Nurseries, is looking to develop its market by expanding into the UK with Bob Haward as their agent. Read more - members only

Leading heather producer Kingfisher Nurseries is to close at the end of this month, the owners are retiring and have sold the site to YouGarden. Read more - members only

Allensmore and Wyevale Nurseries step up the promotions on plants and have noticed increased demand for British grown stock. Read more - members only

The AIPH Awards at the Colosseum Theatre in Essen, Germany celebrated the world’s best in ornamental horticultural production. Bransford Webb was the sole UK winner taking Silver in its category. Read more - members only

The GCA has named the regional winners in the competition to find the best plant retailers. The garden centres will face a second inspection before the national winners are declared in January. Read more - members only

The MD of Barcham Trees warns, "Xylella is not in the UK yet, but if plant material keeps coming across from the continent without any thought to bio-security it is only a matter of time before this menace becomes a reality.” Read more - members only

Hayloft Plants has beaten bigger rivals to run The Telegraph online Garden Shop and is looking to add product. Read more - members only

Anyone using perfumed sprays and scented candles around the home will be buying houseplants if they watched the second in this series of ‘Trust me I’m a Doctor’ on BBC2, last night. Read more - members only

Latest figures from the GCA Barometer of trade show how revenue from gifts and Christmas lines doubled in October. Outdoor plant sales were also good. Read more - members only

If August is wet plant sales prosper. If it is dry garden furniture sales do well. Last month was different. It was wet and dry in different areas and both categories flourished according to the latest GCA figures. But long term trend shows the proportional fall of traditional gardening. Read more - members only

Alton Garden Centre’s Andy Bunker is head of plant buying for Tillington. He tells nurseries, “Please don’t push plants out to us too early.” Read more - members only

The Newey Group managing director, Alex Newey, today confirmed the group’s acquisition of Eagle Plants Ltd. The business will relocate the short distance from Banbury to the Young Plants Limited HQ. Read more - members only

More people attended the first day of the HTA National Plant Show than on both days last year. We bring you chat from the aisles and some interesting innovations. Read more - members only