The threat that horticulture will lose 80% of plant protection products increased last week when the European Parliament environmental committee voted to ban glyphosate and other herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. The final vote by the full EU parliament will be taken in December or January. See more... Read more

Wiggly Wigglers, who mail-order gardening products, has won the $50,000 Dell small business award for its innovative use of online social networking. See more... Read more

Managing director, Andy Bestwick, is to leave Gardman in January. For the time being, his role will be covered by the company’s new Chief Executive, Mark Pearson, who starts next week. See more… Read more

According to the Harrow Times, the boss of Shoots Garden Centre, Stanmore, has accused Trading Standards of entrapment after it sent a child test purchaser into his shop for a pruning saw. See more... Read more

Over the weekend newspapers have reported that KPMG has been appointed to review Wyevale’s profitability at the request of HBOS. The review has in fact been completed and the garden centre group is confident of agreeing new long-term funding from the bank by Christmas. See more... Read more

The value of plants sold into the amenity market has increased by 19% in the last year according to the HTA, with larger plants prospering. But sales are predicted to fall in 2009. See more... Read more

Garden centre sales have lost some of the strong gains they made in Aug - Sept 2007 according to the most recent GCA Barometer of Trade. It also shows that over the last 12 months, sales of outdoor plants have fallen to less than 20% of garden centres’ turnover, while income from catering has increased to 15% and gifts continue to grow. See more... Read more

Brintex, organiser of Totally DIY and Totally Tools, has acquired Builders Merchant News and its associated publications. This offers new channels to garden manufacturers. See more... Read more

Paul Wright, managing director of the Frosts Garden Centre group, told this week's GIMA meeting that he feared little recovery for the next 18 months. However a major shake-up has put Frosts in a much stronger position. See more... Read more

Wyevale boss says the reduction in trade credit cover is an irrational, knee-jerk reaction to the banking crisis in Iceland. No supplier needs to worry about being paid. See more... Read more

Notcutts has acquired the six garden centres put up for sale by NWF earlier this year. See more… Read more

The half-year statement from Tesco says it is pushing on with plans to accelerate the expansion of Dobbies towards a national network of garden centres. Sales rose 12% including contributions from two new centres, Sandyholm and Southport. The business saw strong summer trading despite a wet August. Read more

Dudley Transport has suspended deliveries for two weeks while its owner, Kinglea Plants, rationalises its customer base. Uncertainty has also arisen over the financial security of Baugur, a shareholder in Wyevale. See more ... Read more

Collecting the Roy Hay Memorial award at this evening's Glee Dinner, Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, warned that "our industry will be the most important in the UK in the next 10 years, as food security becomes the next big issue." For more details and the other winners, see more... Read more

Dobbies has acquired a new garden centre site belonging to its Aberdeen rival, James Cocker & Sons. It plans to build its greenest garden centre yet. See more... Read more

A Staffordshire garden centre was ransacked over the weekend losing the contents of the safe, tools and garden machinery. See more... Read more

Banks and shareholders are to back the 3-year plan for Wyevale. It’s a return to traditional garden centres using the Country Gardens model developed by Nicholas Marshall. This story is open to all - see more... Read more

Henri Studio is closing its Somerset manufacturing base after 25 years. All supplies will, in future, be shipped from Illinois. See more... Read more

Directors of HotSpring Spas Ltd, which has concessions on at least 15 garden centres, have filed for administration. The company is for sale. See more... Read more

Groundforce, Ireland’s leading distributor of garden and leisure products has acquired Wicklow Garden Products (Wicklow Wood). See more... Read more

Swiss based Syngenta has announced a $74 million deal to buy the Californian plant breeder, Goldsmith Seeds. See more... Read more

Figures released today by Glee confirm that footfall was lower than in the last two years. However, the show organisers claim that there was an increase in the number of buyers from UK multiple retailers. See more... Read more

The Grange Garden Centre at Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray, has called in the administrators. See more... Read more

Last week's GIMA meeting heard how Wilkinson has grown its share of the garden market from 2% to 6% in recent years. The target is to reach double figures within the next few years. See more... Read more

Prices will rise 10% or more next year. Will volumes decrease by an equivalent amount? No, say exhibitors and retailers at Glee, the garden industry can expect some growth next year. See more... Read more

The HTA is urging members of the garden industry to write to their MEP demanding an impact assessment before the European government approves legislation that would leave no chemical control products for most pests and diseases and leave growers in an impossible position. Read more

Scotts Miracle-Gro has bought the compost and growing media specialist, Humax. Over the next few months Scotts will integrate the Humax brands and operations into its own. See more... Read more

Leading garden timber manufacturer Hillhout has merged with Dutch brand and prominent industry player, Gouderak BV, to create one of the largest garden timber firms in Europe. Read more

William Sinclair Holdings has warned that its profits will be significantly lower than market expectations due to a failure of its peat harvest. As a result the final dividend will be cut. See more… Read more

A dispute between two manufacturers of ornamental Stone has surfaced at Glee as Redwood Stone warns retailers against buying unlawful products from its rival, Garden Dreams. See more... Read more