NatWest advanced £1.6m to Planters Garden Centre to fund the purchase of Bradley Nursery and Garden Centre in Stafford. It is the second site to trade under the Garden King banner. See more... Read more - members only

Stewart has taken on the UK distribution of Harcostar, whose range of water butts and accessories will extend Stewart’s traditional range of pots, propagators and garden accessories. See more... Read more - members only

Quinton Edwards has sold 2 small garden centres in the North of England and says it is easier to sell small garden centres as the purchasers are more likely to raise the capital. See more... Read more - members only

Kingfisher added 4.6% to sales for the 3 months to the end of October, helped by 68% growth from garden furniture at B&Q. At the same time, 2000 employees are enjoying a share in a £7.4m pre-Christmas windfall. See more... Read more - members only

The first reports of Christmas thefts from garden centres have reached Gardenforum. Over the weekend more thefts have been reported. In one case the thieves were caught red-handed. See more... Read more - members only

Stapeley Water Gardens is reported to have entered a 30-day consultation process with staff over the future of the garden centre. Local newspapers suggest that Dobbies may be close to a deal for part of the site. See more... Read more - members only

A tweet from HTA director Tim Briercliffe, raises the possibility of a shortage of UK grown hardy nursery stock next year, after a late autumn boost in sales. See more... Read more - members only

The Smith family is buying the assets and business of Peter Smith Garden Furniture (PSGF Ltd) which has called a creditors meeting with a view to going into voluntary liquidation. See more... Read more - members only

William Sinclair has bought Yorkshire Horticultural Supplies, a compost manufacturer near Doncaster. This represents an important strategic move into green composting and gives Sinclair more control over quality. See more... Read more - members only

There has been much activity in garden centre property in the last week. Supermarkets are in prospect for 3 garden centre developments including Peterborough Garden Park. Worsley Hall Garden Centre is to re-open and Sheeplands is to spend £2m. See more... Read more - members only

After the worst outbreak of Downy Mildew on Impatiens yet, it appears that it has become resistant to the key fungicide and can overwinter in soil. Growers are saying they will continue production as long as retailers accept there can be no guarantee against infection. See more... Read more - members only

Everything Scotts Miracle-Gro does in 2012 is aimed at putting the Customer First says the new sales director. They will achieve this with several significant product innovations, a massive new distribution centre and a £7m TV campaign. See more... Read more - members only

Vital Earth has been named East Midlands Business of the Year and is in the running for the UK title in the annual British Chamber of Commerce Awards. See more... Read more - members only

Brokers downgrade forecast profits for Home Retail as first half sales and margins fall at the Argos and Homebase group. It warns that early weeks of the second half have not improved as anticipated. See more… Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group has launched a ‘Click and Collect’ service for plants. The company believes this is a major step forward in building the group’s credentials as a serious plant retailer. See more... Read more - members only

There was an armed attack at Frosts garden centre in Woburn Sands on Monday. A masked thief held a staff member at gunpoint, while he robbed the safe. He is still at large. See more… Read more - members only

Haskins is to close Roundstone Garden Centre on Jan 6th in preparation for the opening of a new garden centre on the same site on Feb 27th. It will have the biggest covered plant area in the group. See more... Read more - members only

Widmanns has issued a nationwide product recall on a range of Christmas decorations that look like sweets after health and safety officials said they were dangerous to children. See more... Read more - members only

Last week's planning conference revealed why Malcolm Scott believes Dobbies have a formula that will be a challenge to other garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Not satisfied with already being the garden centre against which all others are compared, Bents has agreed plans with Warrington Borough Council for a £10m expansion with the aim of becoming the North West’s ultimate garden, home and leisure destination. See more... Read more - members only

Guy Hands, founder of private equity group Terra Firma Capital Partners, has confirmed that he is in the bidding for The Garden Centre Group. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group is not renewing its lease on Beverley Garden Centre. Another group is poised to take over, if planners agree to adjust the planning in time. See more… Read more - members only

PSGF Ltd which trades as Peter Smith Garden Furniture at Bradford has called a meeting of creditors with a view to putting the company into liquidation. See more... Read more - members only

Weekend reports have named two private equity houses, Apax Partners and Terra Firma, that are thought to be in the final round of bidding for The Garden Centre Group. Gardenforum has learnt that four bidders remain in the contest. See more... Read more - members only

In its quest to be the best in everything it does, Bents has disclosed that it is planning a big expansion over the next 10 years as it aims to become the ‘Trafford Centre’ for garden, home and leisure shopping. See more... Read more - members only

William Notcutt is to leave Notcutts at the end of this month to set up his own agriculture and forestry business. He will resign as deputy chairman of the Notcutts board. See more... Read more - members only

Scotts Miracle-Gro is to collaborate with MBI, a leading provider of bio-pesticides for pest management. The result should be a new range of natural products for the lawn and garden. See more... Read more - members only

2010 seemed to be a good year for some nurseries but a significant proportion of garden centres showed a small reduction in sales accompanied by a larger fall in profits. There were losses for The Garden & Leisure Group and Webbs Garden Centres. Solus and Decco both performed strongly. To see summaries for over 50 garden companies, See more... (This article is open to all readers) Read more - open to all

Knutsford- based Fryer’s Garden Centre has completed a deal to sell the family-owned garden centre and award-winning rose growing business to Blue Diamond Garden Centres of Guernsey. See more... Read more - members only

William Sinclair says it is pleased with 2011 trading. It claims to have gained market share and results will be in line with expectations. See more... Read more - members only