The Big Green Company has opened a solar energy centre on Wilmslow Garden Centre. This is the second garden centre franchise and it hopes for several more across the UK. See more… Read more - members only

Dobbies has passed another milestone. Annual sales have topped the £100 million mark for the first time, boosted by new openings and 6% like-for-like growth during 2009. See more... Read more - members only

According to the GCA, sales at independent garden centres for the first three months of this year were 9% lower than the same period in 2009. But with the good weather garden centres are now "VERY busy". See more... Read more - members only

William Sinclair has started the mass production of the material that it says will consolidate its position as market leader in peat substitute growing media. See more... Read more - members only

Klondyke Group, which operates Klondyke and Strikes garden centres, has filed strong results for the year ending September 2009. See more... Read more - members only

A local newspaper reports that Dobbies’ newest garden centre, in Aberdeen, has been refused an off-sales drinks licence to protect children from harm. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group is opening many of its larger garden centres on Easter Day as a service to Gardening Club members. They will be able to take lunch in the restaurant and browse the shop and plant area. See more... Read more - members only

Improved margins at B&Q have helped Kingfisher profits jump to £566m for the year to the end of January. Direct sourcing will rise by 20% this year and new eco-product ranges will be trialled. See more... Read more - members only

Hozelock has announced a TV advertising campaign featuring products to save time, effort and water. It starts on 26th of March. See more… Read more - members only

Scotts Miracle-Gro is reorganising in the US. The future of the professional and lawn business is called into question. See more... Read more - members only

Leading continental plant importers Europlants and Classiflora held very successful open days recently against a background of falling imports. And Plant Fairs go from strength to strength. See more... Read more - members only

Doff Portland has strengthened its balance sheet with new funds from private equity and has strengthened its management team. This will enable the company to build its presence in the market over the next five years. See more... Read more - members only

Health experts have called for better warning labels on potting compost after three cases of legionnaire's disease in Scotland were said to have been linked with the use of bagged compost. See more... Read more - members only

Gardening Direct is withdrawing its carrot and beetroot plug plants after accusations by Which? Gardening that novice gardeners were being mislead, paying £1.09 per carrot. Other companies were also accused of offering poor value. See more… Read more - members only

So successful has been Beckworth Emporium in its first 9 months that John Kitching, former Blooms CX, and David Brown are adding 24,000 ft.² of new buildings. See more... Read more - members only

Matthew Bubear, CEO of Casco Europe, has completed a management buyout to acquire the business. This follows the sale of the North American parent company, Casco, which was announced in January. See more... Read more - members only

Poor weather has hit sales at Gardening Direct. However, Internet sales have risen. The current air travel restrictions will not affect the availability at Flying Flowers. See more... Read more - members only

Aylett Nurseries is the first independent garden centre to become a full member of the Growing Media Initiative (GMI). This means that 55% of its bagged growing media is not peat. See more... Read more - members only

The latest updates in Company Results show big sales increases at Notcutts and Thompson & Morgan. There was a big increase in profit for R A Meredith & Son (Nurseries). For further results including Coolings, DJ Squire, Frosts, Scotsdale, Stewart Plastics, Suttons, Hillier, Europlants (UK) and David Austin Roses, see more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

The Dorset and Hampshire garden centre group Golden Acres has announced a 20% sales increase for its four garden centres during 2009. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group will open the doors of 74 garden centres to members of its Gardening Club on Easter Day. To see which centres will open, see more... Read more - members only

Kelkay, the Yorkshire-based manufacturer of landscaping products, is investing £3 million on an expansion that will enable turnover grew to £20 million. See more... Read more - members only

William Sinclair has reached an agreement with Natural England over the compensation it will receive for ceasing to harvest peat at Bolton Fell in Cumbria and restoring it. See more... Read more - members only

Grange Fencing is returning to the UK 40% of the manufacturing of Metpost in a bid to offer just-in-time deliveries as the company warns of a supply chain crunch of fencing products. See more… Read more - members only

Cost cutting and an operational efficiency programme helped boost Flying Brands’ pre-tax profits in the 12 months to January 1, 2010. See more… Read more - members only

Having failed to hit the unrealistic target of reducing peat consumption in 2010 by 90%, the government has announced a new target that all compost for the amateur gardener should be entirely peat free by 2020. There is also to be a consumer awareness campaign. See more... Read more - members only

Vandals have caused £30,000 of damage to Coblands Nursery in Tonbridge. Polytunnels were ripped and irrigation stolen. See more... Read more - members only

The banks have taken control of Global Garden Products (GPP), the maker of Mountfield and Stiga mowers and garden machinery. This ‘wipes out’ the equity held by the 3i Group. See more... Read more - members only

The Bournemouth Echo reports that administrators had been appointed at the discount group Glendel, which operates Superbuys and two garden centres in the south of England. See more... Read more - members only

Bosmere Products will complete its move to a new and larger distribution centre at Crawley, Sussex at the end of this month. This follows the sale of the business at the end of last year. See more... Read more - members only