Scotts Miracle-Gro completes purchase of Humax

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 - members only

Merger creates biggest player in Europe’s garden timber market

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 - members only

Second profit warning from William Sinclair

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 - members only

Retailers drawn into dispute over ornamental stone

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 - members only

Worsley Hall Garden Centre to close

It has been reported that Worsley Hall Garden Centre will close having been sold to the property developer, Peel Holdings. See more... Read more - members only

Government changes law on paving front gardens

From the first of October householders will be required to get planning permission if they want to lay or re-lay a drive or paving in their front garden, unless they use a permeable solution. This is to ensure that no water will run off into the roads after a heavy storm. See more... Read more - members only

Bureaucracy kills off Derris Dust

From the 10th of the 10th it will no longer be legal for garden centres to sell Derris products. Consumers will have one year to use up what remains in the potting shed. See more... Read more - members only

New COO for Scotts Miracle-Gro

Jim Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive of Scotts Miracle-Gro has appointed a retailer as his new chief operating officer (COO). Mark Baker was president and CEO of Gander Mountain, a leading outdoor retailer in the US and before that he was with Home Depot. See more... Read more - members only

Spotless targets 40% growth from garden market

Spotless UK. until recently known as Guaber, is to change its name again to Spotless Punch and expand its presence in the garden market. See more... Read more - members only

£2.5m Restructuring at Forest Garden

Forest has announced a £2.5m restructuring that will see a major new development at Hartlebury and the closure of Eardisley. See more… Read more - members only

Nicholas Marshall to take over at Wyevale

Sir Tom Hunter is to assume the chairmanship of Wyevale with Nicholas Marshall, currently chief executive of Country Homes and Gardens taking over the role of chief executive officer. See more... Read more - members only

Garden Centre sales level with 2007

July figures from the GCA barometer of trade show that garden centres have clawed their way back to match last year's sales figures by encouraging their customers to spend more. But there has been a change in the sales mix. See more... Read more - members only

Sodium chlorate ban on the cards

The EU is likely to ban the use of sodium chlorate as a weedkiller. The announcement is expected within six months. See more… Read more - members only

NWF actively selling its garden centre division

NWF is in the process of actively selling its six garden centres and expects to complete a sale later this year as the group looks to rationalise and focus on its three specialist distribution divisions. See more… Read more - members only

Fraudster cooks up a scam on Beefeater Barbecues

Hampshire-based Beefeater Barbecues (Regent Garden Collection) has been hit by a very clever scam involving two telephone orders purporting to be from Bents Garden Centre in Cheshire. See more … Read more - members only

Strong summer trading at Dobbies

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 - members only

Early signs that the garden sector is not immune from the crisis

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 - members only

Smit warns Garden Centres to be ready for food shortages

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 - members only

Dobbies to build greenest garden centre

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 - members only

B&Q anticipates very tough times ahead

Despite tough trading conditions Kingfisher has increased profits for the last six months at B&Q and internationally. See more... Read more - members only

Reorganisation and name change for HART

There is to be a name change for HART as Jessica Adams carries out major surgery at the group that provides services to smaller garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

It’s a difficult trading environment for Homebase

Today's trading statement from the Home Retail Group shows like-for-like sales at Homebase 10% lower than a year ago. In light of market conditions there will be a substantial write down in the value of Homebase assets. See more... Read more - members only

Hunter unveils Wyevale's Plan Apple

Sir Tom Hunter showed his commitment to play an active role as the new chairman of Wyevale by hosting the launch of Plan Apple, its strategy for sustainable development. Today the group announced a ban on polystyrene trays. See more... Read more - members only

Northern Garden Centres break from Future Marketing

Five northern garden centres have left the buying group Future Marketing with effect from the first of September. They will be working more closely together as the Trans-Pennine group. See more... Read more - members only

Timetable for closure of Bolton Fell still unknown

It will be several years before William Sinclair loses its supply of peat from Bolton Fell following confirmation by Natural England that DEFRA had submitted the site to the EU as a potential SAC. See more... Read more - members only

Domestic Slowdown at Marshalls

Marshalls say that a sharp slowdown in the domestic market for landscape products has offset continued growth in the commercial and public sector. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls attacks Glee

Having decided not to exhibit at Glee this year, Marshalls has taken the unusual step of criticising the garden industry's largest trade show. See more... Read more - members only

Wyevale appoint Andrew Livingston as COO

Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd today announced the appointment of Andrew Livingston as Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect. See more... Read more - members only

WCC makes first approach for all of Flying Brands

Further to recent speculation, Flying Brands has confirmed it has received a very preliminary approach from Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital, which holds a 29.9 per cent stake in the company. See more… Read more - members only

GCA names Best Garden Centres in North and South Thames

The first area winners have been declared in the competition to find this year's Best GCA Garden Centre. The awards, following judging in the North Thames and South Thames areas, were announced at two recent ceremonies. To see the winners, see more... Read more - members only

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