The finalists have been announced in the competition to find the GCA Garden Centre with the best Christmas displays. See more... Read more - members only

DIY sales hold up at B&Q despite economic backdrop and wet August. See more... Read more - members only

Figures from the GCA show another fall in the sales of gardening products with plants and bulbs most affected. See more… Read more - members only

All-In-One Garden Centre of Middleton Rochdale has become the latest member of the Future Marketing Group. See more... Read more - members only

The government’s 2010 peat reduction target will be missed. Now lobby groups, the government and the industry are to work together, through the Garden Media Initiative to speed the move to peat substitutes. See more… Read more - members only

Highlights of last night's Garden Retail Awards include 3 wins for the newly refurbished Sidmouth Garden Centre and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Whitehall Garden Centre's centenarian owner Phyllis Self. For all the winners, see more... Read more - members only

Chempak, the specialist garden fertiliser supplier, product packager and operator of the Garden Direct online trading business, is seeking a company voluntary arrangement with its creditors. See more... Read more - members only

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

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 - open to all

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

December's Gardening Which? warns against buying potted Christmas trees. It also carries a survey of mail-order plug plants suppliers. See more... Read more - members only

Two weeks after topping the Garden Retail evening with three awards, Sidmouth Garden Centre has been hit with an enforcement order to close its popular farm shop, despite receiving approval from planning officers. See more... Read more - members only

Discussions between Sir Tom Hunter and the board of Flying Brands that might have led to an acquisition have ended without being able to agree a price. See more... Read more - members only

The latest updates in Company Results show recovery at Roundstone Nurseries and a return to profit for Westland Horticulture. Several other companies reported lower profits or losses. See more (this article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

Demand continues to fall in commercial and domestic market says Marshalls. Only the public sector remains resilient. See more…
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Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, Cheshire, was put into administration on October 26 and in a separate move, Hills Garden Centre, which was also owned by Chris Halsall, has been sold to a local businessman. See more... Read more - members only

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 - members only

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 - members only

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

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 - members only

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

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

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 - members only

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

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 - members only