Xylella found in Germany

The HTA and leading nurseries are to pilot a Plant Health Management System as the potentially devastating Xylella disease is found in Germany Read more - members only

Xylella fastidiosa symptoms on Prunus

Emergency summit to address Vine Weevil threat

An emergency summit aiming to find an industry-led solution to the threat of vine weevil will hear from BASF the UK’s only producers of nematodes. Read more - members only

Brexit pushes glyphosate decision off the agenda

The EU has until Thursday to decide whether or not to re-licence glyphosate. But discussions on Brexit has pushed it off the EU Commissioners’ agenda. Read more - members only

EU fails again to re-licence glyphosate

EU committee again fails to renew glyphosate licence despite revised proposals. If not approved member states will have to withdraw authorisation of the weedkiller.   Read more - members only

Wyevale warns of booming slug population

Wyevale gets nationwide publicity for warning that gardeners face an increase in super-sized ‘sleepless’ slugs after an unseasonably mild winter. Read more - members only

Glyphosate: don’t renew its authorisation, urge MEPs 

The Environment Committee of MEP’s says The European Commission should not renew the approval of glyphosate on the EU market for another 15 years, without any restrictions. Read more - members only

We’d have to comply with new EU regs even if the UK votes ‘No’

If the UK leaves the EU, it would still have to comply with the new plant health regulations being introduced later this year, says MEP as she outlines the timetable for the new legislation. Read more - members only

Angela McIntyre MEP with Raoul Curtis-Machin

Government bureaucracy could lead to nurseries dumping trees says HTA

Growers are angry that their efforts to convince government to take a simple, common sense approach to tree planting grants are falling on deaf ears. Read more - members only

Will the TV doctor start a surge in house plant sales

Anyone using perfumed sprays and scented candles around the home will be buying houseplants if they watched the second in this series of ‘Trust me I’m a Doctor’ on BBC2, last night. Read more - members only

Scindapsus (Golden Pothos)

Will EFSA decision end the campaign against glyphosate?

The latest ruling by EFSA concludes glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans. Will this decision end the campaign against glyphosate? Read more - members only

Do sausages and bacon carry a greater risk of cancer than glyphosate?

Having classified glyphosate as being “probably carcinogenic to humans” the IARC has now classified processed meats such as bacon, sausages and burgers in the higher classification, “carcinogenic to humans”. Read more - members only

Bronze Age problem for Westland

Westland Horticulture has run into trouble with conservationists over the continuing extraction of peat at an archaeological site at Mayne Bog in Coole, Co Westmeath after a Bronze Age oak road was discovered in 2005. Read more - members only

Warnings of wasps across the country

Local newspapers across the country have picked up a warning from Wyevale that homeowners can expect the ‘invasion’ of hungry wasps to continue for the next few weeks. Read more - members only

Industry support blossoms for Cultivation Street

Over 100 garden centres are backing Cultivation Street in its third year, with prominent displays and entry forms. There is also backing from Kew Gardens and the Prince’s Foundation. Read more - members only

GMA to set new standards for growing media

As peat consumption looks to have gone up again, two new tools will demonstrate the industry's commitment to producing growing media that is fit for purpose and sourced with environmental consideration at heart. Read more - members only

How will the climate have changed by 2050?

The HTA conference heard that 50% or gardens would need irrigation by 2050 as summers get warmer and drier and growing seasons will be longer. Read more - members only

Stay of execution for glyphosate - UPDATED

EU grants an 18 month extension for glyphosate based products as the Health Commissioner expresses concern that that member states could not accept EU commission proposals. Read more - members only

Health Commissioner V Andriukaitis

EU deadlock on proposal for limited extension to glyphosate licence

Earlier today a specialist EU committee refused to back even a limited extension to the licence for glyphosate, the main active ingredient in weedkillers such as Roundup, Resolva and Deadfast, which expires at the end of the month. Read more - members only

Garden Centres are the target of ‘brandalism’ protests against glyphosate

Activists seeking to ban glyphosate have started a campaign of ‘brandalism’ at garden centres that stock Roundup. Read more - members only

MEPs vote for ban on glyphosate for public use

In a non-binding resolution that sends a clear message to The European Commission, MEP’s have voted to extend the glyphosate licence for 7 years only and with conditions that ban it for public use. Read more - members only

Grower calls for quarantine system to prevent Xylella entering the UK

The MD of Barcham Trees warns, "Xylella is not in the UK yet, but if plant material keeps coming across from the continent without any thought to bio-security it is only a matter of time before this menace becomes a reality.” Read more - members only

Mike Glover, MD Barcham Trees

An outbreak of Xylella would mean a 5 year ban on plant movements

The HTA plant conference was told that many parts of the industry are ignorant of the threat from Xylella. An outbreak would mean a 5 year ban on the movement of plants for businesses within 10K. Read more - members only

Infected olives in Italy

The UK is on high alert for Xylella

Xylella fastidiosa has the potential to have huge implications for the UK horticultural trade. Landscapers, designers, retailers and anyone directly importing plants are now subject to the same stringent measures as growers and suppliers. Read more - members only

Review of 2015 in the Garden Industry

2015 was an eventful year in the garden sector. Here is a round-up of some of the most important stories on Gardenforum throughout the year. This article is open to non-members. Read more - open to all

Bicester, one of the 8 garden centres bought by Black Rock for £112.5m

November is forecast to continue milder and drier than average

Wiseweather predicts a cooler spell at the end of next week in an otherwise mild month. Read more - members only

Confusing plastic bag levy starts today in England

Large English retailers, including some garden centres, will be forced to charge their customers 5p from today (Oct 5) for plastic carrier bags, unless… Read more - members only

Bayer replaces Thiacloprid

Bayer is replacing Thiacloprid in its insecticides, although it is not one of the banned neonicotinoid class. Read more - members only

How will Osborne’s proposals for automatic planning permission affect garden centres?

Will Osborne’s planning proposals generate extra sales for garden centres? Or will owners be selling up for housing? Gardenforum asks the experts Malcolm Scott and Paul Pleydell. Read more - members only

The NT re-opens Morden Hall as a peat-free garden centre

Having ousted its tenant, Capital Gardens, the National Trust will officially reopen Morden Hall Park next month as a peat free garden centre. It claims to be the UK’s first but is it? Read more - members only

Ed Ikin (Centre) with Terry O'Brien and Dan Cooke

New legislation affecting sale of garden chemicals

From 26th November most garden retailers will be required by law to have a trained and certificated member of staff available when they sell garden chemicals.  The HTA and Crop Protection Association have a solution. Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive