In 1994 garden centres were outmanoeuvred when it was generally accepted they should be exempt from new Sunday Trading restrictions. Now the HTA is calling for the government to think again. See more… Read more - members only

B&Q’s Sir Ian Cheshire stepped into the debate about Scottish independence, with several publications reporting his warning that investment would be put on pause if Scotland voted in favour of independence. See more... Read more - members only

Garden furniture, sundries and plants drive strong garden centre sales in April; and stock keeps flowing despite upheavals in the supply chain. There is a feeling that the gardening feel-good factor is back. See more... Read more - members only

There are many happy bunnies across the garden industry after a bumper Easter weekend. Many garden centres are reporting record trading days with plants and garden sundries sales particularly strong, along with catering. Read more - members only

The first episode of The Big Allotment Challenge airs tonight (Tuesday) at 8pm promises tension and tantrums in every episode. It should be a boost for Grow Your Own. See more… Read more - members only

An unprecedented succession of autumn and winter storms have caused a national shortage of fence panels which is likely to last into the summer and beyond. See more... Read more - members only

While it was no shock that honey fungus was the number one problem disease in 2013, perhaps the biggest surprise was the influence the weather had on the RHS list of top 10 garden diseases.   See more... Read more - members only

A record number of garden centres, over 230, took part in Garden Re-Leaf on Friday. They were backed by more suppliers than ever before. The sun shone, customers responded and so did the local press. See more... Read more - members only

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced its ‘Top Ten' garden pests for 2013. As in 2012, slugs and snails topped the list with enquiries remaining at their highest since 2002. See more… Read more - members only

Home Retail Group, owner of Homebase and Argos, is the latest national retailer to try and muscle additional rebates from suppliers. GIMA advises its members to stand firm. See more… Read more - members only

The head of economics for HSBC told the GCA that stock markets would fall as would sterling against the dollar. UK has an appalling productivity problem. The best guess for interest rates...? See more... Read more - open to all

Peter Burks delivered an experts guide to running a successful garden centre when announcing the winners of the Christmas display competition at the GCA conference. See more... Read more - members only

A group of horticultural organisations behind the GROW Careers initiative have launched a nationwide competition inviting young filmmakers to create an inspiring three minute film promoting horticulture as a viable and exciting career choice. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2014 can win a footfall-boosting visit to their garden centre by popular ITV gardener David Domoney on Sunday 16th March 2014. See more… Read more - members only

Monty Don and newsreader Sophie Raworth are to replace Alan Titchmarsh as lead presenters for the BBC coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show in 2014, after Titchmarsh steps down. See more… Read more - members only

The garden retail industry was in a confident mood at the GIMA Awards where Burgon & Ball won the Sword of Honour for the best new product and Taylors were named supplier of the year. See more... Read more - members only

As PwC confirms that discussions with interested parties about buying Solus are still ongoing, Edward Conroy suggests this is an opportunity to reflect on our progress as an industry and to consider what still needs to be done. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres are being invited to sign up this month (May, 2014) to help with an attempt to have the most teddies picnicking on the same day nationwide. See more... Read more - open to all

Measures to stop invasive alien species of plants, animals or insects getting into the EU or to limit the ecological and economic damage caused by those that do, came a step closer last week. See more… Read more - members only

The benefits of green landscaping were widely recognised by experts at the AIPH conference, but who makes sure it happens? "Not us,'" says the Mayor of London's representative. See more... Read more - members only

While overall sales in February were almost the same as last year, according to the GCA, more garden centres were down than up especially in the wettest parts of the country. See more... Read more - members only

The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs has been fully revised and updated in conjunction with botanists from the RHS, so that plant names are consistent with those in RHS Plant Finder. See more… Read more - members only

Industry gets ready for fund-raising events on Friday 14th March. See more... Read more - members only

Home Retail Group, owner of Homebase and Argos, is the latest national retailer to try and muscle additional rebates from suppliers. GIMA advises its members to stand firm. Read more - open to all

Peter Burks delivered an experts guide to running a successful garden centre when announcing the winners of the Christmas display competition at the GCA conference. See more... Read more - open to all

The head of economics for HSBC told the GCA that stock markets would fall as would sterling against the dollar. UK has an appalling productivity problem. The best guess for interest rates...? See more... Read more - members only

A group of horticultural organisations behind the GROW Careers initiative have launched a nationwide competition inviting young filmmakers to create an inspiring three minute film promoting horticulture as a viable and exciting career choice. See more... Read more - open to all

Gardenforum has received an alert from Longacres warning of a new scam. The garden centre received a letter from a supplier confirming new bank details that turned out to be fake. See more (open to all)... Read more - open to all

The HTA calls on the industry to lobby MEPs by December 10th over EU proposals that would penalise small ornamental producers and make it no longer viable to keep many older plant varieties. See more... Read more - members only

September’s newsletter from the International Garden Centre Association shows the different challenges around the gardening world in 2013. See more… Read more - members only