The new chairman of Choice Marketing told members that recent supply chain changes had provided an opportunity in what was an extremely challenging year, as a result the independent garden centre group is stronger. Read more - members only

The HTA has teamed up with Garden Retail Success and a former GCA chairman to provide a mentoring and benchmarking service to help garden centres improve performance. Read more - members only

GCA figures for September show that the gardener is back. Outdoor plants, garden sundries and landscape products showed double digit growth for the month. Read more - members only

Longacres have become the UK’s first garden centre to offer an automated “Drive In” Click & Collect service. Read more - members only

A new month brings with it a pattern change with much more unsettled weather likely for most parts as a reinvigorated jet stream runs close to the UK, something we haven’t seen for a while. Read more - members only

2014 Glee will be hailed as a success. The new venue received universal approval. Monday and Tuesday were busy. But should it open on Sunday? See Gardenforum's comments on Glee... Read more - members only

2013 turned out to be another disappointing year in all three key sectors of the garden retail market – garden plants, garden care and garden leisure – with all three sectors showing a steady decline in the five years to 2013 covered by the Analysis. Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts that high pressure will predominate during the next two weeks. Following a brief interruption it will return for a further few days. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA says suppliers should look at teleshopping, crosswords and non-gardening media as a way of reaching keen gardeners having researched the interests they share outside gardening. See more… Read more - members only

Garden product suppliers are being canvassed about their appetite for new garden trade show next year, either in the spring or in November. Organisers say the prospects look good. See more… Read more - members only

Two new features from Gardenex at Glee this year will be “Meet the international buyer” speed-dating meetings for exhibitors and presentations with UKTI on boosting exports without huge investment and other such topics. See more... Read more - members only

Growers often complain about a disconnect between scientists and the horticulture industry. This is the topic for an international workshop chaired by Tim Briercliffe. He’s asking Gardenforum readers to send your opinions to be included in the debate. See more… Read more - members only

With almost 2 months before the show starts, some of the most popular hotels at the NEC are fully booked as garden retailers look set to return to Glee in numbers. See more… Read more - members only

AMA has published a study on the online garden products market. It forecasts trends to 2018, distinguishing between specialist and non-specialist Internet retailers. See more… Read more - members only

Members of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) now have access to a dedicated legal advice line to help with any Business Legal queries they may have. Read more - open to all

LOFA has decided to adjust the dates of Solex 2015 so that it starts on Tuesday July 7th.  Read more - members only

The new month brings something of a pattern change early in the month with much more seasonable, cooler weather likely to develop for most parts. Read more - members only

Homeowners and business could be hit with huge fines if they allow Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and other non-native invasive species to spread from their premises. Read more - members only

Quotes from HTA Garden Futures: “I want to create an emotional connection between the consumer and a bag of compost.”   And “Gardening is about partying, entertainment and living outside. It is not about ‘Jobs for the month’.” Read more - members only

First statistics emerge from Glee, but the most telling is the strong rebooking for 2015 with 56% of the floorplan already rebooked. Read more - members only

Paul Loft, MD of Homebase, appealed to industry leaders at Glee to work together to address the challenges of change, both in the digital world and in attracting young people to meet the changing needs of the consumer. Read more - members only

There were around 60 British exhibitors at this week’s SPOGA Gafa, some giving a preview of what can be expected at Glee later in the month. See more... Read more - members only

The HTA’s Garden Industry Marketing Board has some weighty backers and is gaining momentum. Next years ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ campaign will show how effective this group could become. See more… Read more - members only

GCA and HTA figures agree that July was a flat month with sales increasing 1% on last year. Year to date their figures are quite different. And has there been any real growth in recent years? See more... Read more - members only

A spell of wet weather at the beginning of week two is expected to separate two spells of high pressure. See more... Read more - members only

Adam Pasco tells frustrated plant breeders at the Fleuroselect conference that their message is not getting to the consumer. Or is it even the right message? See more... Read more - members only

The half-year figures from the Garden Centre Association (GCA) even out the peaks and troughs of the season and give the first, fairly reliable snapshot of where the industry is. For analysis, see more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has announced that it signed up some new garden centre members last month (June, 2014).  See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts below average rainfall in July, with correspondingly high amounts of sun. But there will be thundery outbreaks. See more... Read more - members only

Will nurseries increase production next year? Are shrubs sales in long-term decline? Which nurseries are expanding? Is there a solution to Danish trolleys? These were some of the topics debated down the aisles at the HTA National Plant Show. See more… Read more - members only