Are garden centres right to fear competition from the Internet when selling garden furniture? LOFA research suggests the general public still prefer to see and touch garden furniture and barbecues before they purchase. See more... Read more - members only

Bents and Castle Gardens are the winners of the Garden Centre Association’s annual Christmas display competition. See more... Read more - members only

GIMA members have the opportunity to pitch to buyers from Homebase in one-to-one meetings at a Buyer Connect day organised for January. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather forecasts that December will be cooler and drier than average, with the possibility of widespread sleet and snow for a time in week two. See more... Read more - members only

There are encouraging signs for Christmas in the October figures from the GCA. Sales of seeds and bulbs disappointed after early promise but the Christmas and gift categories have grown strongly . See more... Read more - members only

As Gardeners’ World takes a break, two more BBC series look set to stimulate gardeners. The Great British Garden Revival starts in a few weeks followed by Grow, Make, Eat: The Great Allotment Challenge in the spring. See more... Read more - members only

The latest results published in Gardenforum’s Company Results show 2012 was a difficult year. Sales fell 12% at Solus and 13% at Gardman. But the acquisition of Cranswick boosted Westland. The Gardens Group, Planters and Clifton Nurseries were all affected by the weather. See more (open to all)... Read more - open to all

As part of the ‘Plan it, Plant it this Autumn campaign’, the HTA has commissioned Majestic Trees to list the ten top varieties for November. The list will receive wide coverage in the national press. See more... Read more - members only

GCA attended Glee for the first time and received an immediate surge in applications from emerging independent garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Sales of fertilisers (including lawn and plant) grew by 9 percent in value YTD in August 2013, weedkillers 7 percent and growing media 6 percent says GfK. BBQ sales doubled. See more... Read more - members only

GCA attended Glee for the first time this year and received an immediate surge in applications from garden centres wanting to join the top club for independent garden retailers. See more... Read more - members only

So successful was the meet-the-buyer event at Glee that GIMA is holding a follow-up in October and Glee is hoping to develop the concept next year. See more... Read more - members only

While Glee, which starts on Sunday, is primarily for buyers, there are a number of other activities going on that will interest those not directly involved in buying or taking a short break from it. See more... Read more - members only

As exhibitors prepare for Glee, HTA research into what the garden trade needs from trade shows backs an autumn show, but finds most retailers want to see plants as well as garden products. See more.... Read more - members only

Leading retailers are getting behind GIMA’s ‘Buyer Connect’ event at Glee. This is the chance for suppliers to get a face-to-face meeting with buyers who are often out of reach. See more... Read more - members only

It appears that garden centres have had a successful selling period, both before and after Christmas. Some lines, including Christmas trees proved sluggish, but most garden centres are reporting increases of 5% and more thanks to gifts, café's and plants. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts that the wet and windy weather will continue well into January with the possibility of sleet and snow later in the month. See more... Read more - members only

There’s a tasty mix of speakers for the February HTA catering conference. These include the new food and beverage director expected to transform the food offer at TGCG and a past winner of The Great British Bake Off. See more... Read more - members only

Growing exports are a key to the UK recovery. So UKTI promises more funding and support for exporters, both new and current. It also suggests some simple steps to attract international interest to your website. See more... Read more - members only

For the first time the industry’s trade associations are working together to create new campaigns for 2014 that are sure to bring gardening to the wider public and help garden centre promotions. See more... Read more - members only

Growers and retailers are encouraged to respond to a survey being conducted by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) which aims to make the economic case for government investment in ornamental horticulture. See more... Read more - members only

GCA Chairman elect, Will Armitage gives the first details of the speakers and content lined up for the 2014 January conference at Blackpool. See more... Read more - members only

September sales edged higher than a strong month in 2012 reflecting buoyant bulb and gift sales and the continued growth of catering, according to the latest data from the GCA. See more... Read more - members only

Gardenex reports significant success for British garden and leisure manufacturers at spoga+gafa. They received over 1,000 positive enquiries from 64 countries and at least two exhibitors expect to confirm orders over £500,000. See more... Read more - members only

October should be slightly drier and warmer than average, with the driest weather in the South East. There could be temperatures over 20C in the middle of the month. See more... Read more - members only

There is a new partnership between UKTI and i2i to encourage more small companies to export, hence the last minute appearance of UKTI at Glee. See more... Read more - members only

Changes announced by RHS Director General, Sue Biggs, mean promotion for Jim Gardiner and Hayley Monkton and redundancy for directors James Rudoni and Stephen Bennett with Bob Sweet retiring. See more... Read more - members only

Judges of the BALI National Landscape Awards praise members’ ability to deliver contracts when budget cuts are having a noticeable impact. Click here to see the winners. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather suggests September will start and end with periods of high pressure, separated by a more unsettled spell in the middle. See more... Read more - members only

James Wong is one of the first speakers to be unveiled for the HTA’s Garden Futures conference that will look at change, multi-channel retailing and challenges in the supply chain. See more... Read more - members only