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

July proved to be good for garden furniture sales but it was too hot for restaurants. GCA figures show that garden furniture and hard landscaping have sold best in the sun. See more... Read more - members only

There’s a warning from GIMA of a new attempt at fraud just at the time when people covering those on holiday may be caught out. See more... Read more - members only

Senior buyers have said they will support GIMA’s ‘Meet the Buyer’ event that will add a new dimension to Glee as a late surge in bookings for the September show pushes stand numbers over 500. See more... Read more - members only

Malcolm Scott says garden centres may have open A1 retail planning permission without realising it. This is after a recent appeal ruled that imprecise planning conditions can mean a Garden Centre enjoys open A1 retail use. See more... Read more - members only

Judging of the GIMA Awards has been completed and it will be Giles Brandreth who hosts the presentation of the winners on July 18th. A few tickets remain for anyone wanting to join in the industry’s most important awards evening. See more... Read more - members only

Companies that raised funds through Garden Re-Leaf are being asked to get funds to the organisers so that the total, which looks likely to exceed last years £53,000, can be announced at the GIMA awards. See more... Read more - members only

Barclaycard is encouraging garden retailers to use Bespokeoffers.co.uk to bring in additional customers after the season. See more. Read more - members only

Waitrose is unveiling an on-line TV gardening channel, featuring Alan Titchmarsh and Matt James. See more... Read more - members only

MorePeople unveils a new website for MorePerformance offering training and development courses for people within the fresh produce, horticulture, food, agriculture and garden & leisure industries. See more... Read more - members only

The law has changed. From November 2015, when a retailer sells a plant protection product a certificated member of staff must be contactable at the point of sale. The HTA and the CPA are preparing an e-learning course to meet the new requirement. See more… Read more - members only

Those wishing to grow at times of overall decline need to have online presence, says GfK. Although total sales were down in April, Internet sales were up 15%. See more… Read more - members only

The RHS is backing UK growers by sponsoring the New Plant Awards at July’s HTA National Plant Show to be judged by five well known experts. See more... Read more - members only

Now’s the time to book places at the GIMA golf day, where suppliers and their customers unwind after the season with a fun round of golf and raise funds for two charities. See more... Read more - members only

The venue for the 2014 GCA conference is to be kept a secret. Clues will be given over the next few months. There are prizes for the first to guess. See more... Read more - members only

The BBC and RHS have agreed that Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton and Malvern flower shows will be broadcast exclusively on the BBC until 2017. Gardeners’ World will continue to draw on experts from the RHS. See more… Read more - members only

The garden centre whose plant area wins the Ruxley Rose competition this year will have proved its excellence in spring and autumn as judging by the GCA becomes more rigorous. See more... Read more - members only

East Malling, the centre for fruit research, is to open its doors to public for first time in a decade. 2013 is its centenary. The day will offer tours, a chance to meet the scientists and a visit to the fascinating root laboratory. See more... Read more - members only

Can Whetman Pinks be named the world’s best grower at the first congress of the AIPH to be organised by Tim Briercliffe, which will be held in Canada, this Autumn. See more... Read more - members only

The Government and health authorities are asking the public to be on high alert during August and September for outbreaks of two species of beetle. The predators are capable of destroying a wide range of trees and shrubs if they become established in the UK. See more... Read more - members only

Every garden category tracked by GfK except for pest and disease achieved value growth in May 2013, helping to offset the significant declines seen earlier in the year. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather forecasts high pressure for much of July with lots of warm, dry weather. See more... Read more - members only

Which? Gardening tasked mystery shoppers to see if big garden centre and DIY chains deliver the plant expertise they promise. For their comments, see more... Read more - members only

Despite growth in April and May, average spring takings for the largest garden centres were £55,000 lower than last year according to the latest GCA statistics. See more... Read more - members only

This is the last week to enter the GIMA awards, which provide a unique opportunity to put products before a panel that includes a number of normally inaccessible senior buyers. See more… Read more - members only

Many businesses put 2012 down as a climatic blip but with the 2013 weather being the way it is, it has become apparent that weather patterns are becoming much more volatile. This is a real challenge for our industry says the HTA. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres that took part in Garden Re-Leaf Day in March need to act now to stand a chance of winning the Westland Challenge competition. See more... Read more - members only

Andy Smith, who has left Dobbies to become the new garden plant buyer at Waitrose, is one of three new judges for the GIMA Awards. See more... Read more - members only

A RHS report says the skills gap in horticulture is threatening Britain’s economy, environment and food security. 70% of horticultural businesses cannot fill skilled vacancies and say career entrants are inadequately prepared for work. See more... Read more - members only

Quinton Edwards warns that valuers with little garden centre experience are causing problems for garden centres and horticultural businesses seeking bank funding. See more... Read more - members only