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

Celebrities join in The RHS Chelsea Centenary Appeal to change the perception of horticulture as a career among young people. See more... Read more - members only

GCA puts figures on the late spring. Sales were down 32% in March as outdoor plant sales fell 58%. Sales for the first 3 months are down 20%. See more... Read more - members only

Garden Centre Association (GCA) members are being invited to attend a meeting in June (2013) to discuss peat. Read more - members only

GIMA announces new speakers and declares its conference at TGCG's flagship garden centre a sell out. See more... Read more - members only

Wiseweather predicts a month dominated by high pressure with below average rainfall, cold nights but increasingly warm, sunny days. See more… Read more - members only

‘Focus on your point of differentiation’ was the key message from garden retailers at the latest meeting of the HTA Retail Management Group, which took place in London this week. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA has completed its move to the HTA offices and focuses on Grow. Interim CX Iain Wylie tells garden centres to hold their nerve as the cold weather persists. 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 GCA Trust seeks donations as more horticulture students than ever seek financial assistance to complete their courses. See more... Read more - members only

Last night, Greenfingers launched the Rosy Cheeks Appeal to build more gardens at hospices for children and their families. One mother explained what a garden had meant to her, "Two days after my daughter died, sitting in the garden made me think I could cope with things better." See more... Read more - open to all

The Garden Centre Group is re-energising its apprenticeship scheme. At the same time the HTA is looking at apprenticeships to help its members attract more young entrants to the industry. See more... Read more - members only

First Franchise, who place high street brands as tenants on garden centres, is entering new territory with the launch of a recruitment service, FF-Candidate Select. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA reports that customer numbers were up over Easter, but sales were well below what was expected. The HTA says there is pent-up demand but warns that the longer it takes the weather to improve, the smaller the window of opportunity. See more… Read more - members only

The GCA reports that February sales were 5.5% up on the same month last year. But 29 of the 63 garden centres in the monthly survey actually reported a fall in sales. See more... Read more - members only

Faversham House has sold several publications to Datateam Publishing including DIY Week and Hardware & Garden Review. See more… Read more - members only

The GIMA conference and AGM will be held at the recently upgraded Bicester flagship belonging to The Garden Centre Group. Non-members will be welcomed. See more… Read more - members only