RHS warns against buying problem plants online

The RHS is reminding gardeners to only buy online plants and seeds from reputable British garden centres or nurseries to minimise the risk from new pests and diseases. Read more - members only

SmartPlant links with T&M

SmartPlants adds T&M to its growing list of commercial partners.  Customer receipts by the mail-order supplier will soon be accompanied by the newly developed SmartPlant 'button' to provide post sale advice. Read more - members only

Diary

The 2017 review

Hawkesmill Nurseries, the Warwickshire based family company, have had a whirlwind of a year in 2017! Read more - open to all

Innovation from Mr Fothergill's

As well as the acquisition of Darlac, Mr Fothergill’s revealed other innovations, including a new RHS AGM range, a starter range endorsed by David Domoney and the introduction Seasol and Optigrow. Read more - members only

David Domoney's Get growing range

Kingfisher Nurseries to close as YouGarden takes over the site

Leading heather producer Kingfisher Nurseries is to close at the end of this month, the owners are retiring and have sold the site to YouGarden. Read more - members only

Mail says ‘insect-friendly’ plants are laced with pesticides that poison bees

The Daily Mail says that ‘insect-friendly’ plants sold in garden centres and supermarkets are laced with chemicals that could be killing bees. Read more - members only

Lots for the Garden Press to write about

There was plenty to see and hear at the Garden Press Event including a snail fence, outdoor fragrances, a new urban compost from Scotts and news of some enhanced summer events. Read more - members only

Woodlodge's Dorset rocking chair.

Lovania launches a mobile website to aid plant buyers

Lovania has teamed up with Floramedia to create a mobile website to aid plant buyers with information and images while shopping the plant area. Read more - members only

Planteria manager at Highfield Garden World reveals how plant retailing has changed

Gone are the A-Z beds... Does anybody make their own hanging baskets these days? Where sales of shrubs, perennials and annuals may have shrunk, sales of plants like an £800 potted acer have soared.   Read more - members only

Jon Mason

Tim Clapp transfers to Kingfisher

Tim Clapp has transferred to the B&Q parent company where he joins the Kingfisher unification project, taking control of plant and garden ranges across Europe. Read more - members only

Tim Clapp

The UK is on high alert for Xylella

Xylella fastidiosa has the potential to have huge implications for the UK horticultural trade. Landscapers, designers, retailers and anyone directly importing plants are now subject to the same stringent measures as growers and suppliers. Read more - members only

Lovania has ambitious plans for Seoint

Lovania Nurseries acquires Seoint Nurseries and Neil Alcock is made managing director. Read more - members only

Neil Alcock

Ex-Notcutts trio unite to make Skylark Nurseries fly

“Being a nurseryman can be a lonely occupation.” So says Paul Masters, owner of fledgling nursery Skylark, who has enlisted the help of two former Notcutts colleagues. Read more - members only

L-R Paul Masters, Neville Stein and Andrew Staff

Westland promises stronger partnerships with growers

On the eve of Four Oaks Trade Show, Westland promises that Sinclair is committed to forging stronger partnerships with the growers. Read more - members only

Wyevale Nurseries re-opens Management Trainee Programme

Wyevale Nurseries has re-opened its Management Trainee Programme and is calling for people to apply for a position. Read more - members only

Andy Johnson

Which plant varieties will be hot for 2021?

Which plant varieties will be hot for 2021?... the industry has voted at the Ball Colegrave Trial Grounds at West Adderbury. Read more - open to all

Syngenta launches mildew resistant Busy Lizzie through B&Q

A new, downy mildew resistant Busy Lizzie bred by Syngenta is to be unveiled by B&Q. The Busy Lizzie is back, said Tim Clapp, “This is the biggest thing I have been involved in over my 20 years in horticulture.” Read more - members only

Tim Clapp with Imara Bizzie Lizzie

Bents and Cowells take the top GCA plant awards

Bents and Cowells top the first day’s awards at the 2018 GCA conference. Also prominent were Fairways of Ashbourne, Stratford and Barton Grange Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Ruxley Rose (Destination Garden Centre category) – Bents Garden & Home

Irish grower to expand into the UK

One of Ireland’s foremost growers of nursery stock, Flannery’s Nurseries, is looking to develop its market by expanding into the UK with Bob Haward as their agent. Read more - members only

Bob Haward

Jobs

Bransford Webbs Plant Company Managing Director Geoff Caesar is moving on!

After 25 years at the Bransford Webbs Plant Company Managing Director Geoff Caesar is moving on at the end of July to take up a role with Ball Colegrave as Director at their Bordon Hill Nursery in Stratford upon Avon. Read more - members only

Geoff Caesar

Demand for UK grown plants increases

Allensmore and Wyevale Nurseries step up the promotions on plants and have noticed increased demand for British grown stock. Read more - members only

Instant effect - planted containers for Mother's Day at Allensmore

Silver for Bransford Webb in international grower awards

The AIPH Awards at the Colosseum Theatre in Essen, Germany celebrated the world’s best in ornamental horticultural production. Bransford Webb was the sole UK winner taking Silver in its category. Read more - members only

Bransford Webb

GCA names best Garden Centres for Plants

The GCA has named the regional winners in the competition to find the best plant retailers. The garden centres will face a second inspection before the national winners are declared in January. Read more - members only

Barton Grange Garden Centre

Grower calls for quarantine system to prevent Xylella entering the UK

The MD of Barcham Trees warns, "Xylella is not in the UK yet, but if plant material keeps coming across from the continent without any thought to bio-security it is only a matter of time before this menace becomes a reality.” Read more - members only

Mike Glover, MD Barcham Trees

Telegraph opens online Garden Shop

Hayloft Plants has beaten bigger rivals to run The Telegraph online Garden Shop and is looking to add product. Read more - members only

Will the TV doctor start a surge in house plant sales

Anyone using perfumed sprays and scented candles around the home will be buying houseplants if they watched the second in this series of ‘Trust me I’m a Doctor’ on BBC2, last night. Read more - members only

Scindapsus (Golden Pothos)

Christmas and gift sales took off in October

Latest figures from the GCA Barometer of trade show how revenue from gifts and Christmas lines doubled in October. Outdoor plant sales were also good. Read more - members only

Brinsmore Gardens, Yeovil

Plants now take second place to catering

If August is wet plant sales prosper. If it is dry garden furniture sales do well. Last month was different. It was wet and dry in different areas and both categories flourished according to the latest GCA figures. But long term trend shows the proportional fall of traditional gardening. Read more - members only

Paradise Park

Andy Bunker suggests ways to sell more plants

Alton Garden Centre’s Andy Bunker is head of plant buying for Tillington. He tells nurseries, “Please don’t push plants out to us too early.” Read more - members only

Andy Bunker at Ball Colegrave

The Newey Group acquires Eagle Plants Ltd

The Newey Group managing director, Alex Newey, today confirmed the group’s acquisition of Eagle Plants Ltd. The business will relocate the short distance from Banbury to the Young Plants Limited HQ. Read more - members only

Jason Eagle and Alex Newey

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