Blogs

Over 85 per cent of pet owners in the West Midlands believe having a dog can help to bring stress levels down. In fact, research, conducted by leading manufacturer of premium pet supplements Lintbells, has found that on average dog owners in the West Midlands are less stressed and happier in life because of their pet. 

With almost a quarter of households* in the UK now owning a dog the study found that dog owners are happier, more satisfied at work and more sociable than people without a pooch. In fact over 80 per cent of people in the West Midlands now consider their dog to be an…

We’re sure your plants are too: 

The garden can often be neglected during the summer months with one in five forgetful adults admitting their neglectful watering has led to their plants dying.

Any grassed lawn or plants will be affected by the summer heat if not looked after properly, but following some simple rules and tips will help any budding gardener to ensure that their garden is well looked after over the summer period, even if they are away on holiday.

Irrigate in a way that saves water

A vital lawn care task is ensuring a good, regular watering system is…

In April, the Garden Centre Association recorded a rise in catering sales of 7.4% for their members across the country compared  to the same month in 2016. As an increasingly vital part of the overall Garden Centre shopping experience, the restaurant or café has become a key attraction for the customer, sometimes being the sole reason for a visit.

More research, this time in a report published in 2016 by The Kings Fund, identified the profile of people who named gardening as a free time activity. Interest rises sharply through the age ranges, being at over 60% between the ages of…

Win a Retail Starter Kit worth £170 with Soopa Pets.

Simply answer the following question:

How many products in total are in the Soopa Dog Treat Range?

Find the answer by visiting www.soopapets.com and enter by simply emailing your answer and name to sales@soopapets.com

@soopapets

 

ABOUT SOOPA PETS

I love my dog Lily and want her to be healthy and happy that’s why I created this range of super healthy dog treats. I believe by making small changes in your dog’s diet you can make a huge difference in the overall health of your dog.…

Expert Tips for Turning your Outdoor Space into a Gardeners Haven  Online horticultural expert, Nicky Roeber talks about the latest trend for 2017 Hayes Garden World’s, Angela Slater gives advice on the up-keep of hanging baskets Vertical gardening – the new way to utilise small outdoor spaces

 

Welcoming the official start to Summer, National Holidays, organisers of trips to the highly proclaimed gardener’s event have sought 2017 trends from top gardening experts to help green-fingered folk create their own award winning ‘Chelsea Garden’. 

Online horticultural expert at…

At White Stores, we understand how important it is to feel at home in your garden during those short and sweet summer months. But choosing the right garden furniture can be a tricky business, so we have come up the perfect “how to” guide for choosing the perfect patio furniture. 

Know your furniture

There are several different types of garden furniture to choose from including (but not limited to):

• Rattan

• Pine

• Teak

• Cast Aluminium

• Iron

• Oak

• Fabric

We suggest familiarising yourself with all available…

Tips on how to choose the best garden buildings for your home:

• Budget – before you start looking at the various garden buildings available, you need to decide on your budget to ensure you get the most out of your money. 

• Accessibility – it’s important to make sure that whoever will be using your garden building can access it easily, without tripping over the doorway or banging their head on their way in and out. You’ll be able to request measurements from the manufacturer to make sure you’re getting a suitable sized garden building for yourself, family members or friends. …

Amongst the various plant brand leaders in the Anthony Tesselaar stable is the Rock and Roll® Alstroemeria.

Its variegated foliage is striking enough but this is upstaged when it comes into flower. The effect  is astonishing.

Rock and Roll® Alstroemeria is a completely different plant. The new young foliage surprises you with its perfect rosette shape that first starts off with a soft cream quickly turning to white,  all the while framed by  a rich green edge.  Rich pink red flowers then appear above this startling foliage.   

The plant is at home in either full or…

New Century Glasshouses Ltd is a family run business specialising in the supply and erection of second hand refurbished Venlo glasshouses and associated products. The Managing Director, Ken Sharpe has over 50 years experience in the horticultural supply business and he leads a small team of dedicated staff to ensure the services provided are of the highest quality.

 

The position of Company Secretary is held by one of Ken’s daughters and the administration of the office is carried out by Ken’s sister Carole.  The Company employs its own Site Team of specialised and…

Garland / Worth Gardening will be making a major statement with the launch of over 70 new products on its Stand Hall 18H10-K11 at Glee in 2017.  It brings the number of new product introductions by the company to over 250 in the past three years.  The latest items serve both the garden and DIY markets, and includegrow pot towers, hanging basket liners and a lawn rake, as well as paint brushes and pest control products.

 

New products to be launched at Glee 2017 show include:

The new self-watering grow pot tower

• A self-watering grow pot tower that has an 11ltr…

No plant says speaks ‘happiness' quite like the sunflower; its bright yellow petals and creeping stem have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, so you might think that you know all there is to know about the nation’s favourite sunny bloom, but you haven’t been introduced to the unique qualities of Sunsation.

Unlike any of other sunflower, Sunsation has multiple flowers buds. As one flower reaches the end of its bloom, the next bud comes into flowering. Each flower will radiate for a few weeks before being replaced by another, so that you’re getting the absolute most of…

Now the sun is shining and summer is well and truly on its way, many of us will be dusting off our garden furniture and barbeques ready for an outdoor gathering with friends and family.

For those looking to throw a party on the patio or a shindig under the sun, Firemizer has shortlisted five green tips for a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle this summer …

Five green tips for the summer

1. Extend Your Summer Evenings

Entertaining and lounging late into the evening is one of summer’s greatest pleasures. Many of us turn to trusty chimeneas and fire pits to…

The garden is an extension to the home, and with summer officially underway, it is the perfect time to care for it like any other room. Gardening might not be everyone’s favourite past-time, but a perfect patch could add a pretty penny to the price of a property. 

Experts state that a cared for garden can increase the value of the property, and with space being of a premium, investing time outdoors can see homeowners cashing in.

A neat and well-kept garden space can add desirability and value

Edward Norman, partner at Roger Coupe estate agents in Cranleigh, said: “A neat…

Do you like your own coffee? Do you go to the same bathroom as your customers? And where do you park your car? Three questions that might seem strange, but to get online attention, there is nothing quite as powerful as a weird pick-up line. However, there is a kernel of truth: good coffee, a clean toilet and the parking area say a lot about your garden centre. Edwin Meijer of Garden Connect explains how this works.

Coffee

About a year ago, I was visiting a garden centre in the Netherlands. A major, well-known garden centre, but I won’t mention any names of course. I had an…

I was invited to participate in an expert group discussing the future of garden retail in the Netherlands and Belgium. Among the speakers was a very famous expert and he dropped the word Amazonification. I always like these words since you can explain them exactly the way it fits you. But as a garden centre, you already know how Amazon is having an impact on your day to day life. With a 16% market share in the UK, 1 out of 6 online purchases are made via Amazon.

4 reasons to brace for Amazonification of retail:

Here are 4 reasons to brace for the Amazonification of retail!

…

We are all aware of how much of a weird and wonderful place the internet is, but the always trending pet pictures tag has really outdone itself this time. The latest twitter trend is people and their pets getting matching manicures using non toxic nail stickers and polish.

 

It's beyond us how somebody could make their cat or dog sit down for long enough to paint the nails of all four of their paws, never mind extra drying time, but is a trend we are thoroughly behind. Especially since most of the pets featured in the trend don't have some basic 5 minute quick lick of paint…