Features

British gardeners have been warned of seven crimes they could be committing in their backyards and how to avoid them. Outdoor experts GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have revealed common criminal offences green-fingered Brits might be unwittingly committing and offered advice on how to steer clear of any legal hot water in the garden. With the weather improving and spring on the way, the warning has been issued so gardeners can make the most of their backyards without any unnecessary stress. A spokesman from GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: “With many gardeners ready to swing back into action…

When considering your project, wood and metal paint can be just as effective as a masonry paint to create an individual and premium style.  To the front of your property a fresh coat of paint for railings, gates, fencing or a front door can immediately impart your style or improve curb appeal.   Painting your front door is an easy and enjoyable task. It is a one-day project that can make the world of different to the appearance of your home with only a little preparation.    Sandtex Technical Consultant, Matthew Brown, gives a few insightful tips to get great results:   “When painting…

LOFA is pleased to announce that 100% of members offering cushions and cushioned outdoor furniture have now earned LOFAssured accreditation.  This is big news as, further to LOFA testing a number of garden cushions from non-LOFA members, bought from online and high-street stores, 8 of the 10 samples failed. The products were then withdrawn from sale, preventing potentially disastrous incidents. LOFA’s (Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association) “LOFAssured” initiative ensures that all cushions sold by members comply with current government fire safety regulations. LOFA has been on a three-…

Garden design experts, The Garden Trellis Company, has just launched a new competitively priced range of ready-to-assemble painted sheds, offering garden DIY enthusiasts a practical and attractive, yet affordable, storage solution. Available to order online or by phone, the ready-to-assemble range is an exciting move for the company that already offers a bespoke collection of joinery solutions. It hopes the new range will help it reach a brand-new market of customers who relish a DIY garden task, yet still want a stylish product. Built in the Garden Trellis Co.'s UK workshop in Clacton-on-…

Exhibitors at second Glee at Spring Fair report high levels of orders as buyers from retail powerhouses and independents flock to NEC to do business Business was booming at the second annual Glee at Spring Fair, with upbeat exhibitors reporting strong levels of orders and new leads at a key point in the spring sales season. Buyers from retail powerhouses such as Amazon, John Lewis and Robert Dyas, as well as representatives from garden centres, summer festivals and public events, flocked to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on 3-7th February – helping exhibitors to land new…

As the second annual ‘Glee at Spring Fair’ gets ever closer, the show’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, provides an update on what the industry can expect, and why garden retailers should make the event a ‘must attend’ part of their spring 2019 plans.  Why Glee at Spring Fair – how does it differ to the September show? Glee at Spring Fair was introduced in 2018 for one simple reason - Spring Fair is the UK’s number one Home and Gift Fair, with an audience which is already engaged and ready and willing to do business. The exhibition already welcomes a strong garden centre contingent, with…

MEMBERS of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) are this month (January, 2019) being reminded to compete for the chance to win the Worrall Cup. The cup will be awarded to the garden centre with the best marketing campaign or initiative during the GCA’s annual conference at Luton Hoo from January 20-23. Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “There is still time for our member garden centres to enter the Worrall Cup competition if they believe they have the best marketing campaign or initiative. “We really enjoy going through all of the creative initiatives that our members come up…

Many consumers think that they can enjoy a Phalaenopsis for longer if they buy one with most of the buds closed. Florists are also prone to believing this persistent misconception. Research commissioned by Orchidee Nederland shows, however, that it is much better for the quality of the Phalaenopsis to buy them at a more mature stage.  "It’s not only consumers and buyers for garden centres and supermarkets who believe that closed buds mean a longer enjoyment of a Phalaenopsis in bloom," explains chain advisor Gitta ten Hoope from the Knowledge Centre Product Quality of the flower auction…

GARDEN centre staff from across the country who attend the GCA's annual conference (January 20 until 23, 2019) can learn how they can become a game changer from guest speaker John Stanley. The conference will take place at Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton and attendees will hear from John, who has been a garden centre consultant for more than 40 years, on Monday, January 21.  Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, explained: “The independent garden centre sector is going through a period of rapid change. The supply chain is changing, the target customer is changing and the sustainability issues are…

Expert tips from Betterlife to keep you gardening gracefully, no matter what age! “Us Brits love our gardens, and never more so than after retirement, with a whopping 70% of 64 - 74-year olds regularly enjoying gardening.[1]However, after our 75th birthday, many of us have to reduce the time we spend on our passion as it becomes more challenging and our bodies become less mobile.1”, says Sam, Independent Living Expert at Betterlife.  Gardening has some of the greatest physical and mental health benefits, Sam continued: “Green spaces are reported to help reduce the risk of developing…

There’s no doubt that winter can be a tough season for landscape gardeners. During the colder months, clients are more interested in staying inside than getting out and making the most of their outside space, which can lead to a drop in new business leads. To make things worse, gardening in winter is a much bigger job, with bad weather, freezing temperatures, and shorter days making even basic tasks much more challenging. So, should professionals down tools until spring, or is there a way to make it work? With good planning, a few smart business strategies, and the right equipment, you can…

SBM Life Science Ltd are delighted to announce a new agreement with Barenbrug UK to market their Green Velvet grass seed brand. The SBM sales team will now be selling and supporting the Green Velvet brand alongside its existing portfolio of brands, which include Baby Bio, Phostrogen, Toprose, Provanto, Job Done, Solabiol and Maxicrop. The Green Velvet brand offers customers a high quality professional standard grass seed, as used in many leading sports arena’s around the UK.   The seed mixtures within the Green Velvet portfolio come directly from the grass bred and developed by the…

With just weeks to go until the second annual Glee at Spring Fair event (3rd – 7th February, NEC Birmingham) the show’s exhibitors reveal what garden and gift buyers can expect to see from this thriving section of the exhibition.   Woodlodge, the UK’s leading supplier of garden planters and containers, will be using the show as a second opportunity to showcase its expanded Rustic Garden and Feather ranges of pots and planters.  Drawing influence from current trends, including the ‘Modern Farmhouse’ trend – considered by Houzz as the biggest interior trend of the last few years – Woodlodge’s…

Restaurants around the UK must begin to understand that veganism isn’t a trend, but a lifestyle choice that is here to stay. The Vegan Society found that there are around 600,000 vegans in the country, accounting for 1.16% of the entire population, and this is only set to grow rapidly in the coming years. Restaurants must prepare themselves for the influx of customers and adopt new catering methods to ensure every diet is treated equally — but how? With Christmas fast approaching, this could be the perfect opportunity to open your doors with a new menu that is designed with vegans in mind.…

The next big thing in online marketing is content marketing. Sharing knowledge and information helps to get more followers on social media, gain better Google rankings and ultimately attracts new customers to garden centres. Garden Connect is providing online marketing services to over 300 garden centres in the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and the UK and shares the top 5 trends for 2019.  1)      Sharing is caring It may sound like a contradiction: sharing more information helps to attract more customers. If customers can find answers to all their problems, why would they visit a garden…

Following its unveiling at GLEE, the new 2019 NOMA Garden Lighting range is now available to order from LeisureGrow Products. Along with great quality product, the range also comes with new freestanding merchandising stands to allow products to be displayed inside or outside of their packaging. The team has also developed bolder, simpler messaging to make it easier for consumers to shop and to understand the technology that makes NOMA Garden Lighting products a cut above the rest. New For 2019 New Collections from NOMA Garden Lighting for 2019 include: an expanded Functional Lighting range…