The HTA has come out in opposition of a suggested levy on non-native plant imports, claiming it could be seen as a tax on gardening and UK production. 

The Garden Centre Group has selected marketing company SpaceandPeople a five year contract to exclusively manage commercialisation activity across its 135 centre portfolio. 

Garden centres looking to improve their customer service and sales in their restaurants and cafes should be embracing new technology, according to industry experts. 

Birstall Garden Centre in Leicester has been encouraging its customers to get involved with National Nest Box Week (NNBW) this week to help give homes to breeding birds in time for spring. 

Mica is to take its annual conference weekend, Mica Exchange, to Wales for the first time over the weekend of March 22-23. 

The manager of a West Midlands B&Q store has received a suspended prison sentence after systematically stealing goods from the outlet and then selling them on. 

Planters is calling time on its Garden King garden centre in Bradley, Staffordshire, and closing it down on March 30. 

A great night was had by all at the 2014 DIY Week Awards on Monday, with plenty of celebrations all round, as the likes of Yale, Bosch and Westland took home Gold awards, along with multiple and independent retailers - from Screwfix to Bristol's Cotham Hardware. 

More than 75% of floorspace at the Garden and Leisure Exhibition has already been booked up ahead of its opening at the NEC, Birmingham on September 14. 

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) today announced what it describes as "a range of ground-breaking ideas for the complete reform of the UK business rates system". 

A host of suppliers were honoured yesterday at a special reception for the New Product Awards at this week's Totally DIY and Totally Tools Shows. 

The end of 2013 saw garden centre sales 6% above those in 2012, with December sales alone up 6%, and consumer confidence is now at its highest level for six years. 

Dunelm is set to expand its furniture ranges as it seeks to expand the business following positive half-year results posted in January. 

A survey has found the most common DIY blunders that electricians get called out to fix - the top two responses involved lighting. 

Bents Garden & Home has secured an £8m term loan facility with Barclays to support the continued growth of the business. 

Sales of flood-protection products have soared at B&Q, and staff at its store in Reading - one of the areas severely hit by flooding - were yesterday filling and handing out free sandbags to anyone who needed them. 

The government has pledged to ease the plight of flood-hit retailers with a series of measures, including a limited period of relief on their business rates. 

B&Q has begun stocking its seasonal home and garden ranges for Spring Summer 2014, this year pushing innovation, ease of use and British design. 

Wolf Steel Group, manufacturer of Napoleon products, announces the acceleration of its strategic plans in Europe, expanding both in the Netherlands and Austria. 

Total retail sales had a real spring in their step in January, putting on the strongest growth since March 2010.