A scheme for tenants of South Tyneside Homes has been criticised by independent DIY retailers in the area because the customers' £200 home improvement allowance is only valid at a B&Q store in South Shields. 

According to Deloitte, 69 retailers fell into administration during the first quarter of 2012 compared with 60 in the same period last year, with an estimated 10,000 job losses. 

The Garden Centre Group has agreed a new partnership to run the plant centre and gift shop at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire. 

The unseasonably hot weather in March sent shoppers to the high streets, with homewares sales up 4.1% on last year according to the BDO high street sales tracker. 

The Somerset-based garden centre announced in January it was planning to give away thousands of sapling trees to worthy causes around the South West, and this week announced the successful replanting of more than 2,000 of the trees in 31 different projects. 

Department store chain reported sales uplift in warmer weather last week, with strong sales of garden furniture and barbecues, while its Poole 'at home' store recorded the highest figures across the retail chain. 

Owners and staff at nearly 200 garden centres across the UK will soon receive a visit from a GCA inspector to assess whether they are meeting the strict standards of membership. 

It's claimed to be the largest town in the country without a B&Q store, but that's all set to change with plans under way for a new £18.5m development at Ampthill Road. 

In a stark contrast to reports this week that Britain is heading for a double-dip recession, the latest findings from the British Chamber of Commerce shows encouraging signs of recovery for the UK's businesses. 

Members of the You Can Do It Crew, an online help service for DIYers, will be on hand daily from Good Friday to Easter Monday for the first time. 

Celebrating gardening on a budget is the theme for a new category introduced by the RHS and the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) for this year's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. 

Gardening Direct's parent company announced the conditional sale of its Garden Centre Online, Garden Bird Supplies (GBS) and Listen2 (L2) trade and assets to home entertainment distributor MBL Group plc this week, pending shareholder approval. 

Roundup has brought forward the start of its primetime TV advertising to make the most of the recent spell of warm weather and push its Pump' N Go range. 

The Garden Centre Group-owned business in York has been granted planning permission to significantly expand the garden centre, bring brand new nursery facilities back to the site and develop a 200-seat restaurant. 

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced lavender as its chosen Plant of the Month for April. 

The UK's largest tile specialist has reported its trading update for the 26 week period ending 31 March 2012, with total revenues expected to have fallen 2.5% to around £86.9m, down 4.5% on a like-for-like basis. 

Former B&Q marketing director Stephen Robertson has confirmed 2012 will be his fifth and final year at the helm of the British Retail Consortium. 

Following a disastrous start to the year, when up to 90% more DIY and hardware retailers reported sales declines than those reporting an increase, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said the balance has now stabilised to zero for the first two weeks of March. 

Reports in the press suggest at least four major firms are in talks to buy the high street chain, including value retailer Wilkinson, two unknown trade buyers and a private equity company. 

The decorative garden timber manufacturer was hand picked by TV's David Domoney to supply products for a range of projects and design showcases at the show.