The Norwich-based QD Group, which currently owns 11 Cherry Lane garden centres, has bought David’s Nurseries in Worcester from the beleaguered Home & Garden Group, which went into administration in March.

GTN Xtra learned that the deal was completed this morning and that an official announcement will be made later this week, along with details of sales of the other garden centres in the Home & Garden Group.

QD have been active recently in growing their Cherry Lanes portfolio of garden centres, having bought The Barn Garden and Aquatic Centre in Peterborough in January.

The Barn by Cherry Lane Garden Centres in Peterborough has been undergoing major works, which started when Cherry Lane acquired the store in January. The garden centre has been fully refurbished and extended to offer even more great value garden, aquatic and home products and a new look 120 seater Coffee Barn restaurant.

Located on Gunthorpe Road, Paston, Cherry Lane is now bigger both inside and out to offer an even greater variety of fantastic value plants, aquatics, outdoor living products, garden furniture and homewares. Brand new Scallywags Value Pet and Archie’s Grocery stores have been created, along with the introduction of a clothing department featuring big brands at great value prices. New cookware and indoor furniture areas have also been made, while the wild bird area has been doubled in size. The much-loved Coffee Barn restaurant has also been fully refurbished to create a 120-seater restaurant with a full menu of delicious freshly prepared food, including all the existing favourites.

Helen Foster, Commercial Director of Cherry Lane, said: “We’ve made some big changes to The Barn over the past three months to make the garden centre even better for our customers. The transformation is now complete and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to show them our new indoor and outdoor sales areas, not to mention hundreds of great value products across our gardening and new seasonal ranges.”

Cheryl Reeve, store manager at The Barn, added: “The Barn is so much more than just a garden centre. With our extensive and varied departments, not to mention the Coffee Barn, we’re very family friendly and a great shopping destination for a day out. We’d like to thank all our customers for their patience while the work has been carried out and hope to see them in our new look store very soon.”

To read more about the Home & Gardens Group of garden centres being split up click here

GTN Xtra has learned that the Home & Garden group of garden centres is to be split up as a buyer for the whole business hasn’t been forthcoming. It’s understood that at least a couple of the centres will be taken back by former operators...

The sale of the garden centres is being handled by Quinton Edwards, and Simon Quinton Smith told GTN Xtra today: “Terms have been agreed with all but one of the nine garden centres in the group and now we’re just waiting for the paperwork to be signed.”

The beleaguered Home & Garden Group went into administration in March and a team from Mazars was appointed administrators.

Prospective buyers were set a deadline of Monday, April 23, to submit their offers and it’s understood the administrators would like to draw a line under the whole process by May 13.

If a buyer isn’t found for the one remaining garden centre by then it faces closure.

The Home & Garden Group consists of the following centres:

• Rutland Garden Centre, Oakham
• Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre, Bedfordshire
• Willington Home and Garden
• Ise Garden Centre, Kettering
• Stansted Park Garden Centre, Rowlands Castle
• David's Nurseries, Worcester
• Shopwhyke Garden Centre, Chichester
• Plowmans Garden Centre, Bournemouth
• Floralands Garden Centre, Nottingham

GTN Xtra tried to contact Mazars for a comment and are still waiting for a reply.

After the Beast from the East, parts 1 and 2 that decimated trading in March, all that April could deliver was an average month for garden centre sales volumes.

GTN Bestsellers EPOS data analysis shows that volumes for the month were ahead of volumes in 2012, 2013 and 2016, but didn't get anywhere near the highs of 2011 or 2017 which owners and managers would have been hoping for to make up the March shortfall.

All is not lost however.  GTN Bestsellers prediction, based on sales matching the highest totals for each of the next 9 weeks we could get to plus 2% by the end of June.  

So the weather forecast for the next 10 days is all important and the Met Office have just published their forecast for the next 10 days which says that Monday may be the warmest Bank Holiday Monday on record.  See for yourself here:

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Wesfarmers blamed poor weather and the 'Beast from the East' for a further slump in sales at Homebase as it announced it's Third Quarter Retail Sales Update.

Total sales for the quarter were £211 million, a decrease of 13.5 per cent on the prior corresponding period, with like for like store sales down 15.4 per cent. For the financial year to date, total sales fell 14.7 per cent to £726 million, while like for like sales decreased 13.9 per cent.

Steve Collinge (left), of Insight DIY, said: "The period covered by Wesfarmers Q3 results, January to March 2018, is probably the worst quarter for home improvement and gardening sales for many, many years."

Improved trading results in the early part of the quarter were offset by severe weather in March that significantly affected trading, particularly in the seasonal gardening and outdoor living categories.

Bunnings Group Managing Director Michael Schneider said satisfactory progress has been made in regards to the focused streams of work to improve performance in Homebase stores as well as in continuing to refine performance in the Bunnings stores. This has included greater focus on store standards, inventory controls, range management and improved promotional and digital initiatives.

“Retail execution standards lifted in Homebase in preparation for spring and stores are well-positioned for the arrival of the season,” Mr Schneider said. “Refinement of the Bunnings format is ongoing with recent conversions reflecting updated range plans.”

During the quarter, eight pilot stores were opened and seven stores closed (four for conversion, three permanently). There were 227 Homebase stores and 23 Bunnings stores as at 31 March 2018. 

Read Steve Collinge's full analysis of the Homebase figures by clicking here

Jayne Scott pictured above with her garden centre manager Jason Norman.

The GCA Trust has selected Matt Tanner from Squire’s Garden Centres and Jayne Scott from Klondyke to go to this year’s International Garden Centre Association Congress in September.

For the third year running the GCA Trust has picked two candidates to receive a sponsored place as part of the Dick Allen Scholarship Award Scheme at the IGCA Congress.

Trust Chairman, Sue Allen explained: “Once again the Trustees had the difficult job of choosing from a small but top-quality group of applicants. Matt and Jayne were selected as they are both enthusiastic and eager young members of staff at their respective centres. They have also taken part in the ‘Rising Stars’ annual programme sponsored by Westland, in association with the GCA, and, in fact, Jayne was voted as this year’s Rising Star winner at the GCA Conference in January.”

The 2018 IGCA Congress, which takes place in Prague in the Czech Republic, runs from September 16 to 22 and includes a busy schedule of visits, activities and events.

Sue added: “This year’s congress is particularly exciting as we will be seeing many new and innovative centres in a country where only 25 years ago private ownership and initiative were not allowed. We know that Jayne and Matt will both form close new friendships and will come home brimming with enthusiasm and new ideas.”

The pair will be joining an ‘Interactive Tour Bus’ during the Congress and meeting many other young people from the 19 member countries.

Matt explained: “I am looking forward to the opportunity presented to me by the GCA. The chance to visit and share ideas with garden centres and other retailers in the Czech Republic is an exciting opportunity. Having worked with the GCA in the past on the Rising Stars programme, the knowledge and experience shared between participants is a real draw to taking part in the IGCA.

“As an industry we are very good at sharing, learning and best practice amongst ourselves and I think taking this to the next level with the IGCA will be of great benefit to me and Squire’s as a business.”

Above: Sarah Squire, Deputy Chairman of Squire’s, Matt Tanner, Manager at Squire’s Garden Centre in Chertsey and Martin Breddy, Managing Director of Squire’s.

Matt started his career at Squire’s as a Saturday boy in the company’s Woking centre when he was just 16. He went on to work at a number of Squire’s centres, including West Horsley, Cobham, Badshot Lea, and now Chertsey where he is the Garden Centre Manager.

Sarah Squire, Deputy Chairman of Squire’s said: “I am so proud that Matt has been selected to take up one of the two sponsored places on the IGCA. This is an amazing opportunity for him and is a testament to his hard work and dedication. We are immensely thankful to the trustees of the scholarship fund for making this possible. Dick Allen was a wonderful man and a great advocate of the GCA and this scholarship is a fitting tribute. So well done Matt for being selected for this fantastic experience!”

Jayne has been with Daleside Klondyke Garden Centre since she was 16-years-old and has worked her way up to her current position of Assistant Manager.

Jayne commented: “I am delighted to have been chosen to attend this year’s IGCA in Prague, it will be a great learning experience to help further my career. I’m looking forward to seeing what ideas and inspiration I can gain, and I am proud to be representing The Klondyke Group.”

Matt and Jayne’s IGCA programme will include a hectic mix of visits to garden centres and analyses of the businesses, in-depth discussions on current issues, plus trips to DIY centres, production units, castles and even the famous Budweiser Budvar Brewery.

David Yardley, Chief Executive of Klondyke said “I am so pleased for Jayne that she has been selected to go on the IGCA tour. She was so excited to win the Rising Stars Award and this has just made a great year even better for her. Thanks, also, to Sue Allen and the trustees for giving Jayne this opportunity.”

The object of the GCA Trust is to advance among the general public and, in particular among horticultural students, education in horticulture, and particularly garden centres, by the provision and administration of scholarships and bursaries, including prizes to foster such education.

The Trust also aims to assist horticultural students to study, research into and gain experience of horticulture and landscaping.

Sue continued: “After the excellent presentation by last year’s recipients of this award at the GCA Conference, we had hoped that we would be inundated with lots of applications this year, but, yet again, it would seem that only those businesses already familiar with the benefits of the IGCA chose to enter.

“We know there are many potential, management calibre young people out there who would benefit so much from this unique opportunity and, of course, their employers would benefit enormously too. We hope we will be able to continue this initiative in the future and would urge more member centres to take part next year and to get in touch to find out more.”

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show will feature a truly special display commissioned to celebrate the Royal Wedding and Hillier has been selected to create it.

“A Royal Celebration by Hillier” will welcome visitors to the Grand Pavilion at this year’s show. At the heart of the entrance will be impressive corten-steel staircases adorned with beautifully royal-themed floral displays to welcome visitors. Seeing as Hillier is the UK’s largest grower of semi-mature trees, it is no surprise that the entrance exhibit will feature Hillier trees on either side, selected from the 750,000 trees that the company grows at any one time at its Hampshire nursery.

The grand entrance is designed by Sarah Eberle, who is also designing the main Hillier garden within the Pavilion. This stunning display will celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, which takes place on the weekend that Chelsea begins and visitors will discover a variety of regally themed plants, a celebration of love and a proud appreciation of everything gardening.

Although Hillier holds the title for being the most successful exhibitor in Chelsea history, having received 72 consecutive gold medals, this is the first time that the company, as a stalwart of Chelsea, has been involved in an installation in the wider showground, away from its own garden.

Hillier and Sarah Eberle have chosen planting that takes on a bridal theme, with lots of white florals selected. Colour is added to the scheme with flowers that have been chosen for their regal names; some of the stars include Lavendula Regal Splendour, Cotinus Royal Purple, Agapanthus Bridal Bouquet, Lavendula Tiara, as well as Hydrangea Kanmara Champagne for a real celebration!

Sarah Eberle commented: “Whilst most people will be glued to their TV watching the Royal Wedding we’ll be putting the finishing touches to the gardens ready for opening. It is an absolute privilege to be able to create the display in honour of the Royal Wedding, and to expand our Chelsea repertoire beyond the main Hillier exhibit. Fingers crossed we get a few spare moments on the Saturday to break from building to watch the nuptials!”

The elegant staircases embrace the same elements as the main Hillier exhibit and give people a taster of what is to come in the “Stihl inspiration” garden within the Pavilion. The corten-steel staircases resonate with the theme of the main garden, and the love of everything gardening is celebrated with the staircases being adorned with a display of gardening accessories, including pots, plants, tools, lanterns and candles.

See pictures from the Hillier Nurseries Pre-Chelsea Press Conference below:

Due to the threat of Xylella fastidiosa and the potential devastation it poses to the horticultural industry the HTA has created a 30-day action plan. Through initiatives such as education and sharing best practice, the HTA want to continue to increase awareness of Xylella and help reduce the threat of it being introduced into the United Kingdom.

Over the next 30 days, the HTA is increasing its communications to both HTA members and non-members, producing Xylella Guidance Toolkits for business to educate themselves, their staff and consumers. These materials can then also be used to hold cluster meetings within their local area to ensure that businesses are working together where possible. With the destruction of stock within 100m and a 5km movement ban in place as a result of an outbreak, shared responsibility is vital.

The HTA is also sending out 500 letters to non-member businesses, encouraging them to sign up to the HTA Responsible Sourcing Statement; Deciding to not knowingly import host plants originating from regions where the disease Xylella is known to exist as a minimum.

The HTA has led the pilot development of an industry scheme to drive improvement in plant health management at nurseries, the Plant Health Assurance Scheme. This idea came from the HTA and APHA Biosecurity Conference 2015 and a prototype scheme developed by Boningale Nurseries. The HTA is following up on a proposal with government and hopes to achieve backing and support to help incentivise the scheme and roll this out.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) are also in the process of creating industry accredited training to help improve biosecurity practice, and the HTA is helping to develop this, and will promote the roll out of it once it is in place.

These are just a few of the points raised in the 30-day plan, and only part of the work that the HTA is engaged in. To find out more information and read the full plan, visit https://hta.org.uk/assurance-compliance/plant-and-disease-alert-xylella-fastidiosa/xylella-30-day-action-plan.html

There has never been a better time to think about getting children back outside to enjoy the great outdoors and Bents Garden & Home’s Explorer initiatives are great ways for children to do just that. 

Similar to Bents’ previous Ready Steady Dig school programme, Garden Explorers provides two hours of fun, learning and hands on activities designed to encourage children to love the outdoors and embrace the environment around them.  Explorers are taken on tours of Weeping Ash Garden and Bents’ on site nurseries before getting the chance to roll up their sleeves for a planting workshop and interactive question and answer session. 

Children will enjoy a nature themed scavenger hunt and leave with a nature themed activity pack.

Garden Explorers is also open to community groups such as rainbows and beaver groups on Monday evenings and primary schools can continue to make group bookings during term times on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with further details on times, dates and availability for all interested parties at bents.co.uk

Children can also become an Eco Explorer at Bents, learning about the outdoors with an interactive nature trail, designed to help familiarise children with local plants and animals and helping them develop a greater understanding of their natural surroundings

Aimed at children aged 4+, Eco Explorer requires an electronic device such as an ipad, iphone or android onto which a free app can be downloaded, which will guide children around Bents’ Open Skies Glass House, setting them challenges on their way

Says Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home:  “We often promote the health benefits of gardening and the reasons why grown-ups should roll their sleeves up and get outdoors, but the sooner we can get gardening into our lives the better! We’re a big believer in promoting the benefits of gardening to children of all ages and our new Explorer programmes are both perfect introductions to what could become a lifelong passion.

“Gardening doesn’t require acres of lawns and borders.  There’s lots that can be achieved in containers, pots and small veggie patches to no matter what size of garden don’t be afraid to give it a go with the little ones.”

Following the successful integration of Bosmere products to the Tildenet range, Steve Millington will leave his role as Sales Director of Tildenet Gardenware in September and with further expansion in the pipeline, the company will be shortly be recruiting further senior sales personnel to support the next phase of growth.

Steve will not be playing an active part in the Sales team during his notice period and account activity will be overseen by Managing Director, Andrew Downey  and Glynn Davis, in his new role as National Account Director.  Tildenet have recently welcomed Christian Needham as an office based Sales Manager and they will be backed by a team of seven sales support staff at Tildenet’s Bristol Headquarters.

Andrew Downey said: “The team at Tildenet wish Steve Millington well following his valuable time with us. We are looking forward to continuing to develop the business following another recent acquisition and are now actively recruiting a Group Sales and Marketing Director to look after our whole portfolio of brands and companies.”

As part of a continuing period of planned growth for the business, Tildenet have further strengthened their Bristol based warehousing and logistics function with an additional 50,000 sq ft of capacity and state of the art stock control system, ensuring excellent ongoing service to customers.

Plants, seeds and bulbs are the bread and butter of any garden retail offering.  Appealing to consumers across all demographics, they are the lifeblood of any domestic garden, whether it be vegetables, herbs, shrubs or flowers. We are changing not only what we garden, but how we garden. Here leading industry exhibition, Glee (10th - 12th September, NEC Birmingham), explores the latest plant trends.
           
The garden industry is currently worth an estimated £5 billion with £1,424 billion of that being made up of garden plant sales.  Broken down by category, £606 million comes from bedding plants, £354 million from the sales of seeds and bulbs and £464 million made up of other garden plants and trees*. This sector continues to grow year-on-year with bedding plants sales up by 3%, seeds and bulbs seeing an increase of 4%, whilst hardy plants sales rose by 9% in 2017.

Plants are a key staple in the UK garden with 79% all garden owners having flowers and plants in their outdoor space.  With the average garden size in the UK being 15m² for those over 45 years of age and 12m² aged under 45, it is clear that plant sales are here to stay as consumers look to keep their gardens blooming and colourful.
          
So, what can retailers expect from the plant trends set to dominate 2018?

Colour

The use of on trend colours are a useful tool when looking to inspire customers and new gardeners.  With many taking inspiration from interiors and transferring the look to their outdoor space, plants that are on trend can be as relevant as ever to a growing audience.  This year, Pantone have announced their Colour of the Year - Ultra Violet.  With a striking palette of enigmatic purples, it's bound to a big trend in planting in 2018.

With its colours being easily found in plants, embracing Pantone's Ultra Violet has never been as simple for garden retailers. As well as ensuring there's plenty of shrubs and green foliage to be sold to the customer, everything from purple-flowering herbs and flowers such as Lavender and Rosemary, to Clematis, Petunias (Night Sky a particular favourite), Heucheras and Acers.

Convenience gardening

With younger gardeners lacking the basic horticultural knowledge of older generations, gardening to them is perceived to be complicated and worrying with too much maintenance and responsibility for their busy lives. According to recent research by Wyevale Garden Centres, 31% of British gardeners admit to feeling guilty when their plants die.  This has seen a rise in pre-planted containers amongst the younger generation and families, who both want a low maintenance instant look without any hassle. And as container gardening is temporary, the mood or look of a garden can be changed with the colours of your containers and plants or moved onto the next property that is lived in.

The same Wyevale study showed that sales of grown-to-maturity plants went up 25% over the last three years, with pre-planted containers and baskets seeing sales increase by 14% year-on-year as customers opt for instant gratification solutions for their gardens.

Health and Wellbeing

Thanks to a number of studies, the health benefits of plants are well documented. There is now an increasing awareness of the ways that plants can improve mental wellbeing and physical health. According to NASA's Clean Air Study, plants improve air quality by removing toxins such as carbon dioxide and formaldehyde from the air. They've also been found to boost concentration levels, improve moods and reduce feelings of anger and anxiety.  In fact, Google searches for 'air purifying plants' and 'aloe vera' were up by 550% year-on-year in 2017.

Plants such as dracaenas, sansevieria, palms, spider plants, ivy, orchids, weeping figs, anthurium, peace lilies are all renowned and well publicised for their air purifying properties and have seen an increase in sales since such research has been published. The consumer awareness of this physical and wellbeing trend has brought with it an interest in houseplants into homes and the creation of interiors that mimic a green, calming oasis - see below.

Houseplants

Bringing the outside in, has become fashionable again, as shown by the resurgence of houseplants sales - up 14.27% year-on-year according to latest Garden Centre Association data**. This sudden growth has been spurred on by social media users - in particular on Instagram - plus popular health and wellbeing trends, and by millennials who have very little or no outdoor space.  Boxed in and denied the usual markets of adulthood such as the property ladder, children and pets, houseplants have become popular thanks to their ease of care, being able to be moved from flat to flat and their ability to add colour to interiors cheaply and easily.  60% of people say they use Instagram to discover new products such as plants and there are approximately 16 million garden photos on Instagram.  Monstera, pothos, fiddle-leaf, swiss cheese plants and succulents all enjoy popularity among millennial indoor gardeners; they are pretty, 'Instagrammable' and, in many cases, hard to kill.

Vertical

The squeeze on space for the millennial generation has also seen an uplift in vertical planting and climbers.  Those that have little outside space like a balcony or small yard are turning to planting upwards.  Those that find that they are lacking in square footage on the ground are instead decorating their walls in climbers and hanging plants.   Pre-planted pots of vertical climbers such Honeysuckle, Trachelopsermum, Clematis, Passiflora, Jasmine have been popular and can be trained on existing fences or wall mounted trellises.  Pre-planted hanging baskets and bowls planted with seasonal spiller plants such as ivy, fuchsias or lobelia can immediately brighten up a utilitarian outside wall with little effort.

Grow-Your-Own

With consumers becoming more environmentally conscious and aware of the chemicals and pesticides used in producing our food, Grow-Your-Own has become a popular organic alternative.   Younger gardeners are the most ethically aware and are turning to allotments and community gardens to grow their own food from "field to fork."  43% of gardeners under 40 now grow their own vegetables compared to 32% of over 60s as they find it rewarding and self-gratifying.   The rise of young celebrity gardeners on social media such as James Wong and Mr Plant Geek has also seen more exotic varieties of fruit and vegetables come to market, such as different varieties of chillies, samphire, avocados, kiwis, cucamelons, guavas and Inca berries.  Coupled with the ever-increasing number of cooking programmes, gastro pubs and restaurants, as well as the ability to travel around the globe, Grow-Your-Own gardeners are becoming more adventurous.

Re-Wilding

Highlighted at last year's Retail Lab @ Glee, Re-Wilding was highlighted as a key trend with 85% of people living in an urban environment wanting to relax and connect with nature our everyday lives.  With everyone living such busy lives, gardeners now want an urban oasis where they can welcome birds, bees, and other wildlife into their garden. Bee-friendly plants and herbs, such as lavender, heather, lilac, sage, rhododendron, foxgloves, penstemon, buddleia and thyme are proving popular and provide support for pollinating insects.  This presents garden centres with the ideal opportunity to show off their plant knowledge and work with nature to create unique shopping environments.

Events

Plant trends can also be influenced by events and none are more prominent in 2018 than the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.  It has been heavily publicised that her floral arrangements will involve plants and blooms typical of May - beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves.  It is this international effect that will present both growers and retailers with a huge marketing opportunity both this year and into next as celebrity style and culture influences our everyday society with copycat looks.

With the increasing interest of plants in everyday lifestyle, the Green Heart at Glee, as well as the wider Plant section, is set to welcome its largest ever number of exhibitors including Key Essentials, Leybaert BVB, Artopya, Henningsen UK, Peter Strawson Limited, H.S Hommers & Sons (Dutch Bulbs) Ltd, The Christmas Cabin, SP Trading, Javado, Laurica Plants, Air So Pure - VLAM (Dataflor, Decock Plants, Deforche Export, Het Wilgenbroek, Van Poecke, Oprins Plant). From herbs to bedding plants, trees and shrubs to house plants, the Green Heart will showcase the very best plant suppliers all under one roof with retailers able to plan their ranges for the following season.

Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director, said: "This year over 50 plant suppliers, growers and breeders will be showcasing their latest ranges and recent introductions within the Green Heart at Glee, as well as within our dedicated Plant sector.  With the quality and variety of plants constantly improving and plant trends evolving, the Green Heart is a key part of Glee, and is designed to put plants right at the centre of the show.  We encourage every retailer to spend some time in this part of the show, networking with suppliers to ensure that they have the best ranges they possibly can for the following season."

Find out more

Glee is the UK's leading garden retail show, focussing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up-to-date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2018 call 020 3033 2160

SBM Life Science’s revolutionary new weedkiller, Job done is taking to the airwaves on talkSPORT.  With nearly 3 million listeners, TalkSPORT is the world’s largest sports radio station broadcasting sport and sports coverage 24 hours a day.

Headlining with the powerful message ‘Tired of weeds? Now there’s Job done® Tough Weedkiller’, the 20 second advert will capture the attention of men who want a smart garden without having to work at it every evening and weekend. 

The advert will be live on the airwaves Thursdays to Sundays until mid-June, with a big boost in coverage over the bank holidays and weekends.  It will be heard an incredible 30.7 million times, each listener hearing it an average of eight times. 

With new chemistry and a strong look and feel, Job done® Tough Ready to Use Weedkiller, is a tough, reliable new weedkiller: nothing kills faster and prevents for longer!

“Job done® is perfect for people, particularly men, who want to get the job done the first time of asking,” explained Christina Bouzala, Marketing Manager at SBM Life Science.  “TalkSPORT is the perfect platform for reaching them.”

Killing tough deep-rooted weeds, Job done® Tough Ready to Use Weedkiller produces visible effects in just 24 hours and provides three months’ protection against new weeds.  Satisfaction guaranteed! 

Job done® Tough Weedkiller Ready to Use contains glyphosate & diflufenican.

Use plant protection safely.  Always read the label and product information before use. Pay attention to the risk indications and follow the safety precautions on the label.

Consumer Advisory Line 0845 345 4100; uk.gardenadvice@sbm-company.com

www.sbm-lifescience.co.uk

Tong Garden Centre has announced the second masterclass with TV and radio gardening expert and award winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer, Matthew Wilson.

Tong  is the first centre in the North of England to host BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time regular panellist Matthew Wilson's Gardening School and will host a pruning masterclass between 9.30am and 12.30pm on Tuesday, 15th May.

Wilson, the former curator of RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate and respected writer, broadcaster and lecturer, will mix practical with theory in the half day course that aims to unravel the mysteries of the pruning process and give pruning techniques for flower production, disease reduction and growth promotion.

Of the masterclass, Wilson said: "Pruning can strike fear into even the most experienced gardener. What to prune, when and where can seem utterly baffling at times. During the session, we will look at how to prune roses to maintain health and maximise flowering; clematis pruning; getting the most out of your hedges, dead heading and creative pruning forms including topiary and cloud shaping."

Tickets for the pruning masterclass, which runs from 9.30am to 12.30pm on 15th May, cost £55 per person and are available to book online at www.tonggardencentre.co.uk.

The RHS has revealed its landscape of gardens at this year’s RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, supported by Bruntwood. From larger than life designs looking to the future of our planet, to escapism and take home inspiration, there will be gardens galore as the Show celebrates its 20^th anniversary. 

Future Spaces

Highlighting ways to utilise outdoor spaces to better protect our future, this innovative category returns for its second year with three designs tackling some hot topics.

Yorkshire based Ellen Krier takes inspiration from the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, and focuses on creating a positive vision of what the future might hold for food security. ‘Food for Thought’ offers a futuristic view of farming, with each crop selected to provide a significant environmental benefit such pollination or biofuel, in the hope that food production may evolve into a progressive and thriving landscape to enhance the world we live in.

Promoting the protection that nature can provide when left to its own devices, Michael Vinsun’s ‘Future Art Garden’ was inspired by childhood memories spent in a heathland full of Birch trees which grew tightly together to form a sheltered, Cathedral-like structure. Influenced by the abstract artwork of Mondrian and Victor Pasmore, Michael aims to recreate this skeletal structure, adding a human-made layer to the concept of natural protection.

Following in this theme of protection, ‘The Oasis Garden’, by Birmingham based Dave Green, has been designed to provide much needed shady space for plants and people living in built up urban areas in the face of rising temperatures. Created with south facing courtyards in mind, three large pyramid structures frame the garden entrance to absorb the majority of the day’s hot weather, creating a microclimate and protecting the green living walls and pockets of lush planting nestled safely behind them.

Show Gardens

Cheshire-based designer Pip Probert returns for her 15^th year with ‘Jungle Fever’. Created to offer a sense of escapism, the garden breaks away from traditional landscape and planting designs, playing host to exotic planting including Fatsias and bamboos, and features a contemporary hot tub and bespoke fire pit at its centre, providing the ultimate ‘staycation’ experience.

Providing the perfect escape on a hot summer’s day, Ginspiration by local designer Belinda Belt, is a fragrant celebration of edible botanicals and pollinators found in the production and flavourings of today’s most popular gin and tonics. Supported by Manchester Gin, the garden features a bespoke copper bar at its centre, covered by a clear canopy supported by four bold pillars, each of which contain shelves filled with herbs and trailing planting to mirror the flavour found in the gin.

Manchester based Leon Davis has teamed up with JW Lees & Co Brewery in celebration of the local staple’s 190^th anniversary. The design draws on inspiration from across the brewing industry and uses slender glass shaped screens to frame the garden, providing a foil for grasses similar to barley and wheat. These are integrated with deep red and amber perennials to reflect the inviting flow and textures of a freshly poured pint.

Back to Back Gardens

These 6m x 4m favourites are renowned for offering a range of take home tips and inspiration. The positive effects of a good night’s sleep combined with vital access to green spaces is championed by scientist and local designer Julie Dunn. ‘Sleep Well’ invites visitors through a path of ‘plant cushions’ interspersed with soft, scented planting which cumulates in the discovery of a fully dressed floral bed. Partly covered from summer showers and engulfed in a beautiful quilt of fabrics, the bed display echoes the planting surrounding it.

‘A Place to Ponder’ by Yorkshire-based Matt Haddon takes root from the simple concept of a garden space as a place of calm and escapism. Using a combination of traditional and contemporary materials, the garden is designed to appeal to the part in all of us that appreciates the new and yet finds comfort in the old, and demonstrates that any forgotten space can be transformed into a pocket haven. 

Also featuring in the Back to Back category are ‘Arley’s Flowers’ by James Youd from Cheshire and ‘Bee’s Garden: The Penumbra’ by Oxfordshire-based Briony Doubleday.   

More gardens to be announced shortly. For more information and tickets, please visit www.rhs.org.uk/tatton.

Denise July, an employee at Squire’s Garden Centre in Long Ditton, bravely jumped out of a plane last Saturday 21^st April to raise money for Squire’s chosen charity Princess Alice Hospice in Esher.

Denise said of the skydive, “I am actually terrified of heights so this was quite a challenge! I was 2 miles up in the sky and travelling at 125 mph! It was brilliant, an indescribable fabulous feeling, but I was very pleased when the parachute opened and I got back to terra firma.

'My motivation for doing the tandem skydive was my only son Harry, who was so well cared for at Princess Alice Hospice at the end of his life, aged just 23.

"The hospice made Harry feel safe and nurtured, and he asked that we should give back to Princess Alice Hospice through charitable donations. So thank you to everyone who has supported me and made a donation to this very worthy charity.”

Her skydive has raised over £4,000 for Princess Alice Hospice so far, but you could help increase this amount by donating at Squire’s in Long Ditton, or via Denise’s Just Giving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/squires-princess-alice-skydive-denise-july

You can see a video of Denise’s inspirational skydive by clicking on the screen below:

Squire’s Garden Centres are running their very popular “Large Summer Hanging Basket” planting masterclass on Friday 18^th May at 10am and 2pm.

Hanging baskets can make a real statement in your garden and give you loads of pleasure. Squire’s gardening experts will show you how to line a large basket with moss, then position a selection of upright and trailing plants, as well as a centrepiece plant. You will also be taught some simple tricks so that your plants should bloom for months on end!

The masterclass is suitable for everyone, from gardening novices to the more experienced gardener. It also makes a great gift experience for friends and family.

Tickets are £25 and include everything you need to make your hanging basket – the tuition, basket, moss, compost, and all plants. The masterclass lasts around an hour then you’ll get tea or coffee and cake in Squire’s Café Bar, and 10% off any other plants you purchase on the day!

www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Hillier is set to introduce three new plants in its Chelsea Flower Show garden this year.

With an international reputation for its horticultural skills and expertise, and a world record holder for having the most Chelsea golds, Hillier is the name that is synonymous with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Each year Hillier launches its latest plant varieties at the show and this year there are new plants being showcased, each very different but all complementing the rustic theme of this year’s garden, “Stihl Inspiration” by Hillier.

The first is Eryngium ’Blue Waves’, a hybrid developed solely with Hillier Nurseries in the UK. This unique blend of Eryngium bourgatii and Eryngium alpinum was first cultivated in 2002 when two plants, growing close to each other, resulted in the production 11 hybrid seedlings. One of these was then selected due to its strong, upright stems and large bracted cone like flower head, which is surrounded by a number of smaller bracted flowers. This will be the star of the Hillier 2018 Chelsea Flower Show garden.

The intricate thistle-like blooms of the Eryngium are in a vibrant shade of amethyst and create a ‘blue wave’ sitting on top of a stout, inky blue stem. E. ‘Blue Waves’ emerges from an over wintered crown producing ornate leaves with silver-white veins, then in June the cone like heads appear, each surrounded by a prominent spiky bract on stems between 35cm and 50cm high. As the plant matures, the flower cones, bracts and stems all turn to the shade of vivid blue from which it takes its name. Once established, the new Eryngium is very drought tolerant, and even thrives in poor soil. Its versatility is set to make it a big performer for Hillier.

Accompanying the vibrant shades of the Eryngium ‘Blue Waves’ will be a second Hillier introduction for 2018. Salvia ’Rhythm and Blues’ will add height to the planting in the “Stihl Inspiration” by Hillier garden. A result of exceptional breeding, Salvia ‘Rhythm and Blues’ has large summer flowers in stunning colours. This Salvia, a hybrid of Salvia guaranitica, the hummingbird sage, has stiff long black tipped flower stems of up to 90cm tall that contrast beautifully with its vivid blue flowers. It produces masses of freely repeat-flowering blooms throughout the season.

To complement the stunning blues of these two new plants, and to enhance the rustic theme introduced by the corten-steel that features throughout the garden, the final new plant for Hillier this year is Hydrangea aspera ‘Gold Rush’ exclusively grown by Hillier Nurseries in the UK. Hydrangea aspera ‘Gold Rush’ is a shrub of distinctive velvety textured gold foliage with striking lavender blue flowers surrounded by distinctive white florets on its edges.

The new growth of Hydrangea aspera ‘Gold Rush’ that emerges in spring is truly unique. It initially displays shades of gold and flame orange, then matures to a rich golden yellow before turning green in the height of summer. Hydrangea aspera ‘Gold Rush’ flowers in summer and can grow to be two metres high and one metre wide. At this size, it is ideal for shrub borders and can be the perfect addition to containers or balcony displays.

The new plants were introduced by the Hillier Research and Development team which has a wealth of horticultural experience and a passion for making horticultural discoveries. George Hillier, explained:

“We love unveiling our plants at Chelsea and watching people come to find them in the garden. There is almost as much anticipation each year for the announcement of these as there is about the garden design.

“A key part of Hillier is expanding our growing business and we do this, and maintain our positioning in the market, by the introduction of new plants. Our R&D team is constantly working, alongside our international partners, to deliver exciting new innovations to the market and these are an example of that.”

A panel of expert judges has just been announced to include buyers from top garden centres as well as consumer and trade press for this year’s GIMA Awards. 

Recognising excellence in new products, marketing support and export achievements, the 2018 GIMA awards will presented at the garden industry’s annual gala dinner, 12th July, at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales.

Judges include Colin Dale, head of plants and gardening at Notcutts, Mairi Devlin, head of garden trading at Wyevale Garden Centres, Mike Lind, managing director of Monkton Elm, Caroline Linger head product buyer at Crocus, Caroline Owen, managing director of Scotsdales, Neil Pope, editor of Garden Trade News, and Adrienne Wild, gardening editor & columnist for the Sunday People and Woman’s Weekly, who will all make their decisions as part of a private judging day in June.
 
Those not already entered are being urged to do so before the closing date of 25th May 2018.  Each separate entry costs £80, or £40 for GIMA members.

For more information and to submit your entry visit http://gima.org.uk/gima-awards/

Anna Koladynska has been appointed New Sales Representative for Glencrest Seatex and Katie Blake.

"Anna who has been working in our offices for some time now has always been keen to become a Sales Representative and after seeing her performance at the last SOLEX exhibition where she helped man the stand we agree," said Managing Director Jack Whiteley.

"Anna knows the products including our range of Katie Blake Outdoor Furniture and Glencrest Cushions and Parasols in some depth and is able to advise customers and help with any issues on a face to face basis.

"Anna enjoys meeting people and wants to move her career forward and this is an excellent opportunity for her. She is very polite and likable and has bundles of energy."

Initially Anna will work alongside National Sales Manager Steve Wain where she will get his many years of experience, after which she will be making appointments to visit customers and working with our Sales Team nationwide.

"Our range of Katie Blake Furniture has seen sales increase this season by a massive 40% which is great news," added Jack.

"It has been a difficult season for all suppliers with delays from the Far East, terrible exchange rates and bad weather early on and the shipping lines being difficult hasn’t helped. For this reason we are planning production now for 2019 and will be holding an increased stock in China ready for shipment pre-season."

If you would like Anna to come and see you just call the office: 01702 527814 or call Steve Wain on 07967 553625.

Thompson & Morgan and RHS Garden Hyde Hall team up to create a fabulous garden for an event this summer, aptly named Floral Fantasia.

Thompson & Morgan is transforming an area of the well-known RHS site near Chelmsford in Essex into a magnificent floral exhibition, showcasing many varieties of bedding plants.

Over four months from June to September, visitors will see thousands of summer bedding plants displayed in beds, pots and hanging baskets in and around the Floral Fantasia garden.

The theme of the event is ‘Inspiring Gardeners Old and New’ and aims to provide visitors with inspiration to create floral impact in their own gardens.

RHS Garden Hyde Hall Head of Site, Ian Le Gros, says: “I’m delighted to welcome Floral Fantasia to Hyde Hall for the first time and it’s been great to work with Thompson & Morgan on this project. It will provide a dazzling display during the summer months and will surely inspire novice and seasoned gardeners, both old and young, to have a go at growing themselves.

"Bedding plants are simple to grow and add instant impact to your garden be it in baskets and pots or as gap-fillers for your border, so by the time our visitors have seen the display, they will hopefully go home buzzing with ideas for their own gardens.”

Thompson & Morgan’s Head of New Product Development, Peter Freeman adds: “We’re thrilled to be working with RHS Garden Hyde Hall to design and create the T&M Floral Fantasia garden. I think it will be one of the highlights of the summer in the East of England! We will be planting many traditional summer favourites, as well as a selection of our new introductions some of which are exclusive to Thompson & Morgan.

'We’re particularly excited about our new and exclusive sunflower, Sunbelievable™ which will be on display in borders and pots. There will certainly be tons of inspiration for visitors to take home with them!”

Floral Fantasia at RHS Garden Hyde Hall runs from 1st June to 30th September 2018.

To view Thompson & Morgan’s extensive range of bedding plants, go to www.thompson-morgan.com/bedding-plants

For more information on Floral Fantasia at RHS Garden Hyde Hall this summer go to www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

BBC Look North’s Harry Gration this week helped unveil a statue commemorating horticulturalist John Richardson’s more than 60 years’ service to the industry.

The statue, named ‘The Spirit of the Nurseryman’, has been created by wire sculptor Derek Kinzett, and is sited inside the entrance to the business’s main building.

First established in 1921, Johnsons of Whixley was purchased by Richardson in 1964 and the business is today recognised as one Europe’s largest commercial nurseries. His three sons, Graham, Andrew and Iain, serve as joint managing directors, while several grandchildren also have roles within the business.

Starting with eight full-time staff and an annual turnover of £33,500, Johnsons of Whixley now employs 100 members of full-time staff, rising to 150 seasonally, and in the most recent financial period delivered a turnover of just under £12m.

Following numerous stages of expansion, production now covers 90 hectares across five sites, including the annual production of around two million container plants and fast approaching six million native hedging plants.

Richardson remains chairman and still takes an active daily role in governance, strategy, quality and environmental systems, and health and safety.

Having recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and after last year receiving a lifetime achievement award for his commitment to Rural Excellence in Yorkshire, the receipt of a statue in his honour came as a major surprise.

He said: “I vaguely remember something being said at the time of my 80th birthday, along the lines of something special arriving in due course, but I had no idea beyond that. It’s a tremendous honour.

“I think the statue looks very realistic in dress, attitude and stance and it will look good in front of the office. It’s very well made and realistic and you can appreciate the craftsmanship that’s gone into it.

“It might take some getting used to, but I don’t think I’ll have a problem walking past it each day. I will appreciate my sons’ thoughts every time I see it, and I like the notion that I remind them of a working man.

“However, along with every other person around the place, he looks far younger than me!”

Harry Gration said: “It was a privilege to be involved in such a moving presentation.

“It was clear to me just how much it meant to him, but, typical of the man, he said it was a tribute to the whole company.

“That is what makes Johnsons so special.”

Richardson holds a college diploma in Horticulture and studied at Writtle College of Agriculture and Horticulture. Industry accolades throughout his career include:

• Horticulture Week’s Individual Excellence Award (2006)
• The Royal Horticulture Society, Associate of Honour Award (2003)
• The Institute of Horticulture Award for Significant Contribution to Horticulture (2003)
• The prestigious Pearson Memorial Medal

Johnsons of Whixley is a family-run plant nursery first established in 1921, and today recognised as one of Europe’s largest commercial nursery businesses.

Royal FloraHolland realised a product turnover of € 4.7 billion in 2017, an increase of 1.2%. Average prices increased by 3.9% in comparison with 2016.

The number of units sold shows a slight 1.8% decline to 11.7 billion units. The products were delivered by approximately 5,700 growers and purchased by 2,500 clients. This is shown in the Royal FloraHolland annual report 2017 that was published on 24 April 2018.

Last year saw a shift from regular auction sales to direct sales between growers and clients. In 2017 regular auction sales represented 43.7% of the total turnover, whilst 56.3% came from direct flows. Direct sales of cut flowers show an increase of 5.7%. Houseplants and garden plants increased by 3.1% and 11.9%, respectively. Steven van Schilfgaarde, CEO Royal FloraHolland: “In 2017, we committed fully to digitisation on the one hand, with the launch of our digital marketplace Floriday as the most important milestone. We are committed to reinforcing the clock. I am convinced of its power."
 
FloraXchange
In 2017, Royal FloraHolland acquired the majority control of FloraXchange, a large digital trade channel primarily for plants. Agreements were made about the future development of the platform and the required investments. This is also part of the digital strategy.
 
Priorities
Steven van Schilfgaarde: “In addition to making Floriday successful, the improvement of daily services to members and clients, and the enabling of an optimal, integral logistical control were already mentioned in 2017 as the three priorities in relation to our growth strategy. We do this from a financially healthy basis. Also in 2017 figures were good." An agreement for a new long-term financing has been reached in 2017. At € 377 million, revenues were nearly the same as in 2016 and regular operating profit amounted to € 22 million. The financial ratios are at a proper level and constitute a solid foundation for the future.
 
Sustainability
Sustainability is an integral part of the annual report this year as well. Royal FloraHolland works continuously on the improvement of its own sustainability profile and plays an important role in improving supply-chain sustainability and transparency. Royal FloraHolland is one of the partners in the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). FSI's ambition for 2020 is to have 90% of the members' flowers and plants production or trading be done sustainably. In 2017, that percentage was 33% for flowers and 53% for plants.

About Royal FloraHolland
With 100,000 transactions each day and thousands of types of flowers and plants, Royal FloraHolland is the premier international marketplace and knowledge partner contributing to the success of growers and their clients. Royal FloraHolland has an annual turnover of €4.7 billion and 4,141 members, 602 of whom are foreign. There are approximately 2,500 clients. In 2017, a total of 11.7 billion units of plants and flowers were sold. At the moment, Royal FloraHolland runs 35 auction clocks situated on four locations: Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk, Rijnsburg and Eelde.

The Warwickshire based family company, Hawkesmill Nurseries, will be bringing a kaleidoscope of bright hues to their customers in 2018, with a brand new Astilbe Collection and also a super new Lychnis, in May.

The Astilbe 'Younique Collection' consists of three colours of this excellent variety and is supplied with large lock-in labels and colour bed card.  With feathery, soft plumes these Astilbes are stunning and contrast beautifully with their deep, green, dainty foliage.

The gorgeous 'Lychnis coronaria atrosanguinea' has evergreen rosettes of silvery, woolly leaves. On top of the upright stems are vivid, velvety magenta flowers, resplendent in their glory!

Garden Retailers can contact Hawkesmill Nurseries for more information about their new varieties, as well as general availability by phoning them on 01676 532334 or by emailing them on sales@hawkesmillnurseries.co.uk.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Friendly Gardening Competition, which is sponsored by The Gardens Group, is now open for entry, and this year, there is a new award for gardens where innovation has blossomed.

The brand new Innovation Award has been added to the five existing categories, which include Small, Medium and Large gardens, as well as Rented and Community spaces, to shine a spotlight on gardeners using inventive and environmentally friendly means to welcome wildlife into their gardens.

As well as looking for those all-important pollinating plants, habitats and corridors, the judges will also be keeping an eye out for the use of recycled and upcycled materials in gardens to help create wildlife havens, whether turning plastic containers into ponds or using old household items to create bug hotels.

Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, explains: “The whole idea behind the Innovation Award is to encourage more people to think about alternative ways to help wildlife, even if they have limited outdoor space or aren’t gardening experts. It is also a great opportunity for people to reduce their waste and re-use non-biodegradable items that will ultimately end up on landfill or in our oceans.  I am really looking forward to seeing what is being implemented in gardens across the county and hope that we can share these innovative ideas and inspire more people to think about their impact on the environment and wildlife.”

Wildlife friendly gardeners can enter for free online at www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk. Entry closes on Friday 25 May and an awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 26 July at Castle Gardens in Sherborne.

Wesfarmers, the Australian owner of Homebase, has asked prospective buyers of the ailing business to submit initial offers today as it sought a fast-track exit from its disastrous foray into the UK retail sector, according to Sky News reports.

Sky News has stated that sources close to the seller say it is assembling a large financial package to hand to any new owner to help contend with its huge losses.

The value of the dowry has not been finalised, but one insider said it could easily exceed £100m.

Homebase, which is part of Wesfarmers' Bunnings UK and Ireland division, is expected to lose approximately £190m in this financial year on revenues of roughly £1bn, according to the source.

Sky News has also revealed that Alvarez & Marsal, the restructuring specialist, has been drafted in to advise Wesfarmers on alternatives to a sale, including a mechanism that would see it closing scores of Homebase outlets.

Wesfarmers began approaching potential buyers of the DIY chain several weeks ago, just two years after completing a £340m takeover.

Investment bankers at Lazard are handling the sale discussions, with turnaround investors such as Endless and Hilco reportedly interested in a takeover.

Homebase employed nearly 12,000 people in Britain across an estate of almost 250 stores at the end of last year.

The move to unwind Wesfarmers takeover of the UK's second-biggest DIY chain comes less than three months before the Sydney-listed company has said it will update investors on the results of its strategic review.

Homebase was intended to be a launchpad from which the Australian retailer would take on B&Q in a battle for supremacy in the DIY market.

However, Wesfarmers' strategy has backfired spectacularly in the last 18 months‎, forcing it to write off more than £500m after it ditched some of Homebase's most popular business lines.

The full Sky News report can be viewed by clicking here

Gardman now has 1400 SKUs available at its Kings Lynn warehouse that re-opened in the wake of the fire that destroyed the new state-of-the-art Daventry warehouse on March 12.

More than 50 experienced staff have returned to work at the site full-time. 

The company says availability is increasing each week.

 “We now have large volumes of both gardening and lighting stock arriving from UK ports and overseas,” said its latest update. “We also have a constant supply of our top selling wild bird care products arriving daily from our local UK supplier.”

Just as we thought Spring was about to happen, along comes Summer and everything in the garden is growing like mad, apart from garden centre sales… yet.

The second week of the Easter fortnight moved sales in the upward direction everyone was waiting for but last week before the schools went back saw total volume sales drop back and as a result didn’t get close to the same week last year, which was the first Easter week in 2017.

As our Easter analysis graph shows, once again an early Easter did not bring any benefit as the weather was the main factor effecting sales.

Plant sales were one area where volumes did increase week on week but overall volumes are running about 2 weeks behind where everyone would be expecting them to be.

The big question is whether those sales are lost or whether they can be made up if the weather stays in our favour. Let’s make the most of the good weather for the time being!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 15)
Garden Products - down 19%
Growing Media - down 18%
Veg-2-Gro - down 43%
Wild Bird Care - down 25%
All Plants Index - down 16%
All Items Index - down 17%

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Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

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Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care chart for this week are here

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