Reports circulating online sources this week suggest that life is not getting any easier for Terra Firma’s Wyevale Garden Centres operation, which is facing re-structuring and re-financing after disappointing earnings.

The 149-centre chain’s latest review of retail operations, appears to restore a previously abandoned reporting procedure involving a team of regional managers instead of a north and south area set-up.

In a statement, retail operations director David Anderson (right), who was appointed in May, announced changes to his leadership team designed to “deliver excellent customer service and improve retail standards, whilst also providing support and development to colleagues in centres”.

Chris Brannigan, who has been with WGC since 2007, has been promoted to director of garden centres and will lead the transformation agenda. The Area Manager roles are being axed, and replaced with 11 new regional managers. Anderson says many of the existing area managers are being retained as regional managers, and recruitment is under way to fill existing vacancies.

Jeremy Byfleet, who joined the business in January 2014, will assume the newly created role of director of central operations and customer services. Like Brannigan, he will report to Anderson.

Elizabeth Oddy, previously regional operations director, takes on the newly created role of head of horticultural development, reporting to Brannigan. Oddy has more than 16 years’ horticultural experience with WGC, and will be tasked with driving commercial performance and horticultural excellence in the marketplace. Recruitment is currently under way for a new head of retail visual, “who will ensure our centres reach their full potential as inspiring places to shop and will bring consistency across our estate”.

Anderson added: “The new structure and the appointments we have put in place provide a fantastic opportunity to build on WGC's past successes. Through working together as one team, we'll deliver exceptional service to our customers and give our colleagues the support they need to reach their full potential.”

WGC offered no comment on reports that it had launched a key time working initiative designed to deliver a workforce that can react more flexibly to seasonal and weather variations. One online trade publication source suggested the company was looking for more part-time contracts.

Meanwhile, insiders confirmed reports that Wyevale is negotiating a refinancing deal before it publishes its annual accounts (usually filed at the end of June) by the Companies House deadline of 30 September. New auditors KPMG are reported as saying the accounts are being finalised but, again, WGC declined to comment.

Meanwhile, further reports suggest WGC has been struggling to meet its sales targets and is exploring ways in which it can hit its EBITDA goal of £34 million.

With cash clearly tight, the recently-revealed sale of Handcross Garden Centre in West Sussex for development following a successful planning application, will generate much-needed funds.

WGC said work on the A23, which had left the site with no direct road access, had affected sales. The site will close on 24 September, with 24 jobs affected. Observers say two more disposals are on the cards.

The HTA is reminding retailers that the deadline for the expired National Garden Gift Vouchers amnesty will be reached on 31 August.

The HTA is enforcing voucher expiry dates thanks to a change in accounting legislation. Since receiving notice of the change, the association has been working closely with appropriate bodies to mitigate any effects on members.

To allow more time to train staff, the amnesty on vouchers with an expiry date of 31 December 2016 was extended to 31 August 2017. Any expired vouchers accepted by retailers on that date must be returned to the HTA for redemption within 30 days.

The HTA says that the consequences on its finances of not implementing the change would be “significant and not sustainable”.

More information: click here

• Garden Products - down 32%
• Veg-2-Gro - down 20%
• Growing Media - down 34%
• All Plants Index - down 18%
• All Items Index - down 13%

Following the recent emergency Xylella meeting hosted by the HTA, more garden retailers have signed up to support the joint industry plant sourcing statement about Xylella fastidiosa.

The statement, which incorporates the existing HTA Ornamentals Management Committee statement, reads as follows:-

“As a minimum standard, the following businesses have taken the decision NOT to knowingly purchase any host plants originating from regions where the disease Xylella is known to exist. The decision has been taken after detailed consideration as to the potential catastrophic impact the introduction of the disease could have to the UK environment, coupled with the ever increasing number of host plant genera of this disease. This is in line with DEFRA’s good practice recommendations.”

The HTA is aware that this is a minimum standard and therefore individual businesses are encouraged to develop their own policy for managing the risks posed by Xylella fastidiosa.

The following retailers have now signed up to the statement.

• Alton Garden Centre
• Aylett Nurseries Ltd
• Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre
• Bents Garden & Home
• Blackbrooks Garden Centre
• Blackdown Garden Centre
• Boningale Nurseries 
• Burleydam Garden Centre
• Burston Garden Centre
• Capital Gardens Centres
• Carnon Downs Garden Centre
• Chessington Garden Centre
• Christies of Fochabers Ltd.
• Coolings Nurseries Ltd.
• Country Garden Plant Sales Ltd.
• Cowell's Garden Centre
• Fairways Garden Centre
• Fosseway Garden Centre
• Fresh @ Burcot
• Fron Goch Garden Centre
• Garden Wise (Dumfries) Ltd.
• Golden Grove Nursery
• Gordale Garden Centre
• Haskins Garden Centres
• Hayes Garden World
• Henry Street Garden Centre
• Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres
• Hillview Garden Centres
• Klondyke Group
• Knights Garden Centre
• Malmesbury Garden Centre
• Mayberry Garden Centre
• Meadow Croft
• Monkton Elm Garden Centre
• New Hopetoun Gardens
• Newquay Garden Centre
• Notcutts Garden Centres
• Orchard Park Garden Centre
• Pennells Garden Centres
• Perrywood Garden Centre
• Plymouth Garden Centre
• Poplars Garden Centre Ltd.
• Pople Garden Centres Ltd.
• P & R Garden Supplies
• RHS Retail
• Scotsdales Garden Centres
• Squires Garden Centres
• Stewarts Garden Centres
• St Peters Garden Centre
• Sunshine Garden Centre
• The Gardens Group
• The Mains of Drum Garden Centre
• The Millbrook Garden Company Ltd.
• Thirsk Garden Centre
• Thompsons Plant and Garden Centres
• Threaplands Landscaping and Garden Centre
• Thurrock Garden Centre

For the full list of businesses, including growers, signed up to the statement, please see: https://hta.org.uk/plant-and-disease-alert-xylella-fastidiosa.html

Any businesses wishing to show their support for the statement should email policy@hta.org.uk in order for their name to be added to the list.

Commenting on this Raoul Curtis-Machin, HTA Director of Horticulture comments, “Retailers attending the meeting felt that a joined up industry statement for all sectors would be stronger. It became apparent that retailers felt inadequately informed about procedures to follow and the potential impact of Xylella fastidiosa throughout the supply chain. As a result a five point plan has been developed to inform about good practice with regard to plant health management.”

Xylella Five Point Plan

Under EU emergency measures there are additional plant passporting requirements for all professional operators sourcing Xylella host plants. This means that all those trading professionally in these plants must issue and retain passports where the plants are being supplied to another business entity, such as landscapers, designers and retailers. It also includes plants being imported direct to the final user.

All those involved in the commercial supply and receipt of host plants should:

1. Check plant passports arriving with plants are correct and keep the plant passport to aid trace back if necessary. Label and keep records of the identity of all received batches of plants, including where the plants came from and when.
2. Source from known suppliers or visit suppliers to view their processes, procedures, biosecurity arrangements and the plants they grow.
3. Make sure that imported plants both originate from, and are sourced from, disease free areas. Details on infected areas are found at: http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/legislation/emergency_measures/index_en.htm.
4. Maintain records of pesticide treatments and destroy old or unusable plants.
5. Comply with the UK national requirements to notify the UK Plant Health Service about certain species of plants under the ‘EU Plant and Tree notification scheme’.

For trade guidance and information about Xylella priority hosts, follow the links from this page: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-plant-health-topical-issues#new-eu-emergency-measures-against-xylella-fastidiosa-a-bacterial-disease-of-plants

The authorities have also identified six High Risk plants: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/assets/uploads/Xylella-host-info-note-version3.pdf

For more information about plant passports and keeping updated with legislation: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/plant-health-controls

For more information about plant health: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/ or contact: planthealth.info@apha.gsi.gov.uk, 01904 40138.

Burgon & Ball will launch its biggest-ever collection of new products at Glee next month.

More than 70 will be unveiled on the stand (19C26-E27), led by a range of stylish indoor plant pots, tapping into the trend for bringing the outdoors in for a lush jungle-like look. With houseplants making style headlines, the pots are available in a choice of colours and finishes to complement every room, all sized to fit the most popular sizes of houseplants sold in garden centres.

The range includes unique hanging pots with a cool, contemporary feel, glazed pots in a range of colours and styles with textured designs and an on-trend artisan appearance. The terracotta pots have a weathered effect for a touch of country house style. Also in the range are quirky cactus vases.

Glee will also be the first outing for the vibrant ‘Brie Harrison for Burgon & Ball’ collection (pictured on the opening page), a new range of gifts for home and garden. On-trend botanical designs feature Swiss cheese plants, cacti and hanging plants. Gift lines includes a secateur and holster gift set, trowel, snips and plant label gift set, a comfortable kneeler, gardening gloves and twine in a tin. For the home, there is an indoor watering can, peg bag, pencil case, drinks tray, storage tin and an umbrella.

In tools, you will find a new idea designed to take the backache out of tackling unwanted lawn weeds.

Autumn 2017 sees a re-launch of the company’s popular Enamelwares collection, updating colours, materials and design and introducing natural elements with FSC beech lids and leather handles. They cover a range of key price points.

Scotts Miracle-Gro in the US has announced 8.6% year-on-year revenue growth for the third quarter of the year, despite consumer business that was “behind original expectations” in its home market and a 6% drop in its European business (which includes the UK).

Europe consumer turnover fell to $222.9 million but was flat when excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates.

The company is in the process of selling its European and Australian businesses to Exponent Private Equity LLP in a deal expected to be completed this autumn.

Overall revenue of $1.08B included US consumer sales up by 5% with a 20% increase in profit. ‘Other’ segment sales increased by 36%, driven by acquisitions and organic growth in the Hawthorne Gardening Company subsidiary, which saw sales growth of 21% in the quarter.

On a positive note, CEO Jim Hagedorn (right) reported a strong start to August, with US garden centres and hardware stores – accounting for almost two-thirds of sales – up more than 4% with gains in nearly every major product category. “Clearly, we’ve seen challenges in the mass retail market this year due to tighter inventory management and changes in merchandising strategies,” he explained. “That said, we remain encouraged by the success of our new product launches this year and by the fact that consumers remained engaged in lawn and garden activities and continued to seek out our brands.”

After months of speculation, Town & Country has been sold to EP Barrus.  As a result Jamieson and Barry Page (pictured above at Chelsea 2016) will be leaving the business.

Barry, who started Town & Country in 1960 has told customers:  "I am writing to let you know that we have sold the business. I personally want to thank you for the support that you have given to me and to Town & Country, whose success was created through the support of customers like yourselves.

"Customer support has been essential to the growth and development of Town and Country and it is extremely important to me that it will continue.  We are very lucky to have found a company whose ethos and culture is extremely compatible to that of Town & Country.

"The sale of the business to Barrus is fully supported by our employees who are positive about the future of the brand. The majority of the personnel will become employees of Barrus; and I will be working hard to ensure a smooth transition.  I look forward to meeting you at Glee where I can introduce you to the new Barrus team who have a wealth of experience in our industry."

The Town & Country brand will join Barrus’s current extensive line-up of leading garden machinery and garden tool brands including Cub Cadet, Lawnflite, Agri-Fab, WOLF-Garten, Wilkinson Sword and Energizer.

A statement from EP Barrus states:  "Town & Country offers one of the most comprehensive collections of gardening gloves and footwear. Continued investment and a focus on innovation have brought together a range that combines quality, functionality and style with exceptional value for money."

Robert Muir, Managing Director, E P Barrus Ltd. which celebrates its 100 year anniversary during 2017, commented: “The acquisition of Town & Country reinforces our commitment to the garden sector. This well-established household name has great synergy with our current line-up of premium gardening brands and provides the potential for future growth through existing and new distribution channels.”

Tim Hart, Director of Sales & Marketing said: “We are meeting the needs of gardeners by bringing premium brands together to offer a portfolio of high quality, innovative products.  Town & Country, like all our brands, will be fully supported by our operational expertise which enables us to offer excellent distribution service levels, and we will continue to build and develop the brand into the future.”

Barrus, which is part owned by US company MTD, will be represented across two stands at the forthcoming GLEE exhibition in September with Town & Country, and WOLF-Garten and Wilkinson Sword.

www.barrus.co.uk

www.townandco.com

www.mtdproducts.com

Clothing sales at Garden Centre Association members increased by almost 17% in June – topping the best-seller list for the second month running, although running behind May’s figures.

The association's Barometer of Trade reports garden furniture and barbecues and houseplants as other good performers, up 12.07% and 7.31% respectively.

GCA Chief Executive Iain Wylie says rain in the north and warm and dry weather in the south influenced the results, adding: “The ever-changing weather can cause uncertainty when it comes to gardening, which is why it seems customers stuck to buying in non-traditional categories, such as clothing.”

Other results:

• Catering– up 4.01%
• Food hall and farm shop – up 0.8%
• Hard landscaping– down -1.6%
• Gifts – down -1.93%
• Pets and aquatics– up 3.24%
• Garden sundries– up 0.2%
• Seeds and bulbs – down -12.91%
• Outdoor plants – down -3.18%

Fairways Garden Centre’s clothing and gift supervisor Claire Salt said the floaty Italian style of LV Clothing and reasonably priced shoes from LJ & R Footwear were among the most popular items.

“Both ranges have been hugely successful with our customers and many leave purchasing either a summer top or a pair of glittery flip flops!” she said.

Overall sales at GCA member centres during the month fell by an average 4.64% but are still up 6.4% compared to this time last year.

Fruit and ornamental trees grower Frank P. Matthews is to take a very special collection of apples on a mini tour of the county this autumn. Starting at the 2017 Malvern Autumn Show, the company will be displaying more than 300 different varieties, together with crab apples and the pears that this area is also famous for.

Included in the collection will be the newly bred ‘Apple Paradise Gold’, as chosen by the London Paralympic Legacy for planting in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to recognise the importance of this organisation to UK sport. In addition, the new-for-2017 variety ‘Apple Surprize’, with its brilliantly glossy orange skin and pink flesh, will join others from as far away as New Zealand and the USA and as close by as the Teme Valley. All the apples in this international collection were grown in a single field and hand-picked for the display.

To help keep apples at the top of the league table for Britain’s favourite fruit, every variety will be labelled with its name, place of origin and a description to encourage show goers to find out more and maybe even visit a garden centre to plant a new variety at home this autumn.

Stephanie Dunn-James who represents the fourth generation within this family-run business says that after the Malvern show (Three Counties Showground, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September), every apple will be carefully packed and stored for a repeat display at the annual Applefest in Tenbury Wells on Saturday 7 October. “Then they will travel the short distance back to our own dedicated Tree Shop at Berrington Court for a final, free-to-view display, for the remainder of October.”

Information: visit the website

The owner of a Blackpool garden centre has been banned from driving after pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge.

Blackpool magistrates gave Andrew Foley, 48, proprietor of The Plant Emporium on Preston New Road, a 14-month ban after he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. A breath test showed he had 49mgs of alcohol in his blood, 14mgs over the legal limit.

Foley was also fined £120 with £85 costs plus £30 victims’ surcharge.

A witness who saw him driving erratically took Foley’s van keys from him after he had parked half on a pavement and driveway. The witness saw a bottle of wine on the passenger seat.

Foley told police he had drunk half-a-bottle of wine at a friend’s house and that he had previously been in rehabilitation.

Ornamental grasses to add striking texture, character and form to the garden are the theme for the HTA’s ‘Plant of the Moment’ August promotion...

From dainty Blue Fescue Grass to majestic Miscanthus, ornamental grasses provide a quality unmatched by many other hardy perennials. Their presence develops through the seasons as bright and colourful foliage is joined by graceful swaying flower heads that last well into winter.

In large borders, grasses can be planted in bold groups or striking drifts, but many perform well in large patio pots, positioned where their individual shape and arching form can be fully appreciated. Popular grasses for pots include compact Blue Fescue Grass and Slender Sweet Flag ‘Ogon’, or taller varieties of Miscanthus such as the Zebra Grass (Miscanthus ‘Zebrinus’).

Taller grasses also add movement to otherwise static displays, catching a summer breeze to add interest and attract the eye. Growing to around two metres in height, the bold form of Golden Oats (Stipa gigantea) is a real showstopper. If space allows, a statuesque clump of Pampas Grass will produce feathery plumes to enjoy right into winter.

Large individuals have a real presence, taking pride of place in beds and borders, while colourful planting combinations can be created with flowering perennials like Black-eyed Susan, Coneflowers and Ice Plants.

Top four ornamental grasses

• · Festuca
• · Pennisetum
• · Miscanthus
• · Stipa

Planning and planting tips

· Be generous and plant grasses in drifts or bold groups rather than as lonely individuals.

· Grasses grow well in patio pots, but make sure tall varieties are planted in large, heavy pots to prevent them blowing over in strong winds.

· Line terracotta pots with plastic from old compost bags to help conserve moisture.

· The tops of some perennial, like miscanthus, die over winter. Promptly cut away all old growth to avoid damaging new shoots that start emerging in early spring.

Other popular ornamental grasses

• · Slender Sweet Flag ‘Ogon’ (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’)
• · Arundo donax
• · Cortaderia (Pampas Grass)
• · Imperata
• · Millium
• · Miscanthus
• · Stipa

Planting partners·

• · Achillea
• · Astrantia
• · Bergamot (Monarda didyma)
• · Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’)
• · Centaurea
• · Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’
• · Herb Fennel

Click here for more information and to download the media pack which features: plant information for each month including top plants, tips and companion plant ideas, high and low resolution photos, plus Point-of-Sale samples from Floramedia and Hortipak.

Image-©Adam Pasco Media

• Dianthus moved up 3 places to No 4 with a 50% increase.
• Cyclamen selling through already, climbing 27 places with a 360% increase.
• Agapanthus are this week’s highest re-entry at No 29.

What is the threat?

Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most harmful bacterial plant diseases in the world. It can cause severe losses in a wide range of hosts and there would be a massive impact on the plant trade across all business sectors in the event of an outbreak in the UK.

An outbreak of this disease, where several different plants are infected, will trigger immediate stock destruction within 100 metres and a movement ban of host plants within a 10-kilometre radius for up to five years. This will dramatically and immediately affect most plant selling operations, as well as impacting on all businesses dealing in plants within the 10km zone. Gardens could also be affected.

What should businesses do to stop it coming into the UK?

Only buy potential host plants from trusted plant passported suppliers who know where their plants come from. We strongly recommend that potential host plants are not sourced from or near regions where there have been findings of Xylella fastidiosa. Current demarcated areas can be seen at: http://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/plant/docs/ph_biosec_legis_list-demarcated-union-territory_en.pdf

The list of host plants is growing and includes many popular garden and landscape plants, such as lavender, rosemary, oak and many others. The current list of confirmed hosts is at:https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/plant_health_biosecurity/legislation/emergency_measures/Xylella-fastidiosa/susceptible_en

What happens if the disease is found in the UK?

The full emergency measures imposed at EU level are only triggered when the disease has spread and there is an outbreak. The full emergency measures are not triggered if the disease is found on a single plant or within a batch of plants and is diagnosed and contained before it spreads. This is known as an interception. Stock will still be destroyed in this circumstance but the movement ban is very unlikely to come in force.

Several wholesale nurseries have signed up to plant sourcing statements such as the one below:

“The following nurseries have taken the decision NOT to knowingly purchase any host plants originating from regions where the disease Xylella is known to exist. The decision has been taken after detailed consideration as to the potential catastrophic impact the introduction of the disease could have to the UK environment, coupled with the ever increasing number of host plant genera of this disease. This is in line with DEFRA’s good practice recommendations.”

These nurseries include:

• Bransford Webbs Plant Company
• Christies of Fochabers Ltd.
• Country Garden Plant Sales Ltd.
• Farplants Group
• Golden Grove Nursery
• James Coles and Sons (Nurseries) Ltd.
• Johnsons of Whixley
• Lovania Nurseries Ltd.
• Lowaters Ltd.
• Oakover Nurseries Ltd.
• Plants for Europe Ltd.
• R V Roger Ltd.
• Wykeham Mature Plants

If you wish to add your nursery name to the list, please email Policy@hta.org.uk with confirmation that you agree to the statement.

• Growth Technology Orchid Myst 100ml moves up 10 places to No 7.
• Gardman Ice Orb Light Black Nickel are the highest new entry of the week at No 9.
• Woodlodge Small Pot Feet increased sales by 67% to climb 32 places up the Top 50.
• Scotts Weedol Lawn Weedkiller Ready To Use 800ml is a new entry at No 42.

As of yesterday, 31^st July 2017, La Hacienda Ltd became part of Griffon Corporation (NYSE: GFF), a US public company with approximately USD $2 billion of annual revenue. Griffon is a diversified management and holding company and operates in three market sectors: Home and Building Products, Telephonics Corporation and Clopay Plastic Products.

La Hacienda will form part of The AMES Companies, which is in turn part of Griffon’s Home and Building Products segment. AMES is the largest supplier of non-powered landscaping products in the USA, Canada and Australasia. The broad range includes long handled garden tools, wheelbarrows, snow tools, striking tools, pruning tools, garden hoses, planters and lawn accessories. Ames (www.ames.com) has a long history dating back to 1774 and in recent years expanded into Australia via Northcote Pottery, Cyclone and Hills. AMES has been looking for an opportunity to enter the UK market and have selected La Hacienda Ltd to work with.

Also forming part of The AMES Companies is one of America’s largest pot and planter suppliers, Southern Patio (www.planter.com). Southern Patio sources and distributes a wide range of pots and planters to many home retailers within the USA including Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes and Costco. Southern Patio is particularly strong in developing lightweight pottery made from fiberglass, resin and stonecast.

La Hacienda Ltd considers this a terrific development for our business, and has great confidence that the many employees, customers and suppliers will benefit from the new ownership structure. As part of the global AMES team, we will be well positioned to serve customers via a stronger supply chain and a broader product range.

The La Hacienda owners, John, Simon, Caroline and Maria Goodwin remain at the helm of the business, along with the wider management team, and confirm it will be ‘business as usual’ as a result of the new ownership.

Simon Goodwin told GTN Xtra: "We wish to thank all of our amazing customers for their support and loyalty over the last 28 years. There are exciting times ahead as the La Hacienda brand will go from strength to strength with the backing of a major global player. We very much look forward to introducing new products, brands and ranges for the benefit of all of our customers."

Griffon Corporation announced on it's website:  "Its subsidiary, The Ames Companies, Inc., acquired La Hacienda Limited, a leading United Kingdom outdoor living brand of unique heating and garden décor products. The acquisition broadens AMES’ global outdoor living and lawn and garden business, and supports AMES’ UK expansion strategy.

"The purchase price for La Hacienda approximated $11 million. The acquisition is expected to contribute approximately $18 million in annualized revenue and be immediately accretive to Griffon’s earnings in its first full year of operations."

www.griffon.com

www.lahacienda.co.uk

www.ames.com

• Taylors Autumn Planting Seed Potatoes Charlotte move up one place at the top to be the most popular variety for Christmas harvesting.
• Suttons Seeds Onion White Lisbon seeds are the highest re-entry for the last week of July. Back in at No 10.
• Unwins Broad Bean Masterpiece Green Longpod is the highest new entry at No 28.

HaMuch, a new comparison website for the trades, has welcomed 5,000 tradespeople, including gardeners and landscapers, to the service since its start-up only two months ago.

The company was founded in June and is now expecting to double its membership total to 10,000 by 1 October, when it officially launches to the general public.

HaMuch is the only service of its kind to supply the hourly and daily rates of those signed up to the service and has been created to help the trades secure work by being clear on price. The range of trades covered includes gardeners, electricians, plumbers, heating engineers, builders and cleaners.

The website also allows customers to post feedback and rate trades people or providers, acting as a platform for tradespeople to showcase their services.

The site has already received support from 11 manufacturers and companies that serve the trades, but the list does not yet include garden product suppliers.

Founder and MD Tarquin Purdie, of HaMuch, said: “By October I expect our current membership total to have doubled and hit the five figure mark, which would be a great achievement considering HaMuch was only created at the start of the summer. I am also looking into the possibility of adding further trades and services to the website, which will support even more companies and tradespeople into receiving customer enquiries.”

He added: “Being transparent and clear on price can be a decisive factor for customers when choosing a tradesperson, and the website has been created as a useful tool that is straight to the point and user friendly for both the customer and the tradespeople signed up to it.”

Tradespeople signed up to HaMuch who are members of its official partners’ specific trade clubs or similar schemes will also receive premium listings on the HaMuch website.

Official partners include Danfoss, Delta Dore, Devi, Drayton, Fernox, Franke, Grundfos, Pegler Yorkshire, Polypipe, Surestop and WAGO.

Information: check out the website here

Cats and dogs can cause catastrophic damage to crops and flower borders, but gardeners have a choice as to whether to train or repel pets with Vitax’s Scent Off and Stay Off range.

Comprising of three training aids and three repellents, Stay Off includes: Pepper Dust, Stay Off ready-to-use (RTU) spray and Stay Off Ultrasonic Animal Deterrent for gardeners looking to repel pets away from specific areas.

Alternatively, those looking for a training solution can turn to Vitax’s Scent Off range including: Scent Off Training Aid Granules, Gel and Pellets, providing a long-term solution.

Quick and easy to use, Vitax’s Stay Off Ultrasonic Animal Deterrent banishes cats, dogs and foxes from the garden by emitting an ultrasonic blast only audible to animals.

Solar-powered, the dual action deterrent also has a strong flashing light to further deter the animal. 

Alternatively, Stay Off RTU can be sprayed on garden areas and plants which need protection.  Effective against a wide-range of animals including rabbits and birds, it can be used on edible and non-edible crops.

Gardeners looking for a long-term solution who prefer to train their pets to stay away from crops, can use Vitax’s training aids.  Scent Off Gel is perfect for training pets to go to the toilet in a designated area rather than in freshly cultivated soil.

Releasing a strong odour, it deters pets away from the garden by simply scattering the gel over paths, patios, lawns and crops.

Alternatively, gardeners can use Scent Off Granules or Scent Off Pellets.

For more information about Vitax’s Scent Off range, please visit: www.vitax.co.uk

• Bord na Mona Growise Multipurpose With John Innes, 56 litres, is the highest climber up 30 places to No 18.
• Kelkay Alpine Grit, 25kg, is the highest placed re-entry to the Top 50 at No 29.
• Westland Gro-Sure Lawn Seeding Soil, 30 litres jumped 28 places to No 4.

Three gardens have been shortlisted in an annual competition to find ‘Britain’s Best Lawn’ sponsored by mower manufacturer EGO Power+

The successful gardeners are from Peterborough, Doncaster and Exeter.

The winner will also receive an EGO lithium-ion powered self-propelled lawnmower plus an EGO multi-tool. The runner up will receive a multi-tool kit worth £600, and third place will win an EGO leaf blower.

Finalist John Tidswell from Peterborough, a runner-up in 2015, mows his lawn every day during peak season and claims he even wanted to mow it on Christmas Day.

Kevin Morgan from Exeter cuts his grass three times a week and regularly changes the design of his cut from precision stripes to symmetrical swirls and perfect circles, to keep it “beautiful and interesting”.

Stuart Grindle (Doncaster), who opens his garden for charity each year, works around 30 hours a week tending his garden and cuts the grass twice daily every other day to keep the height at a precise 5mm.

The results will be announced in early September.

RSW International limited; leading importers of Garden & Leisure products including; Christmas, Picnicware, Pet, Gift & Housewares are pleased to announce two new appointments to its growing business. Charles Tustain recently joined the Garden & Leisure team in July as Business Development Manager for the UK mainland. Charles with experience across several industries has been brought on board to further strengthen the Garden & Leisure team as part of our exciting future growth plans.

Charles said "I am overjoyed to join such a well established and respected company in RSW International Ltd. The positive future plans are very much in line with my own goals and ambitions going forward."

Lee Kennerley also takes up the post as Head of RSW’s Garden & Leisure side of the business. Lee has worked within the Gift and Garden & Leisure industries for 20 years, representing companies such as LeisureGrow Products & Trans-Continental Group, and re-joining RSW back in June 2016 after 19 years. Lee will be responsible for the future development and growth of RSW’s exposure within the Garden & Leisure sector.

Lee said “With the businesses further commitment to building on the foundations that this multi million pound UK based business already has in place, these are exciting times for the business, its longstanding and future customers alike. I have enjoyed the last 12 months in which we have built on existing relationships already in place in addition to building new ones too. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Charles to the team, and wish him good luck in a rewarding role within a business I know is willing to work with its ever-growing client base to supply some of the best value products within the industry. The growth plans we have for the business are ambitious, and it’s great to have him on board for this journey”

These recent appointments have been made to support the future growth of our business within the Garden & Leisure industry. As additional commitment to our current and evolving customer base RSW will also be exhibiting at Glee from 11^th to 13^th September 2017 in Hall 17 (Stand T34/U35), where we will be previewing our 2018 Spring/Summer Outdoor Dining Collections, which will be shown alongside our Pet collections which are rapidly growing in popularity within the Garden & Leisure industry.

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.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2015 as well as 2016 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.