Meadow View Stone are delighted to announce that this highly sought after chipping is now once again available to its stockist.

Ivory is a highly decorative ceramic chipping, which is produced from recycled, reject sanitary ware and has a naturally clean, almost polished surface texture.

This recycled highly decorative chipping was a staple product of the UK’s Garden Centres, providing excellent sell through rates over many years.  This was not only due to its aesthetic qualities and green environmentally friendly credentials, but also as a result of its highly competitive pricing point which offered customers real value for money.

Meadow View Stones, Ivory is supplied in highly desirable packaging that endorses the products recycled qualities, along with inspirational point of sale to ensure the product is promoted to its maximum potential in store.



For further information, please contact Meadow View Stone on Tel: 01948 841607.

• Garden Products - down 20%
• Veg-2-Gro - down 1%
• Growing Media - down 11%
• All Items Index - down 5%

Since April we’ve published a GTN Bestsellers Top 20 Garden Plants chart and every week so far the genus Pelargonium has been No 1. 

That of course includes all the zonal geraniums, ivy geraniums and pelargoniums.  This week despite a drop in sales the total volume of Pelargoniums is still almost double that of the No 2 bestselling plant genus; Dahlias.  At times they have sold more than three times the volumes of the No 2 Bestseller.  Without a doubt “Geraniums” are the most popular plant for UK gardens so far this year.

Pictured: Fantastic Living Label “Geraniums” at Castle Gardens helped them win a prestigious award in GTN’s Greatest Plant Retailing Team Awards. They have a living label for nearly every species of Pelargonium they sell and all their other home grown annual plants too.

The organisers of Plantarium 2016 (24-27 August, Boskoop, Netherlands) have released details of a number of new plants to be exhibited at the show.

Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonrise’ (below) surprises everyone with its spectacular colours. The new leaves are bright red when they emerge in spring, forming a wonderful contrast with the fresh yellowy-green leaves. In the summer, Moonrise is entirely covered with almost luminous yellowy-green leaves. The tree is not susceptible to disease, does not suffer from leaf burn and is hardy down to -22 °C. This PBR-protected plant is being introduced by Van Son & Koot BV, Kaatsheuvel.

Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Sunrise' has a neat upright habit with intense pink young shoots which change to dark red with an intense yellow edge as they mature. It reaches a maximum height of 1.5m and width of 40 cm. Bred and introduced by Gospodarstwo Skólkarskie Lucjan i Grzegors Kurowscy from Konskowola, Poland. PBR protection has been applied for.

Calluna vulgaris ‘Lisann’ is an early variety in the Gardengirls® range. ‘Lisann’ has a striking colour effect as a result of its purple buds and silvery foliage, plus an upright habit. Entered and marketed by Heidezuechtung Kramer from Edewecht, Germany, it is PBR-protected.

Daboecia cantabrica 'Angelina' has bright red flowers and is less sensitive than the established 'Amelie' during propagation and cultivation. With its large, pure pink flowers, 'Rosella’ brings a new colour to Irish heather. It is particularly suitable for adding colour to tubs and pots in semi-shaded locations. The plant likes acid soil (below pH 5) and is reasonably winter-hardy (down to -10°C). These two PBR-protected cultivars will be introduced by Heidezuechtung Kramer from Edewecht, Germany.

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Magenta Chiffon’ The Chiffon series is characterised by its profusion of flowers and numerous brightly coloured, full blooms that can reach 10 cm. The unusual double flowers make the series unique. The easy-to-look-after plants reach a maximum height of 2m and width of 1.5m. towards late summer and early autumn. With double flowers in an attractive purple-red colour, Magenta Chiffon is winter-hardy down to -25° C. and is PBR-protected. It is introduced by Boomkwekerij Ronald Roos from Boskoop.

Mandevilla ‘Bloom Bells® Yellow’ is a new yellow variant in the Bloom Bells® series. Its large, dark yellow flowers arrive early and stay on the plant for a long time, forming a unique addition to a series previously only available in red and pink variants. The plant is suitable for use in containers and hanging baskets. Introduced by De Zonnebloem Jonge Planten BV from De Kwakel, PBR protection has been applied for.

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Red Cloud’ is a truly ornamental grass, selected for its wonderful red panicles. It flowers abundantly and the plant's compact habit (with a maximum height of 1m) makes the flowers even more striking. It is winter-hardy down to -23° C. Red Cloud is PBR-protected and will be available through. J.G. Cammeraat vof, Boskoop.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'JS Jommenik' is a new yellow-leaved variety and makes an unusual feature at the start of the growing season. Reaching around 30 cm, it also has attractive seed heads. Wijk en Aalburg is bringing the plant onto the market together with Empho BV from Berltsum.

Sedum x Orostachys 'Blue Elf' is the world's first Sedum x Orostachys hybrid, a breakthrough in plant breeding as two different genera were crossed. This PBR protected compact variety has the steel-blue rosettes and numerous side branches of the Orostachys genus and the sleek clusters of dark-pink flowers of the Sedum genus – plus slightly fragrant flowers that are attractive to bees and butterflies. Introduced by Gebr. Th. & W. Alkemade B.V. from Lisse.

As Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Blue Suede’ is self-pollinating, so one plant is enough to ensure a good crop of full-flavoured blueberries. This compact plant is ideal for growing in a pot on a patio or balcony. PBR protected, it is introduced by  Van Son & Koot B.V., Kaatsheuvel.

TV and radio gardening expert and award winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer, Matthew Wilson will revisit Tong Garden Centre this week (19 July) for a ‘Cream Tea and Talk' event to share his experience of designing the show's biggest garden.

Wilson was commissioned to design the Welcome to Yorkshire garden, ‘God's Own County - A Garden For Yorkshire', that was inspired by the East Window at York Minster and featured Yorkshire grown plants supplied by Tong Garden Centre.

Wilson, the former curator of RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate and respected writer, broadcaster and lecturer, will talk to Tong's customers about the inspiration behind the design, the challenges of creating a Main Avenue garden and the garden's silver medal and People's Choice award.

• Are you active as an independent sales representative in the garden branche?
• Are your customers garden centres, florists, DIY-shops, garden designers or garden webshops?
• Are you looking to expand your product range with high quality products?
• Do you want to increase sales in your area?
• Do you want to work with a dynamic team in a growing organisation?
• And are you an enthusiastic, driven, self-employed person with lots of persuasiveness and do you have a passion for gardening?

Then you might be one of the persons we are looking for!

How to continue:
Send your motivation and c.v. to peacock@peacock.nl and indicate in which counties you operate.

After receiving your information, we will contact you within 1 week. When there is mutual interest we will meet at the GLEE in Birmingham at Monday 12-09-2016. So save the date!

You can respond until 30-07-2016.

Peacock Garden Supports ● Industrieweg 22 ● 5688 DP ● The Netherlands ● www.peacock.nl

• Develop and enhance the technical aspects of growing quality young plants enabling them to become the market leader in the supply of top quality young bedding plants and Hardy Ornamental Nursery stock (HONS).
• Achieve recognition as an industry pioneer, demonstrating innovation, excellence and top quality production techniques.
• Motivate and drive a small team of young and enthusiastic growers to become a best practice growing team and to gain recognition as the industry leading producer.
• Work alongside the Product Manager to create and expand a hardy plant portfolio second to none.
• Maintain impeccable records for both production improvements as well as for compliance necessity where legislation dictates.
• Manage production facilities to very high standards of cleanliness, tidiness and hygiene.
• Monitor supplier quality to ensure the best starting material is made available.
• Develop a culture of ownership and responsibility among a newly formed team of young growers through mentoring and training both formal and informal.
• Represent the company among industry bodies and organisations.

• The ideal candidate should have:
• Practical hands on experience in plant production is required along with an understanding of nursery stock P&D management requirements.
• Should have undertaken some managerial work at least at production manager level.
• Understanding of basic computer operations including word, excel and email.
• Ability to liaise with customers both new and existing with a view to commercial gain.

• Briefing staff daily on the key tasks and ensuring their knowledge is updated around each seasons product lines.
• Ensuring excellent customer service across the teams.
• Coordinating stock ordering and ensuring POS and merchandising is optimised.
• Deal with day to day cashing up and petty cash.
• Manage staff rotas, one to ones and development.

To apply for this role click here

• Briefing staff daily on the key tasks and ensuring their knowledge is updated around each seasons product lines.
• Ensuring excellent customer service across the teams.
• Coordinating stock ordering and ensuring POS and merchandising is optimised.
• Deal with day to day cashing up and petty cash.
• Manage staff rotas, one to ones and development.

• Westland Eraza Slug & Snail Killer 800g was the highest re-entry at No 26.
• Scotts Weedol Pathclear 6+2 Tube (pictured) was the highest new entry at No 38.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro Pour & Feed (1-litres) and Bayer Toprose  (1kg) were two feeding products returning to the chart while Scotts Levington Tomorite returned to top spot.
• The highest climber of the week was Gardman Solar Spot Lights, which jumped 22 places to No 15.

• The highest re-entry was GroWise Organic Garden Compost (50 litres) at No 21.
• The highest climber was Westland Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost (25 litres), which moved up 22 places to No 17.
• Scotts Levington Organic Choice Top Soil (25 litres) and Arthur Bowers Chunky Chip Bark (75 litres) returned to the Top 50.

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

Gardening Which? has awarded the WOLF-Garten GTE850 electric corded strimmer a Best Buy.

Retailing at £94.99, the trimmer gained a 74% score.

The addition of the wheels designed to provide support and help cut the grass to an even length make this trimmer stand out. The second adjustable hand grip provides extra support and control, whilst the protection guard keeps wanted plants safe.

The reviewers said the machine ran through tests quickly and efficiently, leaving a neat finish, and had no problems with long grass and rough weeds. Thanks to its unique Trim and Edge function, it also worked particularly well when edging the lawn. The lengthy 20m cable and extremely quiet operation were also noted.

An emergency summit aiming to find an industry-led solution to the threat of vine weevil took place on Tuesday last week.

It focused on issues surrounding the vine weevil threat and the available means of control. BASF, the UK’s only producers of nematodes, played an integral part in the discussion, which aimed to produce concrete steps for the industry to take.

Rob Storer, BASF’s marketing and value chain manager, has stressed the need for the industry to work together, “Biological pest control is possible at field scale, however it should be viewed as being part of a true IPM system” he said. “Using biological products requires different thinking to conventional pesticides – a more holistic view needs to be considered and so wide IPM approaches developed”.

Also supporting the summit were the HTA, Bayer, ICL and Fargro.

Nematodes are tiny micro-organisms which occur naturally in the soil where they hunt down and attack pests, with each different nematode having their own specific prey species

In addition to a Nemasys product formulated to deal with vine weevils, there are controls designed to control slugs, leatherjackets, ants and chafer grubs.

• The story behind the sale of Dobbies.
• GIMA Charity Golf Day report and pictures.
• Smell the coffee - how to make your drinks offering work.
• It's time for tea - great afternoon tea tips.
• MasterChef - advice from the Greatest Garden Centre Chef team.
• Service with a smile - great customer service.
• Are you ready for Glee?

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 printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 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 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.