Outdoor living sales soar in March

Our Barometer of Trade (BoT) results for March (2014) revealed people were improving their outdoor living spaces.

The results released on April 17, which are the only official figures to be given by us for March trading, revealed barbecue and furniture sales were up 102.28% compared to March 2013. 

HTA Plant of the month – Rhododendron

Spring has well and truly arrived and gardens all around the country are shaking off the last bits of winter and coming to life. Vibrant flowering shrubs and plants are beginning to bloom including the mighty Rhododendron.

Our friends at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) have chosen the Rhododendron as their plant of the month for April.

Its name derives from the ancient Greek meaning ‘rose tree’. It prefers acidic soil and sheltered conditions and grows best in areas with high rainfall, which is handy, ironically.

Garden centres give GCA inspection feedback online

Our members can for the first time this year (2014) give feedback on their annual inspections online.

Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, said: “Garden centres are asked to give feedback at the end of their inspections and for the first time this year they will be able to do so via the web, making it both easier and quicker for them.”