With plants gradually coming to life, March is a busy month for the gardener. The warmer weather and lighter evenings mark the start of greater activity in the garden. Now is the time to get back outdoors and do the jobs that couldn’t be tackled during the winter months. Fertilise Build up the nutrients in…
Use our handy herb guide to help you select the ones you need when shopping at your nearest GCA member garden centre. English Mace Hardy perennial. Height 30-45cm when in flower. Spread 30cm. Clusters of small cream flowers in summer. Leaves are bright green, narrow and very deeply serrated. The chopped leaves can be used…
Hard landscaping topped the sales table in our Barometer of Trade (BoT) report for January 2024 with hardy plants, seeds and bulbs also doing well. Figures recorded by our member garden centres last month show a good start to the new year with just three of the logged categories down on 2023. Encouraging Our CEO…
We’re urging members to get their 2024 Rising Stars nominations in by March 1 to help showcase and develop our industry’s most talented individuals this year. Our Westland Horticulture sponsored programme offers those who participate the chance to be mentored by experts in the horticultural industry. What makes a Rising Star? GCA Inspector and Rising…
When Haydon Walters from British Garden Centres’ Thatcham Garden Centre was crowned the winner of our 2023 Westland Horticulture sponsored Rising Stars recently applications also opened for this year’s programme too (2024). Haydon was declared the winner after his presentation was voted the best by delegates during our annual conference in the Cotswolds (January 29).…
It’s time to have some fun with your loppers and secateurs. Some plants really benefit from being pruned now but for others its bad news. So, there is pruning fun to be had but make sure it’s with the right plants! If shrubs are in good order, then most pruning will be designed to promote…
It can be very tempting during the potentially cooler days of February to stay in the comfort and warmth of your own home; however, nothing blows away the cobwebs better than some time in the garden. There’s plenty to keep you busy and your mind off the unpredictable weather, even if you’re just outside to…
On a fine day it’s easy to get carried away with your pruning but by following our handy hints you can get the best from your efforts and have some fun too. Some plants are not grown for flowers but for their foliage, or their stem colour. A number of these can be pruned in…
Our members raised more than £44,000 for three different charities at our annual conference this year (2024). Delegates attending the event in the Cotswolds took part in our GCA Charity Day on the Sunday (January 28) as well as a fundraising raffle, draw and auction during the week. Three worthy charities Our CEO Peter Burks…
To help prevent weed growth and reduce water loss during warm weather, spread mulch on the ground before plants get too large, says our CEO Peter Burks, who is a trained horticulturalist. Use a thick layer of compost, bark or similar material over borders and between trees, shrubs, roses and fruit. Newly emerging perennials should…