How to recruit and retain talent – from Baby boomers to Gen Z After our popular conference in January (2025), we asked our keynote speakers to send us some ‘takeaway’ hints and tips to create blogs that would benefit our garden centre members. We launched our series recently with creator and author of ‘Celebrity Service’…
How to grow your own potatoes – your questions answered Do I need a large garden, veg plot/beds or allotment to grow them? No, you don’t need a huge garden to try a few potato varieties, just space for a pot or two. What potato is best for me? A great way to discover varieties…
How to deliver a ‘Celebrity Service’ at your garden centre Following our highly successful members’ conference in Reading in January (2025), we’re uploading a series of guest speaker ‘takeaway’ blogs. We’re kicking off with creator and author of ‘Celebrity Service’ and ‘Celebrity Service Superstars’ Geoff Ramm. Named by Forbes as a ‘Game Changer’, Geoff, who…
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Essentials for a Greener Garden Every day, people are finding new ways to be sustainable and look after the world they live in. If you’re not sure how to help, you can make a difference right from your own garden! The Importance of Sustainability and Being Eco-Friendly A definition of sustainability which…
Winter colour The strength of a garden can be measured by what it looks like in the winter. It’s fairly straightforward getting spring, summer or autumn colour but the winter interest is the backbone. This structure can be created with a number of evergreen shrubs, some of which will also flower in the winter too.…
Winter houseplant watering tips Help keep your houseplants looking healthy and happy for as long as possible with these simple tips. Remember living indoors isn’t natural for plants so you need to provide an environment to suit its needs. Centrally heated homes mean dry air and this can cause problems. Stand large plants in a…
Helpful hint with hedging Bareroot hedging plants make a more economical way of creating a traditional form of hedge or screen. Before you decide the varieties, you would like to include, think about what you are looking to achieve and whether you would like to attract wildlife to your outdoor space in the process. No…
Top tasks for December Looking for some gardening jobs to do this month, check out our guide: Wash pots and seed trays with warm soapy water in time for spring sowing. Water your greenhouse sparingly in the morning and ventilate when possible to keep the atmosphere dry. Cover empty veg beds with fleece or clear…
Caring for your fresh Christmas tree One of the benefits of having a real Christmas tree is that they are much better for the environment. They are grown as a field crop so as soon as one is cut, another is planted. Although they aren’t carbon neutral, Christmas trees help to reduce greenhouse gases by…
At a glance guide to selecting and caring for your Christmas poinsettia: Select a plant with a minimum of five heads, as it will give a longer lasting display. Ensure that the poinsettia is sleeved before taking it outside to get it home with you. Once you get your poinsettia home, you should place it…