Landscape Juice

Are gardening blogs being misused?

I have talked about how the gardening market needs to change in the coming years to cater for evolution in the consumer market.

However, a new dilemma is facing the industry in the way that 'new age' communications is having an effect on the media landscape.

I am referring mainly to the vast array of gardening blogs that are available to the consumer - I use the term consumer in the broadest sense.

The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association urges marketeers to innovate

The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association GIMA, at a recent meeting, heard that the garden industry needs to change to meet the demands of the consumer and outlined how the demographics of the garden consumer would be so different by 2015.

In a talk given by Alistair Lorimer, who is an independent retail business development adviser, the managers of garden retailing had it spelt out to them that a 'Lemming' (my phrase not theirs) culture of marketing will not wash with the maturing career women and baby boomer generation.

Time to recognise the gardener as an artist

I felt a strong sense of deja vu when I read this article in the Horticulture Week.
Chris Beardshaw, the TV gardener, has asked that gardens are considered as works of art to raise their profile and draw more talented people into gardening.

Beardshaw, who was giving a talk at the Camellia Botnar Foundation in West Sussex, said - and I quote from Hort Week - “Gardening is among the lowest-paid professions and it is shocking we allow that to happen,” and goes on to add “The result is that we don’t draw people into horticulture and even if we do, it is often difficult to sustain a career.”

Gardening is plain sailing on the 'Giga Yacht'

I have seen a few gardens in weird and wonderful places, but I have never seen anything as futuristic as the one planned, as a show piece, on the super vessel dubbed the 'Giga Yacht'.

If you have £100 million then this garden, combined with luxury yacht, two helicopter pads, tennis courts and a mooring for a mega dingy, could be the next big thing in 'must have' living.

The great Garden Monkey Exposé

Before I move back onto garden and landscaping matters I thought I would conduct a little poll.

I while back I threatened to expose the identity of the Garden Monkey but didn't do it. I am still willing to let the secret lie if that is the consensus, but, first of all, I thought I would ask you, the readers, if you would like to know who it is or would you like the author to remain a secret?

The Garden Monkey - a 'Rock and Roll Swindle' amongst gardening blogs?

I used to be a fan of the Gardening Monkey and what I thought was a different approach to garden blogging. humorous, witty and a little oddball but hey, that kind of reflected my personality a little so that was cool.

But, and there is always a but! - I waited for that explosion of prophetic gardening advice and little tit bits that would really help us all out; yet nothing came!

There is no doubt that the author can jumble up the alphabet in a way that most of us mere mortals cannot even begin and sometimes there is a hint of comic humour coming through, but, and there is always another 'but' gardening definitely seems to be off the agenda!

Safety in the garden this Easter

I am sure that you are itching to get out into your green space for the long weekend.

However, good old Mother nature has a different ideas and has reminded us all that she is still in control - are you still a believer in global warming?

Despite the cold snap, a few hardy souls will venture out, if only to feel the freshness of the weather on the face and enjoy that steaming hot bowl of soup and a hunk of crusty bread afterwards.

Tips on choosing your customer

Once a decision has been made to engage a landscape contractor, the client sets about finding the right one to do the job.

It does not matter if it is a garden design, full landscape or a gardening maintenance contract that is being planned, there is a need the right person or company to do the work.

If you are one of the contractors who gets the call - what crietia do you set to decide if the client is right for you?

Speaking from a contractors point of view, it can be a pretty tough position to be in when you first arrive at a clients property.

Flying Flowers flops

It appears, the once 'flying' Flying Flowers, has one engine on fire and passengers should expect some turbulence and maybe a bumpy landing.

Last week, the Jersey based Flying Brands, disappointed the City with some pretty dire numbers and probably the clearest indication yet that luxury goods are taking a hammering.

Is extended trading hours the answer to the garden industry decline?

On March 10th, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) introduced a private members bill into the House of Lords, demanding that garden centres should be allowed to open for longer hours on Sunday's and even open on Easter Sunday.

David Gwyther, the Director General of the HTA, argues that time is too short for garden centres to sell their wares and by extending the opening hours - previously set in 1994 - it would give business the opportunity to increase takings by millions of pounds.