Articles

Pesticide Basics

Advising customers about the correct pesticide is not always a simple task. The large selection offered to homeowners today can be confusing, and they often look to garden centers for answers. If your employees do... more »

Low-Maintenance Native Perennials

Within the last 10 years, the interest in using native plants for landscape purposes has increased tremendously, and nurseries are struggling to keep up with the demand. Both urban and rural gardeners are gradually discovering... more »

Your Community – Your Business

I know what you're probably thinking: "Here's this editor telling me to give, give, give — that it's the right thing to do, that it will make me feel good about myself, that in the... more »

The Gardening Gourmet

Traveling around the country (with an occasional international expedition) within the past few years, I have noticed the explosion of gourmet foods in the garden center. Everything from jellies and coffees to dessert mixes and... more »

Pots, Planters & Statuary: What’s Next in Containers

From what I can gather, making a decision between the lighter weight materials and the heavier ceramic, plaster and such is not really the main concern when it comes to consumers choosing pots, planters and... more »

Discipline for a Fair Workplace

Discipline is an unpleasant responsibility. Parents, teachers, coaches and employers are likely to agree. Doing it poorly only compounds the unpleasantness. Doing it well, however, reduces employer frustration, increases employee morale, makes the firing of... more »

Water Gardening: Koi Herpes Virus

Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) is a subject that every water garden professional should be in tune with because it's destined to play a role in our future, and your customers may ask about it. The... more »

Christmas 101

Welcome to Lawn & Garden Retailer's 1st annual "Christmas Retailer" where we will help you learn the ins and outs of the second largest selling season for garden centers, and maybe even a little bit... more »

Winding Down the Christmas Season

Was it the good, the bad or the ugly for the 2004 Christmas season? After talking to a number of retailers in the industry, my official position is that it was not really good, bad... more »

Consumer Poinsettia Preference

"I did not know there were so many different poinsettias," is a very common comment from first-time visitors at the University of Florida Poin-settia Open House. I also hear a lot of, "I thought there... more »

Christmas Show Success

Holiday and gift trade shows are loaded with many unique, keystone items that will present the opportunity for your organization to make a profit, increase turns and preserve your image as "the push the envelope"... more »

Christmas 2005 Styles and Color Directions

It is always with considerable anticipation that we start the new marketing season 12-15 months before the product gets to the consumer. I have, for the past 30 years, had the opportunity to develop products... more »