Green Goods

May 2009

Winners’ Circle

Each year, All-America Rose Selections, All-America Selections, All-American Daylily Council, American Hosta Growers Association, American Ivy Society, Association of Speciality Cut Flower Growers, Fleuroselect and Perennial Plant Association trial various varieties and choose winners based... more »

April 2009

Exotics

Garden centers have no trouble attracting customers in the spring, when homeowners are eager to revive their winter-weary gardens; what gets tricky is keeping them coming all year. Enter exotic plants, an important category for... more »

April 2009

What’s New?

Spring 2009 is soon to be history! Looking back, you'll say what a great one it was — or was it? You started the season with the best intentions to get your landscape clients the... more »

March 2009

Succulent School

Most green industry professionals understand how amazing the photosynthesis process is, as plants benefit Mother Earth by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. But not all plants are alike in their impact; some have a higher... more »

March 2009

Hawaiian Fantasies

A tropical garden transports us to that place within us that is the source of dreams. Who hasn't fantasized of tropical islands, warm breezes and the smell of sweet blossoms in the air? Tropical flora... more »

Beauty Meets Function

Beauty Meets Function

Beautiful flowers and dramatic foliage may feed the soul, but when times are tough, we need plants that also feed our bodies. Ornamental edibles — including herbs, salad greens and some flowers — are as... more »

Ripe for Sale

Ripe for Sale

As the "going green" movement continues to gain momentum and the economy lapses into an official recession, a new trend is emerging: edible gardening. Garden centers from coast to coast are reporting heightened consumer interest... more »

Boots on the Ground

Boots on the Ground

Spring is officially over. So, how'd it go? Did those sustainable, eco-friendly products you stocked up on fly off the shelves? If you are like most retailers, garden or otherwise, around the country, the excitement... more »

Selling Nature

Selling Nature

After allowing space for traffic flow, every other square foot of your sales floor is valuable — so it's important to use it wisely. Great numbers of varied merchandise spur sales; customers will slow down... more »

Selling Eco(nomically) Friendly Products

Selling Eco(nomically) Friendly Products

Stocking eco-friendly products can help garden centers attract customers: Organic, nonthreatening products can be a real draw, especially with the chemicals and synthetic products often associated with gardening. "The [green] market is continuing to grow... more »

The Country Slowly Turns Green

The Country Slowly Turns Green

With the mad rush of spring over, you are finally reviewing those sales reports that have piled up on your desk in the past couple of months. As you review which categories and products were... more »

May 2008

Winner’s Circle

Deciding which varieties to carry in your garden center can be quite the task. Not all consumers share the same tastes, but you want to stock plants that you know will sell well. That's why... more »