Plants, organic orders see big surge
Garden centers increased orders for perennials, herbs and annuals in the past 2 years, more than any other categories, a Garden Center Magazine survey reveals. Organic fertilizers and pest and disease controls were also popular products, while traditional synthetic versions were among the weakest, based on those products with the highest number of decreased orders. Only 30% of garden centers belong to buying groups such as Home and Garden Showplace or Commerce. A complete analysis of the survey will run in the magazine's August issue. 244 garden retailers responded to the survey.

Buzz builds about Terrain at Styers
Terrain at Styers, Urban Outfitters' new garden retail concept, is making headlines. The store opened for business in late April, taking over the former J. Franklin Styer Nursery in Concordville, Pa.
• Lifestyle store opens. Design Philadelphia
• UO's 4th brand. psfk blog
• Branching out. DelawareOnline

Scotts provides recall instructions
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. has issued instructions for consumers impacted by its recent recall of Bonus S Max Southern Weed & Feed with Fire Ant Killer and Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed Plus Weed Preventer. These products must be returned in an approved shipping container, which will be provided at no cost by the company. Consumers will receive a full refund and a coupon. Get the particulars here.

Home Depot scales back growth plans
Home Depot is cutting 1,300 jobs, closing 15 stores and shelving plans to open 50 more stores, Bloomberg.com reported. These actions will cost the mass merchant $586 million. The job cuts are Home Depot's third this year. The retailer reduced staff at its Atlanta headquarters by 500 people and said last month it may cut as many as 1,000 jobs as it shifts more workers to the sales floor.

Ethics, not savings, drive top stores to green practices
Most top-performing retailers cite social responsibility as the reason for implementing sustainable practices (72%), as opposed to 28% of trailing retailers who think ethical reasons are paramount, a new survey from RSR said. Conversely, 48% of top retailers think cost savings are not an unimportant reason, compared to 0% of poorly performing retailers who do so.

Early deadline approaches for Roadshow
Early Bird discount rates for the ANLA Retail Roadshow ends May 16. The Roadshow is a tour of garden centers from June 16-19. This year's tour takes place in southern Ohio.

Experts offer 2009 color trends
Color forecasters have already predicted which hues will be hot in 2009, HGTV.com reported. Americans will opt for safe, neutral colors with touches of bright shades from crimson to acid yellow. Acid green and amethyst will also be popular accent colors.

Retailing mistakes prove costly
A recent article on Entrepreneur.com discussed 5 fatal mistakes small retailers often make. At the top of the list: failure to plan effectively and objectively. Click here to read more.

Southeast Conference explores container garden trends
A hands-on container garden workshop is one of the education opportunities at Southeast Greenhouse Conference, June 19-21 in Greenville, S.C. 'Container Gardening Survival Skills,' scheduled for June 19, will cover unusual combinations, uses for woody plants, patio vegetables and more. Registration details are available online.

View from a blog
• Product espionage is alive and well, as Kevin Neal witnessed in Las Vegas. Open Register
• Sarah Martinez is finding that budgets undermine her good intentions for a greener home garden. Project: Green Industry