Cover Story

Breaking the Overwatering Habit

Ellen C. Wells

Garden centers can train customers—and staff—to water smarter, not more.

Features

5 Unique Houseplants

Matthew Olson

We continue our exploration of cool and unusual and selections that may catch a consumer’s eye.

Features

Adapt or Die Create an Experience, Don’t Sell Product

John Stanley, Sid Raisch & Dries Jansen

The world of retailing has, and is, changing rapidly.

Features

Being Intentional with Wellness

Wendy Komancheck

Indoor plants can help create meaningful spaces to improve mood and overall mental health.

Features

Finding Inspiration at the Home Show

Jennifer Zurko

Every March, Chicago’s McCormick Place hosts The Inspired Home Show, which the event organizers (the International Housewares Association) boast is “the world’s leading home and housewares show.”

Features

Protecting the House(Plants)

Jennifer Polanz

Examples of how retailers display the first line of defense against houseplant pests and diseases.

Features

Slow it Down, Spread it Out, Soak it In

Dr. Richard Ludwig

Landscape and hardgoods options for stormwater management.

Features

Summer Sizzle

Andrew Bunting

Heat-tough perennials that thrive through summer stress.

First

The Importance of Being Nimble

Jennifer Polanz

There are times when it’s vital you have a plan in place and execute the plan, and then there are times where it’s better to stay flexible and pivot in the moment.

Friel World

Magic, Near and Far

John Friel

PFS is always part window into the future, part mirror to the past.

Front Lines

“Adapt Or Die” In-Person Event

Jennifer Polanz

You’ve read the “Adapt or Die” series from three global garden center consultants exclusively in these pages—now, hear them in person.

Front Lines

Arett Celebrates 75

Ellen C. Wells

Today, Arett Sales is a fourth-generation, family-owned business rooted in family values and long-standing relationships.

Front Lines

Border Concepts Acquires EarthWay Products

Ellen C. Wells

Through this acquisition, Border Concepts will integrate EarthWay’s engineering expertise into its existing product line.

Front Lines

Looking for a Good Podcast?

Jennifer Polanz

We’ve got you covered—members of our crack team are hard at work providing you options, including a couple of newer ones you may not have heard about yet.

Front Lines

Patio Culture

Ellen C. Wells

The folks at Monrovia recently notified us that “Patio Culture” is a top garden design trend for 2026.

Front Lines

Pets on the Payroll

Jennifer Polanz

I met Laura from Arnold’s Prairie Greenhouse & More in LeRoy, Kansas, at last year’s Kansas Greenhouse Growers Association meeting, and she told me the cutest story about Maggie.

Front Lines

Pollinator Week in June

Jennifer Polanz

Pollinator Week is officially June 22-28.

Front Lines

Round-Up at the Register

Ellen C. Wells

Launched in 2025, the “Round-Up at the Register” campaign to benefit Seed Your Future (SYF) invites customers to round up their purchase total or donate a set dollar amount while they’re at the garden center checkout.

Front Lines

Staycations are Back

Jennifer Polanz

Hat tip to consultant Sid Raisch for posting a recent Business Insider story on his garden center-centric Facebook group that highlighted the potential for American consumers to stay home this summer.

Front Lines

Year Of … Ficus

Jennifer Polanz

Customers know many of these plants intimately by name: Audrey, Benjamina, Rubber Plant and, of course, the ubiquitous Fiddle Leaf Fig.

Kiss My Aster

My Average Newsletter Open Rate is Over 80% and I Want to Talk About It

Amanda Thomsen

I’ve been told that’s a great number, but I’m always sulky that it isn’t 112% because who doesn’t want more of ME?

Profit

The Roger Bannister Effect

Bill McCurry

The Olympic Lesson: You must run 33% faster and 6% further just to keep up with the new standards from your competitors.