Apr 26, 2016
Combo CrazyBy Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

My very first trip to California Spring Trials is behind me, and my goodness was there so much to take in. I’m not going to focus a lot here on what I saw, but check out all the blogs while at Spring Trials and upcoming issues of Lawn & Garden Retailer for extensive coverage.

What I want to talk about though is combinations. They’re nothing new, but oh how they’ve evolved!

There was a time when simply finding a common spiller, filler and thriller wowed. Now we’re seeing combinations with annuals, perennials and edibles all in one container.

At Spring Trials, perennial combos were all the rage. A handful of breeders had strong perennial combinations that were meant to be grown together, so they truly comingle.

Other breeders were focused on combinations with the same species to ensure success.

I want to know how you’re keeping combinations fresh and what your customers respond to most. Let me know at [email protected].

For the Win

We’re ready for your best merchandising displays! The call for entries to become the 2016 Merchandiser of the Year has now begun and we want you to show us what you’ve got.

Past winners with traffic-stopping ideas include: Molbak’s Garden + Home, Sky Nursery, Smith’s Acres, Beaver Bark Nursery, Calloway’s Nursery, Rutgers Landscape & Nursery and The Great Outdoors.

Need another reason to grab your camera? For the 2016 winner, this year’s trending and profit-generating prizes include: a brand new Dramm 60114 RainSelect/One Touch Hand Watering Display (MSRP $2,365), and a $500 Wholesale Gift Credit and a 15 percent discount for Braun Horticulture’s 2016 Catalog offering (one time).

For more information, click here.

Show Off

As your crews are out making landscapes happen, I’m on the hunt for great magazine covers. Why not combine these two things? If you have any unbelievable images of your work, I’d love to see them.

Send them to me at [email protected].

Cheers,

Abby


Abby (Kleckler) McGarry

Abby (Kleckler) McGarry is the managing editor of Lawn & Garden Retailer. Contact her at [email protected].