Home & Garden

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 27, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 27, 2025 – Home gardeners across Germany now have a reliable new resource to better understand the quality of the potting soils they purchase, thanks to a joint initiative from the Industrieverband Garten (IVG) and the Gütegemeinschaft Substrate für Pflanzen e.V. (GGS).

Helping consumers make informed choices in the garden

Each year, 8 to 9 million cubic meters of potting substrates are produced and sold in Germany for hobby and professional gardening. Yet for consumers, it can be challenging to evaluate whether the products they buy actually deliver on their promises. Now, a new guide from IVG and GGS is stepping in to help.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 27, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 27, 2025 – Whether you're planting balcony flowers or growing vegetables in your backyard, choosing the right potting soil can make all the difference in your gardening success. But how can you really tell what’s inside that bag of soil? A new guide from the Gütegemeinschaft Substrate für Pflanzen e.V. (GGS) and the Industrieverband Garten (IVG) e.V. helps consumers better understand quality standards and testing methods for hobby gardening substrates.

Why potting soil quality matters more than ever

Every year, Germany produces between 8 and 9 million cubic meters of potting soils for both home and professional use. To ensure that these products meet the advertised quality and nutritional content, independent consumer organizations regularly conduct lab tests. But according to GGS and IVG, these tests must follow technical guidelines to be valid and useful for consumers.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 23, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 23, 2025 – German home improvement lovers have a new reason to celebrate. Sonderpreis Baumarkt, one of the fastest-growing discount hardware store chains in the country, has officially joined the German DIY Retail Association (BHB). This move not only strengthens the network of retail members to 25 but also brings BHB’s market coverage to an impressive 98 percent across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

A Discount Powerhouse Grows Even Stronger

With its headquarters in Neustadt near Coburg, Sonderpreis Baumarkt has grown rapidly since its founding in 2005. The company operates under the umbrella of FISHBULL Franz Fischer SE & Co. KG and has become a go-to destination for home renovators, DIY fans, and hobbyists. Today, it boasts:

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 3, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 3, 2025 – For families who love spending time outdoors but hate battling stubborn weeds, there's finally a solution that checks every box: effective, fast, safe, and simple. Spruce, a new weed & grass killer developed by P&G Ventures, is redefining outdoor maintenance for homeowners who want results—without the hassle or worry.

A New Kind of Weed Killer for Real Life

Weeds are the unwelcome guests in every yard, yet the choices to eliminate them have long been frustrating. Between back-breaking pulling or waiting days to see if a spray even worked, homeowners have often felt stuck. That’s exactly the problem Spruce set out to solve.

Created by R&D experts at P&G, Spruce was designed to be “hardworking and worry-free,” offering peace of mind for people and pets alike when used as directed. It’s ideal for busy households where time and safety matter.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 8, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 8, 2025 - BHB-GardenSummit: Where Strategy Meets Sustainability

When market conditions get tough, strategy becomes everything. For retailers in the garden and DIY sector, the BHB-GardenSummit has established itself as an essential touchpoint for fine-tuning brand strategies and staying competitive. Now in its 10th edition, this compact, high-impact event is once again rounding off the spoga+gafa trade fair. It’s set to take place on June 26 at 1:30 p.m. at the Congress Centrum Nord, Koelnmesse.

A Must-Attend Event for Garden Retail Leaders

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – March 5, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Mar. 5, 2025 – Weber, the global leader in BBQ innovation, is ushering in a new era of outdoor grilling with the launch of two advanced pellet grill models, SMOQUE® and SEARWOOD®. These state-of-the-art grills replace the previous SMOKEFIRE® series and are designed to elevate the grilling experience with enhanced features and cutting-edge technology.

A New Era of Pellet Grilling

The introduction of the SMOQUE® and SEARWOOD® pellet grills marks a significant evolution in Weber's commitment to high-performance cooking. Designed to cater to different grilling preferences, these new models offer precise temperature control and superior versatility.

SMOQUE®: Precision Smoking and Low-Temperature Cooking

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – February 28, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Feb. 28, 2025 – The horticultural industry is increasingly shifting towards sustainable practices, with a significant focus on reducing peat extraction. This movement is driven by the need to conserve finite resources and mitigate climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions. A promising alternative gaining traction is the use of wood fibers in growing media.

The Rise of Wood Fiber in Horticulture

Utilizing domestic wood raw materials, such as untreated sawmill waste like wood chips, peelings, and milling chips, offers a viable solution to peat dependency. Softwoods, including spruce, pine, and Douglas fir, are primarily used, though ongoing research explores the potential of hardwoods. This shift towards wood fiber aligns with the goal of "climate protection through wood," as it significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with peat extraction.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – February 28, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Feb. 28, 2025 – The landscape of gardening is evolving, with a significant shift towards sustainable practices. One of the most prominent changes is the growing availability and adoption of peat-free potting soils. This article will guide you through the essentials of selecting, using, and maintaining peat-free soils, ensuring your garden thrives while contributing to environmental preservation.

Understanding Peat-Free Options

Pay Attention to Labeling When Purchasing

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – February 28, 2025 – SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Feb. 28, 2025 – The move towards eco-conscious gardening is gaining momentum, and a critical component of this shift is understanding why peat should be avoided. Why not use peat when gardening? The answer lies in its profound impact on our planet's carbon storage and biodiversity.

The Role of Peatlands in Carbon Storage

Peat is formed in moors by the deposition of incompletely decomposed plant biomass, such as sphagnum moss. These moor soils are exceptionally rich in carbon. As stated, “although they cover only about three percent of the earth's land area, they bind more than twice as much carbon as all the forests in the world combined.” This highlights the critical role peatlands play as the most potent carbon stores on Earth.

Germany's Moorland Decline and Its Consequences