In the third of a series of articles advising garden centre managers how they can help themselves to improve their own publicity, gardening PR specialist Graham Paskett looks at the ubiquitous press release.

Tetra, the global leader in fish food, treatments and equipment, is officially launching its new corporate identity at Interzoo in May 2008. The aim of the new branding is to improve the visibility of the Tetra branding on all its products and communications, and increasing brand awareness, recognition and loyalty. The new Tetra flag will become a consistently central focus on all products, featured just above the product name, while keeping the Tetra yellow and blue colours, and the wave which symbolises the Tetra world of water.

UK garden and leisure product suppliers are confident of new export orders following the Gardenex "Meet the Buyers" event.

Countrywide, the leading UK supplier of products to the rural community, expanded its gardening range last month with 15 new look Garden Centres within its 41 Country Stores.

An attractive front garden can significantly increase the value of your home, according to new research from PlantforLife. Their survey of estate agents shows that a well maintained front garden can add as much as £5,000 to the value of a property.

School children who look set to grow their own fruit and vegetables on allotments in Halifax this year were given an extra boost for their project thanks to the town's Wyevale Garden Centre.

It's already shaping up to be a busy year for William Sinclair. In January the company acquired the Gem brand.  February saw Sinclair bring in a new Managing Director for the retail division with expertise in sales and marketing, in the shape of Danny Adamson. Last month it merged its Silvaperl business with its professional horticulture department to form a new division for sales in the Grower, Turfcare and Amenity and Aggregate markets; Sinclair Professional.

Outdoor living specialist Rowlinson Garden Products has launched a stylish new retractable canopy, designed to extend sales for stockists and help homeowners enjoy more time al fresco.

Tetra, makers of the UK's best selling pond food, has made major improvements to its current packaging in time for the start of the pond season. All four, seven and 15 litre packs, which were previously available in boxes, have been upgraded to high quality, waterproof re-sealable bags.  The new bags significantly improve the storage of the fish food, protecting it from light and humidity, and keeping it fresher for longer. 

Already an established name within the garden centre trade, and probably best known for its diverse range of giftware items, Minster Giftware is now adding a whole new dimension to its product offer.

Specialist gardening DVD producer Dancing Bee, in conjunction with Route 1 Garden and Home, is giving garden centres more for less this spring.

Tetra, the makers of the UK's best selling pond food, is now making its popular Variety Sticks product available in a 15 litre (2120g) bag.  Previously available in 1, 4, 7 and 10 litre packs, the new 15 litre pack will be offered in a re-sealable waterproof bag to significantly improve the storage of the fish food, protecting it from light and humidity, and keeping it fresher for longer. 

Minster's new garden lantern collection features a stunning range of decorative metal and glass lanterns for the summer season.

 Over the last decade, arcane concepts such as ‘global warming', ‘greenhouses gases', ‘carbon footprints' and ‘sustainability' have loomed ever larger in the public consciousness. Mankind has woken up to the havoc it has wreaked since the industrial revolution, and protection of the environment has become the overriding issue of the 21st century. Manufacturers as well as individuals are under increasing pressure to demonstrate their eco-friendly credentials and sign up to the Green Agenda.

Being environmentally aware is top of the agenda for Bosch, which is why its new pressure washer ranges are fitted with a self-priming function that enables the user to use recycled rainwater from a water butt , rather than being dependent on the water mains. The two new ranges have innovative features offering key consumer benefits.

We have exclusivity of product supply and have taken this route in response to demand by both the public and government bodies. There is no one else who has the rights to this product.

With the current pattern of rainfall being very much one of "feast or famine" the need to conserve water for use in the garden has never been more important. Unfortunately stored water, even rainwater, can start to smell after a while and algae can develop. For those who want to take steps to stop this happening AquaHydrotech, manufacturers of a range of eco-friendly pond and water feature products, have introduced Water Butt Fresh to their range for 2008.

Sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint is a strategy on the minds of many of today's leading industries.

The Italian Valagro Group will be carrying out a market trial with selected UK garden centres this year with its flagship ONE plant nutrition brand.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company promises to spend £1.1 million on TV advertising nationwide to ensure a massive interest in their new Miracle-Gro Organic Choice range of plant foods, compost maker and peat-free growing compost. Two separate TV commercials will be broadcast, one for Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food and another for Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Peat-Free Growing Compost.