Caption Michelle Simakis, Publisher, GIE Media Horticulture Group.
US retail garden magazine, Garden Center, has just announced a planned return to print in 2026 two years after ceasing a monthly print version.
The 30-year-old magazine, which has been available as a digital publication since 2024, will return to print with a quarterly offering. In making the announcement, Publisher for the GIE Media Horticulture Group, Michelle Simakis, said issues will be mailed quarterly and follow the seasons, starting with a Spring issue featuring insights from “our highly anticipated annual State of the Industry Report, followed by a Summer issue with the coveted annual Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List”.
“Fall will spotlight the year’s new plant varieties, including from the California Spring Trials and Cultivate, and the Winter issue will feature our annual Spring Survival Guide to help retailers prepare for the busiest time of year.
She says the return to print comes from listening to readers and partners. The decision to go digital was based on the need to be more nimble, open to more voices and the ability to diversify content and while that’s all still true, readers want print back.
“No longer publishing a print magazine monthly means we get important information out sooner, tell more stories and do it on more platforms, like through our Fertile Ground live monthly digital event, our in-person Garden Center Conference & Expo and the GIE Media Horticulture Group’s podcast series, The Growth Industry.
“We redesigned our newsletters so that they would be more engaging and responsive. Through our 2024 State of the Industry Report, which was published exclusively online and won two national awards, we were able to share important data in new, interactive ways. That focus on innovation and creating an excellent digital experience remains.
“At the same time, we kept hearing from readers and partners that they missed the impactful storytelling and quality design of Garden Center. They missed the excitement of getting the issue in their mailbox. Retailers who ranked on our annual Top 100 Independent Garden Centers List questioned if they’d still receive a commemorative poster.
“This year, we decided to publish a commemorative July standalone issue, which not only featured the Top 100 list and profiles about some of the ranking companies, but also the same business management advice we’ve always championed. The issue debuted at Cultivate’25 and was also featured at the Garden Center Conference & Expo, a show dedicated entirely to the IGC market.
“We completely ran out of copies at both shows. Many people stopped by our booth asking if we’d consider publishing an issue for our State of the Industry Report.”
GIE Media Horticulture Group also produces Greenhouse Management, Nursery Management and Producer Grower.
