Cologne: 24.–26.06.2025 #spogagafa

EN Icon Pfeil Icon Pfeil
EN Element 13300 Element 12300 DE
grow.spoga+gafa

Magazine

"Terrace and garden have become a second living room"

The Cologne design journalist and trend researcher Frank A. Reinhardt (FAR.consulting) is a trend expert in the field of living and furnishing. As a jury member of design awards and as a speaker at various industry forums, he has been passing on his knowledge to interested trade visitors at spoga+gafa for years.

Immediacy: Challenge for the garden trade

Immediacy: Challenge for the garden trade

Digital technologies make it possible to fulfil many customer requirements directly. The expectations have grown as a result and the so-called "immediacy" often prevails.

POS design in times of Corona

POS design in times of Corona

How does the POS have to be designed so that it also works in times of Corona? And how does one address particularly the younger target groups expediently?

Modular design webshop

Modular design webshop

More and more garden centres are planning to set up their own webshop. This can be accomplished amazingly fast and at little cost.

Gardens of the Year 2021

Gardens of the Year 2021

Where are the most beautiful private gardens in the German-speaking world? The Gardens of the Year competition provides a current overview.

Green in the office

Green in the office

Current changes in the world of work offer new opportunities for the gardening industry.

Hybrid trade

Hybrid trade

Momentum for the garden centre of the future

The digital change is not only boosting the eCommerce in the garden trade. It is also lending the stationary business new momentum.

Plants per click

Plants per click

Blooming outlooks for eCommerce

eCommerce has also long since hit the garden industry by storm. Even plants are purchased more and more frequently online. Dealers can impress on the Internet with good ideas and top service.

More than recycling

More than recycling

The green industry is becoming greener

The theme sustainability has not just been playing a growing role in the garden industry since Fridays for Future.

Current outdoor furniture trends

Current outdoor furniture trends

As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa always keeps a close eye on new outdoor trends. We are taking a look at the current outdoor furniture design.

Living gardens: BGL is asserting itself

Living gardens: BGL is asserting itself

Nobody can say when exactly stone gardens started becoming popular. All of a sudden it became noticeable that more and more private green spaces were being replaced by grey gravel. However, resistance has been rising its head for some time already...

3 questions for: Beatrice Degenhart (garden blogger)

3 questions for: Beatrice Degenhart (garden blogger)

The focus at spoga+gafa 2020 is on sustainable gardens. However, the theme will already be examined intensively and very practically in Cologne months before the trade fair in September: we are creating our own project garden.

Bee-friendly - a garden for insects

Bee-friendly - a garden for insects

The discussions of the last years on insect and bee protection are now starting to have an impact: The theme biodiversity is playing an important role for more and more garden owners also in one's own green space.

FYTA: Smart plant sensor coming soon

FYTA: Smart plant sensor coming soon

People and plants don’t talk the same language. That is why the communications are rather difficult. The company FYTA is striving to change this. With a smart sensor and the respective app, they intend to lend room plants a voice.

Garden work made easier and healthier

Garden work made easier and healthier

Lawn mowing, weeding and digging – garden work is not exactly easy on the back and joints. The new generation of garden tools are about to change all that.

Indoor gardening deco trend

Indoor gardening deco trend

People, who don't have their own garden, mustn't do without greenery. Indoor gardening has developed into the practical deco trend with plants and herbs.

Gardens of the Year 2020

Gardens of the Year 2020

The current highlights in garden design were distinguished at the award ceremony of Gardens of the Year 2020.

Climate change: BHB supports reforestation

Climate change: BHB supports reforestation

Sustainability is an important theme for the BHB - the Trade Association for Home Improvement, Construction & Gardening e.V. Which is why it plans to plant 200,000 trees - not just anywhere in the world, but indeed here in Germany.

The garden as sustainable space

The garden as sustainable space

"Sustainable gardens" is the focal theme of spoga+gafa 2020. In the scope of various events, lectures and on special exhibition areas it is to be demonstrated how a garden can be designed in a resource-saving and eco-friendly manner.

For more green in the cities

For more green in the cities

The next storm or another hot summer can't be stopped, but we can ensure that our cities are better prepared for them in future. Many organisations and initiatives are currently campaigning for this.

Interview with Thomas Holzportz

Interview with Thomas Holzportz

Thomas Holzportz regularly publishes articles on barbecuing in his blog called baconzumsteak.de. We spoke to him about the latest developments on the BBQ scene and about sustainable meat consumption.

Prolonged drought: Focus on irrigation

Prolonged drought: Focus on irrigation

After the drought summer last year, it has also been extraordinarily dry in many regions this spring. Hence, devices and automatic systems for irrigating the garden are particularly coming under focus in 2020.

Without the garden there would be no art

Without the garden there would be no art

Art connoisseur Roland Doschka is convinced that nature and gardens have influenced artists throughout the ages. He, on the other hand, allowed himself to be inspired by the work of famous painters when creating his garden.

The largest collection of roses in the world

The largest collection of roses in the world

The small city of Sangerhausen is located on the mountain slopes of Südharz, Germany. Every summer a sea of millions of blossoms await the visitors there, because this is where the largest collection of roses in the world is at home.

Huge treasure trove for innovative ideas

Huge treasure trove for innovative ideas

On his tours around spoga+gafa 2019, Oliver Mathys was once again able to discover new ideas for the design of the POS. The marketing and sales consultant was also responsible for the realisation of the POS Green Solution Islands this year.

Successful spoga+gafa 2019

Successful spoga+gafa 2019

After three successful days, spoga+gafa 2019 came to a close on 3 September after recording an extremely positive result and an increased number of visitors. A good 40,000 trade visitors underlined the international significance of the trade fair.

New market research study on city gardening

New market research study on city gardening

The new “City Gardening” market research study was presented on the second day of the spoga+gafa garden trade fair. The study surveyed more than 1,000 city gardeners and gathered relevant market data on the topic.

Trendshow Outdoor Lifestyle

Trendshow Outdoor Lifestyle

As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa presents the latest developments in outdoor design. One of the highlights of this year's fair is the Trendshow Outdoor Furniture & Decoration.

An overview: The event programme of spoga+gafa 2019

An overview: The event programme of spoga+gafa 2019

From 1 to 3 September the world's largest garden fair presented the current trends and theme worlds of the green industry in Cologne. In addition, once again 2019 a comprehensive event programme was offered. Here a few of the highlights:

3 questions for: Sonja Koschani (WD-40 Company)

3 questions for: Sonja Koschani (WD-40 Company)

The blue and yellow can with a red cap is well-known all over the world: The products of the WD-40 Company are sold in over 188 countries. The company is of course on board again at this year's garden fair, spoga+gafa.

Highlights of spoga+gafa: Interview with Stefan Lohrberg

Highlights of spoga+gafa: Interview with Stefan Lohrberg

As the largest garden trade fair in the world, spoga+gafa will be presenting all the new products for outdoor living from 30 May to 1 June. We talked to Stefan Lohrberg, Director of spoga+gafa, about the trade fair highlights and current developments in the industry.

Simply get inspired ...

Simply get inspired ...

"Wellness in Nature”, “Kids Garden”, “Flower Power”, “My Tiny Coffee Shop” and “City Gardening” – these are the themes of the POS Green Solution Islands at this year's spoga+gafa. Have a look and get inspired!

Practical Garden Day at spoga+gafa

Practical Garden Day at spoga+gafa

spoga+gafa 2019 is presenting a special offer for landscape gardeners and the executing companies: The Practical Garden Day on 2 September addresses the theme planning and building for 50+.

IVG Power Place Akku & Power Place City Gardening

IVG Power Place Akku & Power Place City Gardening

On the theme islands of spoga+gafa 2019 in hall 6, everything revolves around innovative and smart technologies for the garden, as well as new products for the patio and balcony. In addition to product presentations, there are also informative lectures.

3 questions for: Nicole Espey (BSI)

3 questions for: Nicole Espey (BSI)

Nicole Espey has been Executive Director of the German Association of the Sporting Goods Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Sportartikel-Industrie – BSI) since 2014. The association is patron of spoga+gafa and spoga horse in Cologne.

Register now: Event highlights at spoga+gafa 2019

Register now: Event highlights at spoga+gafa 2019

This year, too, an exciting event programme will be offered at and around the international garden trade fair in Cologne. Prior registration is required for some events. Here is an overview with direct links to registration.

There is great potential in pop-up stores

There is great potential in pop-up stores

In May 2019, a hagebau DIY shop opened up a pop-up store in the city centre of Mülheim in Germany and presented a selected assortment of DIY products for a period of 90 days. The Executive Director, Timo Buhren, is presenting the project at this year's BHB GardenSummit.

New survey on city gardening

New survey on city gardening

Which special needs do big city dwellers have when gardening in urban spaces? Together the IFH Cologne, spoga+gafa is addressing this issue. We spoke to Jens-Peter Gödde from IFH about the new survey, "City Gardening".

City Gardening: furniture and accessories

City Gardening: furniture and accessories

In summer, city residents are drawn back outdoors. Every tiny outdoor space is used for relaxing in the open air. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa are offering new furniture and accessories for City Gardening.

SizzleBrothers –

SizzleBrothers – "Feuer und Flamme am Grill"

The BBQ/grill blog by the SizzleBrothers is online since 2015. Since then, the three friends from Hanover, Germany have been sharing new grilling recipes, instructions and tests with their ever-growing fan community every week.

City Gardening: The focus is on fun

City Gardening: The focus is on fun

A few years ago only a few people planted flowers and plants on tree slices or wasteland in urban districts. Today, more and more city dwellers are turning their immediate living environments into green spaces.

Green solutions: recycling in outdoor design

Green solutions: recycling in outdoor design

Current discussions revolve around the avoidance of plastic or closed material cycles. Exhibitors of spoga+gafa have been focusing on recycling and sustainable production processes for some time.

Special experience: BBQ and Concept stores

Special experience: BBQ and Concept stores

With the increasing popularity of BBQ, the demands of consumers have also increased. Therefore, special store concepts are countering the growing online trade with an extraordinary shopping experience.

City Gardening: New focus of spoga+gafa

City Gardening: New focus of spoga+gafa

The increased urbanisation is one of the global mega trends of our era: More and more people are moving to the city. Hence, spoga+gafa is setting a new main focus with "City Gardening".

Are there alternatives to peat?

Are there alternatives to peat?

Substrate manufacturers, environmentalists and consumers have been dealing with the issue of peat for years. There is a great deal of commitment to find sustainable alternatives for gardening.

How digital is the green industry?

How digital is the green industry?

Hardly any other development in recent years has confronted companies with such major challenges as digitalisation. The technical progress in this area is often so fast that many have a hard time keeping up.

“One should always have a plan B for the summer”

“One should always have a plan B for the summer”

Oliver Mathys is an acknowledged market expert and networker of the green industry. He develops sales concepts for garden centres and DIY stores and supports them with the implementation thereof throughout the whole of Europe. We talked to him about his ideas for POS design in the summer and about what garden centres should definitely pay attention to during these months.

In the garden with: Volker Püschel

In the garden with: Volker Püschel

Volker Püschel won the “Garden of the Year 2019” competition with a house garden designed by him. We talked with the landscape architect about his award-winning project, enchanted ruins as a design element and today’s demands on garden planning.

Natural air conditioning: plants on facades and on roofs

Natural air conditioning: plants on facades and on roofs

The cities are growing all over the world. This not only increases the population, but also the density of the development. Greened façades and roofs can help to improve the climate and air quality in urban areas. Current projects therefore allow plants to grow on and on houses.

“The growth rate of the cordless garden appliances is over 50 percent”

“The growth rate of the cordless garden appliances is over 50 percent”

From pruning shears to chainsaws, through to robotic lawnmowers or ride-on mowers – the specialised department “Garden and Lawn Care Appliances” of the Industrieverband Garten (IVG) e.V. (Industry Garden Association) unites all of the manufacturers of products that are needed for the care of a beautiful garden.

In the garden with: John W. Herbert (European Retail Association)

In the garden with: John W. Herbert (European Retail Association)

John. W. Herbert, general secretary of the European Retail Association (EDRA), is the “elder statesman” in the DIY landscape. For 35 years he has been in charge of leading positions in German and international DIY companies as well as in national and international DIY associations.

Indoor Farming: herb gardens in the kitchen

Indoor Farming: herb gardens in the kitchen

Especially in winter, we long for something green in our own four walls. So why not plant a herb garden in the kitchen? “Indoor Farming” is the urban trend towards self-sufficiency in herbs and vegetables.

Garden of the Year 2019

Garden of the Year 2019

From gardens with ruins, to grass gardens with a pool, through to the small city oasis with a circular lawn – the gardens of the year voted at Schloss Dyck in Rhineland on 8 February show the wide spectrum of current garden design and give an insight into present trends.

Categories