The latest monthly Market Update from the Horticultural Trades Association shows that garden centre sales rose by +2% in value, including catering, in August 2026 compared with the same month last year, and were +7% ahead of August 2024. Excluding catering, however, sales fell by -3% year-on-year, with most of the growth coming from non-garden categories, which were up +8%, including café and restaurant sales, up +10%.

August 2026 was the UK's joint sixth-warmest August on record, bringing a close to the UK's warmest summer since records began. Gardening sales fell by -7% compared with August 2025 and were -5% behind August 2024, with persistent dry conditions weighing on plant sales. Bedding plants were down -11% and hardy plants down -14%, while plant care fell -14%, garden sundries were down -12% and tools -9%.

The larger outdoor categories performed better, with garden furniture sales increasing by +1%, BBQs and heating by +2% and outdoor containers by +5% compared to August 2025. Overall, garden centre transactions, excluding catering, fell by -1% year on year, and the average transaction value dropped by -2% to £24.84 excluding VAT, meaning the average basket was worth less than a year earlier.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said: "This summer has been extraordinary for anyone working in horticulture, and our Market Update retail data reflects that. After months of exceptional heat and very dry conditions, it's perhaps not surprising that gardening has been the weaker part of the garden centre offer. What is encouraging, however, is that consumers have continued to visit and spend across the wider garden centre, with outdoor living and hospitality helping to offset some of the pressure on core gardening.

“The weather has also brought the longer-term issue of water resilience into sharp focus. There was a high degree of variation between retailers behind the August figures, driven by the regional distribution of Temporary Use Bans and varied weather conditions across the UK. For horticultural businesses, access to reliable and sustainable water supplies is becoming increasingly important as weather patterns become more extreme and less predictable. We need to ensure policy and infrastructure are in place to help our member businesses adapt, invest, and continue playing their part in creating greener, healthier places.

“Beyond the weather, August saw consumer confidence rise for the second month running, up three points to -14, which is its highest level since August 2024. Similarly, the general economic outlook rose by five points to -23, and the personal financial outlook rose by three points to 4. The Major Purchase Index also reached -7, its highest figure since December 2021, suggesting customers may be more willing to make larger purchases. This suggestion is also supported by the savings index, which has dropped five points to 22, showing people are spending more than saving. However, it is worth noting that overall consumer confidence, whilst improving, remains clearly in negative territory.

“August is normally a month in which garden and gardening sales are lower, so the weak performance this month has had only a limited impact on the year-to-date results. Garden centres are still +2% ahead of the 2025 year-to-date figures and +12% ahead of 2024, although excluding catering sales puts them in line with 2025. Gardening sales are -2% behind last year but still +7% ahead of 2024, while the non-gardening categories are up +7%, largely due to catering, which is up +9%.

“We talk every month about the resilience of garden centres since it is so important to keep in mind the wider picture, especially given the strong performance in 2025, but it should be acknowledged that our member businesses are still having to work within a difficult cost environment. The increase in employment costs, as well as those related to the supply chain and inputs, continue to weigh on profit margins. As businesses plan for the months ahead, we will continue to remind the government of its key role in setting the right conditions for investment and growth, including tackling rising costs of doing business and providing greater certainty in the policy and regulatory environment.

HTA members can access further insights in this month’s Market Update on our website.