There was significant growth in sales at garden centres in July, despite ongoing economic and environmental challenges, including the cost of doing business, fragile consumer confidence, and water restrictions.
This month’s Market Update report from the Horticultural Trades Association reveals a robust performance, with sales rising by +11% compared to July last year and up +17% from July 2024, driven by an increase in both the number of transactions (+6%) and higher average transaction values (+3%).
Growth in July indicates a strong rebound after weaker sales the month before, where wet-weather conditions at the start of June, followed by extreme heat, may have created pent-up demand. However, the HTA’s quarterly Business Barometer highlights that member businesses continue to face ongoing pressures with employment costs and profit margins.
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said:
“July's extraordinary weather - the second hottest July since 1883, the second driest since 1835, and the sunniest on record – is sadly becoming the UK's new climate reality. In Southern England, only 1.9mm of rain fell, marking the driest single month on record since 1835. Although the heat in July didn’t stop customers going to the garden centre, the continued extreme weather events, notably the high temperatures and drought for large parts of the UK, coupled with water restrictions and Temporary Use Bans (TUBs), may negatively impact garden centre sales in August and risk plant losses.
“Back to last month and sales were buoyant across most garden and gardening categories; up +12% on July 2025 and +15% on July 2024. The sunny weather led people to spend on their outdoor spaces and renew garden furniture as they spent more time in the garden. When you look even closer at the figures, the leading sales categories were tools & equipment (+27%), BBQs and heating (+25%), and outdoor containers (+22%). July’s sales of garden furniture (+14%), bedding plants (+13%) and hardy plants (+3%) were also up considerably from sales in the same month last year.
“A strong July has strengthened positions for the year-to-date, with garden centres finishing the month +2% ahead of 2025 and +12% ahead of 2024. Consumer confidence, although still in negative territory, rose by +6 points to -17. We hope the launch of the HTA’s retail finance partnership with Novuna Consumer Finance this month will offer customers more choice at the checkout, support higher-value purchases, and help boost furniture and outdoor living sales even further.”
The latest growth in sales figures for July comes against a backdrop of wider business pressures highlighted in the HTA’s Q2 2026 Business Barometer.
Fran Barnes added:
“When it comes to the state of trade and business confidence amongst our members, the latest Business Barometer highlights ongoing challenging conditions. Our members have cited the extreme weather, the cost of doing business, such as National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage, and weak consumer confidence as some of the main challenges facing their businesses at the end of Q2.
“Between April and June, it appeared that investment was being withdrawn, with only 59% of members saying that they planned to invest across five areas we asked about; that’s down from 75% a year ago and falling every quarter since. Of those behind budgeted profit, 44% plan to further cut or slow future investment.
“The elephant in the room for our retailers, growers and manufacturers is margins. Members said their sales and net profits were generally up on Q2 2025, but the increases were typically small and not enough to offset the pressure on margins. It’s been a mixed picture for our members, with confidence remaining low and stagnant in general, although it is more positive amongst our specialist landscaper and designer members.
“Our Landscaper members told us they were more optimistic in the short term than the long term, as current lead times were stronger than they were this time last year. Weather conditions in July were a concern, though, with some members saying they had to slow work down due to the hot conditions. Several members also highlighted how they had taken action to secure their profit margins, such as increasing the value of their quotes.”
HTA members can access further insights in this month’s Market Update on our website, as well as view the quarterly Business Barometers.
