Clothing sales at Garden Centre Association members increased by almost 17% in June – topping the best-seller list for the second month running, although running behind May’s figures.

The association's Barometer of Trade reports garden furniture and barbecues and houseplants as other good performers, up 12.07% and 7.31% respectively.

GCA Chief Executive Iain Wylie says rain in the north and warm and dry weather in the south influenced the results, adding: “The ever-changing weather can cause uncertainty when it comes to gardening, which is why it seems customers stuck to buying in non-traditional categories, such as clothing.”

Other results:

• Catering– up 4.01%
• Food hall and farm shop – up 0.8%
• Hard landscaping– down -1.6%
• Gifts – down -1.93%
• Pets and aquatics– up 3.24%
• Garden sundries– up 0.2%
• Seeds and bulbs – down -12.91%
• Outdoor plants – down -3.18%

Fairways Garden Centre’s clothing and gift supervisor Claire Salt said the floaty Italian style of LV Clothing and reasonably priced shoes from LJ & R Footwear were among the most popular items.

“Both ranges have been hugely successful with our customers and many leave purchasing either a summer top or a pair of glittery flip flops!” she said.

Overall sales at GCA member centres during the month fell by an average 4.64% but are still up 6.4% compared to this time last year.