With just two weeks to go until Christmas, now is the peak time to buy a real Christmas tree, according to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), which says UK garden centres are leading the way in sales of real trees.

New research from the membership organisation, which represents over 1,400 garden retailers, growers, suppliers, manufacturers, landscapers, and garden designers across the UK, reveals that 4.9 million households bought a real Christmas tree last year, with more than half of households (52%) purchasing theirs at UK garden centres.

Garden centres have significantly grown their share of the real Christmas tree market over the last eight years. In 2016, an HTA survey found that approximately 4.2 millionhouseholds had purchased a real Christmas tree for the 2016 festive season, with just 37% of households buying from a garden centre or retail nursery.

The HTA’s Independent Christmas Tree Survey (2024) also reveals that the total spend on real Christmas trees topped £194 million. So, with Christmas tree buying in full swing, now is the time to head to the garden centre, spruce up the house and prepare for a tree-mendous Christmas.

The festive season is a vital trading period for garden centres across the UK, but it’s not just real Christmas trees that sell well. 11% of total annual garden centre turnover in 2024 occurred in December, and HTA research shows that Christmas and gifting departments accounted for more than a third (35%) of those sales.

The other highest-selling categories at garden centres in December (by value; excl. VAT) were:

• Catering (14%)
• Food and farm shop (11%)
• Indoor living and homewares (10%)

Source: HTA Garden Retail Monitor

Laura Loveridge, Market Research Manager at the HTA, said:

“Nowhere does Christmas quite like garden centres, where festive departments have grown to become a bigger part of their offer over recent years to now account for over one quarter of turnover in December, keeping the customers visiting throughout colder winter months.

“Visiting the garden centre over the build-up to Christmas is a day out for the whole family, from choosing the tree, to picking new decorations and visiting the restaurant for a treat afterwards. Many garden centres now offer added magical experiences for families to enjoy, such as Santa's grotto, making a visit to your local garden centre an annual tradition for many to look forward to. Coupled with the expert advice available from staff in store, it’s unsurprising that garden centres are the leading sales channel for real Christmas trees.”