Garden Centres have been busy stocking up on plants and compost in the run up to Brexit, a late Easter and the hope of a bumper March.

At the Europlants Open Day last week buyers commented that the quality and levels of stock looked great and were in positive mood when it came to placing orders.

Darren Major of Burston Garden Centre told GTN: “I’ve stocked up on more Trachelospermum Jasinoides, Photinia and Nandina today than normal so I have plenty of plants on sale should there be transport issues post March 29^th.”

Other garden centre buyers were also placing higher than normal orders because they were hopeful for a good March and April.  “When the weather is right we need to have the plants ready for customers,” said Alan Bourne from Perrywood.  “I’ve been buying from European growers over the past few weeks to get deliveries into our nursery and greenhouses.”

Garden centres have also been telling GTN Xtra that they have "more compost in stock than ever" as they ready themselves for a busier March than last year.

Westland Horticulture have been encouraging customers to take as many deliveries as possible during March as they are concerned about the availability of transport post Brexit on March 29^th.

The proximity of Easter and the May Bank Holiday are also reasons for encouraging early deliveries and will add further pressure should transport issues prove to be an issue throughout April.