Furniture and barbecues were the best sellers at garden centres across the country in July, according to the latest Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade report.

Sales in this department at garden centres were 19.88% up compared to the same month last year (2021).

GCA Chairman, Tammy Woodhouse, explains: “As a country we saw our driest July since 1935, with temperatures exceeding 30°C and as much as we love the sunshine, it meant that a lot of gardeners couldn’t spend as much time on their plots as they would have liked to, which meant a decline in sales in traditional categories.

“Thankfully, the non-traditional categories were able to make up for this, as we saw furniture and barbecues sales soar compared with 2021, as people wanted to make the most of the hot weather but also because, by this stage in 2021, furniture was in short supply whereas there is plenty around this year.”

Houseplant sales were down -13.81%, sales in outdoor plants were down -16.69% and seed and bulb sales were also down -8.76%.

Sales in garden sundries were down -17.12%, pets and aquatics sales were down -13.67%. Gift sales were also down -12.53%.

Hard landscaping sales were down -19.22%, food hall and farm shop sales were down -6.66%.

Clothing and catering sales were the only other two categories that performed well at 6.08% and 2.71% up.

Overall sales for the month were down -6.53% with a year-to-date variance of -1.32%.

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.