The warmer, more settled weather, together with half term in some parts of the country, has pushed total garden centre volume sales back above levels for the past two years, according to GTN Bestsellers data.

By all accounts the gardening season has officially started with huge week-on-week increases across all three GTN Bestsellers Chart categories.

Evidence from the Eops data supplied reveals that plant sales are running up year-on-year by even higher percentages.

Some garden centres have commented to the GTN Xtra team that after all the rain we’ve had they are surprised by the amount of planting going on right now, especially of shrubs. There are clearly plenty of gardeners wanting to get on with it. 

Perhaps the fact that we’ve had two poor springs means the appetite to get on and plant this year is higher than ever. Let’s hope Mother Nature doesn’t have a trick in store – mild spring-like weather is just what we need now right through to Easter!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year:

• Garden Products – static 0%
• Veg 2 Gro – down 5%
• Growing Media – down 1%
• All items index – up 6%