Sales in outdoor plants continued to dominate other categories for a third month running in December (2018) according to the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) report.

Sales were up 17.73% compared to the previous year in 2017, which continues the upward trend in plant sales as in October, compared to 2017 sales of outdoor plants were up 11.93% and houseplants sales followed close behind at 11.21% up.

Iain Wylie, GCA chief executive, said: “In a month where Christmas and gift sales tend to dominate the categories, it was really interesting to see that outdoor plant sales came out on top instead.

“Of course, it was all down to the Great British weather as we enjoyed a much milder festive season than usual, so people were able to spend longer sorting out their plots and preparing for the new season. Christmas sales did pick up after a poor November and were up 6.54%. Gift sales were also up 2.39% compared to the previous year.”

Houseplant sales were up 8.12% and seed and bulb sales were up 3.64% and aales in garden sundries were up 5.83% and hard landscaping sales were up 12.21%.

Mr Wylie added: “Non-traditional categories still performed relatively well during the month. Food hall and farm shop sales were up 9.9%, clothing was up 4.44% and catering sales were up 11%.

Furniture and barbecue sales saw a decrease as the report shows sales were down by -8.93% and sales in pets and aquatics were down -2.36%. Overall sales for the month, however, were up 6.8% with a year to date change of 1.27%.