Customers at garden centres across the country prepared themselves for the good weather by buying furniture and barbecues for their outside spaces according to the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade results.

Furniture and barbecue sales in April were up 37.46% compared to the same month last year with outdoor plant sales close behind at 33.22%.

“Lots of householders have been busy getting their gardens ready in order to enjoy the sunshine,” explains GCA chief executive Iain Wylie. “They’ve been purchasing garden furniture and barbecues so they can make the most of their outside spaces as possible and this has been reflected in the figures recorded by our members.

“Garden sundries sales were up 27.65% and hard landscaping up 20.88%. Smaller garden centres showed a greater increase in plants as they make up a greater percentage of their sales. The results are reasonably consistent across the country but we expect it will be a completely different story with May’s results.”

Sales showed an average overall for the month of 21.86% and an average overall Year to Date increase of 11.07%.

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.