The gardening and DIY sector saw a 2.2% growth in the year to September, according to GfK.
Sales in September were down, however, by 0.6% on September 2012. Similarly, GfK reports in its 'Insight into UK Retail Durable Sectors' that the changeable weather this year led to year-on-year declines for outdoor coating materials, garden power tools, barbecues and wild bird care. "Other garden care areas grew," it said, and "there was also growth for electric power tools".

The value of the gardening and DIY sector decreased by 1%, following five months of positive growth, including increases of 16% in June and 12% in May earlier this year. The HTA recently reported strong summer sales had helped garden centres, while the Office for National Statistics reported that overall retail sales had fallen in August this year.

GfK tracks 67,000 shops, including DIY superstores and specialists and garden centres, via electronic point of sale data provided by retailers on a weekly or monthly basis.