September’s GCA BoT shows gardening categories return to lead strong sales growth

Garden Centre Association (GCA) members recorded an overall sales increase of +7.05% last month when compared to September 2025, according to the body’s latest Barometer of Trade (BoT) released on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Following the end of the summer heat, customers returned to their gardens, helping plants and gardening categories drive growth alongside continuing strong sales of furniture, barbecues and Christmas products.

© Garden Centre Association

GCA CEO Peter Burks explains: “Another excellent month for our members with some very strong performances. It is so good to see the month’s trade is headed by plants and gardening, demonstrating that the public were very keen to get gardening again once the summer’s heat subsided.

“Furniture and barbecues carried on selling well and Christmas has also started positively. The year-to-date figure increased to +2.7%. We now hope for a good run to Christmas.”

The strongest performing category during September was outdoor plants, which increased by +16.83% when compared to the same month in 2025. Garden sundries also performed well, rising by +15.12%, while furniture & BBQ sales were up +14.22% and houseplants increased by +13.05%.

Additional growth was seen in hard landscaping, which rose by +10.65%, catering was up +5.65%, Christmas +4.92%, food hall/farm shop +3.89% and seeds & bulbs increased by +0.05%.

Categories recording small declines during the month were clothing, which fell slightly by -0.5%, gifts -1.38% and pets & aquatics, down -1.44%.

Regionally, the strongest growth was recorded in the East, where sales increased by +13.63%. The South followed with growth of +8.87%, while North, Scotland and Northern Ireland were up +4.83% and Midlands, Wales and the West increased by +4.44%.

The GCA’s 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.