According to latest reports by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), there have been strong sales of bulbs and autumn bedding as garden retailers start to promote their early autumn displays.

Director of marketing and communications Andrew Maxted said: “Effective displays of bulbs and autumn bedding are resulting in strong sales as people seek to inject some colour into their garden.

“There is still huge pressure on consumer spending but gardening continues to have mass appeal and people are still prepared to invest in their homes and gardens - as long as the offer is right. We are seeing that customers are buying items in a more considered way and looking to seek maximum value from a purchase. When it comes to larger ticket items many would rather buy once and buy well.”

2011 has so far seen unpredictable weather with a hot and dry spring providing a 23% sales increase in April. Wetter weather in May and June that followed brought an average dip of 7.5%. There was however an improvement in July with garden sales up 4% on the same month last year.