Spending at garden centres has bloomed at last after freezing weather put off green-fingered consumers during the early spring.
Sales of plants, tools and accessories fell 25 per cent in the first three months compared with a year earlier.
Bloomin' wonderful: The onset of the warmer weather in May sent gardeners in their droves to buy plants and toolsBut warmer weather in the first week of May boosted sales by 70 per cent, according to research for Barclaycard.
More... China boost helps Beckham-backed Burberry sales soar to £2bn Sir Stuart Rose £1.5m richer in Ocado deal with MorrisonsDave Chan, chief executive of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said: ‘Garden centres were relieved to see the sun again. Latest figures show visitors have returned with the warmer weather and are making up for lost time.’