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A garden centre (Commonwealth English spelling; U.S. nursery or garden center) is a retail operation that sells plants and related products for the domestic garden as its primary business.
It is a development from the concept of the retail plant nursery but with a wider range of outdoor products and on-site facilities.
It is now usual for garden centres to obtain their stock from plants which have been propagated elsewhere, such as by specialist nurseries or wholesalers. Garden centres also have a range of varieties, from homeware products, gifts and cafes.
The UK has a large and diverse garden centre industry. There are over 1,500 garden centres in the UK, ranging from small, independent businesses to large, national chains. [1] The industry is worth an estimated £4.6 billion per year.
The most popular products sold at garden centres include plants, compost, fertilizers, tools, and landscaping materials. Many garden centres also sell pet-related products, home and interior products, and food and drink.
Garden centres are an important part of the UK economy. They provide jobs for over 100,000 people and generate billions of pounds in revenue each year. They also play a role in promoting gardening and outdoor living in the UK.
The first garden centre in the UK was opened in 1860. It was called the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden Shop, and it was located in London. The shop sold plants, seeds, and gardening supplies.
In the early 20th century, garden centres began to become more popular. This was due to a number of factors, including the rise of the middle class, the increasing popularity of gardening, and the development of new technologies that made it easier to grow plants.
In the 1970s, garden centres began to grow in size and number. This was due to a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of gardening, the development of new shopping centers, and the rise of national chains.
Today, garden centres are a popular destination for people who are interested in gardening, landscaping, and outdoor living. They offer a wide range of products and services, and they play an important role in the UK economy.
The largest garden centre in the UK is Bridgemere Garden Centre (Blue Diamond Garden Centres), which is located in Nantwich, Cheshire. It covers an area of 50 acres and has over 1 million visitors each year.
The largest UK garden centre chains include:
No. of sites | 2023 turnover | 2022 turnover | 2021 turnover | 2020 turnover | 2019 turnover | 2018 turnover | 2017 turnover | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dobbies | 62 [2] | £279m | £304m | £252m | £166m | £148m | £151m | |
British Garden Centres | 65 | £162m | £161m | £162m | £125m | £49m | £32m | £29m |
Blue Diamond | 46 | £311m | £259m | £255m | £210m | £182m | £128m | £96m |
Notcutts | 19 | £74m | £76m | £80m | £64m | £76m | £75m | £71m |
Squires | 16 | £68m | £68m | £70m | £53m | £57m | £50m | £47m |
Klondyke | 22 | £74m | £68m | £65m | £53m | £57m | £53m | £54m |
QD / Cherry Lane | 16 | £65m [3] | £68m | £49m | £49m | £43m | £39m | £35m |
Longacres | 6 | £57m | £51m | £52m | £40m | £37m | £36m | £32m |
Hillier Nurseries | 23 | £69m | £55m | £51m | £38m | £37m | £33m | £23m |
Haskins | 5 | £45m [4] | £44m | £51m | £38m | £31m | £32m | £32m |
Scotsdales | 3 | £22m | £20m | £19m | £22m | £22m | £22m | £22m |
Bents | 1 | £25m [5] | £25m | £25m | £18m | £23m | £22m | £21m |
Otter | 7 | £33m | £32m | £33m | £26m | £26m | £21m | £20m |
Wyevale | 0 | £0m | £0m | £0m | £0m | £0m | £336m | £322m |
Frosts | 0 | £11m | £17m | £21m | £17m | £20m | £20m | £19m |
Yorkshire | 4 | £23m | £15m | |||||
The DIY chains B&Q and Homebase also have their own garden departments, incorporated within or alongside their traditional DIY warehouses or stores.
Garden centres have evolved significantly over the years in the UK. The first garden centre in the UK was opened in 1860, and it was a small, independent business. However, in the 1970s, garden centres began to grow in size and number. This was due to a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of gardening, the development of new shopping centers, and the rise of national chains.
In the early days, garden centres were primarily focused on selling plants and gardening supplies. However, over time, they began to offer a wider range of products and services. Today, many garden centres also sell pet supplies, home and garden products, food and drink, and even clothing.
In addition to their product range, garden centres have also evolved in terms of their customer experience. In the past, garden centres were often seen as a place to buy plants and gardening supplies. However, today, they are more of a leisure destination. Many garden centres have cafes, restaurants, play areas, and other amenities that make them a popular destination for families and couples.
The evolution of garden centres in the UK has been driven by a number of factors. The increasing popularity of gardening has been one of the most important factors. The UK is a nation of gardeners, and there is a strong demand for garden centres. Additionally, the development of new shopping centers has provided garden centres with new opportunities to grow.
The rise of national chains has also been a major factor in the evolution of garden centres in the UK. National chains have been able to achieve economies of scale, which has allowed them to offer lower prices and a wider range of products. This has put pressure on independent garden centres, and many of them have been forced to close.
Despite the challenges facing independent garden centres, there is still a strong demand for them. Many people prefer to shop at independent garden centres because they offer a more personal touch. Additionally, independent garden centres often have a wider range of products and services than national chains.
The United States retail garden-center market contained roughly 16,000 independently operated companies in 2010 according to Research and Markets. The combined annual revenue for the lot of them is about $46.2 billion. [6] Most garden centers are independently owned. There are some regional chains, but there is no national US garden center chain, unlike in the UK where there are several. However, both of the largest home improvement stores in the US—Lowe's and The Home Depot—refer to their gardening departments as garden centers and larger hardware stores have "Lawn and Garden" departments.
Some of the items that can be found in US garden centers, often called nurseries, include annual and perennial flowers, trees and shrubs, roses, container gardens, hanging baskets, houseplants, water gardening, seeds and bulbs, potting mixes, soil amendments and mulch, fertilizers and chemicals, pottery, garden tools and supplies, fountains and garden decor, much like their UK counterparts.
Many US garden centers have other departments including wild bird feeding, floral, gift, outdoor furniture and barbecue grills, home decor, landscape design, landscaping services and pet supplies. Most garden centers have a large Christmas department during the holiday season. Some garden centres have added a cafe or coffee bar, but not like the restaurants found in some European garden centres.
Greenhouses are commonly part of a US garden center. Greenhouses protect the plants from late cold snaps, allow stores to keep houseplants in prime condition, and keep the customers dry on rainy days.
Garden centers employ horticulturists who can diagnose problems and make recommendations to gardeners. This is almost always provided as a free service in the store and some of the bigger garden centers have classes that are open to the public.
Many garden centers belong to a buying cooperative. The largest is Master Nursery Garden Centers with just under 800 members followed by Home and Garden Showplace (part of the larger cooperative the True Value Company) with 260 members, Northwest Nursery Buyers Association with 46 members and finally, ECGC with 14 very large garden center members.
The trade associations of independent garden centers in the US is the Garden Centers of America and the American Nursery & Landscape Association.
No. Of Sites | 2023 Turnover | |
---|---|---|
Armstrong Garden Centers & Pike Nurseries | 48 | $212m |
Petitti Garden Centers | 9 | $104m |
Meadows Farms Nurseries | 17 | $74m |
Mahoney’s Garden Centers | 7 | $50m |
Green Thumb Nursery | 5 | $49m |
Oakland Nurseries | 4 | $44m |
Stauffers of Kissel Hill | 7 | $40m |
Earl May Garden Centres | 28 | $39m |
Summerwinds Nursery | 8 | $35m |
Sloan Garden Center | 12 | $32m |
Garden centres across Europe play a significant role in supporting the region’s horticultural interests, catering to both amateur gardeners and professional landscapers. These centres typically offer a diverse range of plants, gardening tools, outdoor furniture, and decorative items, as well as expert advice and workshops. With a unique blend of local traditions and modern retail practices, garden centres vary widely across the continent, reflecting the environmental and cultural diversity of the region.
In France, garden centres, often referred to as jardineries, are commonly integrated with large agricultural cooperatives. Companies like Truffaut and Jardiland dominate the market, offering extensive selections of plants, garden supplies, and home decor. French garden centres are also known for their focus on organic products and biodiversity, reflecting the country's emphasis on sustainability.
Belgium and the Netherlands boast some of the most innovative garden centres in Europe, given their strong horticultural traditions. The Netherlands, in particular, is home to cutting-edge centres that incorporate advanced greenhouse technology and hydroponics, alongside vast selections of ornamental plants, bulbs, and seeds. Popular names like Intratuin and GroenRijk set industry standards with large, eco-friendly retail spaces.
In Italy and Spain, garden centres often showcase plants and materials suited to Mediterranean climates, such as olive trees, citrus plants, and drought-tolerant flora. Italian garden centres, like Viridea, often combine traditional plant sales with boutique experiences, featuring cafes and cooking classes using home-grown herbs. Meanwhile, Spanish centres, such as Verdecora, emphasize outdoor living trends, including terracotta pottery and furnishings suited to warm climates.
In Portugal, garden centres are smaller in scale but serve as key suppliers of native plants like cork oak and succulents. They often cater to both locals and tourists looking to create sustainable gardens in coastal and arid regions.
Garden centres in Germany and Scandinavia focus heavily on functionality and sustainability. German retailers such as Dehner lead the industry, offering everything from garden equipment to landscaping services, often in collaboration with environmental organisations. Scandinavian garden centres, reflecting their climate, specialise in cold-hardy plants, indoor gardening solutions, and minimalist outdoor decor.
In Poland, Hungary, and other parts of Central Europe, garden centres are increasingly modernising, with companies like Ogrodnik and OBI expanding their operations. These centres often highlight regional plants and seasonal flowers, catering to the area's strong gardening culture. In Russia, large-scale centres near metropolitan areas focus on ornamental gardening, offering exotic plants alongside traditional varieties.
In the Balkans, smaller garden centres typically act as community hubs, offering locally-grown plants and tailored advice. However, countries like Croatia and Serbia are seeing a rise in larger chains as urban populations grow interested in gardening as a leisure activity.
European garden centres face challenges including climate change, rising costs of imported plants, and competition from DIY stores and online retailers. Nonetheless, the sector continues to innovate, balancing tradition with modern retail strategies.
A convenience store, convenience shop, bodega, corner store, corner shop, or superette is a small retail store that stocks a range of everyday items such as convenience food, groceries, beverages, tobacco products, lottery tickets, over-the-counter drugs, toiletries, newspapers and magazines.
Horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and more controlled scale than agronomy. There are various divisions of horticulture because plants are grown for a variety of purposes. These divisions include, but are not limited to: propagation, arboriculture, landscaping, floriculture and turf maintenance. For each of these, there are various professions, aspects, tools used and associated challenges; Each requiring highly specialized skills and knowledge of the horticulturist.
Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that improve on the original species in qualities such as color, shape, scent, and long-lasting blooms. There are many examples of fine ornamental plants that can provide height, privacy, and beauty for any garden. These ornamental perennial plants have seeds that allow them to reproduce. One of the beauties of ornamental grasses is that they are very versatile and low maintenance.
A grocery store (AE), grocery shop (BE) or simply grocery is a retail store that primarily retails a general range of food products, which may be fresh or packaged. In everyday U.S. usage, however, "grocery store" is a synonym for supermarket, and is not used to refer to other types of stores that sell groceries. In the UK, shops that sell food are distinguished as grocers or grocery shops
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practiced by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice, landscape design bridges the space between landscape architecture and garden design.
Hardware stores, sometimes known as DIY stores, sell household hardware for home improvement including: fasteners, building materials, hand tools, power tools, keys, locks, hinges, chains, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, cleaning products, housewares, tools, utensils, paint, and lawn and garden products directly to consumers for use at home or for business. Many hardware stores have specialty departments unique to its region or its owner's interests. These departments include hunting and fishing supplies, plants and nursery products, marine and boating supplies, pet food and supplies, farm and ranch supplies including animal feed, swimming pool chemicals, homebrewing supplies and canning supplies.
Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy, in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise. The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit while satisfying the needs of consumers for products related to natural resources. Agribusinesses comprise farms, food and fiber processing, forestry, fisheries, biotechnology and biofuel enterprises and their input suppliers.
Bunnings Group Limited, trading as Bunnings Warehouse or Bunnings, is an Australian household hardware and garden centre chain. The chain has been owned by Wesfarmers since 1994, and has stores in Australia and New Zealand.
Frank's Nursery & Crafts was an American retailer devoted to the sale of lawn and garden products. It operated a chain of stores, with 170 outlets across 14 states. It specialized in products such as shrubs, trees, accent plants, flowers, and lawn furniture, as well as various arts and crafts items.
Thompson & Morgan is an independently-owned company based in Ipswich, Suffolk. Founded in 1855, Thompson & Morgan offer English plants, seeds and sundries worldwide through their websites. The U.S. division of the company was sold to Gardens Alive in 2009.
The floral industry is focused on the production, distribution and sale of flowers for human enjoyment. The industry continues to diversify from the production of cut flowers to the production and sale of plants and flowers in many different forms. The global floral industry market size is estimated to be worth US$ 50040 million in 2022 and is forecast to increase to US$ 58030 million by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate of 2.5% during the review period.
Notcutts Garden Centres Ltd. is a private limited company. The family-owned group operates 19 individual garden centres across England. Notcutts also owns one of the UK's largest rose specialists (Mattocks).
RHS Garden Rosemoor is a public display garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society in north Devon, England.
A gardener is someone who practices gardening, either professionally or as a hobby.
HortPark is a 9-hectare (22-acre) park located in Queenstown, Singapore. It opened in December 2007 and was officially launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in May 2008.
Gurney's Seed and Nursery Co. is a mail-order seed and garden plant company based in Greendale, Indiana. Founded in 1866, Gurney's specializes in vegetable and flower seeds, gardening supplies and nursery stock, including trees, shrubs, perennials, fruit trees and berries, fertilizers and plant foods.
Spring Hill Nurseries is a mail-order garden center based in Tipp City, Ohio. Founded in 1849, Spring Hill Nurseries is one of the oldest gardening companies in the United States. The company specializes in garden plants, garden designs, perennials, shrubs, ground covers and gardening supplies. Spring Hill Nursery distributes catalogs nationwide and maintains a substantial presence online. One of the largest companies in the gardening industry, Spring Hill Nurseries’ headquarters features many acres of greenhouses and trial gardens.
Gardens Alive!, Inc. is a privately owned multi-title catalog company founded in 1984. It sells garden and lawn supplies, specializing in organic products under its namesake catalog. The company has expanded by aggressively purchasing other catalog companies, including expansion into gift and games after acquiring the assets of defunct catalog company BlueSky Brands in 2008. As of 2010, the company has annual sales of approximately $170 million, 60 percent of which was from garden-related business.
The retail format influences the consumer's store choice and addresses the consumer's expectations. At its most basic level, a retail format is a simple marketplace, that is; a location where goods and services are exchanged. In some parts of the world, the retail sector is still dominated by small family-run stores, but large retail chains are increasingly dominating the sector, because they can exert considerable buying power and pass on the savings in the form of lower prices. Many of these large retail chains also produce their own private labels which compete alongside manufacturer brands. Considerable consolidation of retail stores has changed the retail landscape, transferring power away from wholesalers and into the hands of the large retail chains.
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