A patchy overall picture for the start of the gardening year in the UK emerges from the summary made by the GfK. The market researchers say that the DIY stores and garden centres overall lost out slightly in comparison with the hypermarkets and food retailers over the period from January to April 2005 when compared with the same period last year. Sales from May 2004 to April 2005 for certain segments:
Herbicides: £ 46.6 mio (€ 68.8 mio)Plant protection: £ 44.3 mio (€ 65.4 mio)Lawn care: £ 35.7 mio (€ 52.7 mio)Plant fertilizers: £ 37.9 mio (€ 55.9 mio)Aquatics (excluding pumps): £ 75.5 mio (€ 111.4 mio)