Plant nurseries are to garden centres what breweries are to pubs. They are the life blood of that business. However, the perishability and seasonality of plants means that the UK lockdown has impacted this sector particularly drastically, especially for the ornamentals sector.

Traditionally operated to service either garden centres or supermarkets, the type of end client has led to differences in how nurseries have fared. Garden centres were ordered to close on 23 March and only reopened on 13 May under strict social distancing guidelines, while supermarkets remained open throughout. The prolonged disruption to the supply chains has had a serious effect on the bottom line for many ornamental operators, however, those supplying supermarkets performed better.

According to a recent survey undertaken by Horticulture Week, approximately 15 per cent of ornamental growers have experienced a loss of 50 per cent of their annual turnover as a result of the pandemic. In contrast, food growers such as tomato nurseries have fared better with consumer supply chains generally less affected.

The widespread closures across garden centres, landscapers, professional gardeners, local authority gardens departments and garden shows, resulted in many growers being left with unsold or dying stock. This meant there was not enough space to plant next year’s crop without destroying this year’s.

Some ornamental growers have been fleet of foot, swiftly moving trade online via click and collect schemes, but this has been a last ditch effort to save what they can of their year.

For a longer term solution, many operators are now looking at diversifying their supply chains to supply both garden centres and supermarkets to position themselves better in case of any further disruptions.

This is not as easy as it sounds as each of the major brands have their own specific and often monitored requirements. Meeting these requirements can be expensive and it is rarely something that can be done overnight. However, once a relationship is established ornamental growers will have better protection against disruption to their supply chains.

The rather tarnished silver lining of this cloud is the fact that many people have been forced to stay at home, focussing their efforts on cultivating their gardens, and this led to record sales at many garden centres when Government movement restrictions were eased. Hopefully this has planted the seed of gardening in the minds of a new generation and will increase plant sales in years to come.

The Horticultural Trades Association is currently in talks with the Government to agree a ‘scrappage’ scheme to provide financial support those affected. Let’s hope that operators are in a position to make the most of what is left of the current season and set about recovery in 2021 and beyond.

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