Damp summer means sales of decking and barbeques plummet

Sales collapsed 59 per cent over the last year, with garden experts putting forward a range of reasons ranging from the record summer rainfall to the trend simply having had its day in the sun.

The popularity of barbecues and patio heaters has also waned.

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Instead, garden centre customers are reverting to traditional features such as lawns, fruit trees and even vegetable plots.

Four years ago, garden makeover TV shows such as Ground Force featuring the likes of Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh, generated huge interest in decking.

The idea was to transform the back garden into a Mediterranean idyll, complete with gazebos, barbecue areas, seating and ornaments.

In 2004, annual sales of decking peaked at £46million. But the figure for the first seven months of 2006 was only £13.7million and it collapsed to £5.7million for the same period this year.

One explanation is that most people who wanted decking already have it. However, the Horticultural Trades Association points to changing fashions.

Reports from pest controllers have suggested that decking has provided an ideal home for the growing rat and mouse population. An HTA spokesman said: "The trend for decked and paved gardens is on the wane. We are re-instating the traditional lawn to our outdoor spaces."

He added that "while an area of decking or a patio is a great way to establish an area for outdoor entertaining", the lawn is "at the heart" of a well-rounded garden.

"Lawns form a soft surface for children to play on. . . somewhere to offset the planted borders, place a paddling pool, a soft surface on which to lie and relax."

The damp summer also led to a 38 per cent drop in sales of barbecues and accessories, such as charcoal, gas bottles and tongs.

Another casualty has been the patio heater, with sales falling 37 per cent during the first seven months of this year to £ 7million amid criticism from environmentalists over their carbon emissions.

"Consumers are increasingly seeing their gardens as a place they can demonstrate their green credentials,' said the HTA.

Expenditure on vegetable and other edible plant seeds grew by 5 per cent in the first seven months of the year to £ 36.5million. "Herb sales grew by 18 per cent and consumers purchased a third more fruit trees," a spokesman added.

Meanwhile, a study says 750,000 Britons have caused £350million worth of damage to their homes trying to copy things they saw on DIY shows. Each mistake has cost an average of £484 to put right, according to a survey for Halifax Home Insurance.

Spokesman Vicky Emmott said: "It all looks so simple on TV, making it easy to forget the work on makeover shows is being carried out by highly trained and skilled professionals."