It is not until we reach 41 that we turn our attention to our outdoor spaces. Although this may seem late to discover gardening, it may be a consequence of the fact that people are not able to get on the property ladder until their late thirties.
Researchers took an in depth look into our gardening habits and found that up until this point, nearly three in ten adults continue to rely on parents to sort out their outdoor space - with one in twenty calling on grandparents to tend to their gardens. Gardening can seem daunting at first so it’s only natural to call upon parents or grandparents who tend to be much more knowledgeable.
One in ten resort to watching clips on YouTube to help with horticultural issues. The poll by garden tool supplier
Fiskars revealed a third of clueless adults have never trimmed a hedge, and nearly a quarter haven’t ever potted a plant.
Botanist and broadcaster, James Wong, comments: “The study shows there is a lack of engagement between the younger generation and gardening, but it’s so important we don’t lose that passion for our outdoor spaces."
James Wong added: “Despite these findings, there is still some hope that Brits get into gardening at an earlier age. Nowadays there are plenty of cutting-edge gardening tools at hand that are ideal for all types of gardeners – amateur to novice – making light work of transforming outdoor spaces. Gardening is a great hobby for people of all ages and is particularly beneficial. It’s a fun, healthy activity plus the sense of satisfaction you feel when you watch something you’ve had a hand in growing is immeasurable.”
•The survey showed more than a third of respondents describe their garden as a place to escape it all and one in ten said they were immensely proud of the way their outdoor space looked.
• 23 percent of the 1,500 adults polled claim to have never mown a lawn or raked leaves in the garden.
• Half of the adults that took part said they wouldn’t be able to identify a fuchsia, 40 percent would struggle to spot a pansy and more than half wouldn’t know a germanium when they saw one.
• Getting stung by stinging nettles, pulling up a flower, mistaking it for a weed and trapping fingers in deckchairs are just some of the calamities Brits have faced when trying to tackle the garden.
• Cutting the grass with no blade in the mower, putting your hand in cat mess and treading on an upturned rake were other common faux pas.
James Wong added: “Despite these findings, there is still some hope that Brits get into gardening at an earlier age. Nowadays there are plenty of cutting-edge gardening tools at hand that are ideal for all types of gardeners – amateur to novice – making light work of transforming outdoor spaces. Gardening is a great hobby for people of all ages and is particularly beneficial. It’s a fun, healthy activity plus the sense of satisfaction you feel when you watch something you’ve had a hand in growing is immeasurable.”
•The survey showed more than a third of respondents describe their garden as a place to escape it all and one in ten said they were immensely proud of the way their outdoor space looked.
• 23 percent of the 1,500 adults polled claim to have never mown a lawn or raked leaves in the garden.
• Half of the adults that took part said they wouldn’t be able to identify a fuchsia, 40 percent would struggle to spot a pansy and more than half wouldn’t know a germanium when they saw one.
• Getting stung by stinging nettles, pulling up a flower, mistaking it for a weed and trapping fingers in deckchairs are just some of the calamities Brits have faced when trying to tackle the garden.
• Cutting the grass with no blade in the mower, putting your hand in cat mess and treading on an upturned rake were other common faux pas.
