(From BALI)

Brits are a nation of keen gardeners and spend on average four to five hours a week in their outdoor spaces, according to the UK Landscaping & Garden Trends Report by Houzz.co.uk, the world’s leading platform for home renovation and design.

Almost a third of UK homeowners (31%) will undertake a garden project this year¹, with 28% planning to landscape or upgrade their grounds.
 
The report, which surveyed over 2,200 UK homeowners on Houzz², affirmed that gardening is very much a national hobby. The majority of the respondents (67%) agreed that tending to their plots was the number one thing they enjoyed doing in their garden, ahead of relaxing (60%) and eating (43%). As enthusiastic gardeners, those upgrading their outdoor spaces plan to plant lots of greenery, including flowers (75%), bushes (61%) and trees (36%). However, since maintenance is a key concern, 44% of upgraders with a natural lawn have decided to reduce the size of, or replace it as part of their renovations. Of those, one in ten (11%) are replacing with artificial grass and 52% are opting to pave over.
 
With the majority of gardens likely outsizing the average size of a UK house³, Brits are making good use of their gardens. The majority of those upgrading their gardens (62%) want their garden to integrate with the rest of the home, while just under half (49%) want to create an outdoor space for entertaining. To make their gardens fit for social gatherings, Brits are furnishing their spaces with products such as benches (34%), BBQs (28%), fairy lights (26%) and patio heaters (11%).
Having a stylish and beautiful garden is the most important design aspect for Brits (67%), but functionality is also a priority. Over one in 10 (12%) rate storage as a key functional aspect; tools (54%), bikes (42%) and even fridges (5%) are kept outside.

The report also revealed:

• Supporting wildlife: 39% of upgraders consider features that attract certain wildlife to be one of the most important design aspects when planning an outdoor renovation. 81% are including wildlife friendly plants, bird boxes or hives as part of their upgrade.
• Grow your own: Over half of upgraders (51%) plan to grow edibles in their gardens, with the research suggesting that growing vegetables is becoming more of a trend; 62% of upgraders versus 45% of non-upgraders are growing leafy veg.
• Flower power: When it comes to flowers, lavender (55%)  is the preferred choice for those upgrading their gardens. Roses (40%) and daffodils (39%) are second most popular.
• Flooding damages: Over a quarter of people updating their gardens in the South West (28%) and Wales (27%) are trying to remedy problems associated with flooding and/or drainage to a greater extent than other regions.

Almost a quarter (24%) of those going ahead with an upgrade are doing so after finally finding the financial means. The majority of the respondents (61%) are setting aside a budget of less than £2,500 for their outdoor project, with over a fifth (22%) aiming to keep costs under £500. Forty-four percent are hiring a professional to help them with their project.