NGS Survey Topline Results
Gardening Style
- Almost half of respondents (both men and women) (45%) said they had a very different style of gardening to their partners
- Of those who said yes to different gardening styles, a total of 78% said it caused friction
Dividing of areas
- 54% have special areas of the garden to tend, separate to their partners
- Of these ‘separate’ gardeners, a third (33%) do not allow their other half to trespass
Horticultural sabotage
- 14% of respondents admitted to trying to steal a bit of their partner’s area
- 11% of respondents said they had tried to ‘kill off’ one of their partner’s plants or not take very good care of it. Of those who admitted this, 57% are women
Division of Labour in the Garden
- 45% of all men questioned said DIY was their responsibility in the garden
- A third (33%) of women questioned claimed they were the plantsperson
Men and sheds
- 37% of men claimed the shed was their domain
- 12% of women said the garden shed was theirs
Lawns
- Of those who said that it was their job to look after the lawn 87% are men
- 94% of respondents said that the lawn was an important feature of the garden
Growing Preference
- 30% of men preferred to grow lawns rather than flowers, trees or vegetables
- 84% of women prefer to grow flowers
- Of those who prefer to grow flowers (above lawns, vegetables and trees) 68% are women
The survey was conducted in spring 2008, among 140 NGS gardeners