Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,884.73
    +74.07 (+0.37%)
     
  • AIM

    743.26
    +1.15 (+0.15%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1698
    +0.0005 (+0.04%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2620
    -0.0002 (-0.02%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    55,412.76
    -328.31 (-0.59%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,369.44
    +201.37 (+0.50%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,205.81
    +1.00 (+0.01%)
     

Coronavirus: Brits have spent £3.7bn on gardening in lockdown

Outdoor plants, compost and seeds are among the most common gardening purchases Brit have been making. (Neslihan Gunaydin/Unsplash)
Outdoor plants, compost and seeds are among the most common gardening purchases Brit have been making. (Neslihan Gunaydin/Unsplash)

Green-fingered Brits have spent a whopping £3.7bn ($4.9bn) on gardening since the start of lockdown, new research suggests.

UK adults have spent about £105 each transforming their garden since 23 March, as they’ve been spending more time at home, according to a survey of 2,000 people by American Express.

Outdoor plants were the most popular purchase. More than a third (35%) of Brits spent about £36 on plants for their garden.

READ MORE: Green Homes Grant — What you need to know to claim £5,000 voucher

Compost followed closely behind, with nearly a third (31%) of Brits spending £27 each. Seeds came in third, with just under a quarter (24%) of people spending £14 each.

Most popular gardening products bought during lockdown

  1. Outdoor plants — 35% of Brits spent £36

  2. Compost — 31% of Brits spent £23

  3. Seeds — 24% spent £14

  4. Fruit and/or vegetable plants — 18% spent £19

  5. Indoor house plants — 14% spent £29

  6. Garden decor — 13% spent £34

  7. Garden DIY equipment — 13% spent £61

  8. Garden furniture — 13% spent £88

  9. Garden tools — 12% spent £39

  10. Objects to promote wildlife — 10% spent £33

ADVERTISEMENT

One in seven (14%) Brits with a garden or outdoor space has even redesigned the entire space during lockdown, with 12% sharing pictures on social media.

Brits are even extending their new-found joy of gardening to friends, with 15% or survey respondents saying they’ve been gifted a plant, or home-grown fruit or vegetables from someone they know during lockdown.

American Express also offered some money-saving tips for green-fingered Brits.

READ MORE: Warm weather helps UK high street bounce back in July

Tips for hobby gardeners

  1. Bargain hunt — Look for buy-one-get-one-free or, even better, three-for-two offers on soil, seeds, and whatever else you might need, and store them for the future

  2. Grow it yourself — Growing your own fruits and vegetables is environmentally friendly and can save you a lot of money

  3. Get cashback — When you’re shopping for supplies, pick retailers who have rewards cards or participate in cashback schemes, so you can earn back some of your spending