23.01.12
LADIES LEAD THE GARDEN TASK
Latest survey results reveal that over 90 per cent of Brits would rather complete outstanding jobs in their gardens rather than inside their homes during the mild winter, and women are heralded as 2012’s official garden guardians
MacAllister
MP46 petrol mower £199.98, exclusive to B&Q
It may be conventionally the coldest month of the year, however a recent survey conducted by B&Q, the nation’s largest home improvement and garden centre retailer, reveals that the mild winter has seen our gardens take precedence over our homes when it comes to tackling unfinished jobs. Over 90 per cent of Brits declared they would rather get stuck into a gardening chore over a task indoors, and women have taken over from men as garden guardians, emerging as the gender most likely to complete the family’s gardening jobs.
Tasks that will improve the look of our gardens emerged as winners from B&Q’s survey in which over 2,000 men and women were asked to identify their unfinished home improvement tasks for 2012, and which of these jobs they were most likely to complete or leave unattended.
• Trimming garden bushes and hedges stole the ‘outstanding
jobs show’, taking 48 per cent of votes, with 30 per cent of women
revealing they are most likely to tackle the garden trimming versus 20 per
cent of men.
• Weeding was awarded the second most popular unfinished home improvement
task, with over 45 per cent of votes. Surprisingly, almost 50 per cent of
women would complete this job themselves, compared to just 40 per cent of
men who would be willing to get their hands dirty ridding their gardens
of unwanted flora.
• Mowing the lawn came in third with 41 per cent of participants’
votes, and more women admitting to being responsible for mowing the family’s
lawn than men.
• It would also appear that men are no longer sole owners of the garden
shed, with an equal proportion of men and women claiming they will be fixing
its roof this year.
The nation’s preoccupation with grooming their gardens supports this year’s big British Staycation, as June’s Jubilee kicks off a summer of outdoor celebrations which will run over the summer Olympics and close after August Bank Holiday. Milder temperatures and climate change have also had their part to play in encouraging the nation to venture outdoors this winter, with our earliest ever blooms and plants producing several yields throughout the year.*
Interestingly, it’s the jobs that are perceived to require DIY knowhow, such as fixing squeaky floor boards or attending to broken tiles that are not likely to get done. 66 per cent of participants claimed they would complete DIY tasks if they had the knowhow, yet only nine per cent have ever taken a DIY course. Alarmingly, 40 per cent would prefer to leave a leaking tap unattended this year despite it draining away vital household income.
For those homeowners who would like to learn how to tackle their own home
improvement jobs, B&Q is offering customers a schedule of DIY classes
at its 15 You Can Do It centres across the UK. Prices start from just £10
for a two to four hour seminar with a trained instructor who teaches a variety
of tasks including; getting your garden ready for winter, wall and floor
tiling, changing a tap and basic plumbing faults and putting up a shelf
and mirror. Garden-themed classes are to be introduced from March which
includes raised beds and planters, demonstrations on hanging baskets and
decking.
Katherine Paterson, B&Q’s Marketing Director said; “It is
clear that Brits are looking to make the most of their gardens this year,
enjoying our early flowering plants and vegetables. It is also evident that
homeowners continue to feel daunted by even simple DIY jobs which could
improve the inside of their homes. Many of these tasks can be as simple
as mowing the lawn, once you know how.”