We have all done more in the garden over the past two years and that trend is set to continue, however with the prospect of the hottest heatwave since records began and certainly a prolonged dry spell, what is one of our leading suppliers saying about enjoying greener lawns and tending to your brassicas wisely in 2022?

Sustainability is something gardeners are becoming increasingly interested in as they look towards reducing their water consumption in all areas of the home and Hozelock is on a quest to educate gardeners with its dedicated social media campaign, ‘Watering Wisdom,’ and will be providing top tips and advice. A recent survey conducted by Hozelock revealed that 31 per cent of people would like to see greener products for gardening more widely available. The campaign will offer much-needed guidance on products which match gardeners’ quest to be green. This provides garden centres a great opportunity to inform customers on product benefits beyond just innovation and technology and promote those which offer water saving benefits as an essential part of a gardener’s tool kit. We are stocking key lines developed for responsible usage from Hozelock, as well as a vast range of other garden watering products:

Multi Spray Gun
The popular Hozelock Multi-Spray Gun features an all-new design for 2022, which not only increases comfort during use, but it makes it even easier to save water. By selecting the pressure with the thumb control, you can quickly choose the right amount of water for each task, helping to prevent overwatering.

Micro Reel
The compact design of the Micro Reel, which includes 10m of hose and fittings, makes it the ideal choice for those with patios, balconies, and small garden spaces. To ensure controlled watering, and therefore reducing any waste, you can water at any length by walking out the exact amount of hose required, or wind it off the reel for greater flexibility. 

Hozelock Sensor Controller
Water at sunrise or sunset – it is the best time to minimise water evaporation and leaf scorch, but it is not always convenient to do it yourself at these times of the day. Hozelock Sensor Controller takes care of this for you – it includes a daylight sensor that automatically adjusts your watering schedule to start at sunrise and sunset. No need to programme ever again, it will automatically change the start times to coincide with sunrise and sunset as the seasons change.

Nearly a third of consumers would like to see greener products.
Hozelock have generated some great garden consumer insight, a review of the survey in more detail... A study of 2,000 garden owners found more than a quarter haven’t made any changes to their garden in the past five years to make it sustainable, while in comparison nine in 10 have done for the inside of their home. Also, 31% would like to see greener products for gardening more widely available. A fifth admitted they have no idea how to make their outdoor space more eco-friendly.

Millions of people are making the interiors of their homes more environmentally friendly but are struggling to embrace green living in the garden. The study also found almost a quarter are not aware if they are harming their garden with the products they use, but many admit to still using weed killer (36%), insect repellent (22%) and peat compost (20%). One in 10 admitted to washing excess weed killer down the drain, while 16% have been known to light a bonfire in their garden. In the past five years, in order to be more sustainable, 31% have planted pollinating flowers and 26% installed a guttering or water butt to collect rainwater.

Almost two thirds of people questioned agreed there isn’t enough information and tips on how to compost and only 30% currently do this as a way of getting rid of garden waste. A further one in eight feel ‘guilty’ about the amount of garden waste they send to landfill.

Those surveyed via OnePoll feel a sustainable garden would typically feature water butts (55%), veg and fruit patches (53%) and composters (52%). When it comes to outdoor space, 62% admitted they prioritise how easy it is to maintain, while 42% care about how appealing it is for wildlife and 31% consider how environmentally friendly it is.

Changes garden owners would like to make which they are yet to include growing their own fruit and veg (29%), composting their own waste (23%) and planting more trees (21%). TV shows are where 29% get the most information from about how to live sustainably, followed by social media (24%) and magazines (18%). And it goes without saying that this provides an ideal opportunity for well-informed garden centre staff to facilitate the purchase of sustainable garden products.