Survey shows 43% of people plan to spend more on their gardens

GARDEN centres will enjoy a welcome boost during the recession as 43% of people plan to spend more money on their gardens, a Bord Bia survey shows.

Nursery growers and landscape contractors will also benefit as people plan to spend more on plants and flowers. IPSOS Mori’s research for Bord Bia found the total value of the Irish amenity market came to €717 million. This includes outdoor trees and plants, indoor and potted herbs, garden products and landscaping products and services.

Outdoor and flowering plants account for 31% of all purchasing occasions. Larger ticket items, such as hard landscaping products, account for almost half of the market value.

Only 35% of respondents said the downturn had not had any effect on their buying habits.

Bord Bia’s Carol Marks said: “The research has shown that the garden is viewed as an extension to the home, with people seeing it predominantly as a place to relax but also a place for entertaining, eating and for children to play.

“As a result of the economic downturn people are spending more time at home and many are now engaging more with the horticultural industry.”

Bord Bia is also to launch a campaign, It’s Garden Time, to encourage people to make the most of their gardens this spring.

Bord Bia’s annual gardening and lifestyle show, Bloom, returns to Dublin’s Phoenix Park on June 2-6.

Details on www. bloominthepark.com