Digital natives long for a garden

Getting back to nature 

Digital natives, who have grown up and are familiar with digital technologies, no longer need to be told to put their electronics away and “get some fresh air!” More and more people in this age group are expressing a desire for a garden of their own, a little patch of green in the big city or access to a community garden. The idea of growing your own fruit and vegetables and reconnecting with nature has been increasing in popularity for several years now. 

This growing appetite for the outdoors is reflected in the ever-larger number of young families relocating to the countryside and urban fringes. Outside of the city centre, the dream of having a home and garden of your own becomes achievable.  The current Covid-19 restrictions have made this trend even more pronounced. Eighty-seven per cent of respondents said that the coronavirus pandemic has increased their desire to be outdoors as well as the importance they place on green spaces such as private gardens.  

 
Longing for a green retreat 

The pandemic has shaken up previous understandings of home, freedom and flexibility. Everything now revolves around our homes; they are offices, schools and places to pursue hobbies. And our homes are the safe havens where we can catch up with our friends and family in small groups – if restrictions allow it. Gardens are an extension of the living room as well as a place to play, be creative and recharge. 

Ninety-four per cent of respondents felt that owning or having access to a garden improved their quality of life. Despite this, many of these new home gardeners have limited knowledge or time with which to tend to their garden. Relaxation is a key factor for them: 86 per cent agreed that their garden is a place to recharge. As such, enjoying the view and getting some fresh air take precedence over garden maintenance. 

Young people in particular are very interested in smart gardening tools that allow them to properly care for their garden despite a lack of time and expertise. The study also demonstrated a high affinity for and openness to new technologies. Among people aged between 25 and 34, a majority – 61 per cent – agreed that using smart technology is helpful in the garden as well as in the home. Among 18-24 year olds, it is even more than two thirds of the respondents in this group (68 percent). 

Touchscreens for green thumbs 

For many people, a perfectly trimmed lawn is practically synonymous with a well-maintained garden. A manicured lawn is the centrepiece of the garden and acts as a green carpet for an open-air living room. It’s a dream that even inexperienced gardeners can achieve thanks to a single system that combines robotic mowing and smart irrigation control.  

The SILENO robotic mowers are built on over twenty years of expertise, making lawn care as straightforward and effortless as possible. Rain or shine, Gardena’s practical lawn assistants carry out their tasks precisely and unobtrusively no matter the weather. A smart irrigation solution ensures that the lawn and other plants in the garden are always provided with the right amount of water. All this is made possible through smart scheduling and access to current weather data. These helpful garden tools can be easily and securely controlled via the GARDENA smart app. That leaves plenty of time to relax and enjoy your garden.  

*About the study: the data used comes from an online survey carried out by YouGov Deutschland GmbH. 1,064 people with access to a garden participated in the survey between 3 and 9 February 2021. The questions concerned, among other things, the cultural importance of green spaces such as private gardens during the pandemic.  Participants were also asked about their attitude towards smart gardening and garden work in general.