A nation of gardeners? 3 in 4 can’t keep a plant alive!

WE’RE supposed to be a nation of lush lawns and flourishing flower beds – but that reputation seems to be wilting like a hosta in a heatwave.

It seems we’ve become so hopeless at gardening that three in four of us are more likely to kill a plant than care for it.

Busy lives and too much time spent indoors means millions have lost their green fingers – and even the ability to keep a houseplant alive. One in four hopeless hor- ticulturalists have failed to keep a plant or flower going for just two weeks, a survey of 2,000 British adults reveals.

More than three quarters – 78 per cent – have killed off a plant either by overwatering it (41 per cent) or forgetting to give it any nourishment (37 per cent).

Seven per cent have even managed to let a cactus die – while three per cent have killed off a plant within a day of bringing it home. A third of Britons do no gardening at all – 30 per cent of that number have no garden, 22 per cent say they don’t have the time and one in five admit they are simply clueless when it comes to cultivation.

More than one in four – 27 per cent – do not have a single plant in their home and 10 per cent have only one. Not wanting to get their fingers dirty was the reason given by 17 per cent. Yet many have ‘green’ inten- tions, with 33 per cent wanting to grow their own fruit and veg and half claiming they would do more in the garden but were restricted by time pressures.

The poll was commissioned by organic herbal tea brand Honest, which has linked up with the charity Groundwork to create community gardens in cities. Ben Coles of the charity said: ‘The opportunity to do some gardening can play an incredibly important role in busy urban communities.’