The little green lies that we tell about our gardens

MILLIONS of gardeners are guilty of telling ‘little green lies’ over their exploits, research reveals.

One in six bought plants or vegetables from a shop but then claimed they grew them from seed.

Others have hired a professional gardener and then passed off the work as their own, while many simply give false horticultural tips rather than admit they do not know what they are talking about.

The growing popularity of TV shows such as the BBC’s Gardeners’ World and continuing appeal of events such as the Chelsea

Flower Show inspires many families to get outdoors and there is no shortage of advice on offer from celebrity growers such as Monty Don to Alan Titchmarsh.

However, many still admit they are ignorant on everything from crocuses and tulips to carrots and tomatoes.

Not that it stops them from giving others the ‘benefit’ of their experience, with 10 per cent offering false gardening tips to friends and neighbours.

The survey of 2,000 adults found that 17 per cent buy plants or vegetables in a store and then cheekily claim they grew them from seed, while 7 per cent have hired a gardener and then passed off the work as their own.

Men are more likely than women to try

to bluff their way through a conversation about cultivation even when all they do is mow the lawn.

The survey, by plant and garden brand Scotts Miracle-Gro, found 86 per cent of Britons have a garden or access to a shared one but 26 per cent use it only for sunbathing, barbecues or parties.

Almost a third of adults ( 1 per cent) have never done any gardening at all and among those who do, a third are embarrassed by the results.

Though Britain may have a tradition of carefully manicured lawns and immaculate flower beds, 61 per cent of Britons say they find gardening too complicated and try to avoid it.