A study of 2,000 adults revealed that nearly half (47%) of those aged between 18 and 27 have developed a passion for gardening over the past year. Of these green-fingered youngsters, over two thirds (69%) attribute their blossoming interest to social media platforms such as Instagram (47%), TikTok (37%) and Facebook (22%).
With hashtags like #allotmentuk and #growyourownfood gaining popularity, 34% of all adults have discovered unusual tips to help their plants flourish. These include using old teabags (35%) and egg shells (32%), while one in 10 even use their body hair as a natural plant fertiliser. Surprisingly, 11% have even used hair from their private parts to aid the growth of their fruit and veg. However, 80% were unaware that body hair is nutrient-rich and can be used as a natural plant fertiliser.
Fiona Atkins, a male grooming expert for Philips OneBlade, which has teamed up with gardening and topiary experts to launch the ‘Hairy Harvest’ – a pop-up where people can get a quick shave and take their trimmings home to help their own plants grow, said: “It’s no secret that the cost of food shopping keeps rising. More and more people are looking at how they can start growing their own produce at home particularly the younger generations.”
“So, we wanted to highlight the little-known fact that body hair is the perfect nutrient-rich DIY fertiliser to help Brits in their gardening endeavours. As the nation trim, edge and shave their hair, we want to empower them to stop letting their discarded hairs go down the drain and put them to good use so they can start their very own hairy harvest in their back garden.”
(Image: PinPep)
The research also unveiled reasons why Gen-Z’s are getting their hands dirty, with saving money (22%), combating the cost of living crisis (39%) and boosting their mental health (39%) among the top motivations. While 43% simply craved more outdoor time, with 35% keen to cultivate their own produce.
The survey also disclosed that 21% of men have taken up gardening in the past year, compared to a mere 17% of women. With three in 10 blokes preferring to spend time outside on their veggie patch as much as watching Match of the Day (33%) or gaming (27%).
Of all those surveyed, 57 per cent have a strong interest in pruning their shrubbery, with 21% inspired by TV shows they’ve watched. With a whopping 63% of garden growers serving up dishes made up partly or entirely of produce from their own backyard. It also discovered that over half (51%) of all adults agreed there’s nothing quite like the fresh taste of homegrown food.
The study, conducted for the grooming tool via OnePoll.com, revealed that 39% of people believe gardening is more fashionable now than it was two years ago.
King of the jungle and Philips OneBlade ambassador, Sam Thompson, who made an appearance at the event held in London Fields between the 24th and 25th May, quipped: “If I’d known all along how valuable my hair was to help plants grow, I would have saved my shavings more often.”
“Zara gets so fed up with my beard and body hairs all over the bathroom so maybe now I can collect it and throw it on the flowerbeds.”
Here are some unusual gardening hacks Brits have tried to enhance their gardens:
- Throwing used teabags onto the soil.
- Using egg shells as fertiliser.
- Using banana peels as fertiliser.
- Sprinkling cayenne pepper to ward off pests.
- Using used coffee grounds as a fertiliser.
- Growing new fruit/vegetables from leftovers vegetable roots/seeds.
- Using potato water to water plants.
- Singing to my plants.
- Sprinkling cinnamon on the ground to deter cats.
- Talking to my plants.
- Using baking soda to make the soil more alkaline.
- Destroying fungus with cinnamon.
- Using white vinegar as a plant feed.
- Using coconut powder as a fertiliser.
- Making beer traps for slugs.
- Using fish from the fireplace as fertiliser.
- ‘Plant’ plastic forks to keep animals away.
- Using bones as a fertiliser.
- Using pubic hair as fertiliser.
- Using hair as a fertiliser.