LANDSCAPING
OUTDOOR INVESTMENT SET TO CONTINUE
Homeowners now – more than ever – view their gardens as a true extension of their house providing a boom time for anyone selling garden landscaping.
T
here was once a time when British gardens sat largely unused until the rare (but welcomed) sight of sun. However, 2020 and beyond saw unpreceded investment in outdoor areas as gardens became a haven of relaxation and despite our questionable weather.
Ronan O’Dowd, landscape designer at landscaping manufacturer AG, says that alfresco dining will continue to be a top trend for 2022. “People are now viewing their outdoor space as another room to eat, drink, play, and relax in. One way to do this is investing in an outdoor kitchen, something that has been gaining popularity. Nothing says ‘wow’ like an outdoor kitchen area,” he says.
Sustainable Living is another area that’s likely to have an influence. “When choosing products, customers look for goods that are aesthetically pleasing whilst simultaneously being functional. In recent years, the sustainability credentials of a product are also a major consideration factor for homeowners choosing which products to have in their home.” as a result, O’Dowd believes merchants can expect an increased demand for products that are sustainably created/sourced. “Living walls also look set to be one of 2022’s biggest trends,” he continues. “A great option if the homeowner is short of space, they are also much more natural-looking than a solid fence, maximising all available space in the garden. “Edible gardening has also grown in popularity - irrespective of whether the garden is an urban enclave or a country garden. Not only do they look great, but they can also be used in daily
22
living.” Brick and walling products can be used to complete the look, which is more good news for merchants.
Outdoor Rooms
Even before the pandemic began the Outdoor Room was popping up into gardens across the country but as people began to spend more time at home there was an increased desire for additional space that would provide an escape from the confines of being indoors. O-Dowd says that, with many workplaces having now adopted a permanent hybrid working style, merchants can certainly expect the demand for outdoor rooms to continue to have significant growth throughout 2022. “Whether the customer is hoping to create a home gym, office space, or home entertaining area, the versatility of the outdoor room means that these architectural buildings will last long after the Covid-19 crisis ends.”
With many people missing their summer holidays, O’Dowd expects a demand for gardens inspired by destinations. Whether it’s a tranquil zen haven or a bright Moroccan paradise, the possibilities are endless. He says: “For a taste of Italy, for example, AG’s Canterra flagstones and Long Stone paving bring the feel of a beautiful Italian square to the back garden. As people continue to invest in their outdoors, merchants can expect an increased interest in walling and flag ranges.”
AG’s walling products are dry build and can be used to build raised flower beds and firepits. As a bonus, O’Dowd says they are also the perfect
solution for builders in newbuild developments – providing a neat, efficient solution, enabling housebuilders to obtain maximum space between houses.
“Hardscape elements will be popular this spring/summer as homeowners look to improve their kerb appeal. Introducing curves and circles as well as different laying patterns and a range of colours and heights will add depth, interest, and colour to your client’s garden, softening boundaries and creating the illusion of space. They can be used to give a new look to a border with tidy edging such as our bullnose kerb setts. AG’s new Fiamma Flagstones comes with its Enduur 2 advanced concrete technology, which delivers factory applied surface protection technology to the flagstones making them stay newer for longer.
AG is also introducing HomePave Smooth, with a modern sleek finish available in a 3 size mix or a new single size block
O’Dows says that Covid-19 brought a new appreciation for our outdoor space as people sought solace in getting outside and once again enjoying their gardens.
“Covid has certainly affected supply of products, with many merchants facing long lead times,” he says. “However, AG and many other manufacturers are working hard to keep up with this unprecedented demand by introducing new strategies into the business. AG has introduced new additional shifts across their main manufacturing sites to increase production levels as well as worked hard to continuously improve efficiencies, reducing customer lead times.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
