The average gardener

Dovefromabove

I often see reference on here to 'the average gardener' and I'm not sure I know what one of those is - are you one?

If not, what do you think one is like?

Can we come up with a Identity Kit for an Average Gardener?

Sue H

Average - sounds like someone who mows grass every Sunday, pulls weeds, not much imagination! !

All power to the above average gardener

quercus_rubur

I agree Dove,  we need to define what average is. Here's my definition of an average gardener:

Can identify plants that are in your garden

Know that aspect, soil type and watering regime are important

Know the definition of a weed

Know which bugs are good and which aren't so good

Know the difference between organic and inorganic fertilisers

Any other suggestions?

 

quercus_rubur

Sue H, that's not even a gardener 

Sue H

That is not entirely true. In theory anyone who does anything in a garden is a gardener. Someone who is not a gardener never does anything in a garden.

Busy-Lizzie

An average includes those at each end of the scale, so it could be anything from the Sunday lawn mower to someone like Chris Beardshaw or Carol Klein!

Sue H

I suppose an average gardener has a basic knowledge of somethings. Not sure they would enter the organic/non organic idea. Would gain plant food and pesticide knowledge from the back of the packet. Most people who contribute to this forum do not fall into this category.

discodave

My definition of an average gardener would be someone who knows some basic information about some plants and gardening but isn't advnced or an expert. Since you may be be an advanced or expert gardener in a partucular area or certain cultivars, you may still be the average gardener when it comes to a new plant or project. I wouldn't agree that an average gardener has no imagination or just pulls weeds, they may be a budding expert with little or no time to do what they are secretly aching to do.

Matty2

I think an average gardener is not as knowleable as Quercus suggests -

I don't think they would necessarily know what the soil is and maybe not the aspect.

I think they would know their plants, buy for fashion,would therefore know about flowers for bees, and maybe have a go ay some bveggies.

but then some people would say they are any gardener in this Forum

Dovefromabove

There's average ability, average size, average experience, average taste, average resources, average conditions, average bank balance  ......