Lure of the garden barbie revealed

Women say they do more gardening than men

Men think with their gut while women are far more in tune with nature, a gardening survey suggests.

It says women regard flowers and mown grass as the epitome of summer, while barbeque smells are the most evocative outdoor smell for men.

Garden products maker Qualcast surveyed 1,000 green-fingered men and women about their favourite fragrances from the garden.

Few want a gardening makeover

Gardening makeover TV shows such as the BBC's Groundforce may be hugely popular but the poll found most people reluctant to ditch their patch of green for decking, gravel of paving.

An overwhelming 95% said they were too attached to their grass patch to take a spade to it.

The survey also uncovered a battle between men and women as to who works hardest in the garden.

Toiling on the soil

Of those questioned, 65% of women as opposed to 49% of men claimed they toiled harder on the soil.

When it came to weekly working hours in the garden per week, however, men claimed an average of six, compared to five-and-a-half for women.

North-south divide

The north-south divide is a reality, at least when it comes to green-fingered activities.

The survey showed that the hardest-working women gardeners live in northwest England, followed by Scotland, northeast England and Wales.

Men from the north west also put in the most hours, with those in the southeast coming bottom with just three-and-a-half a week.