If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you probably don’t know just how lucky you are. Mostly because you spend every weekend tending it – watering plants, planting seeds, pulling weeds, pruning and picking up fag butts strewn across the lawn at your barbecue last Saturday. And while we’re no Alan Titchmarsh (and have the good sense not to advise you on how to take your plot from poor to prize-winning), we do know the stuff you need to make it look good.
Drumbecue Charcoal BBQ Drum Smoker
Men are often measured on their barbecue skills. So what better way to prove your grilling might than by roasting an animal whole on a steel drum? With the Drumbecue, you can. Made from a 45-gallon steel barrel, this barbecue isn’t messing around – boasting what feels like an acre of cooking space and a built-in thermostat. Grilling doesn’t get better than this. Available at Drumbecue, priced £419.99.
Trueshopping Petrol Multi-function 5-in-1 Garden Tool
A pocket knife for your garden, this multi-function tool is a strimmer, hedge-trimmer and pruning saw all in one. Which means you won’t have to shell out a shedload for tools to keep your shrubbery in check. Available at True Shopping, priced £149.99.
Fatboy Lamzac Hangout
British summers yield about three days of proper, uninterrupted sunshine, if that. So as much as we’re partial to a few hours lolling on a hammock or day bed, it wouldn’t make much sense to sink cash into something you spend most of your time staring at through a rain-pelted windowpane. Instead, try this inflatable sofa from Fatboy, the bean bag OG. Simply drag through the air to inflate, seal and veg. Ahhh. Available at Houseology, priced £74.50.
Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower
No, it’s not a robot that floats around ghost-like at night, cutting your grass while you catch zeds. And yes, you will have to give it more muscle than your average petrol-fuelled machine. But not only will a push lawnmower save you money and the environment, it’ll also help you get gains from your gardening. Fiskars’ Momentum model is ergonomically designed, boasts twice the cutting power of an average push mower and features height adjustability and a padded grip for comfort. So now there’s no excuse for letting your lawn go. Available at Amazon, priced £175.27.
Rowlinson Oxford Shiplap Apex Shed With Lean-to
Forget the foot-long beards. Forget the red flannel shirts. This shed is all you need to reacquaint yourself with a long-lost authentic masculinity. Made from FSC certified softwood, its 4×3-feet size will fit all your essential garden kit, while the lean-to can be positioned on either side. Time to up your wood-chopping game. Available at Garden Street, priced £249.95.
BLK Pine Workshop Canvas Planter Set
Not just good for shackets and tote bags, cotton canvas makes for lightweight, hardwearing plant pots too. This set – handmade in America from 18oz duck canvas (an even tougher variant of plain canvas) – leverages canvas’ natural breathability for better drainage and aeration. What’s more, growing plants in them as opposed to the ground minimises the need for weeding. Good news for the not so green-fingered. Available at Couverture & The Garbstore, priced £95.
Farmer’s Cottage Summer House Sphere
Okay, you don’t really need this one. And, sure, at £16k+, your bank account would ironically look a lot healthier if you just got the builders in to do an extension instead. But how cool is this? Haven’t you always wanted a beautifully designed conservatory-cum-Zorb in your back garden? We have. Somewhere between a garden dining table and a greenhouse, the Summer House Sphere offers comfortable seating, a circular table and some storage too. Perfect for dining al fresco – even if it’s freezing. Available at John Lewis, priced £16,595.
