Our gardening filter

Start with the outdoor job

We organise buying decisions around planting, pruning, moving water and keeping an outdoor space usable. A balcony is not a smaller version of every garden: its structural limits, access and drainage deserve their own checks.

Our preferred question is not “Which product has the most features?” It is “What solves this job without creating a storage, compatibility or maintenance problem?” That approach can lead to a smaller purchase, a different category or no purchase at all.

Keep the evidence visible

The current guides are editorial comparisons of categories, operating principles and specification checks. We do not describe them as hands-on product tests. Numbered suitability rows indicate a starting priority for a stated task, not a measured performance score.

We do not publish live stock, live prices or fixed promises about yield, durability or water savings. Product details change. Use the exact model number and current manufacturer documentation when making a purchase.

Brand names appear only to explain real equipment systems or sources. Mention is not endorsement, affiliation or a claim that every product in a range performs alike. There are no affiliate purchase links in these pages. Any future commercial relationship should be disclosed where it affects the content.

Use the right source

Manufacturer manuals are the primary source for capacities, connections, cleaning and installation limits. Independent horticultural guidance helps with technique and plant needs. Local authorities, utilities and qualified professionals are the appropriate sources for structural, water and electrical requirements.

• Royal Horticultural Society — gardening and plant-care guidance.
• Water Regs UK — water fittings and supply protection guidance in the UK.
• International Electrotechnical Commission — standards context, including IEC 60529.
• DarkSky International — responsible outdoor-lighting principles.
• Forest Stewardship Council and PEFC — forest-product certification scope.

These organisations are not sponsors of this site. References help readers identify suitable sources; they do not mean those organisations reviewed or approved our guides.

Correct what needs correcting

If a connection detail is unclear, a source has moved or wording suggests more certainty than the evidence supports, tell us. Include the page address, the relevant passage and a supporting source where available.

We can review editorial clarity. We cannot inspect your installation remotely, certify a structure or replace an electrician, plumber or structural professional.