Bush poses: a set of "May cottager" this year will cost 13.4 thousand rubles.
The index of the "May cottager", which includes inventory, seeds, seedlings and a garden wheelbarrow, reached 13.4 thousand rubles this year, calculated by Izvestia based on data from the OFD Platform. In 2025, it was 12 thousand, in 2024 - 10 thousand. Seeds and shovels have risen in price the most significantly now. In addition to the "starter kit", summer residents will have to spend more than 3 thousand rubles on garbage bags — their price has increased by about a third over the year. Gardeners are particularly active in buying greenhouses this year — demand for them has increased by 250%. About how to properly prepare for the summer cottage season - in the material of Izvestia.
How the "cottager's kit" has changed
Russians have begun to actively prepare for gardening, purchasing the necessary equipment, greenhouses and weed control products, according to data from the analytical center "Check Index" of the company "Platform OFD". The average cost of the minimum set was 13.4 thousand rubles. If we add garbage bags to this list, then the total expenditure will reach 16.6 thousand rubles.
"Seeds cost an average of 524 rubles this year, which is a 27% increase in the average receipt," the analysts noted. — At the same time, the number of purchases decreased by 10%. Shovels have also become more expensive. The average purchase receipt is slightly more than 1 thousand rubles, which is 11% higher than a year ago. The number of their purchases also decreased by 15%."
The receipt for seedlings also increased by 3%. Wheelbarrows and carts, rakes and garden goods have fallen in price by 1-9%. So, on average, a wheelbarrow is bought for 6.5 thousand rubles, a rake is slightly more expensive than 2 thousand.
From April 1 to April 26, when compared with the same period in 2025, garbage bags rose the most (by 28%) - the average receipt for them amounted to almost 3.2 thousand rubles.
"Against the background of last year's high base and bad weather, there was a decrease in sales of gardening products in April," the experts said. — In addition, buyers of garden products are increasingly going online — the average receipt is higher there, as people purchase several items at once for one order."
The cool weather did not interfere with the Russians' preparations for the summer gardening season, the Wildberries & Russ press service noted. In March-April, the turnover of gardening products increased by 23%, tools — by 28%, furniture — by 27%. The growth dynamics — by 74% — was also shown by the category "Garden equipment".
According to Ozon, interest in garden products has increased in the first two months of spring. For example, garden wheelbarrows and carts were popular (demand tripled year-on-year), as well as tools such as shovels, rakes, lawn mowers and gasoline trimmers, hoes and hoes, as well as battery—powered knot cutters. Interest in them has increased by 1.7–4 times.
Sales of greenhouses increased the fastest in the "Everything for the garden" category — by 250%, purchases of weed control products doubled, Wildberries & Russ reported. Seeds (28%), fertilizers (22%) and seedlings (an increase of 7%) remain the leaders in turnover.
"Among garden equipment and tools, trimmers (+220%), chainsaws (+140%), high-pressure washers (+9%), sprayers (+25%) are in the lead. And only chain saws, having retained their positions in the top, showed negative dynamics: a reduction of almost a third was recorded," the marketplace noted.
Classic gardening tools were also in demand: the turnover of rakes increased by 8%, garden shovels — by 34%.
In the subcategory "Seeds and seedlings", the seeds of cucumbers "Courage", flowers of aubrieta and dolichosa, tomatoes for outdoor use, chamomile "Giant", and sweet peas have become the most popular this season. Among the seedlings, hydrangea "Samara Lydia", strawberries, roses, hostas and iris "Dobrynya" are most often bought.
The rapid growth in sales on Ozon was shown by seedlings, seedlings and roots for planting — an increase of almost 14 times, seeds, tubers and bulbs.
"An important trend is that small towns have become a key driver of growth: every second order of seeds, seedlings, seedlings, tubers and roots for planting fell on small towns and villages with a population of up to 50,000 people," the marketplace's press service added.
How to prepare a vegetable garden
May is the period when the main seasonal work begins in the country, the expert of the online hypermarket "All Tools.<url>" by Alexander Chikhrinov.
— By this time, the moisture from the soil on the site has evaporated sufficiently and it is possible to move on to more practical tasks, — the expert noted. — First of all, it is necessary to put the territory in order: remove plant debris, debris, broken branches, inspect the paths for blurred coatings, subsidence and accumulation of water.
It is also important to check the utility areas for debris, dampness and damage and assess the condition of the greenhouse: whether there is contamination, deformations and loose fasteners, emphasized Alexandra Chikhrinova.
— After that, you can prepare the beds and other areas for planting, — she said. — But here it is important to focus on the condition of the soil. If the earth is already crumbling normally and does not stick to tools and shoes, then you can start work. If the site is still waterlogged, it is better to wait for drying, so as not to compact the soil and worsen its condition.
According to her, it's worth starting with a tool revision: inspect pruners, shovels, choppers, saws, clean them of dirt and, if necessary, sharpen the cutting parts. This is basic training, which helps not to be distracted by minor repairs at the height of the season.
— The next step is to check the greenhouse, greenhouse and irrigation system, — the expert emphasized. — It is important to make sure that there are no deformations, blockages, damage to the frame, joints and hoses. If there is a supply of consumables on the site, it is also better to review it in advance: gloves, garters, covering material, garbage bags and other small things are more convenient to prepare before the start of active work.
Yulia Gogoleva, sales consultant at the Garden department of the Leman PRO store, noted that the foundation for the future harvest is being laid in spring. Mistakes made during this period are difficult to correct by fertilizing and watering in the summer.
"Rake up last year's tops and leaves when the ground is dry,— she said. — Burn everything that hurt. The compost pile does not kill these diseases, they will return with humus. Healthy tops can be added to the compost or left as a coarse mulch.
Mulch made from straw or sawdust that has not overfilled over the winter should be removed. Under it, the ground warms up slowly in spring.
— Dig up the clay and heavy loam on the bayonet of a shovel, — Yulia Glagoleva advised. — Without this, the roots do not grow well in a dense mass. Light soil, chernozem, and sandy loam do not need to be dug up — it is enough to go through a flat-cutter to a depth of 10-15 cm. Excessive digging spoils the structure and kills earthworms.
Beds should be prepared one to two weeks before sowing, so that the ground settles. Freshly dug when watering floats away, the seeds go deeper.
— After digging, go through with a flat cutter or rake, break up the lumps, — the expert advised. — Select the roots of wheatgrass and snot by hand: they will grow quickly even from scraps. For early crops, cover the ridge with black spunbond or film 7-10 days before sowing. The earth will warm up 5-7 degrees faster.
The seedling holes must be made the day before planting. Add a handful of humus and a spoonful of ash to each one, mix and pour.
Blogger Yulia Malygina told Izvestia that at the beginning of the gardening season, you should get barrels for watering — water, especially for newly planted seedlings, "should be heated by the sun."
— We plant carrots as soon as the birch tree turns into color, that is, the earring has already lengthened and begun to open, and we plant onions when the birch leaf has blossomed by a penny, — she advised. — Carrots and onions are never planted in the same place where they already grew, we swap places. Gardening is a process, the results are unpredictable, and it's always a shame when a lot of effort is spent, but little is gained. But it's worth changing the point of view: the process is the result.
How to prepare a house
Country houses also require mandatory inspection and basic maintenance after winter, said Andrey Petrov, a leading design engineer at Rockvool.
— This year, Russians will not have much rest in May — only twice for three days, — he said. — When time is short, it is better to focus on the basic check of the condition of the house after the winter. First of all, this includes airing rooms, examining walls, corners and ceilings for leaks and traces of mold, as well as checking the roof, drains and window frames.
There will be a break between weekends this year, so it is better to divide the work at the cottage into two stages. The first weekend in May should be devoted to house inspection, ventilation and a soft start of heating. And the second output block can be used for local work: mold treatment, sealing cracks and minor repairs, said Andrey Petrov.
Fireplaces and stoves require special attention when preparing a country house for the season. After winter, it is necessary to check the condition of the chimney, make sure that there are no breakdowns, and clean it if soot or small debris has accumulated there. In addition, it is important to assess the condition of all structures and elements next to the fireplace. During downtime, they may lose their tightness, and the protective layers may be partially damaged or deformed.
"In the furnace and chimney area, the temperature during operation of the equipment reaches high values, so before starting it is important to make sure that the adjacent structures are protected and in good condition," the expert emphasized. — If the thermal insulation is damaged or has lost its properties, it must be restored before operation begins.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, one of the most common causes of fire in the residential sector is a violation of the rules of operation of heating devices. That is why it is important to first check the fireplaces and stoves in the country at the beginning of the new season and make sure that their use is safe.
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