With the British summer well underway homeowners across the country are indulging in the time honoured tradition of descending on the garden centre in the hope of picking up some ideas on how best to improve their home's 'outside room'.

New research from Halifax Estate Agents shows that the humble garden gnome has lost its appeal and that the traditional English rose is a wiser purchase when trying to add buyer appeal to your home via the garden.

Which garden landscaping, ornament or plant is most likely to make a house  appeal to you? Pond/Water Feature 18% Decking 18% Roses 15% Fruit Trees 14% Green House 7% Rockery 7% Shed 6% Gnomes 1%

When asked what landscaping, ornaments or plants would most likely make a house appeal to them only 1% of respondents chose gnomes. The most popular answer was a water feature, with one in five (18%) selecting this as their preferred garden decoration. Decking closely followed this, also with 18% of the vote.

Roses came a close third, with 15% of those questioned choosing them as the most appealing garden decoration.

Colin Kemp, managing director of Halifax Estate Agents, comments: "Traditionally, bank holidays are a popular time for both people looking to buy properties, as well as those improving them to make their home more appealing."

"Before homeowners spend large amounts of money, it's important to consider what appeals most to prospective buyers. A well maintained garden with a few additional features can make a really strong first impression and help obtain that all important asking price."

As a nation we spend nearly £5 billion a year on our gardens that's nearly £200 per household.

Colin Kemp continues: "Dressing your garden to enhance buyer appeal can be relatively inexpensive if done in the right way. Simple additions like patio furniture or tubs of plants can have a dramatic effect and can even be taken with you when you move. You don't have to do a Ground Force style redesign to make a noticeable difference."

The results did reveal a battle of the sexes when it came to garden improvements. Men were almost twice as likely to be tempted by the appeal of a fruit tree, where as women were almost twice as likely to find decking a desirable feature who said men don't think with their stomachs!