Gardena
Gardena is a German gardening-equipment brand and a subsidiary of Husqvarna Group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Gardena is a German manufacturer of gardening equipment headquartered in Ulm. The brand is best known for integrated watering products, interchangeable gardening-tool systems, hand tools, lawn-care equipment, irrigation products and increasingly automated garden technologies. It operates as part of the Swedish Husqvarna Group and is positioned primarily toward home gardeners and residential outdoor-space users, although its products are also relevant to professional and semi-professional garden maintenance. The business began in 1961 as Kress + Kastner GmbH, founded by merchants Werner Kress and Eberhard Kastner. The Gardena brand name was introduced in 1966, when the company adopted the name Gardena Kress + Kastner GmbH. A defining development came in 1968 with the launch of the Original GARDENA System, a plug-in coupling system for hoses and watering accessories. Its interchangeable connectors created a common interface across a range of products and helped establish Gardena as a systems-oriented gardening brand rather than merely a maker of individual tools. The design also reduced the need to replace entire assemblies when a connection leaked, since the sealing rings could be replaced separately. Gardena expanded the same platform logic into tool handles. In 1976 it introduced the GARDENA combisystem, an interchangeable-handle system that allows different tool heads to be fitted to a common handle. Industrial designer Dieter Raffler was closely associated with the design of both the watering system and the combisystem and worked on Gardena products for approximately two decades. These modular systems became central to the brand's identity, supporting product compatibility, storage efficiency and repeat purchases of attachments and accessories. The company became publicly traded as Gardena Holding AG in 1996. After ownership changes and a delisting in 2003, it operated as Gardena AG. Gardena's United States subsidiary, Melnor Inc., was sold in 2004. In 2007, private-equity owner Industri Kapital sold Gardena to Husqvarna for €730 million, after which the company was converted back into a GmbH. Gardena's functions were progressively integrated into Husqvarna Group's global organization, while the Gardena division has been managed as a largely independent division since 2015. Within Husqvarna Group, Gardena remains focused on consumer gardening and is described as a European market leader. Its portfolio spans watering, irrigation, lawn and shrub care, soil cultivation, pruning, outdoor cleaning and garden automation. Manufacturing and operational activities have included sites in Germany and the Czech Republic, while sales in many countries are conducted through Husqvarna Group companies. The brand's principal competitive distinction is the breadth and compatibility of its system products: users can build a coordinated set of watering components or combine multiple tool heads with a shared handle platform. Gardena has also extended its offer into smart and automated garden maintenance, including connected irrigation and robotic lawn-care products, while retaining its traditional hand-tool and hose-system franchises.
History
Gardena's corporate history begins in 1961, when Werner Kress and Eberhard Kastner established Kress + Kastner GmbH in Germany. The company initially operated as a merchant-led business, but it developed into a branded gardening-equipment manufacturer during the following decade. In 1966, the Gardena name was created and incorporated into the company's name as Gardena Kress + Kastner GmbH. The first major turning point was the 1968 introduction of the Original GARDENA System. The system used a patented plug-in coupling for hoses and watering components, allowing accessories to be connected through a common interface. This approach helped Gardena build a coherent product ecosystem. The design also provided a practical maintenance benefit: in the event of leakage, the replaceable rubber O-rings could be changed without replacing the entire coupling assembly. The system became one of the principal foundations of Gardena's brand recognition in European gardening. Gardena extended the modular principle beyond watering. In 1976, it introduced the GARDENA combisystem, which uses interchangeable tool heads with a shared handle connection. Users could attach different implements for tasks such as cultivating soil, raking, sweeping or other garden work without purchasing a separate complete handle for every tool. Dieter Raffler, an industrial designer who later became professor emeritus of industrial design, designed the coupling concepts and remained responsible for Gardena product design for approximately 20 years. The Original GARDENA System and combisystem established a long-term product architecture based on compatibility and expansion. The company entered the public markets in 1996 as Gardena Holding AG. Ownership and corporate structure changed during the following decade. In 1997, Gardena was acquired from its founding families by Industri Kapital, now known as IK Partners, through the IK 2000 Fund. Gardena shares were delisted in 2003, and the company was renamed Gardena AG. In 2004, its United States subsidiary, Melnor Inc., was sold, and Martin Bertinchamp became chairman of the board. These changes formed part of a period of portfolio and management restructuring before the company joined a larger strategic group. In 2007, Industri Kapital sold Gardena to Swedish outdoor-products manufacturer Husqvarna for €730 million. Gardena was converted from an AG back into a GmbH and became a subsidiary within Husqvarna Group. The transaction placed Gardena within a broader international organization with established manufacturing, logistics and sales infrastructure. During the subsequent restructuring, Gardena's functional areas were increasingly integrated into Husqvarna's global organization. Since 2015, the Gardena division has been managed as a largely independent unit of Husqvarna Group. Gardena's operating footprint has included Gardena Manufacturing GmbH in Ulm, with three German manufacturing sites, Advanced Plastics s.r.o. in Vrbno pod Pradědem in the Czech Republic, and logistics and sales organizations associated with Husqvarna Group. Gardena Deutschland GmbH is responsible for German sales, while the brand is represented in numerous other countries through Husqvarna Group sales companies. Commercially, the brand has expanded from hose connectors and interchangeable hand tools into a broad garden-maintenance portfolio. Its products include watering and irrigation equipment, pumps, cutting and pruning tools, lawn-care equipment, soil-cultivation tools and garden automation. The brand has retained its emphasis on compatible platforms while adopting connected and automated technologies. As part of Husqvarna Group, Gardena is positioned as a major European gardening brand, with a particularly strong association with consumer garden watering and modular tool systems.
- 2015
Gardena becomes a largely independent division
[1]Within Husqvarna Group, Gardena begins operating as a largely independent division after wider organizational integration.
- 2007
Husqvarna Group acquires Gardena
[1]Husqvarna purchases Gardena from Industri Kapital for €730 million, bringing the brand into its international group.
- 2004
Melnor subsidiary is sold
[1]Gardena sells its United States subsidiary Melnor Inc.; Martin Bertinchamp is appointed chairman of the board.
- 2003
Gardena shares are delisted
[1]The company's shares are removed from the market and the company is renamed Gardena AG.
- 1997
Industri Kapital acquires Gardena
[1]The founding families sell Gardena to Industri Kapital through the IK 2000 Fund.
- 1996
Gardena Holding AG goes public
[1]Gardena completes an initial public offering as Gardena Holding AG.
- 1976
GARDENA combisystem is introduced
[1]The company adds an interchangeable handle-and-tool-head platform for gardening work.
- 1968
Original GARDENA System launches
[1]Gardena introduces its patented plug-in hose coupling system, establishing the foundation for a broad compatible watering ecosystem.
- 1966
The Gardena brand name is introduced
[1]The company adopts the Gardena name and becomes Gardena Kress + Kastner GmbH.
- 1961
Kress + Kastner GmbH is founded
[1]Werner Kress and Eberhard Kastner establish the German company that later develops the Gardena brand.
Products and positioning
A European, systems-oriented gardening brand focused on durable, compatible and user-friendly equipment for home and residential garden care. Gardena differentiates itself through modular product platforms, especially its hose-connection ecosystem and interchangeable combisystem tools, while extending into smart irrigation and garden automation.
Watering system · 1968
Original GARDENA System
Gardena's foundational hose and watering platform uses compatible plug-in couplings for connecting hoses, taps, watering devices and accessories. Introduced in 1968, the system made interoperability a central part of the brand proposition. Its replaceable sealing rings were designed to address leaks without requiring replacement of the complete coupling.
Interchangeable garden tools · 1976
GARDENA combisystem
The combisystem combines a common handle connection with a range of interchangeable tool heads. It is designed for tasks including soil cultivation, raking, sweeping and general garden maintenance. The platform reduces the need for a separate complete handle for each implement and has remained one of Gardena's signature modular product families.
Irrigation and watering
GARDENA irrigation and watering products
This portfolio covers hoses, connectors, sprinklers, watering devices, irrigation components, pumps and related garden water-management equipment. It extends the original connector-system concept into solutions for routine watering and more structured garden irrigation.
Garden hand tools
GARDENA hand and cutting tools
Gardena produces hand tools and cutting equipment for planting, soil work, pruning, hedge maintenance and other routine garden tasks. The range complements the combisystem with dedicated implements and supports the brand's focus on residential garden care.
Connected garden technology
GARDENA smart system
The smart portfolio extends Gardena's traditional garden-care products with connected control and automation. It is associated with digitally managed irrigation and other garden functions, reflecting the brand's move toward technology-enabled residential garden maintenance.
Garden automation
GARDENA robotic lawn-care products
Gardena's automated lawn-care offering applies robotic technology to residential grass maintenance. It broadens the brand beyond manual tools and watering equipment while fitting Husqvarna Group's wider competence in outdoor power and autonomous garden products.
Brand decisions
2015
Gardena is managed as a largely independent divisionStrategyBackground
Following the integration of Gardena's functions into Husqvarna Group's global organization, the group adjusted the division's operating model.
Action taken
Gardena began to be managed as a largely independent division within Husqvarna Group.
Aftermath
The model preserved Gardena's distinct consumer-gardening identity while retaining access to group infrastructure and international sales channels.
2007
Sale of Gardena to Husqvarna GroupM&ABackground
Industri Kapital sold Gardena as part of an ownership transition from private-equity control to a strategic outdoor-products group.
Action taken
Husqvarna acquired Gardena for €730 million and converted the company back into a GmbH.
Aftermath
Gardena became a Husqvarna Group subsidiary, with its functions progressively integrated into the group's international organization.
Acquisition price. €730 million (2007)
1976
Launch of the GARDENA combisystemProduct launchBackground
Gardena extended its modular product philosophy from watering equipment to general garden tools.
Action taken
It introduced interchangeable tool heads that could be fitted to a shared handle connection.
Aftermath
The combisystem became a major long-running product platform and reinforced Gardena's systems-based positioning.
1968
Launch of the Original GARDENA SystemProduct launchBackground
Gardena sought to create a common interface across hose and watering products rather than sell only isolated accessories.
Action taken
It introduced a patented plug-in coupling system with replaceable sealing rings.
Aftermath
The system became a defining platform for the brand and supported the expansion of a compatible watering ecosystem.
Recent events
- 2015
Gardena division managed as a largely independent Husqvarna unit[1]
Other
As part of Husqvarna Group's organizational structure, the Gardena division began operating as a largely independent division while remaining within the group.
- 2015
Gardena division is managed as a largely independent Husqvarna business[1]
Other
As part of Husqvarna Group's organizational structure, the Gardena division began operating with a high degree of independence while remaining within the group.
- 2007
Gardena is acquired by Husqvarna Group[1]
M&A
Industri Kapital sold Gardena to Husqvarna for €730 million. Gardena subsequently became a Husqvarna Group subsidiary and its corporate form was changed back to a GmbH.
- 2007
Husqvarna acquires Gardena from Industri Kapital[1]
M&A
Husqvarna acquired Gardena from Industri Kapital for €730 million. Gardena was converted from an AG into a GmbH and integrated into the Husqvarna Group.
- 2004
Gardena sells its US subsidiary Melnor[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Gardena sold its US subsidiary Melnor Inc. during a period of corporate restructuring and appointed Martin Bertinchamp as chairman of the board.
- 2003
Gardena shares are delisted and the company is renamed Gardena AG[1]
Other
The company's shares were delisted, and the corporate name changed from Gardena Holding AG to Gardena AG.
- 1996
Gardena becomes publicly traded as Gardena Holding AG[1]
Other
Gardena completed an initial public offering and operated as Gardena Holding AG.
Sources2 sources
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