More Americans gardened and maintained their yard last year, according to National Gardening Association's survey 2005. The survey found that 83%, or 91 million U.S. households, participated in 1 or more types of do-it-yourself indoor or outdoor lawn and garden activities in 2005. According to American Nursery & Landscape Association, Americans spent $31.3 billion on professional landscape services in 2003 -- growing 13% in the last six years.
Meanwhile, according to Bruce Butterfield, Nat'l. Gardening Assoc.'s research director. Sales in trees and shrubs," declined from 2004 to 2005. Households purchasing flowering trees and shrubs fell from 12.3 million in 2004 to 9.1 million in 2005. Evergreen or leafy shrubs were sold to 6.4 million households in 2005, down from 9.8 million in 2004.
Is this an indication of smaller landscapes, frustrated homeowners, or natural disasters affecting the homeowner's desire to landscape forced to turn their focus to clean up and rebuilding?
March '06 home sales were up with building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers making the biggest strides last month with a 17.4% unadjusted year-over-year increase.
I just started a Gardening blog yesterday, and one of the comments I made was: "The 2004 hurricane season provided a not entirely welcome chance to start afresh."
ReplyDeleteWe have not replaced any of the trees or bushes that we lost, but we have purchased bromiliads, day lillies, seeds, herbs, pentas, lantanas, etc.
I do wish more retail nurseries carried a wider variety of native trees and shrubs. I'm having a tough time finding a Sweet Acacia tree (Acacia farnesiana).