Learn why home gardening has gain popularity in recent months, and why it isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon.
If you are like the majority of Americans, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to spending a lot of time at home over the past year. Between stay-at-home orders and the desire to limit exposure to people outside your own household, you have probably been inspired to make life at home a little more interesting by restarting old hobbies and taking up new ones. Home gardening is an activity that has taken off in recent months, and gardening statistics show that the trend isn’t likely to lose momentum any time soon. Have a look at the following information about gardening that proves this point.
While many businesses suffered losses due to the pandemic, the gardening industry experienced a healthy boost. U.S. Census Bureau statistics show that the building material and garden retail sector saw a sales revenue increase of 8.6% since the spring of 2020 as a result of the popular home and garden trend.
However, the pandemic isn’t the only reason for the American consumer’s renewed interest in home gardening. If you look at the way sales revenue has grown on a year-over-year basis, you can see that the trend started before COVID-19 appeared. The average sales revenue of home gardening industry products had year-over-year growth of 4.62% in 2018. Two years later, in 2020, that annual growth rate nearly double to 8.79%.
Gardening stats aren’t the only indicator of the renewed interest in the hobby. Passionate home gardeners have taken to social media, starting Facebook groups and Instagram pages to share their botanical ventures with fellow home gardening enthusiasts. The upward trend in industry growth statistics mirrors the increased activity on social media, with a particularly noticeable spike in the past two years.
Although consumer interest in growing houseplants as a hobby has taken off, the gardening bug isn’t limited to potted succulents and vining beauties. Home gardeners have embraced landscaping projects and outdoor gardening as well. Garden Digest’s gardening data reports that Americans spend around $6 billion a year on lawn care.
This love of gardening isn’t simply a way to relax and get away from the woes of the world; it is also a great way to improve your home’s curb appeal and increase property values. According to the same Garden Digest post, homes with mature trees and a well-manicured landscape have property values of up to 25% more than similar homes without those features.
Two studies about home gardening conducted by Clemson University economist, Mark Henry, Ph.D., reported similar results, although it focused solely on South Carolina homes. According to his gardening data, a well-maintained landscape in the state had a significant effect on the market value of a single-family home. He discovered that if a homeowner increased the quality of their home’s landscaping from “average” to “excellent,” the value of the home increased by 10%.
Home gardeners are growing vegetables, too. A survey about home gardening done by Scott’s Miracle-Gro revealed some interesting vegetable garden facts: 36% more American grew vegetable gardens in 2020 as compared to 2019. More gardening data: 65% of these folks said they decided to plant a vegetable garden because of the pandemic.
Americans have a history of turning to the land during difficult times. The National War Garden Commission encouraged citizens to garden in their yards and in public spaces to grow produce for themselves, their neighbors and the troops as far back as 1917. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, around 18 million families created victory gardens to boost our country’s stores of produce by nearly 40%!
Farmer Ross is our resident gardening expert at Harvest’s on-site farm. Harvest residents who have questions about home gardening find him to be a wonderful resource. Farmer Ross has a passion for teaching, demonstrating, and sharing gardening facts and tips. If the statistics on gardening you have read here have inspired you to get involved in the trend, Farmer Ross can help you get started. As a professional farmer with a master’s degree from Texas A&M, one of the county’s top agricultural schools, he has the training, knowledge and experience to answer your questions and help you get started in this hobby. Contact Harvest today or take a virtual tour and learn more about our modern agrarian lifestyle.