Why gardening is here to stay in the "New Normal"

Added on 03 October 2022

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Why gardening is here to stay in the New Normal

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, shutdowns across the country forced Americans to spend most of their time at home. Whether their homes were houses, condominiums, or apartments, people found comfort in plants. Many picked up gardening as a hobby to escape their home office. According to the 2021 National Gardening Association survey, the industry gained 18 million new gardeners during the pandemic. Many of them are here to stay.

"Sometimes getting outdoors is a necessity for your mental health," says Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard, consumer horticulturalist for Louisiana State University. "Sometimes you can't take one more Zoom call."

Due to all the new gardeners, growers and retailers are changing their business operations. They are catering to the consumers' needs, including online shopping and plant care videos on YouTube.

Consumer Trends

Katie Dubow, President of Garden Media Group, shares several trends from the 2023 Garden Trends Report. The trend called "Accessible Gardening" is geared toward the boomer generation, Dubow says. Many growers and retailers are focusing on millennials, but they should also make gardening more accessible for the older generations, such as offering plants for raised beds and container gardens.