“Vegetable Gardening Still Tops Most Consumer Gardening Lists”
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009The Garden Writers Association Foundation (GWAF) reports the continuing trend toward new vegetable gardens in America. The finding was unearthed in a spring report on trends conducted by the GWAF in February. According to the 2009 Late Spring Gardening Trends Report, 44 percent of American households with a yard or garden plan to add or expand a vegetable garden in their yard in the spring or summer of 2009. This marks an increase of 12 percent since 2008. In comparison, 42 percent reported plans to increase perennials (up 1 percent from 2008) and 34 percent planned to add more annuals (up 2 percent), The second largest growth category was herbs, with a reported planned increase by 19 percent of respondents (up 8 percent).
“It’s reassuring that we have new confirmation that home gardeners see herb and vegetable gardening as a practical solution to health, safety and economic issues,” says GWA Foundation President Steve Dobbs of Forth Smith, Arkansas. “We believe the latest trends report shows public interest in edible gardens goes well beyond current economic issues and points to a significant growth in sustainable living that will carry vegetable gardening to new heights for years to come.”
Other findings from this national consumer survey include:
Reasons to garden: 35 percent of Americans say that their primary reason for gardening is better mental health, nutrition or fitness.
Concerns about environmental impact: 70 percent of gardeners are either very (36 percent) or somewhat (34 percent) concerned about the environmental impact of the gardening-related products that they are purchasing. 16 percent say that they are neutral about the issue, while 12 percent are unconcerned.
Recycling: 51 percent of the gardeners surveyed say they always recycle plastic nursery pots/trays (48 percent in 2008); 49% said they always mulch or compost grass clippings (48 percent in 2008); and 44 percent said they always mulch or compost garden waste (41 percent in 2008).
Planned lawn activities: 53 percent of gardeners said weed control was the number one activity this year, while insect control (33 percent) and over-seeding with new seed (20 percent) capture second and third place, respectively.
This information comes from a press release issued by the GWA Foundation titled “Vegetable Gardening Still Tops Most Consumer Gardening Lists,” issued May 2009.
