The National Gardening Association recently released their 2013 National Gardening Survey. Household participation in gardening rose 2% since 2011— now totaling approximately 85 million households.

Popularity in food/edible gardening continued to rise for the sixth straight year in a row, soaring past flower gardening in terms of dollars spent. The increase in male gardeners from the 18- to 34-year old accounted for the largest spending boost.

U.S. households continue to spend more at Home Improvement Centers (27% of the total gardening retail market) and at Mass Merchants (20%) than they do at local Garden Centers and Nurseries (17%) or local Hardware Stores (15%).

This is the second year in a row that lawn and garden sales rose, after being down the previous two years. The average annual spending per household was down $4 to $347. Time and lifestyle, not the weather, seem to be more important factors determining how people spend their dollars.

Total sales of green goods are still languishing. In the battle for consumer entertainment time and dollars, the lawn and garden industry is competing against movies-on-demand, video games, watching sports, and electronics.

Source: National Gardening Association