A new survey from PLANET, the national trade association of landscape industry professionals, shows that consumers are looking to increase spending on hardscapes (outdoor kitchens, patios, decks, water features, and walkways) and other specialized services (irrigation and lighting). Hardscaping comprises outdoor living spaces and paved, non-living components of a landscape.
While overall consumer spending is expected to remain steady in most categories, landscape maintenance (mowing, edging, leaf cleanup) will see a modest increase in spending: $700 on average in the coming year, among those who will purchase any landscape/care from a professional over the next year, vs. $600 in the past year for those who made purchases. Spending will increase to hire a professional for hardscapes and specialty services: $2,300 on average in the coming year among those who purchasing from professional over the next year vs. $1,680 in the past year.
Which of the following lawn and landscape services, if any, will you or other members of your household hire a professional to perform over the next year? Please select all that apply
Source: PLANET, n = 1,830Researchscape.com
Harris Interactive surveyed 1,830 U.S. adults, on behalf of PLANET. The online survey was fielded from January 11 to February 7, 2013. The survey results were weighted by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, household income and propensity to be online. Consumers were asked about their spending on professional lawn and landscape services from lawn care and landscape maintenance to tree care, water features, and outdoor lighting; 1,830 respondents have a lawn or landscape. Based on a Researchscape assessment of the questionnaire and methodology, this survey is moderately likely to be representative of U.S. consumers in general.
Who is spending the most on landscape services? Men outpace women when it comes to hiring professional landscape help over the past year (39% vs. 32%). Younger adults, ages 18 to 34, stand out as most likely to have hired professionals for the building of outdoor living spaces, patios, and walkways over the past year (9% vs. 3% of those age 35+). In general, 35% of those with a lawn/landscape have hired professionals to do lawn and landscape services over the past year.
What are the main reasons you or other members of your household hire a professional help for lawn/landscape services? Please select all that apply.
Source: PLANET, n = 672Researchscape.com
Why do consumers find value in hiring landscape services? The most often cited reasons for hiring a professional for lawn/landscape services are lacking the knowledge, skills or physical ability to do landscape work themselves, lacking the right equipment or lacking the time.
For more information on this study, refer to National Survey on Consumer Spending on Landscape Services.