National Gardening Survey 2026 Edition
Format: PDF (306 pages) + Excel Workbook
For over 50 years, the National Gardening Survey has been the definitive annual report trusted by leaders in the lawn and garden industry, investors, retailers, manufacturers, and researchers. Now in its 2026 edition, the Survey offers the most comprehensive and current view of U.S. household lawn and garden participation, spending, and market trends.
Conducted annually since 1973, the Survey helps decision-makers track long-term shifts, compare year-over-year participation, and uncover actionable consumer insights to support strategic planning and investment.
The 2026 edition documents the most consequential year for the gardening market since the pandemic: about 4.5 million households left gardening in 2025, even as total spending reached an all-time high of $79.0 billion (+13.5% over 2024) and per-household spending climbed to a record $740 (+18.3%). The Survey unpacks every dimension of that paradox: by activity, by retail channel, by demographic, and now, for the first time, in real inflation-adjusted terms.
What's Included
- Full 306-page report (PDF) with an interactive table of contents
- Excel data workbooks with all tables, banners, and significance testing
- Searchable text for fast access to key terms and categories
Key Topics Covered
- Real vs. nominal spending - the new Spending in Real Terms section measures every major activity against BLS CPI/PPI inflation thresholds
- Impact of inflation and economic uncertainty on gardening participation and household decisions
- Projected participation and spending intentions for 2026
- Activity-specific trends across:
- Lawn care, landscaping, flower and bulb gardening
- Edible gardening (vegetables, herbs, fruits, berries)
- Houseplants and container gardening
- Native and wildlife-friendly plantings
- Water gardening, tree/shrub care, insect control
- Product purchasing patterns:
- Organic products
- Native plants
- Cut flowers and floral arrangements
- Attitudes and motivations among both participants and non-participants
- Retail channel shifts - home centers, online delivery, mass merchandisers, garden centers
- Demographic breakdowns by age, income, region, housing, ethnicity, household structure, and more
New in the 2026 Edition
- All-new Spending in Real Terms section - classifies every major activity's spending change as real growth, inflation-absorbed, or real decline, using cumulative CPI/PPI thresholds (+25.9% overall, up to +50.2% for gardening services) sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Expanded inflation appendix with full methodology and source citations
- The Great Middle-Income Exit - first-ever segment-level analysis of the post-pandemic contraction by income band
- The renter inversion - new cross-tabs showing renters out-purchasing homeowners in vegetable and herb seed
- Refreshed visual layout, color system, and figure design
Once purchased, you'll receive immediate access to a ZIP file containing the full PDF report and the complete Excel workbook.
[View Table of Contents (PDF)]
Looking for prior years? [View the 2025 National Gardening Survey]