ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Interest in gardening boomed during the pandemic, especially among millennials. According to the National Gardening Association's 2023 National Gardening Survey, spending on lawn and gardening rose to an average of $616 per household in 2022.
So is that trend continuing post-pandemic?
Quad City Lawn and Landscape owner David McKinney said last year was probably the best year in his 29 years of business, and this year is showing no signs of slowing down.
"I'm already booking up this year to where I'm actually concerned that I'm not going to have room to add the lawn and garden show leads into it," McKinney said.
McKinney attributes the increase in business to people investing in their properties during lockdown. But what's unique is the clientele base that has emerged.
"It used to be more of our money market was with our older people," McKinney said. "Not so now. Our younger people are really starting to come through and spend the same kind of money."
Jennifer Moa, secretary of the Rock Island Horticulture Club, says interest in the club has grown these past few years.
"We've had a lot of younger people come through and ask about different plants and how to grow them indoor or outdoor," Moa said. "People are just generally more interested in it right now."
The interest in flowers and gardening is showing no signs of wilting.
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