CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 01/27/97

Americans Spending Billions on Landscapes

Southerners love their landscapes. In fact, in a recent Gallup survey, Southerners led the nation in what they spent to improve their yards.

"Americans spent $14.2 billion to beautify their landscapes in 1995," said Gary Wade, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia Extension Service. "That's an average of $710 per household. The figure is up 5 percent from 1994."

The Gallup survey was based on interviews with 1,500 households across the nation.

More than 20 million households hired landscape, lawn-care and/or tree-care services in 1995. About 3 million more expected to join that number in 1996.

"The average amount spent per household rose for the third year in a row," Wade said. "Industry experts believe the market for these services is solid. It will continue to grow."

Homeowners aged 30 to 49 accounted for more than half of the spending on yard improvement. Married couples with children paid out two-thirds of the total spent to install landscapes. Homeowners over 50 spent nearly half of all money spent to keep up lawns and landscapes.

Americans spent $4,173 per household on landscape services.

"That's an increase of 40 percent," Wade said.

Tree-care spending also rose by 19 percent. That averages $400 per household.

"Homeowners are focusing more on outdoor living spaces as a target of home improvement," Wade said. "They consider their landscape an improvement investment for home equity."

People have less time to spend working on their lawns, landscapes and trees, he said. More and more families have two incomes. These people will be more likely to hire someone to take care of their landscapes.

A growing number of people don't want lawns that are just beautiful, Wade said. They want great landscapes that are at peace with the world around them.

"It is not surprising that homeowners said they want their lawns and landscapes to be well-designed," he said. "But they also have a high level of environmental sensitivity."

To learn more about taking care of your landscape and trees, contact the county extension office. It's in the phone book under "county government."

Experts/Sources:
Gary L. Wade
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
In developing markets where making staple foods is a daily task and warmer climates where food spoilage is common, foods that have more longevity and are easily preserved can enhance economic opportunities by reducing food preparation tasks and lower environmental impact. CAES News
CAES researchers look to reduce food waste by extending shelf life 12/16/24 Lillian Sosbee
“Use by,” “Sell by” and “Best by” dates on food packaging can be helpful indicators of how long a consumer can store a food item before eating, but often these dates lead to high quantities of wasted food. About one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is discarded before it can be eaten, equating to 1 billion meals a day and contributing to global food insecurity.
Recognizing the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates CAES News
UGA celebrates 15 years of Bulldog 100 12/13/24 Rachael Andrews
The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2025 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates. The program, organized by the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, celebrates 15 years of honoring alumni and their entrepreneurial endeavors. Among this year’s class, businesses are headquartered in a total of eight states, with 87 of the businesses located in Georgia. In total, 142 alumni representing over two dozen industries are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.