When winter finally recedes and the weather turns beautiful again, many people want nothing more than to spend as much time as they possibly can outside, especially if they have been cooped up indoors for a number of months during the winter season. For many people, this involves gardening. Gardening has long been a popular pastime here in the United States, and it’s a great way to spend the spring and the summer months – and even some of the fall months as well.
In fact, more than 116 million people here in the United States alone participated in gardening to some extent over the course of the last year, according to data that was gathered back in the year of 2017. Much of the gardening population is even considerably younger than many would realize, with very nearly 30% of all gardeners here in the United States falling between the ages of 18 and 34. However, elderly people still make up as much as 35% of the total gardening population of this country, which is certainly still quite significant, to say the least – in fact, many older gardeners have even shown interest in teaching their children and grandchildren the art of gardening, something that is certainly a contributing factor to interest in gardening among the younger population of the United States.
And thanks to this rising interest in the pursuit of gardening, the industry for it is very much thriving all throughout the country. In fact, the average household, back in the year of 2017, was spending, on average, just over $500 on various gardening expenses over the course of a single year. In total, the population of the United States spent very nearly $50 billion on such supplies related to home and lawn, with the entire industry and market for home and garden in the United States worth more than $272 billion in that very same year.
But you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to garden, and many people do it for much less money than the average household. Such is often the case for those living in smaller spaces that do not necessarily have the room for full fledged gardens. Herb gardens, for instance, have grown quite popular in recent years, as they can be set up in any home wherever there is access to ample lighting. These herb gardens can be a great alternative for gardeners when traditional methods of gardening in traditional outdoor spaces are simply not popular (such as is often the case for apartment dwellers in city environments).
Even just having a houseplant – or many houseplants, as the case may be – can provide an outlet for a green thumb. After all, more than a quarter of all homes (around 30%, to be a little bit more precise) have at least one houseplant, with many having many more. Houseplants are great because they are relatively easy to care for and can thrive in many different environments, making them a good option for someone who is just getting started gardening and does not yet have a great deal of experience in it – or really any at all, as the case may be.
For many people, however, gardening is a great way to improve their overall landscaping, something that can actually increase their home’s resale value by as much as a truly impressive 14%. In fact, up to 90% of all real estate agents currently working here in the United States have stated that it is advisable and highly recommended to improve the overall landscaping of a home before placing a home up on the market for sale. Simply adding in some flowers and trees can have a wonderful effect on the overall curb appeal of just about any given home here in the United States.
Of course, gardens can be functional as well, and many people choose to grow vegetables and even fruits over the course of the year. At the end of the day, cultivating plants like this can even end up saving money – and reducing overall environmental footprint through the consumption of sustainable and home grown produce from one’s own backyard.
