Consumers favor garden centers for spring garden purchases

A record number of consumer households plan to purchase their early spring garden plants at garden centers and local retail stores compared to mass merchants and DIY stores this spring. Garden Writers Association Foundation's (GWAF) 2010 Early Spring Gardening Trends Research Report, conducted last month, found a significant change in consumer buying preferences with a clear majority (54%) stating they intend to purchase most of their spring gardening plants at garden centers while only 37% chose mass merchants as their primary plant source for this spring.

The 2010 Early Spring Gardening Trends Research Report is the first of four national consumer attitude surveys on gardening conducted each year by the GWAF. The early spring report covers consumer expectations and attitudes for activities and purchases planned for March through May. The data was collected between March 3-6 by Technometrica Market Intelligence, the leading polling organization rated most accurate in the past two U.S. national elections.

GWA Members can obtain a free copy of the 25-page survey report by visiting the Members-Only archives.