According to the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI.org), total lawn and garden sales in the U.S. are expected to reach $61.5 billion by the end of 2019, with lawn and garden equipment and supplies accounting for about $35 billion of that total.

It’s estimated that purchases by pros will make up $3.7 billion of lawn and garden equipment supplies while purchases by consumers will make up $31.2 billion in the same category.

Lawn and garden equipment continues to be an important category as we see sales increase, as well as the amount of shelf space devoted to products ranging from landscaping hand tools to hardscape. Below is a highlight of how DIYers approach the category.

Media Use

According to our research, 62% of DIYers that purchased outdoor power equipment shopped and research products online before making a purchase. 43% of those that purchased hand tools and 31% of those that purchased other lawn and garden products also shopped and researched products. The most common sites used are retailer websites at 77%, namely HomeDepot.com and Lowes.com, followed by Google, Amazon and manufacturer websites at 32%.

When going online for information, DIYers look most for pricing and product reviews. Many also check for availability and product options. While how-to videos and instruction on product use are lower, millennials are twice as likely to seek instructional information than baby boomers. This is where social media has a big impact: Social is used most for how to information, product photos and project photos.

Channel Use        

Based on data from the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI.org), it’s not surprising that warehouse home centers are the most common source for purchases. 69% of homeowners reported their last lawn and garden product purchase was from a home center, 5% from a specialty store, 9% from a hardware store.

So while most homeowners research and start their shopping online, 79% of lawn & garden purchases are made in the store.

Products Purchased

When it comes to outdoor power equipment, HIRI’s Product Purchase Study among 1,500+ DIY Homeowners reveals that nearly 8% have purchased a leaf blower in the past year and 7% purchased a trimmer. There are many products within the lawn and garden category and, on average, homeowners make just over 4 purchases per year, spending over $300 annually on lawn and garden products.

The Farnsworth Group applies our 30 years of industry research expertise to understand DIY path to purchase on specific products within home improvement. Click here to contact us to learn how custom research can help you better understand your consumers’ path to purchase.