Even in the age of the smartphone and T.V. show binge watching, the love affair with the American yard is not over. According to an online survey commissioned by the National Association of Landscape Professionals and conducted by Harris Poll in May 2015, Americans think it is important to have a yard and keep it looking well-maintained. The study was conducted among 2,034 U.S. adults (ages 18+), and found that three quarters of Americans (75%) feel that it is important to spend time outside in their yards.
Keeping lawns maintained
Along with maintaining their own yard, many (71%) Americans think that it is important for their neighbors to have well-maintained yards and almost all of those surveyed (91%) want to live in an area where they can see or walk to nice landscaping.
Roughly 83% of Americans think having a yard is important and 90% of those with a yard think it is important that it is also well-maintained. Those who live in the South (85%) or Midwest (87%) are more likely than those who live in the Northeast (79%) to feel that is important.
The majority also agree (84%) that the quality of a home’s landscaping would affect their decision about whether or not to buy a home, and while women are more likely than men to say having their yard well-maintained is very important (50% vs. 45%), men are more likely than women to claim that they possess the knowledge and skill necessary to keep their lawn and plants healthy and looking good (75% vs. 67%, respectively).
Homeowners want help with their landscaping
A large majority of Americans (67%) agree that professional landscape help would allow them to have a nicer yard. Nine in 10 prefer to live in a home surrounded by trees, grass and other living plants and almost half (47%) wish they could hire a landscape professional to help them.
“Our members dedicate their lives to helping homeowners keep their yards and outdoor spaces healthy and inviting,” said National Association of Landscape Professionals CEO, Sabeena Hickman, CAE, CMP. “The survey results show how deeply Americans value their yards and spending time outside near their homes.”
