For Immediate Release

Contact: Lisa Schaumann
Phone: 540-729-2114
Email: [email protected]

The National Association of Landscape Professionals Surveys Americans and Finds That a Majority Lack Basic Lawn Care Knowledge

New research is released as part of National Lawn Care Month

Herndon, Va., March 31, 2016 - The National Association of Landscape Professionals is kicking off National Lawn Care Month this April by releasing the results of a new consumer survey that takes the pulse of Americans’ lawn care knowledge. The results of the survey, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of NALP in February among over 2,000 US adults, suggest the majority of Americans lack basic knowledge about how to properly care for and maintain their lawns.

The survey confirmed that America’s affinity for lawns is still going strong, as 78 percent of U.S. adults report having a home with a lawn and/or landscaping. The vast majority of that group (94 percent) say lawn and landscaping services were performed at their home in the past year – with 81 percent saying they or someone else in their household performed any services themselves and 44 percent reporting they hired a professional to perform any services.

Although 74 percent of Americans who have a lawn/landscape say they know how to care for their lawn each season and 68 percent of Americans report feeling confident in their lawn care knowledge, data from the survey tells a different story. According to the findings, many Americans actually lack basic lawn care knowledge. When quizzed:

• 64 percent of Americans falsely believe all grass needs to be fertilized in the spring.
• 57 percent of Americans mistakenly believe if a lawn is not green, it is not healthy.
• Nearly one in three Americans (32 percent) admit they aren’t sure how often a lawn should be watered.
• 31 percent of Americans who have a lawn/landscape say they don’t know how to grow a healthy/lush lawn.

Even more telling, nearly seven in 10 of Americans who have a lawn/landscape (69 percent) admit their lawn could use improvement, despite their reported knowledge and confidence.

The findings from NALP’s latest consumer research suggest that despite the popularity of lawns and the widespread effort homeowners put into caring for them, many people are inadequately maintaining their own yards,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NALP. “This speaks to the important role lawn care experts play in responsibly managing and maintaining yards and green spaces to ensure their maximum health and environmental benefits.”

For additional resources, visit the National Lawn Care Month toolkit for infographics and resources to promote lawn and landscape care, or share videos and articles from LoveYourLandscape.org.


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About NALP

The National Association of Landscape Professionals represents an industry of nearly 1 million landscape, lawn care, irrigation and tree care experts who create and maintain green spaces for the benefit of society and the environment. The association works with law makers and the public to protect and grow the industry and offers education, networking, training and certification programs that increase the professionalism in the industry and inspire its members to excellence. For more information, visit www.landscapeprofessionals.org.

About Harris Poll

Over the last five decades, Harris Polls have become media staples. With comprehensive experience and precise technique in public opinion polling, along with a proven track record of uncovering consumers’ motivations and behaviors, Harris Poll has gained strong brand recognition around the world. Contact us for more information.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of the National Association of Landscape Professionals from February 3-5, 2016 among 2,178 adults ages 18 and older, among which 1,695 say they have a lawn/landscape. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Lisa Schaumann at [email protected].

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