Landscape Projects Go the Whole 9 Yards

It’s Memorial Day Weekend. One the biggest problems we face as landscape professionals is taking the lows out of our production cycles. After July 4th sales drop way off. The time to market for those possible sales is now. This content comes straight from Houzz. I publish it now in the hopes of inspiring some marketing that will help to increase sales in July.

If you haven’t a Houzz page get your best photographs of your work or go out NOW and photograph some of your best jobs and get a page started on Houzz. Houzz is all about photographs and the investment in professional photography is way worth it. If you have one and need help with it or would like us to update it for you pricing starts as low as $49.00/month. We are certified Houzz marketers and would love to help.

It’s time for a major makeover, according to nine in ten homeowners taking on a landscaping project (88%), as revealed in our 2016 Landscaping Trends Study. The study, of nearly 1,000 U.S. homeowners who are planning, in the midst of, or recently completed an outdoor project, found that while backyards are the primary focus of outdoor projects (75%), many are also tackling their front and side yards (54% and 40%, respectively). It’s not surprising that people are committing to major improvements in their yards, given that nearly half spend six or more hours in their outdoor spaces weekly (48%)!

When it comes to design, complementing one’s home style (46%), outdoor living (45%) and a space that’s stylish and beautiful (43%) are top priorities. To achieve this, three-quarters of homeowners purchase comfort-enhancing products including outdoor furniture (52%), fire pits (36%) and benches (32%), during their projects. Outdoor wall lights, pots/planters, rugs, fire pits and benches were the top five selling outdoor categories on the Houzz Shop in the first 3 months of 2016, with over 140,000 products available for sale in these categories alone. The key to outdoor function is a yard that’s easy to maintain (80%), followed by one that’s easy for the entire family to work, play and/or be in (49%).

The study revealed that pets aren’t just king of the castle, but king of the yard as well. In households where pets are allowed in the yard, 42% make pet-related updates from space to run and play to toxin-free plants. Of those with children or grandchildren under the age of 18, 33% are adding child-related features. Space to run and play tops the list here as well, followed by edible plants.

After the final stones are laid and plants are planted, the majority of outdoor upgraders enjoy their space more than ever. Post-project, homeowners are more likely to rest/relax (75%), garden (64%), entertain (55%) and dine (53%) in their yards.