With National Gardening Week taking place between 26th April and 2nd May, it’s time to celebrate all things gardening. Since lockdown restrictions began, Brits have loved their gardens more than ever and the subsequent business growth opportunities for horticultural franchises have been huge.

With it being reported in a survey of people who have access to a garden – shared or owned – that on average homeowners had spent £241 on renovations and £180 on accessories, coronavirus restrictions have meant Brits have invested more on outdoor space than normal. So, there’s no surprise that the gardening sector has been able to remain fighting fit over the past 12 months. Lawn Care franchise Greensleeves is a prime example of a horticultural brand thriving because of this, with their January to March new customer intake increasing by 278% over the same period last year, despite the start of 2021 being a lockdown period. And, now spring is in full swing, both the country’s gardens and franchises in this sector are expecting even more growth!

“The gardening sector has experienced a real boom over the last 12 months and as we enter into spring, there’s no signs of it slowing down. According to the Bank of England’s chief economist, Andy Haldane, there’s £100 billion in savings sitting in peoples bank accounts which would usually be spent on holidays abroad and other luxuries which haven’t been accessible recently. However, it’s evident people are now turning their attention to home improvements,” said David Truby, the MD of Greensleeves.

“UK homeowners have had far more time to focus on home renovation and their outside spaces during the pandemic. Gardening franchises have significantly benefited from this home improvement spike. Of course, there are some gardening projects homeowners just can’t do themselves. Most people don’t have the skills or tools to complete their own lawn care treatments. So, homeowners who wanted to refresh their gardens by updating their landscaping or improving their home appeal before putting their house on the market rely on professional lawn care services like ours. In fact, Greensleeves’ first-quarter revenue this year was 43% higher than what it was in 2020, when we weren’t in a lockdown, which demonstrates the increased passion Brits have had for their gardens.

“Many businesses in our sector have proved themselves recession proof over the past year, helping people save time and achieve their gardening goals by delivering a professional service they couldn’t do themselves. And, because outdoor operations were relatively untouched by government restrictions, gardening franchises like Greensleeves have been able to flourish during the lockdowns.”

According to TechNavio, the landscaping and gardening services market is poised to grow by £79 billion between 2021-2025¹ and with spring here, even more people will be thinking about giving their garden a tidy up or even a full makeover ahead of spending more time socialising out there with friends and family.

“The garden was a welcome sanctuary for many people throughout 2020 and spending time outside looks set to be even more popular this year. It’s essential to look after your lawn all year round, especially during springtime, the grass is coming out of winter dormancy and starting to grow, so correct lawn care is vital. By providing these garden-loving Brits regular advice and professional customer service, gardening franchises will continue to flourish in 2021,” added David.

^{1Technavio, Global Landscaping and Gardening Services Market 2021 – 2025}