Horticulture a high value business in NC

Landscaping and lawn care represents a large contribution to North Carolina's economy. A study issued this week indicates that value was $8.6 billion dollars in 2005. There is no doubt that the value will be higher for 2006 and 2007 due to the continuing boom in housing and trend for new homeowners to hire professional landscapers to dress up their property.

News and Observer
March 14, 2007
John Murawski, Staff Writer

Horticulture is worth $8.6 billion a year
Landscaping, tree farms, nurseries, lawns

North Carolina's booming horticulture sector is driven largely by landscaping and lawn care.

The total spent on such services in the state was $8.6 billion in 2005, according to a study issued Tuesday.

The General Assembly provided $150,000 for the study to help understand the horticulture industry's diversity and importance to the state economy. The study, the first to quantify the industry, could yield clues about the best ways to boost economic development, sponsors said.

The horticultural industry includes plant nurseries, florists, arborists, landscapers and irrigation that thrive amid rapid growth and development.

Golf courses and institutional clients are big customers, but residential homes account for two-thirds of the spending on these types of services. Read more...