When the world feels uncertain, Americans get planting. That’s the core message of Garden Media Group’s new “Garden Pulse: Spring 2025 Analysis” report.
While other industries report slowing traffic and declining sales, gardening is holding strong — and growing — despite cold weather, consumer caution, and tariff-fueled economic anxiety. Even with poor early spring weather, garden center sales in 2025 are only 3.9% behind 2024 and still far ahead of the same period in 2020.
“Gardening has always been recession-resistant,” says Katie Dubow, President of Garden Media Group. “In 2008, 2020, and now again in 2025, we’re seeing a familiar pattern. When people face financial or emotional uncertainty, they return to their roots — literally.”
Dr. Charlie Hall, economist at Texas A&M University, also weighs in: “Our spending doesn’t have the same erratic nature as our confidence.” In other words, even if people feel uncertain, their garden purchases remain consistent — and often therapeutic.
According to the analysis, social media mentions of gardening in spring 2025 are on par with the pandemic boom years and significantly higher than pre-COVID levels. But it’s not just volume — it’s emotion. Posts express joy, relief, and deep satisfaction in getting back into the garden.
The data tells more of the story:
Frontline sales at independent garden centers are nearly identical to those in 2024 and are up 27% from 2020, with strong demand for both edibles and ornamentals.
Social chatter about gardening remains high, with positive sentiment dominating conversations. While Facebook and Instagram remain strong, platforms like YouTube and Reddit are now seeing explosive growth — up 32% and 36% respectively compared to 2024, and well over 150% from peak pandemic years.
As economic headwinds grow, consumers are planting hope — literally. Garden centers that show up now, offering community, education, and connection, will reap the rewards all season long.
“The message is clear — don’t pull back,” says Danny Summers, President of The Garden Center Group. “Even in the face of tariffs and unpredictable weather, gardening continues to thrive. Now’s the time for retailers to stay confident and visible and not discount.”
Click here for more information on how you can take advantage of these trends, and to download the report.