Landscape Installation Firms: II. Source of Plant Material

Abstract

Abstract The plant material purchasing patterns of landscape installers, which could help nurserymen develop marketing plans for this important segment of the green industry are identified in this study. Landscape installers revealed that approximately 97% of Georgia landscape installation firms purchased plants in-state and, in-state purchases were 73% of all plant material purchases. Most firms (91%) purchased directly from growers and obtained the largest percentage of plant material from this source (59.4%). The most important factors in selection of the production nursery where plants were purchased, as judged by the percent response for ‘very important’, were plant quality (85.3%), availability of plant material in desired sizes (62.7%) and, availability of plant varieties (60.0%). The quality of eight categories of plants grown in Georgia, relative to other states, was favorable. Landscape installation firms expected to purchase the same or greater quantities of plants over the next five years. The top three plant material trends likely to affect the type of plants purchased by landscape installers were decreased water availability (23.7%), increased demand for low maintenance landscapes (21.4%) and increased use of native or stress tolerant plants (17.6%). Across all size firms, the two most frequently listed opportunities for plant producers to help landscape installers were improved size and quality standards, and awareness of plant material specified by landscape architects so requested material is available. The results in this study varied by size of firm and provide valuable insight for development of marketing plans for growers serving the landscape installation industry.