Landscaping is a huge part of our living environment. From community gardens to street corners and even our own personal backyards, greenery stands as an essential part of our everyday lives. And with this landscaping comes the landscaping business/industry which is “growing like a weed”, states Memphis Business journalist, Tara Milligan. In fact, the landscaping industry made roughly $33.52 billion dollars in gardening product sales in 1999 - a number that is still increasing year by year.
Most neglect the landscaping industry as it does not stand out next to other types of industries like medicine, law, finance, etc. What is specifically interesting, but also worrisome about this industry is the monopolization of large corporate plant centers across communities. Such corporations like Home Depot and Lowes have taken over small, mom and pop plant nurseries over the course of history.
These big box retailers used to price their products lower than their independent garden centers to gain more customers. And thus, as they grew their customer base, the independent shops were forced to shut down due to the lack of sales. Then, these Home Depot and Lowes centers increased their prices significantly. So after such monopolization took place, communities across the country lacked small garden businesses and were forced to purchase highly priced plants at their local, big box retailers - a complete lose lose situation as a whole.
Such monopolization is common within our modern world and it is quite unsettling to know that it is happening in every industry. From Amazon to IKEA, even META as well, monopolization is occurring at a rapid rate.
The monopolization of the gardening industry is yet another reason why we must commit to supporting the small businesses in our areas, a lifestyle change that’s worth our while. By changing our purchasing habits around landscaping plants, tools, and machinery in specific, we can positively affect our economy, so it can continuously grow with both ‘little and large fish’. The ‘little fish’ are commonly multigenerational family businesses that allow for better customer service and more sustainably grown products. Milligan even states that the “customer service is one area where independent garden centers can reign supreme”.
At the end of the day, our lifestyle designs incorporate how we exist in society on a daily basis. By designing our purchasing habits around small businesses, like these independent garden centers in our communities, we are establishing a safer, more in tune economy for our current and future selves.
The LA times reported 39 of the best independent plant nurseries in the county including Fig Earth Supply in Highland Park and Hahamongna Gardens Native Plant Nursery in Pasadena. Places like these are the perfect sources for all your plant needs.
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I never thought of this. It’s heartbreaking to see another industry in the verge of Monopolization. I wonder what landscaping contractors are going to be like in 20 years, sadly I bet it will consist of more landscapers hired by corporations rather than working as an independent contractor.