Key Statistics to know about:
Home Gardening Participation
- Approximately 45% of Australians—around 9 million people—are growing some of their own food.
- Primary motivations include:
- 69% aiming to eat healthier
- 60% seeking to reduce grocery bills
- 67% composting or using worm farms, diverting about 361,000 tonnes of food waste from landfills.
Gardening Services Industry
- The industry is projected to generate $4.2 billion in revenue in 2025, driven by services like lawn mowing, pruning, and basic landscaping.
- Growth is fueled by:
- An ageing population outsourcing garden maintenance
- Busy professionals and young families seeking convenience
Regional Gardening Trends
- Victoria leads with 48% of residents growing their own food, followed by Queensland at 43%.
- Urban gardening is on the rise, with city dwellers utilizing balconies, rooftops, and community gardens.
Consumer Spending
There’s a notable shift towards online shopping for garden supplies and services.
Landscaping and Gardening Services Market
The Gardening Services industry in Australia is projected to reach $4.1 billion in 2025, with a growth rate of 7.9% CAGR from 2019 to 2024.
Gardening is up there with surfing, barbecuing, and road tripping as one of the great Aussie pastimes.
Australians are expected to spend over AUD 3 billion on DIY lawn and garden products in 2025, including tools, fertilisers, pots, and plants.
Indeed, up and down the country on any given weekend, millions of people tend to their gardens, primarily for fresh air and exercise and to grow food or flowers that provide enrichment to their lives.
If you are one of them, you may be interested in this post. In it, we’ll highlight some of the latest stats and trends that are currently shaping Australia’s gardening scene in 2025.
A Nation of Green Thumbs
According to data from The Australia Institute, around 45% of Australians are now growing some of their own food. That equates to around 9 million people regularly getting their hands dirty, whether it’s a full-blown veggie patch in the backyard or a few pots of herbs on the balcony.
The most common reasons people are choosing to grow their own produce are to eat healthier food (69%) and reduce their grocery bills (60%). However, it’s not just about what ends up on the plate. Many home gardeners are motivated to do their bit for the environment as well.
Their research found that 67% of food growers confirmed they are also composting or using worm farms, which helps divert a significant amount of food waste from landfills. That’s roughly 361,000 tonnes of food scraps being turned into soil boosters instead of methane, which is the equivalent weight of around seven Sydney Harbour Bridges.
The Business of Gardening
It’s not only home gardeners who are thriving. The Australian gardening services industry is also experiencing strong growth.
Recently, IBISWorld reported that it is expected to bring in around $4.2 billion in revenue in 2025. Predominantly, this will come from activities like lawn mowing, pruning, hedge trimming, fertilising, and basic landscaping.
One of the key drivers behind this growth is Australia’s ageing population. More people over 50 are choosing to outsource garden maintenance, preferring to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful yard without personally expending the physical labour required to create one.
At the same time, younger families and busy professionals who don’t want to take up too much of their precious weekends weeding, mulching, and tidying lawns, are also calling in the experts to help.
How Aussie Gardens Are Evolving
Several pieces of research have suggested that increasingly, more households are thinking long-term about how their gardens impact the environment.
This is evident in how people are now designing and maintaining their outdoor spaces, with there being a big shift towards growing native plants. These beauties not only thrive in our climate with minimal fuss, but they also attract local wildlife, help restore natural biodiversity, and cut down on water use.
Speaking of the latter, water-wise gardening has become second nature for many Australians, with more people choosing to use greywater systems, install drip irrigation, and lay down permeable surfaces that help water soak back into the soil. These practical changes are especially valuable in drought-prone areas, where conserving every drop counts.
On top of that, the rise of smart garden tech, such as solar lights, app-controlled sprinklers, and weather-sensing irrigation, has all made it easier to manage a garden efficiently.
Who’s Gardening?
Gardening has universal appeal in Australia, but people over 50 are the most engaged demographic, both in terms of personal gardening and hiring professional services. Indeed, for many in this age group, gardening is a therapeutic hobby that improves physical and mental well-being.
Regionally, Victorians are leading the way, with 48% of residents reportedly growing some of their own food. Queensland isn’t far behind at 43%, showing that the love for gardening stretches across climates and lifestyles.
Additionally, urban gardening is also becoming more popular, especially in CBD apartments and high-density suburbs. City dwellers are finding creative ways to maximise space by growing plants on balconies, rooftops, and in shared community gardens that nurture their love of gardening.
Trends to Watch in 2025
As we look further into 2025, a few exciting trends are gaining traction in Australian gardens. One of the most noticeable shifts is the move toward more organic, flowing garden layouts. The once-popular structured, geometric garden beds are being replaced by soft, curved lines and naturalistic designs that feel more relaxed and inviting. This trend reflects a broader move towards creating calming, nature-inspired spaces at home.
Another popular trend is edible landscaping. More people are combining form and function by incorporating edible plants into their ornamental gardens. For instance, herbs planted alongside native grasses, or fruit trees taking pride of place in the front yard. Doing this provides them with a practical way to produce food while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing garden.
There’s also a growing focus on biodiversity and pollinator-friendly planting, as gardeners increasingly choose species that attract bees, butterflies, and birds. This type of planting not only benefits wildlife but also encourages healthy growth in home veggie patches.
How Aussies Are Spending on Gardening
Statista reports that the lawn and garden market in Australia continues to be a lucrative sector. In 2025, Australians are expected to spend over AUD 3 billion on DIY lawn and garden products, including tools, fertilisers, pots, and plants.
Much of this will be conducted online, with hundreds of e-commerce stores making it easier to shop for garden supplies and book services from local providers.
Additionally, households are not only spending on essentials but also investing in upgrades like garden lighting, outdoor furniture, and weather-resistant decor. This reflects a broader lifestyle shift where outdoor areas are being treated as extensions of indoor living spaces by incorporating everything from fire pits to garden lounges within their design.
Summing Up
If the numbers tell us anything, it’s that gardening will continue to be integral to how Aussies live.
With sustainability becoming second nature and smart technology making it easier than ever to manage outdoor spaces, gardening is becoming more accessible, rewarding, and essential to all Australians.
So, whether you’ve got acres to work with or just a small, sunny balcony, there’s never been a better time to start growing something of your own.