Gardening Boom Fuels Plant Shortage.

• Position: NURSERIES

"The gardening boom of 2020 has continued prominently into 2021," says Tony Avent, founder and proprietor of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery, Raleigh, N.C. "Last year, the boom really started with the existing gardeners. Then, the longer COVID went on, we began to see more orders from Gen Xers and millennials. We continue to see an amazing number of even younger gardeners in 2021. Some don't own their house and are looking for things they can grow indoors. The houseplant craze is insane.

"There is an almost unprecedented plant shortage in America, especially for long-production time plants like trees and shrubs. In many box stores, where 60% of Americans buy their plants, there's a major shortage. Retailers that do not propagate plants are struggling to get a wide range of plants to sell."

How people garden can be influenced by their age. "Young homeowners are really into the environment and understand the benefit...