Do you have a green thumb? If you’d like to make some money while planning a vegetable garden or mowing the lawn, a gardening business might be a good fit for you. Or perhaps you’ve already started a gardening business but are not sure who your best customers should be. There are several ways you can monetize your time in the garden. But before you do, you need to understand who you will be selling to. 

In this article, we will paint a comprehensive picture of your ideal target market for a gardening business. Whether your gardening business specializes in exotic plants, sustainable farming solutions, or garden design services, this article provides insight into whom your best customers are. 

Remember, finding your target market isn’t about narrowing your focus but rather about sharpening it. A well-defined target market is akin to a well-tended garden: it may start small, but with time, care, and the right strategies, it can grow into something lush, vibrant, and fruitful.

So, let’s embark on this exciting journey of exploring the intricate landscape of the gardening business along with their target markets. But first, let’s take a look at the different types of gardening businesses we will be finding markets for.

Types of Gardening Businesses

1. Lawn and Garden Care

Does your house have curb appeal? If you take a lot of pride in how your lawn looks, consider starting a lawn and garden business. Not everyone can be a DIY type with their lawn. Some people can’t – or don’t want – to use their time in this way. Lawn care isn’t just limited to mowing the grass. It also includes getting rid of weeds, edging the grass, trimming bushes, and even raking leaves.

If you have an eye for planning and design, you could also offer garden design services.

2. Nursery

If you love to grow plants and flowers, how about starting a nursery? You can sell your plants for profit. You’ll need to make sure you have enough space to grow the plants, as well as the time to ensure your plants receive the care they need. And, you’ll need to plan how you will market your business and get customers to buy from you instead of existing nurseries.

3. Vegetable Grower

Healthy food is growing in popularity. However, many people don’t know how to grow their own food. If you know how to grow your own vegetables, this is a great advantage for you.

Have you considered selling the vegetables you’ve grown? Some vegetable growers build their business up gradually, while they’re still working another job. Others decide to spend all their time on this, focusing all their efforts on their crops.

Regardless of how you start, you’ll need to be dedicated to seeing it through. You’ll need to watch the weather if your vegetables are outside. If it hasn’t rained, the vegetables won’t water themselves. You’ll need to educate yourself about pests and weeds and other dangers to your garden.

Vegetable growers can visit farmer’s markets to find out which foods are most popular, and to get an idea of what it might be like to sell at these markets. Vegetable growers can also set up websites to make potential customers aware of where they will sell their goods.

4. Florist

If you love flowers, you’ll love exploring all the ways you can sell your flowers. Florists communicate love through weddings, and they’re trusted to send the right message during funerals, too. Prom season can be a great time for your floral business, too.

5. Seed Seller

If you love all things horticultural, but you just don’t have the space to plant or the ability to deliver flowers, you might want to consider a seed-selling business. If you can offer an unusual seed, or even GMO-free or heirloom seeds, you could make a nice profit. You don’t even have to speak with customers: you can sell your seeds online.

And, whether you choose to be a seed seller, a florist, or a vegetable grower, there can be a lot of overlap when it comes to who might want what you’re selling.

Target Market for a Gardening Business

Residential Homeowners 

If you’re starting a lawn care business, residential homeowners are the perfect target market. You can price your services competitively and start small with this side business. As you gain one customer at a time, word of your business will spread. 

By building a reputation for quality service, demand for your business will grow. You may even find yourself needing to hire employees to help you keep up with demand. 

If you choose to, the demand may grow so much that you may find yourself managing a team of employees.

Hotels and Commercial Buildings

Have you ever entered a hotel and immediately notices a unique floral or landscaping arrangement? Or perhaps you noticed a unique type of plant that you’ve never seen before? 

Hotels and commercial buildings often demand meticulously curated landscapes that seamlessly blend with the architecture and local environment. The design could range from lush tropical landscapes to minimalist Zen gardens. All of which is aimed at making the aesthetics of the property giving it a professional or exotic feel.

However, the gardening and landscaping needs of a hotel or commercial building extend far beyond mere aesthetics. They play an integral role in crafting an inviting environment. All of which contribute to the overall ambiance and impact the first impressions of visitors or potential customers The choice of plants, too, must be strategically considered. Sometimes it is native species. Other times the property promotes biodiversity by selecting varieties that require minimal water and maintenance. 

Maintenance is another key area. Regular pruning, weeding, and fertilization are essential to preserve the appeal and health of these landscapes. The deployment of automatic irrigation systems, for instance, can ensure uniform watering while reducing manual labor.

Depending on the type of gardening business you operate, hotel and commercial clients may be your target market. Keep in mind these clients have high standards so be sure you are able to meet their stringent demands. 

People Interested in Locally Sourced Food 

Image by pressfoto on Freepik

Finally, another huge opportunity for garden businesses is selling to people who love locally sourced food. Whether it’s fruits or vegetables, or even seeds that can be used to start a plant in an urban apartment, there’s a growing community of people who want locally sourced products. Vegetable growers and seed sellers can profit from this by making their products available at local events and farmers’ markets.

Our society is becoming increasingly conscious of the environmental impacts and health benefits associated with food production. This has caused a rise in demand for locally sourced foods. This trend has sparked a renewed interest in home gardening. 

If your gardening business is primarily concerned with food production, seeking to get the attention of this target market should be a priority. You can first find these potential customers by looking for local farmer’s markets to sell your produce. 

From there, you can look for local food stores that want to offer locally sourced foods on their shelves. You can also find Food Co-ops. Also, if you can meet demand, you can sell your vegetables at larger chains that support local growers by selling locally sourced food.

Here are a few larger stores that participate:

• Whole Foods
• Heinen’s
• Publix
• Hy-Vee
• Sprouts

Apartment Complexes and Renters 

Apartment living is hotter than ever before. More and more people are enjoying the minimalist lifestyle of loving experiences, not things. Renters are enjoying all that they need, without the obligation of home repairs that can be quite costly.

Gardening and landscaping for apartment complexes and renters present unique challenges and opportunities. They require a delicate balance of functionality, aesthetics, and maintainability.

In apartment complexes, landscapes are not just decorative elements but also shared community spaces. They contribute to the quality of life and social interactions of the residents. These areas might include communal vegetable gardens, children’s play areas, or quiet, secluded spots for relaxation, all meticulously designed and maintained to cater to the diverse needs of the community.

For individual renters, constraints of space and contractual limitations often mean working with smaller areas like balconies, patios, or windowsills. Here, container gardening becomes a good option. A business that focuses on plants for small spaces may want to target these customers.

Similar to hotels and commercial buildings, maintenance is crucial in these contexts. Apartment management often employs professional gardening services for large communal areas. These services focus on durability and easy care. 

As you build your gardening business, don’t miss the chance to provide your services to apartment buildings and renters. You can provide your lawn care and gardening services here and even ask about other properties where your services might be needed.

Conclusion

Gardening isn’t just a hobby – it can be a money-making venture. There are a variety of opportunities for those with an interest to make money in the great outdoors. Whether with potted plants, flowers, seeds, or lawns, a business working with green can create lots of green.

Also Read:

Team Writer: Erin Shelby is a writer and blogger based in Ohio. Follow her on Twitter @ByErinShelby

Article Tags:

featured · Find Your Way · Grow your business · Sales · Your Mindset

Article Categories:

Find Your Way · Grow Your Business · Marketing · Sales · Your Mindset