Lawn and garden sales up 3% in 2007

Sales of lawn and garden products totaled $35.102 billion last year, according to the 2007 Nat'l. Gardening Survey. Sales increased 3%, or $1.025 billion more than the $34.077 billion consumers spent in 2006. "That's good news because it's the first year we have seen overall retail lawn and garden sales increase since 2002," said Mike Metallo, Nat'l. Gardening Assoc. pres. Do-it-yourself lawn and garden activities that saw the biggest increase in spending in 2007 included lawn care, vegetable gardening, ornamental gardening and herb gardening.