Lawn & Garden Insights: Canadians Focus on Maintenance Over Makeovers

DIY Lawn Care Is Still Strong, But Slightly Softer

In 2026, 82% of Canadian homeowners say they’ll do their own lawn and garden work.

That’s still a strong majority, but it’s a noticeable dip from last year (88%), suggesting a subtle shift in how Canadians are approaching outdoor upkeep.

The takeaway:
DIY isn’t going anywhere—but homeowners may be scaling back the scope of their efforts.

Core Activities Remain Consistent

The most common lawn and garden tasks remain largely unchanged:

• Mowing (74%)
• Planting flowers/plants (68%)
• Clearing/raking leaves (66%)
• Weed control (64%)
• Pruning (58%)
• Fertilizing/watering (53%)

While participation dipped slightly across most activities compared to 2025, the ranking stayed consistent.

This tells us:
Canadians are still doing the same types of work—just a little less intensively than before.

What’s Influencing Purchase Decisions?

When it comes to choosing lawn and garden products, personal recommendations still lead:

• Family & friends: 60%
• Online reviews: 47%
• Online videos: 41%

However, one of the most notable year-over-year shifts is the decline in word-of-mouth influence (down from 67% in 2025).

Meanwhile, online reviews held steady, reinforcing their role as a trusted and consistent decision driver.

The takeaway:
As traditional word-of-mouth weakens, digital validation, especially reviews, becomes even more critical.

Where Are Canadians Shopping?

In 2026, Canadians are turning to:

• Home improvement stores (26%)
• Mass merchandisers (21%)
• Garden centres/nurseries (14%)

The biggest shift? A sharp decline in garden centre shopping, down from 21% last year.

This suggests a move toward:

• Convenience
• One-stop shopping
• Competitive pricing

Spending Shifts: Maintenance Over Makeovers

Perhaps the most telling story in this year’s data is how Canadians are spending their lawn and garden budgets.

Increased Spending:

• Irrigation/watering equipment: $78.14 (+32% YoY)
• Fertilizer/weed killer: $63.29 (+18%)
• Insect control: $29.59 (+13%)

Decreased Spending:

• Mulch/rock/soil: $116.31 (down significantly from $164.70)
• Plants/flowers/seeds: $134.57 (down from $148.59)

Stable:

• Grass/seed: ~$66 (flat)

The takeaway:
Canadians are shifting away from large landscaping projects and instead investing in:

• Protecting their lawn
• Keeping it healthy
• Maintaining what they already have

This marks a clear move from “upgrade” spending to “maintenance” spending.

What Matters Most When Choosing Products?

New this year, we asked Canadians what matters most when selecting lawn and garden products. They ranked them as following:

1. Cost/value
2. Quality
3. Convenience (in-store availability)
4. Product reviews
5. Environmental impact

The takeaway:

• Price sensitivity is leading decision-making
• Reviews have cemented their role as a key influence
• Sustainability matters, but still trails behind core functional needs

Final Thoughts: A More Practical Approach to Outdoor Living

The 2026 lawn and garden season reflects a more practical, value-driven consumer.

Canadians are still engaged, but they’re:

• Spending more carefully
• Prioritizing maintenance over transformation
• Shopping where it’s easiest and most efficient
• Relying on digital validation over personal recommendations

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