Survey of homeowners

Project EverGreen took time at the Green Industry Expo to announce some pleasing results of the organization's recent homeowner survey. The survey, which compiled opinions from 1,235 homeowners nationwide, is the first in a series designed to gauge consumer attitudes green spaces and their management.

PERCEIVED ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL LAWN CARE Survey recipients were asked if they agreed/disagreed with these statements:
Most lawn care companies care about the environment	80 percent agreed
Most professional landscaping companies care about the environment	82 percent agreed
Most professional irrigation companies care about the environment	76 percent agreed
Professional irrigation companies are good for the environment	78 percent agreed
Professional landscaping companies utilize pesticides safely	77 percent agreed
Professional irrigation companies help conserve our water supply	80 percent agreed
Professional lawn care companies utilize pesticides safely	77 percent agreed
Professional maintenance of public parks and sports fields is good for the environment	89 percent agreed
The environment is important in making a decision to hire a green professional	92 percent agreed
PERCEIVED ECONOMIC BENEFITS of PROFESSIONAL LAWN AND LANDSCAPE
A well-maintained landscaped yard increases curb appeal and property value.	99 percent agreed
Landscaping adds value to a home's worth	99 percent agreed
Use of professional lawn and landscape companies improves your lawn and landscape	89 percent agreed
PERCEIVED LIFESTYLE BENEFITS
A well-maintained lawn provides a safe, cushioned play area surface for children	97 percent agreed
Maintaining the looks of your home is important in the decision to hire a green professional	95 percent agreed
Having a green lawn is important in the decision to hire a green professional	89 percent agreed
CONTRADICTORY CONSUMER VIEWPOINTS Perhaps one of the most interesting and valuable insights provided by thesurvey is the indication that, in some cases, consumers may have contradictory attitudes. Here is a sampling of positive and negative responses on basically the same subject.
Lawn care companies provide a useful service, such as lawn disease control	97 percent agreed
Chemicals that lawn care companies use negatively affect the environment	72 percent agreed
Pesticides are a useful tool to fight weeds, diease and insects	84 percent agreed
Chemicals that lawn service companies use help the environment	55 percent disagreed
Fertilizers are a useful tool for maintaining the health of a lawn	92 percent agreed
Fertilizer has a negative impact on the environment	52 percent agreed