Freeze in December Heats Up Garden Sales

California’s lawn and garden industry experienced steady growth last year, despite the recession and a five-year drought.

The California Assn. of Nurserymen said retail nurseries and other outlets across the state posted $4.4 billion worth of sales in 1990, up 4% from the year before.

This year’s sales could be even higher, the group said, in part because many people have had to replace landscaping that they lost in last December’s freeze.