Introduction
Gardening shows on the popular home and garden television network HGTV are an important part of the station’s programming. Launched in 1994, HGTV quickly become the number one home and garden channel with a focus on home improvement and entertainment. Gardening-related programs, such as Gardening by the Yard, Curb Appeal and The Garden Detective were staples of HGTV’s lineup for almost two decades until 2009 when the network changed their focus from specializing in gardening to focusing on other topics such as house flips and real estate beautification.
Even though HGTV is no longer running as many gardening shows like it did before, gardening still plays an important role in its programming. Following this change, several new shows dedicated to gardening appeared such as Growing a Greener World and Yard Crashers, which both feature professional landscape designers creating amazing gardens on tight deadlines by utilizing their expertise and creativity. Some of these programs also offer tips about different planting techniques and plant varieties that can be used in similar situations. Additionally, certain talent from past seasons have been featured in special news segments that have aired during prime time episodes or online specials featuring breathtaking yard revamps through clever landscape design and thoughtful planning.
Popular Gardening Shows in the 2000s
Gardening shows were great sources of inspiration and practical tips on HGTV in the 2000s. Fans of these shows watched experts turning a yard into a garden paradise, designing flower beds to match the landscape, and planting edible gardens all with minimal effort. Many popular gardening shows aired during this time including Gardening by the Yard (hosted by Paul James), The Garden Room with P. Allen Smith, Laura McKenzie’s Garden Home Challenge, and Plant It and Grow It (hosted by Christina Salwitz).
Gardening by the Yard featured host Paul James uncovering great outdoor projects such as building a pergola, constructing an outdoor fire pit, or creating water feature. He showcased plant installation suggestions for new gardens as well as ideas for rejuvenating tired older landscaping. The show also explained how to safely use machinery like power tools to complete DIY home improvement projects related to gardening.
The Garden Room with P. Allen Smith had two seasons in 2003-2004 showcasing 14 episodes in total and focusing on organic gardening and home décor styled after nature-inspired items like distressed wood furniture and floral printed fabrics. Laura McKenzie’s Garden Home Challenge premiered in 2004 featuring seven episodes of McKenzie visiting four homes around the country helping homeowners spruce up their living outdoors through creative gardening solutions that would look great yet be easy maintainable. Plant It & Grow it was another noteworthy HGTV program from 2004-2005 which hosted over 20 episodes guiding viewers through how to properly plan for a vegetable garden allowing them to grow their own delicious food without having to travel far away for groceries every week.
Factors that Contributed to the Decline of Gardening Show Viewership
1. The Rise of Other Genres: HGTV has primarily shifted its programming focus to other genres that draw higher ratings and revenue, such as design, renovation, and lifestyle. As a result, home gardening shows have been reduced in number or taken off the air completely.
2. Changing Markets: Viewership often directly relates to changes in the market. For example, the housing crisis in 2008 significantly impacted the amount of interest people had in gardening shows as gardens no longer played an important role in real estate marketing efforts.
3. Technological Advancements: With computers and other technology advancing further with every passing year, viewers are able to access tons of gardening information without ever having to watch a TV show about it. This diverts potential viewership from these kinds of shows and can lead to lower ratings for them overall.
4. Increased Competition from Other Channels: With many dozens of television channels out there now offering competitive programming options, HGTV’s share of viewers has diminished as more people find niche channels that cater to their interests more so than HGTV does with its wide variety of programs.
Modern Examples of Gardening-Oriented Programs on HGTV
Gardening is still a popular subject on HGTV. There are now many modern examples of gardening-oriented programming available on the network. Popular programs include “Yard Crashers,” which follows host Ahmed Hassan as he visits people’s homes and gives them makeovers for their yards; “Fixer Upper,” which follows husband-wife duo Chip and Joanna Gaines as they renovate homes for clients across Texas; “Flipping the Block,” which pits four teams against each other who compete to transform empty studios into dream homes; and then there is “The House Counselor” with Chris Lambton, in which Chris tackles some of homeowners’ biggest home renovation endeavours. In addition, various shows such as “Good Bones,” “Home Town” and “Rehab Addict” feature elements of gardening as homeowners work to revitalize their outdoor space along with the rest of their homes. Most recently HGTV debuted the show “Plant This Garden,” in which host Aaron Merriman helps people grow trendy plants like succulents, air plants, tropicals, edibles and houseplants.
How Gardening Has Made a Comeback in Recent Years
The popularity of gardening shows on HGTV has waned in recent years as the trend for growing plants at home lost its luster. So, why are shows about gardening suddenly popular again? One major reason is that there has been a resurgence in consumers growing their own food, flowers and plants due to environmental concerns and the desire to be self-sufficient. People want to know they had a hand in producing what they consume.
The rise of urban farming has also encouraged individuals to pursue the joys of outdoor gardening no matter how small their space may be. From collectible succulents to backyard chickens, nearly anyone can take part in caring for plants or animals despite living in an urban area or high-rise apartment building. With the new technology available, even people with small gardens who don’t have access to traditional resources like farmers markets are able to garden with ease.
Gardening shows have also observed an increase due to modern nostalgia, with traditional horticulture being seen as something meaningful and calming. This sentiment extends far beyond millennials alone; all generations are witnessing this elevation of gardening as a relaxing, therapeutic activity for any age group. As a result, more TV networks have started developing programs that focus on cultivating unique cultures around gardening and taking action for our planet by learning about sustainable practices. All these things combined have made it so that once again gardening is regarded highly by many people around the world and television producers alike!
Looking Ahead
The success of gardening shows on HGTV is undeniable, and there is more potential for the genre in the future. However, there are several challenges that need to be addressed in order for these shows to remain viable and interesting. One key challenge is maintaining viewer interest in gardening; this requires creating content that looks different from traditional garden shows, as well as new idea generation and format renewal every season. Additionally, providing expert advice from a reliable source could also help attract and retain viewers.
Another challenge is dealing with the ever-changing landscape of television media. As streaming services like Netflix become increasingly popular, TV stations must develop effective strategies both online and offline to spread awareness of their gardening programs in order to attract loyal viewers. The use of traditional advertising channels (billboards or magazine ads) combined with social media presence can help raise viewership numbers and brand recognition.
Finally, HGTV needs to find ways to tantalize audiences with new content while staying true to what has made their programs successful thus far: short running times and professionalism. Keeping storylines focused and inviting guest appearances might be a way forward, while relying on changing themes or characters every time they put out a new show could also keep audiences intrigued by the possibilities. Ultimately, if HGTV takes these strategies into account, they will be well positioned for even bigger success for their gardening shows in years to come!
Conclusion
The gardening shows on HGTV have a long history that dates as far back as the 1990s. Today, gardening shows are still a main staple of HGTV’s programming, but what happened to them in between then and now? Gardening shows went through a period of decline when home makeover and lifestyle-focused shows captured most of the spotlight. However, HGTV eventually reinvigorated the genre with an influx of new talent, better production value, and helpful advice-based content.
The focus on gardening programs has only grown over time with many series aimed at helping viewers transform their outdoor spaces into something magical. From problem solving small urban yards to larger more ambitious-style projects spanning multiple acres, there’s really something for everyone. Many popular gardening experts have emerged from these programs such as Jamie Durie, who went on to host his own show after previously appearing as a landscape designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Other TV networks have followed suit by offering their own competitive versions of garden-themed programming like ABC’s The Great Garden Challenge or DIY Network’s Plant Three Sixty Five. Overall, it appears that the resurgence in the popularity of gardening shows is here to stay. In addition to providing creative pleasure and a therapeutic outlet for those looking to work on nature inspired projects, gardening can also increase property values when properly maintained or organized projects are put into play. As HGTV continues its foray into renovating old and overlooked properties around the country while promoting sustainable living practices via its massive library of instructional videos and resources, it seems likely that interest in gardening will remain prevalent moving forward.
Welcome to my gardening blog! I am passionate about plants and enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with others. In this blog, I will write about everything related to gardening, from tips on how to get started to updates on my own garden projects.
