After two consecutive years of decline, in 2024, sales of gardening machinery and technologies are back on the rise (+1.5%), surpassing 1.37 million units sold. This increase affected all major product types, from hedge trimmers to lawn mowers, brush cutters, and blowers. However, chainsaws and snow blowers saw a decline.
The national market for gardening machines and equipment ended 2024 with a positive balance compared to the previous twelve months. Data on the sector’s performance, provided by the manufacturers’ association Comagarden, shows a positive net increase of 20,000 units (+1.5%), bringing the total to 1,370,200 equipment and machines sold (up from 1,350,500 in 2023). The slight increase recorded last year breaks a negative cycle that began in 2022 (-15.2%) and continued in 2023 (-9%). While it doesn’t bring the sector back to the record volumes of 2021 (1.6 million units), it maintains levels above those of the pre-pandemic years, when less than 1.3 million units were sold on average annually. The growth in demand for gardening technologies, observed during and after the Covid period, is mainly attributed to the success of DIY gardening and the rise of non-professional operators. These trends, according to Comagarden, are a result of “green” lifestyles and the renewed importance of plant care for personal well-being.
Regarding the performance of different product types, the increase in sales was particularly strong for hedge trimmers and lawn mowers, which grew by 11% (from 107,000 to 119,000 units) and 9% (from 210,000 to 228,000), respectively. Robotic lawn mowers continue to gain market share, with 36,000 units sold (compared to about 34,000 in 2023), marking a further 7% increase and reaching a historic high. String trimmers also closed positively, both for gas-powered models and electric or battery-powered ones. Gas-powered trimmers grew from 221,000 to 231,000 units (+5%), while electric/battery-powered models increased from 108,000 to 118,000 (+9%). Blowers also saw a 3% increase (from 152,000 to 157,000).
In a market characterized by widespread growth in sales of gardening equipment, chainsaws are a notable exception, showing a 13% decline, losing more than 40,000 units compared to 2023 (from 338,000 to 295,000). Snow blowers also saw a significant drop of 38%, with only 1,200 units sold (down from 2,000 the previous year), marking the worst performance ever. This decline reflects the new meteorological and climatic reality in Italy, characterized by warmer winters and a noticeable reduction in snowfall.
