Herndon, Va.- The National Gardening Association's (NGA) annual survey conducted last November by Harris Interactive reveals that 24.7 million U.S. households spent $28.9 billion ($1,170 per household) for professional landscape, lawn care and tree care services in 2002, an increase of $3 billion from 2001. The forecast is for continued growth in 2003: 24.9 million households expect to purchase lawn and landscape services in 2003, which would represent a one percent increase over 2002. Southern homeowners accounted for 30 percent of the 2002 expenditures; the West was the runner up with 25 percent; 23 percent for the Midwest; and 21 percent for the East. Landscape installation/construction accounted for 38 percent of the spending ($11.2 billion)-19.4 million households spending an average of $3,502. The professional services side of the NGA's annual survey was sponsored by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA); the American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA); the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA); the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA); and the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA).