Tale of two drought impacts: Landscapers, gardeners prepare for challenging year

The drought gives and the drought takes away, at least for the state's multibillion dollar landscaping, gardening and nursing industry.

Many consumers are postponing or canceling planting or landscaping changes because of worries over water shortages and drought-based water rates. Gov. Jerry Brown has ordered a moratorium on nonessential new landscaping on or along state freeways, highways, and buildings.

But other consumers see this as the time to overhaul yards, landscape with drought-resistant plants and add efficient irrigation. And many water agencies are paying bounties to customers who jettison lawns.

Landscaper Roxy Wolosenko is benefiting from both sides of the coin.

Mario Maldonado, left, and Godofredo Delgado, right, harvest sod at the Grass Farm on Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Morgan Hill, Calif. California's drought could cause hardships for the state's landscaping and gardening industry as people think twice about putting in new lawns and plants amid water shortages and potential restrictions. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) ( ARIC CRABB )

"People are definitely landscaping," said the owner of Roxy Designs in Pleasant Hill, "and they're hiring me to take out a lot of lawns." She said she averages five to six calls a week from people who want to replace lawns with drought tolerant plants and ground cover.

Experts say it is still hard to predict how the industry will fare this year, but many are optimistic.

"This drought is a huge opportunity for people to make horticultural changes that can save money and water," said Jon Singley, founder of Blue Spruce Landscaping and Construction in Campbell. "I think a green industry professional who is well educated and appreciates using the appropriate material on the right site is going to come out of this fine."

He and other landscapers say their business is anything but drying up as people plan landscaping and irrigation changes to reduce outdoor watering -- which consumes more than half of the water used at the typical California home. Of course, in the Bay Area's microclimates, water use -- and availability -- can vary significantly from place to place.

"People are keenly aware of their water bills and what they could become this year," Singley said.

Go here to read the rest:
Tale of two drought impacts: Landscapers, gardeners prepare for challenging year