Local landscaping businesses struggle to survive in the Tri-State's drought

CINCINNATI - A moderate drought has settled in Tri-State leaving brown grass, dry leaves, and wilted plants. Crop moisture is abnormally dry and further drought development is likely. We need a good 3” – 6” of rainfall to get out of this situation. 

The lack of rain here and across the country is expected to cause a rise in food prices, but there’s also an economic impact on local landscaping businesses.

And in the middle of summer, where hot, dry conditions are expected for July, it will continue to take the green out of our lawns and leave crunchy grass that’s dry to the touch.

“The browning of the grass is just a sign that the grass is going dormant… it’s not dead," Allison Bush, of Merkle Lawn Care Company in Wilder, Kentucky, said. "Even though you may be watering your grass, it’s almost that we’re in such a drought that you can’t water enough.”

Bush said that their landscaping business has been suffering since winter, where they lost about a half a million dollars in revenue. For their company, they say that snow is the big bonus you can’t count on.

“The lack of snow during the winter time definitely did affect our revenue," Bush said. "We have to just consider that a loss in revenue and look towards the future. Now we’re kind of at the mercy of Mother Nature. We would like rainfall and cooler weather.”

Forecasts for July call for a really good chance of seeing below average precipitation.  The good news for the Merkle Lawn Care Company is that even if we don’t see that much needed rainfall and cooler temperatures, they are taking steps to survive.

“Due to the lack of revenue, we’ve actually expanded out and we do right-of-way mowing, we’re installing downspouts and drainage issues…and even though we’re not really installing landscaping right now, we do also offer clients watering,” Bush explained.

Bush also said that they’re seeing an increase in people interested in installing irrigation systems. 

Merkle Lawn Care Company is lucky, in that they’ve been in business for 25 years and will survive this economic hit. Unfortunately, smaller and newer landscape companies are more at risk. 

Like Sarah Walters on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Walters-WCPO/299725840062472?ref=tn_tnmn

Sarah Walters on Twitter: @Sarah_Walters

Get our Storm Shield Weather Radio app here: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/weather/safety/9-news-introduces-severe-weather-radio-app-storm-shield-for-iphone