Dry Weather Hurting Ohio Area Lawns and Those Who Tend Them

With three-fourths of Ohio in a moderate drought, demand for lawn-mowing services and certain gardening supplies is hitting rock bottom. In some cases, it's already worse than the slowdown typical in August.

That's straining all those whose livelihoods depend on the steady growth of grasses and plants.

Without contracts to fall back on or grass to cut, their income has shrunk from 20 to 30 percent.

"July's just been a mess so far," said Chuck Kitner, owner of Buckeye Lawn & Landscaping in Olmsted Township. "This shouldn't be happening at the end of June, beginning of July.

"The guys who are trying to earn a living doing it, they're really hurting."

Landscapers are somewhat better off.

They're definitely noticing the 5 inches of rain that hasn't fallen in the last two months, according to a report released this week by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. But thanks to sprinklers and other watering systems, they still have plenty of commercial and residential properties to maintain.

"As long as there are no watering bans, it's business as usual," said Bill Stalter, executive director of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association.

For now, he explained, the emphasis is on watering wisely, in hopes of avoiding a ban. "We all have to be conscious . . . that we're doing the right thing."

Ditto for local tree businesses. David Joy, east side manager for Davey Tree Expert Co., said the number of tree removals and replacements his employees have performed lately is "above normal," but the real effects of this year's drought probably won't take hold until next year.

"By next spring, we may see more problems," he said.

What businesses on the retail side of the industry are experiencing isn't so much a slump in sales as a drought-induced shift.

At Gale's Garden Center in Westlake, the market for shrubs and certain types of short-lived flowers is fading, just as the products themselves are dying or being returned more often.

"It's amazing how many people really count on [the rain] to do their watering for them," said nursery manager Rick Moralia.

But for every shrub sitting on the lot, there's a hose, a sprinkler or a container of soil moistener being grabbed off the shelf. Perennials, too, are hot, especially among landscapers.

"They're blasting through them," Moralia said. "Those sales are actually better."

If there's one comfort for professional green thumbs right now - besides a cool glass of lemonade - it's that nothing about Northeast Ohio weather is truly surprising.

"You could tell something was coming," Kitner said. "I'm kind of used to it."