Landscape business shrivels amid long drought

DENVER — Lush, eye-pleasing lawns are shrinking in parts of the West. Ornamental fountains have been restricted in Las Vegas while gardening with outdoor pots is gaining a new following.

As homes and businesses curb water use amid a multiyear drought, the landscaping industry has fallen on hard times, prompting some businesses to lay off workers or close. Others are surviving by offering water-conservation designs or expanding into related services.

Many say they face difficult challenges as Western communities try to find more water to meet demand in the fast-growing region.

"I'm very concerned for the future," Las Vegas landscaper Scott Walker said. "Everybody wants a spot of grass in their yard for their kids to play on or for their dogs. It's hard to tell your kids to go out and play on a pile of rocks."

Extreme drought conditions range from Montana to Arizona and are expected to persist, according to the Drought Monitor at the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska.

In Colorado, the drought hit hard about two years ago, forcing many cities to restrict water use and impose surcharges on those who use excess amounts. Some also banned new lawns. Many cities have imposed restrictions and surcharges again this year.

About 2,000 jobs in Colorado were lost between 2002 and 2003, according to a Colorado State University study of the $1.67 billion industry, which includes landscaping, nurseries, garden centers and commercial florists.

Revenues dropped $60 million last year, study author Dawn Thilmany said. Some businesses closed while others consolidated.

When the effects of the drought became evident, Todd Williams of American Civil Constructors in suburban Denver decided to boost his business in artificial turf and change landscape designs to promote water conservation by using drought-tolerant plants and grouping plants by water use.

"We've seen a very positive response from our customers. . . . That's been a silver lining in the cloud of the drought," he said.

Other landscapers added services such as maintenance and snow removal. Many emphasize designs that offer more efficient irrigation systems, said Sharon Harris of Green Industries of Colorado, a trade group.

"So many people have gotten lean and are looking at doing things differently and better," she said.