Landscapers are breathing a sigh of relief with Governor Sonny Perdue’s rollback on outdoor watering restrictions, but they still have concerns.
Wednesday’s announcement by Perdue will soon allow a limited schedule for hand-watering of plants, gardens, and landscaping in north Georgia. That is, if homeowners and landscapers complete an online water-use course.
Mary Kay Woodworth is executive director of the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association. She says that while the news is generally good for landscapers and nurseries, it still isn’t a permanent solution as local governments still have ultimate control over restrictions.
"We understand the local water providers-local governments have a responsibility to make sure their water systems have enough water for public health reasons, drinking water, public safety. But, what we have seen in the past because of that local authority and ability to either reduce or eliminate those exemptions…that’s really what hurt our industry".
Woodworth says particular businesses who may not be helped as much from the relaxed restrictions are irrigation contractors and those in the sod industry.
She says the landscaping industry as a whole has absorbed a two-billion dollar hit from Georgia’s drought, with a loss of at least 50-percent of its jobs.
Woodworth did point out the Governor's announcement frees property owners to get back to buying their own plant materials from retail garden centers, and install and water it themselves.
Wednesday’s announcement by Perdue will soon allow a limited schedule for hand-watering of plants, gardens, and landscaping in north Georgia. That is, if homeowners and landscapers complete an online water-use course.
Mary Kay Woodworth is executive director of the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association. She says that while the news is generally good for landscapers and nurseries, it still isn’t a permanent solution as local governments still have ultimate control over restrictions.
"We understand the local water providers-local governments have a responsibility to make sure their water systems have enough water for public health reasons, drinking water, public safety. But, what we have seen in the past because of that local authority and ability to either reduce or eliminate those exemptions…that’s really what hurt our industry".
Woodworth says particular businesses who may not be helped as much from the relaxed restrictions are irrigation contractors and those in the sod industry.
She says the landscaping industry as a whole has absorbed a two-billion dollar hit from Georgia’s drought, with a loss of at least 50-percent of its jobs.
Woodworth did point out the Governor's announcement frees property owners to get back to buying their own plant materials from retail garden centers, and install and water it themselves.
