Winter Planting Still Effective

Good news for gardeners: despite GA’s drought, it’s still possible to enjoy spring flowers even without May showers.

Experts say most people want to plant in the spring because the weather outside is enjoyable. But for Georgians, fall and winter is the best bet for seeing results.

Metro-Atlanta Landscaping and Turf Association’s director, Mary Kay Woodworth, said having flowers next spring, even with the drought, is possible because bulbs need very little water.

“When you plant a bulb, put a little water on it initially, the day you plant it, and you don’t have to water anymore. Bulbs are very drought tolerant,” said Woodworth.

Woodworth said the winter soil is cooler and holds water better. Even if there’s only a little rain, plants can still make it.

So far, Georgia’s Landscaping industry has lost upwards of a billion dollars in business and over 14,000 workers have lost their jobs, as well.

Paulding County toughens water restrictions

Paulding County has taken another stringent step in trying to combat effects of the drought. Its commissioners late Monday afternoon wiped-out watering exemptions for landscaping and car wash businesses that do not recycle water. Homes and businesses are now under orders to cut water-use by 10-percent, or face surcharges on their bills. Also, Paulding commissioners approved fines for first offenders of watering violations.

Drought is good for water well drillers

Not everyone is suffering in Georgia’s extreme drought. Water well drilling companies are swamped with business.

The search for untapped sources of water to quench lawns is driving-up the call volume to water well drillers. That’s quite the opposite of businesses like landscaping, which have taken a blow in recent months.

When state officials hit north Georgia with a total outdoor watering ban a week-and-a-half ago, water well drillers expected a spike in business. Kandi Bolton is co-owner of Max Bolton Well and Pump Company in Dawsonville. She says calls are up 75-percent in just the last two weeks.

"It is utterly amazing to me the phone calls that come in. It starting kicking I would say the middle of September, but last week was when I really noticed that I could not get off the phone".

Bolton says they would typically handle two work orders a week, but that’s up to at least six now.

She says competing companies in the area are sharing customer calls to help handle the work-load.