Drought Cutting Landscaping Profits

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By Jessica Gertler

Story Created: Jul 16, 2012 at 5:23 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2012 at 4:59 PM CDT

Parts of Alabama are facing extreme drought conditions including Pike County, and workers at some lawn care businesses say the dry plants are cutting their profits dramatically.

Locally-owned lawn care services like Trojan Turf say the drought is hurting business. Employees say this summer has been the worst they've seen.

"There's some days, we can't even cut, because it don't even need cutting because of the drought. It's been tough," says Trojan Turf employee Stephen Flowers.

Flowers say he's made a good living landscaping for Trojan Turf, until this summer.

"I've got three kids that I'm supporting, and it takes a toll on us," he says.

Flowers says the extreme heat is not only drying up plants, but also drying up his wallet.

"It takes a toll on us. If the grass don't grow, we don't get paid," says Flowers.

Trojan Turf Owner Kevin Specks says this summer, business has been down 50 percent.

"We can go from cutting yards to every week to every two weeks," says Specks. "With the drought, it's cut it back at least forty to fifty percent. "

CBS 8 did talk to a number of other lawn care services, and while they didn't want to go on camera, they did say their business has also been down.

Lawn care workers say the dry weather also puts wear and tear on their equipment.
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