Landscapers see demand grow amid pandemic

Lawnscaping companies are still seeing demand for their services amid the coronavirus pandemic, and have adjusted their protocols so they can meet current health requirements and protect their customers and workers.

“My overall recommendation is for people to be patient with their landscaper and local garden center, as we are all trying to navigate these unprecedented times and often with a reduced workforce,” said Dustyn Nelson, president of the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association.

He and Tom Gaydos, with Paradise Landscaping & Tree Removal, offered their thoughts on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the landscaping industry.

Hearst Connecticut Media: Has the pandemic changed demand for landscaping services?

Dustyn Nelson: Demand for residential landscaping has increased due to the fact that people are spending more time at home and in their yards. As many people are uncertain what the future they may hold, they would like to create a space that they can enjoy regardless of what else is going on in the world, with the exception of mother nature.

Demand for commercial landscaping has fluctuated. Many construction projects have continued during this unusual time; therefore some of the projects that were already in the pipeline are still occurring. Some companies are holding off on construction projects, including landscaping, until more information develops in the future. As for new projects, construction companies do not want to fall behind when the fear of coronavirus has passed, so they are still putting projects out to bid.

Regardless of what is going on in the world, people recognize the essential nature of plants and all the benefits we derive from them. Plants provide us with food and oxygen, they help reduce erosion, have a positive impact on home values and reduce crime.

Tom Gaydos: During these unprecedented times, everyone in business has been impacted by the effect of COVID-19. Landscaping and tree removal has been categorized as essential by the state of Connecticut, which has permitted us to continue to operate which was beneficial for those in need. Especially during last month’s storm where Paradise responded to numerous emergency calls of downed trees/limbs preventing other essential workers from functioning normally.

Paradise proudly supplies other landscaping companies with mulch for their businesses made right here in New Haven, and while we have seen a steady amount of traffic we have noted several of our repeat customers from prior years have not been as active as their projects have slowed. There is a growing concern among those receiving estimates for our services regarding the return to a stable economy overall as well as their own personal employment situations preventing them from approving work until they are certain of their finances.

Hearst: Have companies changed any of the landscaping services they offer due to the coronavirus?

Nelson: Landscaping companies are continuing to offer the same services they have in the past, but they may have altered how they perform those services, to protect the safety of employees and the customers. Employees may arrive to jobsites in an individual vehicle and have their own set of tools. For more expensive equipment this may mean a single operator assigned for the entire project or sanitizing between each operator. When meeting with clients, we are practicing social distancing or may even offer a zoom conference call. Landscapers are asking their customers to turn on their own water when they preform their irrigation system startup. This often times eliminates the need for the technician to enter the home, reducing cross contamination.

Gaydos: Our crews have been issued PPE and our sales staff is practicing social distancing during appointments for estimates.

Hearst: Has the pandemic affected landscaping businesses in other ways?

Nelson: Plant availability is a challenge. Many nurseries did not dig as many trees and shrubs as they typically do in preparation for the year, as the extraordinary times were just beginning as nurseries were digging plants. Plants must be dug when they are dormant, so there is a limited time in which they can be dug and not an opportunity for a restock midseason. Nurseries want to ensure that they are offering high quality plants and the plants are more easily cared for when they are planted in the ground. With the limited man power anticipated for the season, the nurseries could not risk losing valuable material due to the inability to properly care for it all.

Some landscapers rely on temporary visitor labor programs, such as H-2A and H-2B. These programs have been limited due to the coronavirus, so companies are having to preform the same amount of labor, if not more, with a reduced workforce.