WhatB次元官网网址檚 the secret of a lush-looking lawn in Metro Vancouver, where watering is banned amid a brutal drought?
It might not be surreptitious sprinkling. Instead, it might be paint.
Tyler Basham, owner of Tinted Turf Grass Solutions, was giving a residential lawn in Maple Ridge an instant makeover on a recent morning, spray-painting the brown expanse and turning it a luxuriant green.
B次元官网网址淚 know it might sound a little silly at first, but then when you started looking at it and that kind of transformation from the start to finish, itB次元官网网址檚 one of those phenomenal things,B次元官网网址� said Basham, wielding a spray wand and wearing a white plastic backpack filled with green paint.
Lawn watering was prohibited in Metro VancouverB次元官网网址檚 23 local authority regions on Aug. 4, with the ban in place until Oct.15. Some homeowners are looking for alternatives including spray-painting or artificial turf, but others are embracing the golden look.
British Columbia is experiencing what the province calls a severe and unprecedented drought, with 29 of its 34 water basins at drought level 4 or 5, with level 5 being the worst level.
From May to July, just 54.6 millimetres of rain fell at VancouverB次元官网网址檚 airport, compared to the average 154.4 millimetres. August has been similarly dry so far.
The City of Port Coquitlam has launched a B次元官网网址済olden lawnB次元官网网址� contest, with residents being asked to submit photos of their B次元官网网址渄ormantB次元官网网址� lawns to compete for $100 gift cards, all in the name of celebrating water conservation.
Chilliwack is staging a similar competition but isnB次元官网网址檛 trying to gild the issue B次元官网网址� it says it wants to find the communityB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渦gliest lawn.B次元官网网址�
Port Coquitlam resident Kristi Hayward submitted a photo to her communityB次元官网网址檚 contest, showing her neighbourB次元官网网址檚 dog on her parched and tufty lawn.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a way to make a fun thing out of something that was not fun,B次元官网网址� she said.
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West said heB次元官网网址檚 sticking with his golden lawn, which he hasnB次元官网网址檛 watered since Canada Day. He said the contest had been flooded with photo submissions.
Jackson Thornley, an owner of Turf Team Landscaping, said heB次元官网网址檚 seen increased demand for his companyB次元官网网址檚 artificial grass in recent weeks.
B次元官网网址淚 think even last year, there was a little bit of a watering restriction towards the end of August, but this year has been a lot more, I would say, maybe a 20 per cent increase in demand for artificial grass now,B次元官网网址� said Thornley, adding that the companyB次元官网网址檚 waiting list was growing.
Thornley said installing artificial grass would typically save more than 50,000 litres of water per year for an average-size Vancouver yard.
Basham launched his lawn-painting business in June, and said business has picked up quickly. It costs about $200 to $250 to paint a typical residential lawn.
The watering restrictions are prompting many homeowners to seek alternatives, he said.
B次元官网网址淧eople like to have green grass B次元官网网址� and people care about their properties. We live in a really nice part of the world, and people like to make their yards look nice,B次元官网网址� he said.
The process of lawn painting, long popular in California, is similar to hair dyeing, said Basham. He said he consults with homeowners to choose the appropriate shade of green.
He said the paint is long-lasting, at least until the grass grows out again and the painted tips are mowed.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a permanent paint, one rain is not gonna hurt (it),B次元官网网址� said Basham.
ItB次元官网网址檚 also biodegradable and environmentally friendly, he said. B次元官网网址淚 have two young kids. One is two, one is three months and I have our grass painted. IB次元官网网址檝e got a dog as well,B次元官网网址� said Basham. B次元官网网址淚 wanted to make sure (and) I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 put it in my yard if I didnB次元官网网址檛 believe the product.B次元官网网址�
Basham said lawn painting is popular among real estate agents staging properties for sale.
Real estate agent Justine Williams, one of BashamB次元官网网址檚 clients, said agents want properties to be B次元官网网址減erfect-looking and show-ready.B次元官网网址�
Williams said she had her own lawn painted before recommending it to clients.
B次元官网网址淚 had it done probably about a month ago and it still looks the same as it did the day I got it painted,B次元官网网址� she said.
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