OVERLAND PARK, KS (KCTV) -
This summer's heat and drought has been tough on anyone who makes a living growing things, from farmers to nurseries.
If you have given up on your lawn like most have, the last thing you are probably thinking about is planting new trees and shrubs. And when trees and shrubs are the business you are in, that's not good news.
"The drought has negatively affected our business. Our sales are obviously down and people are not planting," Vice President at Suburban Lawn and Garden Matt Stueck said.
At Suburban Lawn and Garden, the drought has dried up business - not only are sales down, but costs are up.
"We're watering a lot more. And spending a lot more time on plant care and less time on merchandising and selling because we don't have the customers," Stueck said.
What the business does have is plenty of bushes, trees and shrubs. In fact they have managed not to lose any inventory. Stueck said as long as everything gets watered, their inventory won't die. Despite the heat, Stueck said plants prefer less humid temperatures, which has been a common occurrence this summer.
But even if things are still green at lawn and garden businesses, people aren't interested in taking the inventory home. Stueck said right now the trees they are selling are for the same price they were in 1986.
Stueck said he's hoping the worst is behind us. For the first time ever their ponds where they grow their plants are dry, but Stueck has still managed to see a silver lining. Unlike so many places, they haven't had to turn off their water and watch everything fade away.
"We aren't facing any kind of water rationing," he said.
Experts said, in the long run, keeping your trees and shrubs alive by watering them will save money and prevent you having to replace everything next year.
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