Lawn care companies facing strain from excessive heat and drought

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some small business owners in Mid-Missouri feel like they are going from a problem that is out of their control to another.

It was just a few weeks ago that we were talking about how high gas prices were putting a strain on lawn care companies.  

Now to some, it seems like 2022 is the year that just keeps testing their resilience and now companies that went from mowing nearly 200 yards in a week are mowing around 75 yards a week.

The near triple-digit heat is keeping some crew from working.

"This is allowing us to get caught up before it starts raining again, and it will start again, I am confident about that," said Patrick Hickerson, owner of Hickerson Lawn and Landscaping.  

As a company, Hickerson says that he went from an average of cutting around 200 yards a week to less than 75 this week.

"We certainly always hope for the slow down in July, you know we pray for it, but this, this is more than usual," said Hickerson.

So in an industry that usually charges customers each time they mow a yard "We are fully capable of doing other work," said Hickerson.

That other work means catching up on landscape jobs like this one. 

"It doesn't matter if we are mowing or doing something like this we want to keep a steady line of revenue," said Hickerson.

When it comes to keeping staff on the payroll when the dog days of summer set in.

"We are always concerned about things like that when we are in a situation like we are right now. And we discuss it and I let the guys know Monday morning, hey let's get the grass cut, don't panic we have other work to do," said Hickerson.

Hickerson says he feels lucky that they are able to keep as many employees on staff and that the landscaping side of his business if keeping the bills paid and money in his crew's pocket. 

Like many small business owners, he knows that taking care of his staff

"We keep a good log and my guys are confident I will take care of them," said Hickerson.

The most important thing when the unknown comes along is just to keep pushing.

We keep doing these odds and ends and mowing the yards that are growing. It's gonna start raining again in September, I am confident of that," said Hickerson.

If your yard is looking anything like mine, where it is burnt and yellow and is just not growing and you just have to have a perfectly green yard, Hickerson recommends that you water in the early morning hours around three times a week.