Saturday, July 17, 1999
Drought keeps sprinklers in demand
Golf courses, gardens get more attention
The Associated Press
Suppliers of irrigation equipment are soaking up profits during Ohio's driest summer of the decade.
Maintenance and landscape companies, however, are feeling the heat as gardens and golf courses need constant attention.
The state is in the midst of its worst drought since 1988, and conditions aren't expected to improve anytime soon. Forecasters predict a high pressure system will keep most of Ohio hot and sunny through the weekend.
Near-normal rainfall is expected through the end of the summer, Robert LaPlante, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Cleveland, said Friday. That will not be enough to recover from the season's shortfalls.
The drought means that golf courses must water their links more than normal. Airport Greens Golf Course in Willoughby Hills in northeast Ohio needs to be watered two to three times a day, compared with the normal few times a week.
The same is true at Cincinnati's Avon Fields course.
“We're definitely watering more than we usually would,” said Ted Osmundson, head golf professional there. “We have to make sure the greens don't burn up.”
But since less rain means more nice days, courses are making up for water costs by drawing more customers.
Some businesses don't mind the lack of rain.
“We've sold out of sprinklers and hoses two or three times and have had to order more,” said Ruth Strader, co-owner of Strader's Garden Center in Columbus. She said the drought conditions has caused a pattern in sales.
“People bought loads of plants early on,” Ms. Strader said. “When the hot weather came in June, we started to sell more watering equipment.”
John Dunlap, a sales representative for the Irrigation Supply Co. in Cleveland, said that while a strong economy is contributing to increased orders, hot, dry weather is the main factor driving business.
“We're having record sales,” Mr. Dunlap said.
Fred Tomski, manager of Gale's Garden Center in the Cleveland suburb of Maple Heights, said his store suffered losses from increased water use and plants that died before being sold.
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