What91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚 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, it91裸聊视频檚 one of those phenomenal things,91裸聊视频� said Basham, wielding a spray wand and wearing a white plastic backpack filled with green paint.
Lawn watering was prohibited in Metro Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 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 Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 airport, compared to the average 154.4 millimetres. August has been similarly dry so far.
The City of Port Coquitlam has launched a 91裸聊视频済olden lawn91裸聊视频� contest, with residents being asked to submit photos of their 91裸聊视频渄ormant91裸聊视频� lawns to compete for $100 gift cards, all in the name of celebrating water conservation.
Chilliwack is staging a similar competition but isn91裸聊视频檛 trying to gild the issue 91裸聊视频� it says it wants to find the community91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渦gliest lawn.91裸聊视频�
Port Coquitlam resident Kristi Hayward submitted a photo to her community91裸聊视频檚 contest, showing her neighbour91裸聊视频檚 dog on her parched and tufty lawn.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just a way to make a fun thing out of something that was not fun,91裸聊视频� she said.
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West said he91裸聊视频檚 sticking with his golden lawn, which he hasn91裸聊视频檛 watered since Canada Day. He said the contest had been flooded with photo submissions.
Jackson Thornley, an owner of Turf Team Landscaping, said he91裸聊视频檚 seen increased demand for his company91裸聊视频檚 artificial grass in recent weeks.
91裸聊视频淚 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,91裸聊视频� said Thornley, adding that the company91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淧eople like to have green grass 91裸聊视频� 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,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a permanent paint, one rain is not gonna hurt (it),91裸聊视频� said Basham.
It91裸聊视频檚 also biodegradable and environmentally friendly, he said. 91裸聊视频淚 have two young kids. One is two, one is three months and I have our grass painted. I91裸聊视频檝e got a dog as well,91裸聊视频� said Basham. 91裸聊视频淚 wanted to make sure (and) I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 put it in my yard if I didn91裸聊视频檛 believe the product.91裸聊视频�
Basham said lawn painting is popular among real estate agents staging properties for sale.
Real estate agent Justine Williams, one of Basham91裸聊视频檚 clients, said agents want properties to be 91裸聊视频減erfect-looking and show-ready.91裸聊视频�
Williams said she had her own lawn painted before recommending it to clients.
91裸聊视频淚 had it done probably about a month ago and it still looks the same as it did the day I got it painted,91裸聊视频� she said.
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