California Homeowners are Turning to Lawn Painting to Disguise Their Browning Lawns

UPDATED 1/7/21

The people who are interested in easy lawn maintenance actually have many different options. Individuals who have potentially unhealthy lawns can search for a ‘garden specialist near me.’ They can get grass cut at the right time.

While people often think that lawn mowing is mainly about aesthetics, it’s actually an important part of lawn health itself. When the grass becomes overgrown, it can block the sunlight from other individual blades of grass. Larger blades of grass also might use more nutrients than smaller blades of grass.

Grass that is very even and short won’t need all that much water, but it will need more the longer it gets. A few individual elongated blades of grass won’t make a difference, but when the entire lawn is like that, it can start to become an issue.

Different professional grass companys can help people solve various lawn problems. People might think that dry grass cannot be restored, but this is not necessarily the case. There could be an issue with the soil. Lawns that just have not been maintained properly for a long time can still recover. Individual blades of grass will typically only live for forty days, so people might not have to wait particularly long.

California is experiencing the worst drought in its history, and while most are bemoaning the water rationing, fines, and unsightly brown lawns, some see it as a business opportunity.

When Drew McClellan listened to a friend complaining about his browning front lawn earlier this summer, he thought back to his childhood in Florida, where he often saw golf courses using sprays to dye their greens.

After a brief Internet search failed to show any local business offering this kind of service to homeowners, McClellan decided to take matters into his own hands. And since opening up shop in July,andnbsp;he’s had more requests than he can handle.

“No matter how weird people might think it is, everyone is getting to the point of considering something drastic,” McClellan says.

McClellan has taken a break from his other job working as a hair stylist in a retro barbershop. He and his wife work together to handle the booming lawn painting business.

Most California water districts have put in place rationing, limiting the number of days and times that residents are permitted to water their lawns or wash their cars, with a $500 fine for violators. Several California cities have started running public safety announcements declaring that “Brown is the new green,” picturing dormant grass alongside a lush lawn.

Many residents have taken to transforming their once lush green lawns with landscapes featuring rocks, pavers, planters, and drought-resistant plants.

The transition from green to brown is still proving difficult for some people, as a lush green lawn has long been a symbol of wealth and vitality, especially in beautiful Technicolor California.

“Letting it go dead and brown might be an option for some people,” says Shawn Sahbari, a Bay Area entrepreneur who manufactured his own paint formula when working with a property management company several years ago, “but let’s face it, nobody really thinks brown is the new green.”

Jim Power, manager at Lawnlift, a San Diego lawn paint manufacturer whose business has tripled in the last year, says, “I see it as a cultural paradigm shift that we are just starting to make. It’s very hard to find a yard that doesn’t have a problem — this is a quick fix, instant gratification that does not make you feel guilty.”

Cy Bodden and his wife painted their lawn to welcome visiting relatives after they had a new baby. When one of their nephews stepped on the green grass, he was dismayed to find it was rough and crunchy. But Bodden wasn’t swayed.

“The only people who really think it’s weird are people who aren’t from California,” he said.

Another Option: Synthetic Lawns

Another option for homeowners struggling with dead lawn due to the drought is synthetic turf for lawns. Synthetic lawn companies offer a solution that makes having a beautiful yard easy.

Advantages of artificial grass

• Easy maintenance: Artificial grass aftercare is a breeze. When you buy synthetic lawn, you no longer have to deal with the issues that come with lawn diseases, pests, and weeds.
• Save money: In the long run, you’ll save money on fertilizer, pesticides, and of course, water.
• Better for the environment: When you don’t need to mow your lawn you’re helping reduce air pollution caused by gas-powered lawn mowers. You’ll also decrease ground pollution since you’ll no longer need pesticides and fertilizer. And the best part — your water usage will decrease as you don’t need to keep your artificial grass synthetic lawn turf hydrated.

Artificial grass typically has a life expectancy of around 12 to 15 years, so contact local synthetic lawn companies, set it and forget it!

California’s regular droughts make its climate tough on lawns. You could have your local commercial landscape service spray your lawn from brown to green if all else fails.

Rather than searching for cheap yard service, focus on more than just finding “someone to cut my lawn.” You need a service that uses the best lawn care practices so you can improve your lawn. Despite the droughts California often experiences, you can have a beautiful lawn. No cheap grass cutting service will know how to xeriscape, but a professional landscape service will.

Using such a service can result in a quick lawn improvement for you. You might have the brown grass sprayed as a temporary measure while your landscapers overhaul your yard. Xeriscaping consists of working with the natural climate of the state and the existing soil type so the landscape proves hearty regardless of the weather. It typically uses hardscapes with boulders, rocks, seashells, and other natural décor. A xeriscape may also include cacti and yucca plants depending on the area. California’s regular droughts make its climate tough on lawns. You could have your local commercial landscape service spray your lawn from brown to green if all else fails.