We are all aware of the current economic state of our country and the effect it has had on millions of Americans. But have you ever sat back and wondered if and how the crisis is impacting urban forestry? While you might not want to hear this, it is. Local governments, tree care companies, landscapers and nurseries have all been hit by the economic hardship. We contacted several Council members, representing different spectrums of urban forestry, and asked them to share how they have been effected. Here is what they had to say…

The Government: If you are a government employee in the state of South Carolina, it would be safe to assume that you are effected by the current state of our economy. Many governments have gone to great lengths to save money by prohibiting travel, initiating hiring freezes and furloughing up to five days a year. Municipal Urban Forestry divisions find themselves unable to fulfill their work requirements because they are unable to recruit, hire and train qualified employees. The City of Charleston has recently reduced overtime by half, which has the potential to negatively impact its public trees. It is anticipated that 20-25 large trees will not be maintained properly, and more than 100 young trees will not be trained pruned. The City of Rock Hill, though not directly impacted by the economy at this time, finds itself in a “buyer’s market” for contracting out projects, with most bids coming in with extremely competitive pricing. Tree Care Companies: The “buyer’s market” results from companies competing for limited jobs by offering reduced rates. With limited revenue, many companies are forced to layoff labor, which reduces their ability to solicit large-scale, high-paying jobs. Throw in the mix that several companies are in debt to banks and financial institutions, and there is no question why they are forced to close their doors.

Landscapers: Luckily for landscape companies, grass will always continue to grow, but turf and other plant installations are suffering. Unfortunately, many developers and companies have either reduced or omitted landscaping from their projects. As the demand for services decreases, landscape companies layoff crews, who then turn around and open their own small-scale, independent landscaping company, creating more competition with lower prices and compromised quality.

Nurseries: Many find themselves slashing prices in order to move the product. One local nursery has cut back on making large purchases of chemicals, liners and other supplies, opting to purchase only necessary items. Its owner admits that sales, though off considerably from this time last year, have been steady. He contributes this to their bullish approach and competitive prices. No one has been laid off, but hours have been reduced and they are now closed onFridays. Nurseries throughout the state are concerned because with the decrease in landscaping projects, the toughest times are still to come. We are told that our economy will actually get worse before it gets better. Experts are forecasting that it will take a year to hit rock bottom, at which time we can begin building back up. What can we, as stewards of urban forestry, do in the meantime? Governments may turn to more “in house” or local training until travel restrictions are rescinded. Supervisors may need to work harder on short-term strategic planning and morale building in order to encourage employees to “do more with less.” Hopefully, commercial tree care companies will be able to educate their clients that it is better for them to use ethical, knowledgeable arborists than to cut corners by hiring undertrained folks who could end up creating a hazardous situation or costing more within a short period of time. Nurseries will continue to offer bargain prices. We can help by taking advantage of these bargains and buy plant materials from them. As with commercial arborists, try to utilize landscape companies that employ knowledgeable, well-trained employees. Until the housing market recovers, some landscapers may begin to perform more maintenance than plant installation. If an opportunity presents itself, utilize this important aspect of the Green Industry. As stewards of our state’s urban forests, it is imperative that we work together to see us through this crisis. In the end, we will come out stronger and better than before.