03/24/2020
With the difficulty and uncertainty that we are faced with at this time with Covid-19/Corona Virus there are many questions that have been asked and many that have yet to be answered. Recently, Governor Cuomo put New York State on "Pause," ensuring that all non-essential businesses shutter their doors and send all employees home. One question that matters to our industry is are Landscapers deemed essential?
The state and local governments are currently in the process of designating landscapers as Essential Businesses according to Executive order 202.6. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran stated in a press conference that our work is very important in keeping things clean and keeping weeds and tall grasses under control. She encouraged for landscape maintenance to continue to mitigate any unforeseeable problems. As temperatures get warmer, ticks and mosquitoes will be coming out of dormancy and can possibly spread their own diseases (West Nile, Zika, Lyme, etc.), creating even larger problems for an exasperated hospital system. In essence, landscapers fit the profile of sanitation which is an essential industry.
Landscapers are protectors of public health performing essential treatments to lawns and green spaces to reduce the transmission of dangerous and deadly diseases through pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Landscapers protect property and maintain green spaces that could otherwise jeopardize public safety. Unkept fields and green spaces increase the chance of injuries. Crime rates are increased in areas where green spaces are not maintained. Tree removal is also a critical function of our industry to avoid damaging homes and their families.
Landscapers play a critical role in boosting morale and mental health during a difficult time for our Nation. Without landscape services fields, parks, businesses, and homes will become overgrown and unkept, which can have dramatic psychological effects on the mental wellbeing of our communities.
Spring is a critical time of year for our industry due to the abundance of growth that requires prompt maintenance and care. Any halt or delay in landscape services during this time of year only magnifies potential safety problems and become much more difficult to maintain later in the year.
A healthy landscape will benefit everyone in this fight against COVID. We will continue in our efforts to perform cleanups and then begin our mowing season soon after that. My self and our crew are taking every precaution possible to adhere to social distancing and cleanliness. No two people will be riding in one vehicle, we will each have our own. We will not work in close proximity to each other, maintaining at least 6 feet between us. Masks and gloves will be provided to any employee who would like one. Vehicles and equipment will be sanitized.
If you see us working out there in your yard, give us a wave - but from at least 6 feet away!
This too shall pass. See you soon.
