19-07-2025
Wet July bad news for landscaping, good news for garden centres
The wetter, cloudier and gloomier July brings a mix of good and bad news for the city's landscaping and garden centres.
Friday night's rainstorm has been only one of many heavy rainy nights the city has experienced during a month usually known for its sunny days and arid climate.
For garden centres, it means a dip in summer work of watering the outdoor trees and ensuring a full staff to take on plant care. However for landscaping businesses, the rainy climate means project delays and multiple stops in work, reducing just how much can get done during the industry's busiest season and how much can be earned.
'Historically, Calgary and the area has been through a prolonged drought that has lasted years,' Tricia Katelnikoff, owner of Cobblestone Garden Centre. 'So this is a big catch-up on our precipitation and we badly need it.'
No shortage of rain
On average, the city receives around 65.7 mm of rainfall in July but this year's precipitation has already exceeded averages with monthly rainfall totals adding up to 99.4 mm.
Katelnikoff described the higher precipitation as welcome relief for the environment. 'It's going to help replenish the water table, all the reservoirs and wetlands,' she said.
As the owner of a garden centre, it has also meant easier business. As an eco business, the garden centre collects its own water into a pond designed to hold several million litres. 'So this rain actually helps to fill the pond up, ' she said. 'And the point is at a level that I haven't seen for several years.'
The fresh water has also improved pond quality, she added. It has also meant 'less work watering the tree lot, because nature is just doing it for us,' she said. 'And in regards to customer impact, I think the overall impression by staff and customers alike is that we are happy for this rain. We're really happy for it.'
Brad Hitchings, store manager for Greengate Garden Centre, echoed the same.
'It's been great for the plant material,' he said. 'We sell outdoor trees and shrubs in our tree lot so those have to be hand watered, so when you get good douses, then the tree lot is good for a couple of days? It saved on labour and water and everything else.'
Landscapers hit hard
However, Nam Vu, owner of Day 1 Landscaping, said the constant rain has been a deterrent to his ability to complete projects for clients and has meant delays and income loss.
'For landscaping, this is seasonal,' he said. 'So if you lose two weeks in the summer, that's a lot.'
He said he and his staff regularly check the Weather app, but there's little they can do on a rainy day. 'You can't do anything about it,' he said.
Related
How is July rain affecting business at large?
Compared to last year, Vu said he has only been able to do half the usual amount of work this year.
Satwinder Singh, who owns Great North Landscaping & Construction Ltd., said that almost every day this month has been 'off from work.'
Customers usually book in advance two months ahead, but the weather has meant a lot of uncertainty around scheduling and following through.
'If the wet weather were to continue, it would mean no business, zero income,' Singh said.
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