What香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 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, it香蕉视频直播檚 one of those phenomenal things,香蕉视频直播� said Basham, wielding a spray wand and wearing a white plastic backpack filled with green paint.

Lawn watering was prohibited in Metro Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 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 Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 airport, compared to the average 154.4 millimetres. August has been similarly dry so far.

The City of Port Coquitlam has launched a 香蕉视频直播済olden lawn香蕉视频直播� contest, with residents being asked to submit photos of their 香蕉视频直播渄ormant香蕉视频直播� lawns to compete for $100 gift cards, all in the name of celebrating water conservation.

Chilliwack is staging a similar competition but isn香蕉视频直播檛 trying to gild the issue 香蕉视频直播� it says it wants to find the community香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渦gliest lawn.香蕉视频直播�

Port Coquitlam resident Kristi Hayward submitted a photo to her community香蕉视频直播檚 contest, showing her neighbour香蕉视频直播檚 dog on her parched and tufty lawn.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just a way to make a fun thing out of something that was not fun,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West said he香蕉视频直播檚 sticking with his golden lawn, which he hasn香蕉视频直播檛 watered since Canada Day. He said the contest had been flooded with photo submissions.

Jackson Thornley, an owner of Turf Team Landscaping, said he香蕉视频直播檚 seen increased demand for his company香蕉视频直播檚 artificial grass in recent weeks.

香蕉视频直播淚 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,香蕉视频直播� said Thornley, adding that the company香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淧eople like to have green grass 香蕉视频直播� 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,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a permanent paint, one rain is not gonna hurt (it),香蕉视频直播� said Basham.

It香蕉视频直播檚 also biodegradable and environmentally friendly, he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 have two young kids. One is two, one is three months and I have our grass painted. I香蕉视频直播檝e got a dog as well,香蕉视频直播� said Basham. 香蕉视频直播淚 wanted to make sure (and) I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 put it in my yard if I didn香蕉视频直播檛 believe the product.香蕉视频直播�

Basham said lawn painting is popular among real estate agents staging properties for sale.

Real estate agent Justine Williams, one of Basham香蕉视频直播檚 clients, said agents want properties to be 香蕉视频直播減erfect-looking and show-ready.香蕉视频直播�

Williams said she had her own lawn painted before recommending it to clients.

香蕉视频直播淚 had it done probably about a month ago and it still looks the same as it did the day I got it painted,香蕉视频直播� she said.

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