INDIANAPOLIS — With two-thirds of the nation covered by a drought that stretches from coast to coast, residents and businesses in normally well-watered areas are catching on to the lawn-painting practice employed for years in the West and Southwest to give luster to faded turf.
When this summer's drought turned her prized lawn brown, Terri LoPrimo of Staten Island, N.Y., paid $125 to green up her roughly 830-square-foot lawn by having it sprayed with a deep-green organic dye. She said it was worth every penny to keep her home of 33 years graced by an attractive yard.
Neighbors and friends have complimented the LoPrimos on their lawn's appearance, and she said one envious friend asked for the number of their contractor, Joe Perazzo.
Perazzo, who teaches physical education at Brooklyn's High School of Sports Management, began painting lawns during his summer break three years ago. His Staten Island company, Grass Is Greener Lawn Painting, has touched up close to 20 lawns this summer, making it his best year to date.
"I'm booked solid for next week. If you look around, most of the lawns need some TLC," Perazzo said.
He charges 15 cents per square foot to spray on a nontoxic, environmentally friendly turf dye that he said is commonly used on golf courses and athletic fields to give them a lusher appearance.