Gardener Gonzalo Ruiz, 56, says his work has been reduced to between 15 and 20 weekly visits. In 2021, as California faced its second driest year on record, the state's governor, Gavin Newsom, made a drought emergency declaration.
Many water providers in Southern California imposed strict irrigation regulations for ornamental grasses in commercial and institutional facilities. The three states with the most people dedicated to this profession are California, Florida and Texas, according to the Government Labor Statistics site.