TYLER, Texas — Gas prices could continue to rise this summer. So how is this impacting local landscapers?
One owner who’s been in the business for 19 years has seen rising gas prices before.
Salcido Lawn & Wilhite Landscape owner Marvin Salcido remembers being in this situation in 2008 and says his business hasn’t seen many issues then or today.
"We actually doubled in size in 2008," Salcido said. "We've continued to grow so even though the gas prices are high, our materials are higher and labor has gone up.
Salcido has yet to add a surcharge for high gasoline prices, but he does consider the cost in his annual summary.
"Everything's gone up, but we're still continuing to grow at quite at fast rate," Salcido said.
Another local landscaping company owner has also felt the impact trying to fuel all his equipment.
"Fuel prices are affecting our work and our even our customer base," said Justin Carlson, owner of ETX Lawn & Order.
Carlson's business is celebrating their anniversary this month. But, seeing gas prices go from under $2 a gallon to over $4 isn’t something he expected.
"It has impacted our business pretty drastically because unfortunately, we have to go up on price, just like everything else," Carlson said. "In this economy right now everything is just sky high."
One new comer in Chandler started his landscaping business earlier this year. Trevor Brown, owner of Trevor's Lawn Service's said he's seeing the same toll that rising cost are taking on clientele.
"I'm having to charge customers more to make ends meet for my service," Brown said. "I've lost a couple of customers due to pricing."
So what happens to those increased prices and surcharges once gas prices eventually fall?
"That is a good question," Carlson said. "If it can consistently stay down I'd like to bring my prices back down to where they were because you get more business that way."
To find the lowest gas prices in town text our helpline 903-600-2600 and information will be sent straight to your smartphone. Or visit our website cbs19.tv and search "gas prices."