Auburn Home Show Artificial turf, drought-tolerant landscapes among offerings

Drought across California is changing the focus of many of the contractors who do business at the Auburn Home Show.

The fall version of the twice-a-year home show at the Gold Country Fairgrounds starts Friday and runs through Sunday.

With a statewide drought emergency declared in California and mandatory cutbacks in water use in effect, contractors like Lavish Gardens Landscape of Rocklin are noticing the difference in customer needs.

Lavish Gardens owner Michael Cole said that despite the drought, business continues to grow,, but in a different direction.

Instead of asking for natural lawns, customers are asking for less lawn or even no lawn at all, Cole said.

“We’re also finding ourselves installing more artificial grass,” Cole said.

Alex Aguilar, owner of Auburn’s Paradise View Landscaping, said he’s also noticing a shift to more water-cognizant landscape planning.

“We’re moving with the times and definitely building more hardscapes and drought-tolerant gardens,” Aguilar said. “People are staying away from regular grass and putting in drought-tolerant plantings. You can call it drought-tolerant or water-efficient.”

Lani Johnston, producer of Auburn Home Shows, said about 25,000 people are expected to take in the Auburn Home Show. That’s about double the size of the population of the city of Auburn.

Johnston noted the drought-conscious shift in demand being matched by home show vendors.

“One of the big things is artificial grass,” Johnston said. “We have a number of those who are offering all kinds of options. If you come here, you will find all the solutions.”

In a nod to the work of firefighters on the King and other fires, the home show will be putting up a large “thank you” sign that attendees will be asked to sign, Johnston said. It will be located at the fair’s parking lot gate entrance, off Auburn Folsom Road.

With pleasant weather, Johnston said Saturday and Sunday should be big attendance days.

“A lot of ladies come on Friday or Saturday and on Sunday, they may bring their spouses in,” Johnston said. “That’s when they make the large purchases.”

Auburn Home Shows has been presenting spring and fall events for 18 years.

Bill Linder, owner of Coachworks Construction in Rocklin, said he’s been setting up temporary shop at the show twice a year for a minimum of 15 of those years.

“It’s close, local and comfortable,” Linder said. “It’s a beautiful place to spend a weekend and more like a walk around a park when compared to some other home shows.”