Spring brings opportunity for garden services to open up

Changed public health measures coming into effect on Thursday at 5pm will allow people who work in services which operate in the outdoors, including gardeners and dog groomers, to be back in the yard.

Canberra landscape business owner Tim Dennett got the unexpected update from a client on Tuesday.

Alongside partner Nathan Hall, Mr Dennett had been able to do a couple of days of essential rural maintenance work in NSW but had otherwise been locked down without an income.

Mr Dennett said while most garden maintenance businesses slowed down over the colder months, for them it was the season for tree pruning and bigger landscaping jobs.

"We don't really have a downturn in winter," he said.

Mr Dennett said everything was put on hold when the snap lockdown was announced on August 12, which meant he and the rest of the industry would be playing catch-up.

"We won't be able to pick up the phone until Christmas now," Mr Dennett said.

"We're basically going to be scrambling just to get everything done for the rest of the year."

Changes for landscapers will come in alongside the relaxation or rules around outdoor gatherings.

From Thursday at 5pm, households of any size and up to five people from different households will be permitted to gather outdoors for up to two hours of exercise or for non-organised recreation.

Sadly, the changes will not come into play for this week's warmest day, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a top of 23 degrees on Thursday.

However, temperatures are expected to stay a balmy 22 degrees for the first day of the changed directions, ahead of late rain on Friday evening.

Meteorologist Neale Fraser said Saturday's wet weather would likely clear away in time for Fathers' Day.

ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said this week she hoped spring would bring everyone a bit of joy during what had been a mentally taxing period.

"Hopefully it will assist our wellbeing, we always feel a little bit better when the sun comes out," she said.

Dr Coleman said she encouraged everyone to make the most of their two hours outside when the new rules are introduced later this week.

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"We think we have the settings right which has allowed us to just give that little tiny bit of relaxation for people," she said.

"I'm conscious that being in lockdown now is challenging both physically and mentally and that is why along with the extension of the lockdown we are making some small amendments to the health direction to allow for more outdoor activity and slightly bigger groups in some situations.

"I really encourage you to take advantage of those, but please do so in a really safe way. It is important to remember that we are still in lockdown."

Lockdown in the ACT has now been extended until at least 17 September, after the capital recorded 13 new cases of coronavirus in the latest reporting period.

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