When it comes to enhancing your commercial property, one aspect that often goes overlooked is the landscaping. The outdoor aesthetics of your business can have a profound impact on your clients, customers, and employees.
A well-maintained commercial landscape is more than just an aesthetic feature; it’s an integral part of your business’s image and functionality. Your outdoor space is often the first point of contact for clients, customers, and employees, making it vital to invest in its design, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
Understanding the Benefits of Commercial Landscaping
A beautifully designed commercial landscape offers a multitude of benefits for businesses. Let’s delve into some of the key advantages it brings:
- Your business’s exterior is the first thing visitors see. A well-maintained landscape can make a lasting positive impression, creating a sense of professionalism and trust.
- A welcoming outdoor space can set the tone for your customers’ experience. It makes them feel valued and comfortable, encouraging them to engage with your business.
- Your employees’ environment can significantly impact their mood and productivity. A lush, pleasant landscape can boost morale, reduce stress, and improve overall job satisfaction.
- Strategically designed landscapes can provide natural shade and insulation, reducing energy consumption. Additionally, choosing native plants and sustainable practices can contribute to a healthier environment.
The exterior of your business is the first thing that your clients, customers, and employees see. Implementing a well-designed commercial landscape enhances the curb appeal of your property so that you can create a positive first impression.
Planning the Landscape Design
The first step in landscape design is conducting a comprehensive site analysis. This includes evaluating the topography, soil properties, sun exposure, and drainage patterns of the property. You’ll need this information to determine the types of plants and landscape features that would be suitable for your commercial property.
Your commercial property’s landscape should serve both aesthetic and functional purposes. It should enhance the architectural design of your property, provide spaces for leisure and customer interaction, and ensure easy navigation.
The choice of plants and hardscape elements should align with the overall design concept, local climate, and environmental conditions. The selected plants should not only enhance the aesthetics of the property but also be suitable for the local climate and soil conditions.
Here are our suggestions for native plants that enhance your landscape throughout each season in Edmonton:
Spring:
- Prairie Crocus – These purple or white flowers are some of the first to bloom in spring.
- Western Redbud – Known for its beautiful pink to lavender blossoms in early spring.
- Western Snowberry – This shrub produces small pink flowers and berries.
Summer:
- Wild Bergamot – A fragrant and showy wildflower that attracts pollinators.
- Prairie Coneflower – Known for its striking yellow to red-brown petals.
- Western Blue Flax – Features delicate blue flowers and thrives in the summer heat.
Fall:
- Showy Goldenrod – Adds a burst of yellow colour to fall landscapes.
- Buffaloberry – Produces red berries and colourful foliage in the fall.
- Canadian Serviceberry – Features orange and red fall foliage.
Winter:
- Balsam Poplar – Known for its distinctive bark and resilience in rough Edmonton winters.
- Snowberry – The white berries persist through the cold winter months.
- Prairie Junegrass – A hardy grass that remains green during the winter.
These native plants not only enhance your garden’s beauty but also support local wildlife and thrive in Edmonton’s climate throughout the seasons.
Hardscape Installation and Construction
Choosing high-quality and durable materials for hardscape elements such as walkways, patios, and retaining walls is important to ensure their longevity and safety. The materials should also seamlessly integrate with the surrounding landscape and architecture of the property.
Don’t forget the irrigation systems! They ensure that all the plants throughout your commercial property’s landscape receive adequate water, which is essential for their growth and survival.
Outdoor structures, like patios, pergolas, and seating areas, not only enhance the visual appeal of your property but also provide functional spaces for customers, tenants, and visitors to relax and interact.
Always remember that any landscaping project you undertake should comply with local codes and regulations. These may pertain to issues such as water usage, plant selection, and the construction of outdoor structures.
Selecting and Planting the Right Vegetation
Different plant species have different light, water, and soil requirements, so you’ll need to research and select plant species that are suitable for your property’s specific conditions.
The placement of plants should also be strategically planned to ensure visual appeal, functionality, and ease of maintenance. An optimal plant layout considers factors such as plant size, growth rate, and seasonal variations in colour and texture. Choosing plants with different seasonal colour variations can ensure that your landscape remains attractive throughout the year.
Proper planting techniques are vital for the healthy growth and establishment of the plants you choose for your commercial landscape. This includes preparing the soil, correctly positioning the plants, and providing adequate water and nutrients after planting.
Implementing Sustainable Landscaping Practices
Sustainability is an important aspect of modern commercial landscaping. Here’s how to incorporate it into your landscape:
- Native and drought-tolerant plants require less water, reducing your irrigation needs and water bills.
- Mulch and ground covers help retain moisture in the soil, reduce erosion, and minimize weed growth.
- Smart irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting can significantly reduce water consumption and costs.
- Using chemical-free pest control methods not only benefits the environment but also ensures a safer outdoor environment for your clients, tenants, and visitors.
Maintenance Best Practices
Regular mowing, trimming, and edging keep your landscape looking neat and well-groomed. You should always use professional-grade equipment and follow best practices to ensure that the grass is cut at the right height and the edges are clean and sharp.
It’s not just grass that needs to be cut, however. You’ll need to regularly prune trees and shrubs to maintain their health and shape. This involves removing dead or diseased branches, thinning out overgrown areas, and shaping the plant to improve its appearance and structure.
Next, you want to ensure proper fertilization of your commercial landscape. Fertilization provides plants with essential nutrients, while weed control measures help prevent weeds from competing with plants for resources. A well-planned fertilization and weed control program can greatly increase the health and appearance of your landscape.
Finally, create a seasonal clean-up schedule for your commercial property’s landscape. Seasonal clean-ups involve removing fallen leaves, dead plants, and other debris. This not only improves the appearance of your property but also helps prevent pests and diseases.
Managing Pest and Disease Issues
Pests and diseases can cause significant damage to your landscape, so you’ll need to know what to look for. Below is a list of some of the most common pests and diseases that can affect your plants in Edmonton.
Pests:
- Aphids: These are tiny insects that feed on plant sap and can damage a variety of plants by causing wilting and distortion of leaves.
- Spider Mites: These tiny arachnids can infest a wide range of plants, leaving fine webbing and causing stippling on leaves.
- Cutworms: These caterpillars cut off young plants at or near the soil surface, causing damage to seedlings and young transplants.
- Leafhoppers: These insects can transmit plant diseases and cause damage to leaves by puncturing them and feeding on plant sap.
Diseases:
- Powdery Mildew: A common fungal disease that presents as a powdery, white substance on the leaves of plants, including roses and lilacs.
- Rust Fungus: Rust diseases affect a wide range of plants and manifest as orange, yellow, or brown spots on leaves, stems, and fruits.
- Black Spot: Commonly seen on roses, this disease causes black spots with fringed edges on the leaves, leading to defoliation.
- Dutch Elm Disease: This fungal disease can kill mature elm trees by blocking water flow, resulting in wilting and death of the tree.
Regular inspections of your landscape can help identify potential problems early, allowing for timely and effective treatment.
Seasonal Landscape Maintenance Tasks
Different seasons bring unique challenges and opportunities for your commercial landscape. Here’s a breakdown of tasks for each season:
Spring Maintenance
Spring is a critical time for landscape maintenance. Tasks may include aerating the lawn, fertilizing plants, and preparing for new growth. Spring is also the time to address any winter damage and start planting for the upcoming growing season.
Summer Maintenance
In summer, regular watering, pest control, and management of high temperatures are key. It’s also a good time to add colourful annuals and perennials to your landscape to enhance its visual appeal.
Fall Maintenance
Fall maintenance tasks include leaf removal, overseeding, and preparing for winter. This is also a good time to plant trees and shrubs, as the cooler temperatures and increased rainfall can help them establish before the winter months.
Winter Maintenance
Winter maintenance may include pruning, protecting sensitive plants from frost, and managing snow and ice. Regular inspections can help identify any damage caused by winter weather and allow for early intervention.
Engaging Professional Commercial Landscaping Services
Outsourcing maintenance and design services to a professional commercial landscaping company like Naco Commercial Property Solutions can save you time, effort, and money. Professionals have the expertise and resources to provide you with high-quality services and deliver your desired results.
When selecting a landscaping company, you should consider their range of services, experience, customer feedback, and reputation. A reputable company will be able to provide references, show a portfolio of their work, and offer a comprehensive service package that meets your needs.
Professional landscapers can provide ongoing care and enhancements for your landscape. They can work with you to develop a maintenance plan that aligns with your budget and property needs, ensuring that your landscape remains in optimal condition year-round.
Your best bet is to build a long-term partnership with a commercial landscaping company. That way, you know the services you receive will be consistent and of good quality. You’ll also receive personalized attention and peace of mind knowing that your landscape is in good hands.
A well-maintained commercial landscape is an asset that enhances your business’s image, boosts property value, and provides a welcoming environment for clients and employees. From planning the design to implementing maintenance practices, every aspect of commercial landscaping plays an important role in achieving these benefits.
With a comprehensive understanding of the importance of commercial landscaping, you can make informed decisions about the design, installation, and regular maintenance of your landscape. Whether you choose to handle these tasks yourself or hire professional services like Naco Commercial Property Solutions, remember to prioritize sustainability, aesthetics, and functionality.
Contact Naco today to get started on your commercial property’s landscaping design. For more tips and tricks about your commercial property, download our free guide, 7 Commercial Property Maintenance Tips to Save You Money.