Landscaping is one of the most crucial considerations when purchasing and maintaining a commercial property. The property’s exterior is the very first thing potential tenants see. If it’s well-maintained, they’ll be more likely to choose your property over others that may not be as appealing on the outside.
When you have a set land maintenance plan, you’ll attract more reliable tenants overall and will have better curb appeal. Though landscaping takes work, you’ll reap many benefits from investing your time and money on it.
Here are eight tips for landscaping for commercial property owners like you.
1. Clear Walkways
A top priority in your landscaping plan is to ensure all walkways are clear. Your tenants and other guests need to safely and effectively get from point A to point B.
After a storm, heavy winds or rainfall, ensure walkways and sidewalks are free of any debris or branches. If your region gets snow and ice in the wintertime, make sure you shovel and salt the walkways.
The last thing you want is to be liable for an entirely preventable injury. At all times of the year, the walkways should stay unobstructed for everyone’s safety who walks on them.
2. Save Energy and Water
Contribute to energy and water savings by creating a functional landscape. By adding specific vegetation, you will cut costs on your utility bills.
Trees provide plenty of shade and reduce your need to cool the building all the time in warmer months. Additionally, trees block strong winds during storms and in the winter, which can cause damage without protection.
You can conserve water by choosing plants that don’t need much water or by incorporating more hardscaping.
3. Limit Lawn Space
To lessen the cost and time of maintenance, you can add more hardscaping to your property. These include sidewalks or other stone or concrete areas that don’t require mowing or tending to greenery.
Reduce the lawn’s size and add more sidewalks or patio seating areas for your guests. Doing so can significantly increase your property’s accessibility and add texture.
If you don’t want to decrease your landscaping, but you still want to add hardscaping, you’ll need to clear any overgrown areas of the property. You can use skid-steers to tackle land clearing, then add patios or more sidewalks.
4. Add a Touch of Color
Whether you have hardscaping or landscaping, you should add a touch of color. As stated before, the property’s exterior plays a significant role in people’s first impressions. A bland appearance may push them away.
For low-maintenance options, plant perennials around the building. You can also add a few small shrubs. While they’ll need occasional trimming, they’ll add more appeal and a natural touch to your landscaping.
5. Find the Right Crew
One of the best things you can do for your property’s landscaping is hiring an effective and reliable crew if you choose not to do the maintenance on your own. When you research a landscaping company, you want to ask these questions:
- Is the company reputable?
- Do the workers have all the proper training and qualifications for that specific job?
- Does the company have consistently high reviews and references?
- Can you trust that the crew will be able to handle all your property’s needs?
By asking and getting the answers to these questions, you can be more comfortable with the company you hire to take care of the land.
6. Convey a Message
What kind of commercial property do you own? Is it a professional business? An apartment complex?
Your landscaping sends a message, and it should be in line with what kind of building or business is on the property. Various landscaping elements can convey other impressions.
For example, if your business focuses on sustainability, you might want to add more native vegetation. If it is a place where kids will play, it should be full of bright colors and child-safe furniture and fixtures.
7. Add Lights
For further safety on your commercial property, ensure everything is well-lit. At night, you want to ensure everyone who comes to the property can see where they’re going and that they feel safe if walking alone.
Energy-saving lights are an excellent option. These will automatically turn on when they sense motion. If you own a residential property, you might consider adding some soft-light lamps or string lights to patio areas or gardens.
8. Control Pests and Weeds
Pests and weeds take away from landscaping, especially if there are outdoor seating areas where people will be prone to the nuisances and can see weeds. Use safe pesticides or natural methods of getting rid of pests and weeds. Doing so will increase curb appeal and make your tenants or clients want to stay.
Make Landscaping a Priority
When someone enters your commercial property, you want to make a positive and lasting impression. They’ll see your landscaping before entering the building, so keep up on maintenance to draw people in!
Author Bio:
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.
