First impressions are everything in the world of business. We wear expensive clothes when meeting clients, take them to the best restaurants in town, and invest time and resources to get our branding just right. The same concept applies to our offices. Investments in facade and landscaping make your business look more impressive, which can translate to better client goodwill and higher sales.
It can be challenging to maintain multiple commercial properties, especially if they all differ in size, shape, and complexity. A simple storefront is easier to work with than an office building with lots of green spaces. That’s why many businesses require commercial landscaping services to do the job. By leaving site development to the professionals, entrepreneurs can focus their energies on running a business.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing for you to do. If you’re on a budget, you can do some of the landscaping yourself. But that means that you’re bound to make one or two design mistakes. If you want to do things right, here are a few things you need to remember.
1. Set a budget
Whether you’re developing a new site or breathing life into an old property, it’s important to set a budget. Commercial landscaping is one of the most expensive components of any site development project. If you’re developing a new property, landscaping can cost as much as 15 percent of the total budget.
Create a site development plan based on the conditions of the area. If money is a bit tight, you don’t have to develop the outdoor area in one go. Instead, you can amend your plans and allow for completion in stages. Just make sure that the outdoor area still looks presentable even if the landscaping isn’t complete yet.
2. Hire a designer for complex projects
There are times when you can’t just DIY a landscaping project, especially if you’re dealing with a large property. It’s best to hire a landscape designer to keep things under budget and to make life easier for everyone. A professional designer knows how to best utilize the space you have, and can conceptualize a master plan that includes garden and entertainment areas.
3. Hire a gardener
Any plot covered in plants and grass will eventually grow weeds. After a while, the entire area will be overgrown, which will always look bad no matter how much you’ve spent on plants and landscaping features. You need to hire a full-time gardening staff to maintain your outdoor area and keep it healthy. You don’t want to spend a small fortune on a beautiful garden only for it to die after a few weeks.
4. Install fencing
It’s important to install fencing around the perimeter of your property, especially if it’s in the suburbs or outskirts. For starters, you want to keep your outdoor areas free of wild animals such as raccoons and opossums. Not only are they possible vectors of disease, but they could also cause serious damage to your property. If possible, hire a pest control service for periodic sweeps and removal.
5. Less is more
If you’ve seen photos of Versailles or been to a botanical garden, then you know how powerful good landscaping design and a large budget can be if applied properly. But that doesn’t mean you should replicate these looks, especially if you’re designing for corporate property.
Botanical gardens are designed to be lush and full of flora, which is one of the reasons why people love them. You risk overwhelming your property if you apply the same design principles. Instead of putting the focus on your business, people are going to notice the landscaping more. Keep things tasteful and minimal.
6. Do your research
When creating a master plan for the landscaping, it pays to do your research about the topography, lighting, and soil conditions of the area. That way, you can identify the types of plants that are best suited for your garden.
Tropical plants aren’t suited for cool climates, and vice versa, so you need to choose the right species for your area. Other factors such as moisture, humidity, and temperature also affect plant conditions. If there’s extra room in the budget, you also might want to test the soil’s pH levels.
These are just some things you need to keep in mind when designing a commercial landscape. It’s important to arm yourself with expert knowledge before executing such a large project, and knowing the basics is a good place to start.
