Commercial properties differ substantially from residential properties with regard to landscape goals and concerns. While residential properties allow residents to interact with their landscape features, commercial properties are primarily concerned with landscaping that is neat, low-maintenance and complies with company directives. In short, it doesn’t cost much money and doesn’t prevent companies from making money. While the perception of sustainable landscaping is that it is not cost effective compared to traditional commercial landscaping methods based around lawn maintenance or tree maintenance, sustainable landscaping offers a variety of benefits to commercial property owners.

Increased curb appeal

Many commercial properties focus on extensive lawn management depending on the size of their property. Some may incorporate low growing perennials, notably evergreen shrubs and trees such as junipers, to create some variety. On occasion, more devoted property owners will plant some seasonal annuals to spice things up.

Perennials are an integral component of sustainable landscaping and, among their many benefits, they can provide a range of seasonal colors that attracts attention to a business. Appropriately sited perennial plants located around a sign or facade can attract attention from motorists or passersby, thus helping with brand placement or word-of-mouth advertising should associated parties be interested in such services. Where walk-in customers are a component of a business, a tasteful landscaping arrangement can provide a talking point as well as an invitation to explore the business. Ultimately, increased curb appeal helps to increase revenue.

Increasing customer base

Sustainability is a hot topic in a variety of commercial endeavors, but may not necessarily apply to some fields. While an organic supermarket may be heavily interested in promoting their sustainability efforts, a car dealership may not seem like an appropriate venue.

This thinking implies that potential customers are influenced only by the product being sold rather than the ambience. Customers entering said hypothetical dealership may see a tasteful, sustainably landscaped island that they might associate positively with adventure, thus viewing the dealership favorably. Since husbands often shop with their wives, a sustainability-minded wife may view the landscaping favorably and influence her husband accordingly. Likewise, a sustainability-minded customer who otherwise would not consider a certain car make or model may drop by the dealership based on the landscaping. These subtle factors, once again, can help to increase revenue.

Decrease management costs

While transitioning from a lawn-based landscaping to a sustainable landscape setting has a certain capital expense, a variety of long-term costs are avoided. First, where seasonal annuals are planted, the cost incurred with transporting, planting and removing these plants is avoided; the only cost of a perennial plant is for the initial planting and removing any unwanted vegetation at the end of the growing season. Likewise, native, perennial plants are less prone to disease and predation, decreasing the need for pesticide applications. Incorporating a diversity of densely planted plants can also reduce or eliminate the need for herbicide application; with smaller properties, mechanical weed removal or hand-weeding is more cost effective than yearly mowing contracts. Incorporating more trees, larger shrubs and associated mulch into the landscape can increase water retention by improving soil infiltration as well as increasing shade on the property, thus decreasing the need for supplemental irrigation to keep a lawn looking green. Using organic soil amendments via mulch as well as lawn applications can increase soil fertility without the need for fertilizers, pesticide or herbicide applications. Properties that are compliant with federal, state or local sustainability codes may also qualify for various credits or tax exemptions, providing other opportunities to reduce landscaping-associated costs.

Retain employees

One of the biggest costs associated with managing a business is finding, training and retaining employees, and one of the greatest concerns that employees have is work-place culture. While campus, factory or office-based enterprises can only do so much to influence workplace procedures, tasteful landscaping can help to create a more enjoyable environment for employees. Incorporating more native, perennial plants can provide a seasonal color display, with color being an important factor influencing mood and overall contentment. Likewise, incorporating more small trees and shrubs in break or outdoor dining areas can provide an inviting space for communal interaction, thus enhancing the communal feeling within one’s commercial enterprise. Another benefit that sustainable landscaping offers is to create more effective spaces for operations. Improving storm water management, using shade to decrease the heat island effect and improving air circulation not only benefit operational costs but also improve employees’ ability to use the property adequately.

Ultimately, regardless of the size of one’s commercial property, a variety of sustainable landscaping methods can be incorporated that provide a variety of benefits for all who use the space. If you are a commercial property owner interested in learning more about how to make your landscaping more sustainable, please visit the contact page to find out how ECOworks LLC can make your property work for you.