Few things are more frustrating than a messy front yard. In addition to disrupting your curb appeal, overgrown, messy landscaping can also harbor pests and make it look like you don't care about your property. Fortunately, tidying up your yard doesn't have to be difficult. I have spent years learning more about landscaping, and this blog is all about how to become a landscaping enthusiast. Check out these articles about fun topics like planting flowers, perfecting pruned trees, and decorating your yard with whimsical additions. After you know more about landscaping, your yard might become the talk of the town.
An attractively landscaped business is more inviting and conveys a professional feel. Unfortunately, a few mistakes can detract from the landscaping and make it harder to maintain.
1. Planting Fruit Trees
Although all trees are beautiful, not all varieties are suited for a commercial landscape. The ideal commercial trees will leaf out fully and be easy to maintain. Further, they shouldn't produce fruits, as these are likely to attract pests and create a mess since they aren't likely to be harvested in a commercial setting. If you already have messy fruiting trees, talk to your landscapers. They can prune right after flowering to prevent fruit production.
2. Overlooking Security
The landscaping around your building can impact security. Overgrown bushes near entrances, for example, provide a place to hide for those that want to enter the premises without permission. Tall plants that obstruct the view under windows pose a similar concern. Walkways and parking lots should only feature low plants or trees with high crowns so there aren't any hiding places for possible thieves or assailants.
3. Skipping the Mulch
Mulch is well worth the investment, as it covers up bare dirt so it doesn't attract weedy growth and garbage—a real problem that can make any business look rundown. It also reduces labor costs for landscape maintenance, since less weeding is necessary. Mulch, which helps retain moisture in the soil, may even lower your irrigation bill. You can use rock mulch around perennial plants, while wood chip mulch is better suited for annuals.
4. Ignoring Runoff
Irrigation is a must if you want to keep the landscaping healthy and attractive. Don't overlook where the excess water will go, though, as surface water runoff problems can sometimes result in fines depending on local laws and regulations. Your landscaping company can plan for irrigation using a variety of sprinkler emitters and drip systems so that very little water is wasted. What runoff there is can be routed to retention ponds and storm drains.
5. Forgetting Winter
From spring through early fall, lush lawns, leafy trees, and flowering plants make your place of business appealing and welcoming. All that can change in winter if you didn't plan ahead for the dormant season. Adding some evergreen trees and shrubs to the design brings back color. Further, consider ornamental grasses that still feature beautiful seed stalks in winter. The addition of these plants combined with proper fall cleanup will make the landscaping beautiful year-round.
Contact landscaping companies for more information.
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