In the current highly competitive business environment, a beautifully landscaped property can be an effective way for property owners and managers to enhance property value and attract more customers. Beyond the immediate impact on aesthetics, a well-designed commercial landscape with thoughtfully selected plantings, well-trimmed hedges, and alluring walkways elevates the customer experience, leading to longer stays, increased spending, and repeat visits. 

Designing and maintaining a beautiful landscape around your property is easier than you may think. 

Five Smart Low-Maintenance Techniques To Elevate Your Commercial Landscape:

1. Tap Into Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping focuses on designing a landscape to minimize water usage. There are several ways to implement xeriscaping based on the property setup and specific design preferences which includes: 

• Choosing plant drought-resistant greenery that includes grouping plants with similar water needs
• Incorporating mulching and hard surfaces like rocks, paths, and retaining walls to cover unused areas that may sap moisture from intended plants
• Plant your chosen species at the appropriate spacing to avoid overcrowding that often leads to competition.
• Using porous materials for walkways and patios to allow rainwater to penetrate the soil, reducing runoff and recharging groundwater.
• Regularly pruning and maintaining your plants to remove dead or diseased growth. This helps conserve water by ensuring that resources are directed toward healthy plant growth.

2. Choose Native Species

Compared to non-regional and exotic species, native plants and trees are generally low maintenance. Since the trees and greenery in your area have already acclimatized appropriately, they won’t require much upkeep to stay healthy when faced with adverse weather elements, including droughts. Carefully select various native plants and trees that complement each other aesthetically and symbiotically. 

3. Opt For Evergreens

Choosing perennial flowers that bloom year after year instead of annuals that require regular replanting effectively reduces the maintenance demands of your gardens. Plant evergreen trees such as the Eastern white pine, Colorado blue spruce, American holly, Southern magnolia, and Monterey pine to achieve a resilient green landscape with reliable shade throughout the year.

4. Consider Grass Alternatives

Maintaining a thriving, lush lawn often requires massive watering and other routine maintenance. To reduce these demands, consider using grass alternatives for your lawn based on your region’s climate and soil conditions. Examples of grass alternatives are:

• Moss: Moss lawns are a unique and visually appealing alternative to grass. Mosses thrive in shaded and moist areas, making them ideal for damp or poorly drained parts of your yard. Moss requires virtually no mowing and can create a lush, carpet-like appearance.
• Sedge: Sedge is a grass-like plant that can be used as a lawn alternative. It’s adaptable to various soil types, requires minimal watering, and has a fine texture that resembles traditional grass. Carex species offer various color and height options.
• Buffalo grass: Buffalo grass is a native North American grass well-suited for low-maintenance lawns. It has a slow growth rate, requires infrequent mowing, and is drought-tolerant. Buffalo grass also has good heat tolerance.
• Clover fields: Clover is another excellent alternative to traditional grass lawns. It’s drought-tolerant, requires minimal mowing, and fixes nitrogen in the soil, which benefits other plants in your garden. Clover’s dense growth also helps suppress weeds.

5. Incorporate Rocks and Stones

Apart from trees, flowers, and shrubs, rocks, too, are part of nature. You can use rocks and stones to naturally set up your outdoor area and substantially reduce your landscape maintenance budgets. Use rocks to highlight specific areas and retain the moisture levels of the greenery. Choose rocks and stones from your local area to further enhance the detail of native landscaping designs. 

Qualities of Beautifully Designed Commercial Landscape

Now that you are aware of the low-maintenance techniques to achieve a beautiful lawn with little effort, here are a few tips to enhance your commercial landscape design:

• Incorporate common areas: Common areas create a sense of community in your property. They provide customers and workers with an ideal place to get some fresh area and enjoy your stunning landscape. Ensure the common areas have seating areas with chairs or benches, fountains, fire pits, and various plants, trees, and shrubs.
• Add lighting: Proper lighting helps highly vital landscape areas while enhancing overall safety. It is recommended that you add lighting to entrances, walking paths, shrubs, foliage, and signage.
• Add walking trails: Walking trails encourage guests to exercise and take in some fresh air, ultimately enhancing their experience. Add pathways and walking trails in common areas or through your landscape.
• Create shady areas: Shady areas lure customers, workers, and guests to sit and relax. Add trees, tents, and umbrellas to allow people to get spots to enjoy their stay away from the hot sun. 

Work With the Top Landscaping Experts in Northern Virginia

State of the Art Landscape specializes in creating beautiful property settings that make stellar first impressions for your customers, guests, and employees. We offer unmatched expertise in all aspects of commercial landscaping designs, including design-build, tailored landscaping, hardscaping, lawn maintenance, turf care and maintenance, and more, all at affordable rates. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.