Commercial Landscaping Blog for The San Jose | Bay Area, CA

Late winter is a great time to plant trees, shrubs and even do some transplanting. There are a few simple steps that must be taken in order to ensure success. Planting in the late winter still allows enough time for the plant materials establishment before the warm weather begins. “What is the best time to install new trees and plants one might ask? This is a common question that we get asked from property managers across the San Francisco Bay area that are anxious to get things started.

Some landscaping experts might argue that autumn is the best time to install new landscaping plants and trees alike: And that is correct because the temperatures are moderate allowing for trees and plants to acclimate during the winter cooler months. Even though we are at the tail end of the winter season doesn’t mean you can get started on your commercial landscaping project. Keep the following advice in mind for your early spring landscaping project 

With California facing an unprecedented drought along with chronic water shortages and increasing water rates, commercial property landscaping has come under increasing scrutiny. With commercial lawn care services being targeted as being wasteful.

Large expansive lawns, lush flower beds and sculpted plants sound great, but remember one thing: How much will it cost you to maintain your new landscape creation? You want to invest your capital improvements money on low maintenance landscaping that will require fewer resources to maintain and still give you that WOW factor.

Here are just a few ideas to consider when designing your future landscaping project.

Commercial lawn maintenance is more than just mowing lawns, and it requires some upfront landscape planning to get it done right and on time. Their are various techniques that can be employed in order to reduce soil compaction caused by foot traffic and commercial lawn care equipment. However, sometimes the smaller less expensive methods bring about the most value for your lawn improvements.

Read on for our commercial lawn maintenance tips..

The early part of 2015 is an excellent time to plan your landscape maintenance services and landscape improvement projects you want to accomplish on your Bay Area commercial property. Not every service is required every year, so what’s on the calendar for this year? Does the lawn need renovation? Do you need to upgrade your irrigation system? Is it time for a landscape upgrade?

There are so many different types of commercial properties in the Bay Area. From large multi complex buildings to single building properties and no two landscapes are similar.

At FloraTerra we have had some clients that have asked questions about the management of their water and how we can help them on their commercial properties. Considering the immediate bay area drought and water agency restrictions, you’re certainly not alone and have someone that you can turn to if you need help in this area. With those challenges in our forefront, let’s take a look at some common water management challenges we see on commercial landscapes and some solutions on how to manage them. 

Chances are landscaping is high on your priority list, and rightfully so. Maintaining high maintenance landscaping is a budget expense that seems to creep up, some of the costs include sprinkler and irrigation repairs, replacing dead flowers and tree pruning just to name a few. In spite of the many reasons renovation gets pushed off, there is supporting evidence that property managers and building owners should consider the cost of upgrading older high maintenance landscaping.

FloraTerra implements strategies to help our clients green their properties, yielding improved public perception, increased profits, and greener landscaping.

Sustainable landscape management encourages the systems created by nature: healthy soils supporting healthy plants. The foundation of "sustainable green landscaping" requires the plants and soils to be viewed as extensions of one another, existing in a perfect symbiotic relationship. This holistic, "bottom up" focus contrasts with the conventional maintenance mindset of treating specific plant health conditions from the "top down" through the application of synthetic chemicals and materials.

Understanding all environmental conditions within a landscape, including public use patterns as well aesthetic expectations is vital to creating a successful maintenance program. Our programs are continuously adjusted to meet the needs of our client’s properties.

The plantings around your properties building perimeter can make a big difference in many ways. Having the right plants to tolerate the cold weather is part of the equation for great foundation plants but plant material that is interfering with window views, walk way and crowding out the others is another factor to consider. Planting the right combination of foliage and plants will ultimately impact your landscaping design one way or the other. The real challenge for most commercial properties is deciding on the right balance of plants that can tolerate the cold and fit into your design.

The Buck Stops With These 4 Expectations

If you find yourself wondering if your landscape service provider is going to show up, it’s time to rethink things. Is it time to raise your expectations? Are you looking to partner with a landscape maintenance company that will do more than just show up?

If so, here are a few valuable tips to consider for the future.