As a property manager or building owner, the demands of the drought have become a challenging subject including the high cost of water or the damaged asphalt surface that needs to be replaced because of lawn watering.
Interest in Drought friendly landscaping practices has spread throughout the green industry. Water conservation concerns and economics have prompted many commercial landscape maintenance services to investigate grasses that thrive with little water or no supplemental water. Eco and drought friendly grasses are the foundation of low maintenance landscaping.
Most commercial lawn services have their unique challenges that pose the need for smarter choices. Their are a multitude of areas that need to be considered when reviewing corporate lawn care, including: Invasive weed types, keeping lawns green with limited water, invasive tree roots causing lawn failure just to name a few, FloraTerra’s commercial landscaping services team has the right solution for smart lawn care.
Additional water savings can be achieved by careful consideration of the type of turf grass that is used. First it is important to consider what use the lawn will be. Heavy traffic, pets, light traffic, aesthetics or a combination? Once a determination is made on the use, then grass selection becomes easier.
All grasses fall into one of two categories; cool season and warm season. Cool season grasses grow during the cooler months of the year (fall-spring) and stay green throughout the year in mild, Northern California climates. The most popular cool season grasses include Tall Fescue, Perennial and Annual Ryegrass, Fine Fescues and Kentucky Bluegrasses. Of these grasses the Tall Fescues are the most heat and drought resistant.
Native grasses are the foundation of low maintenance lawn care. They have evolved to live with California’s diverse topography, climate and soil types. Water seeking roots can often reach a depth of 6 feet, increasing water infiltration, recycling nutrients and providing soil stabilization. In commercial landscaping conditions, native grasses absorb harmful chemicals and solids that can enter into waterways. The species used by some commercial sod companies stay green year round if irrigated, with up to 50% less water than traditional cool season turf grasses.
Cultural practices involve fertilization and maintenance as outlined below.
All fertilizers have a three digit analysis label that indicates the percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (also known as “NPK”). Fertilizers that are high in nitrogen (over 15) promote growth. This can sometimes be beneficial, but for fertilizers to be effective they need water. Fertilizers that are high in nitrogen will create excessive leaf growth which in turn consumes more water. The key here is to use fertilizers that are low in nitrogen or that are labeled “slow release”.
Slow release fertilizers are encapsulated with a polymer that allows a slower release of nutrients that can result in more steady, stable growth that uses water more efficiently.
How your landscape management service mow your lawn has an effect on the health of the grass as well as water consumption. The first rule of mowing is never to remove more than one- third of the leaf blade. So if the grass is 3 inches high it should be mowed no lower than 2 inches. Removing more than one-third of the leaf blade creates stress on the grass causing increased water consumption and susceptibility to diseases and weed infestation. It is also important to sharpen your mowing blades regularly.
Commercial lawn care services use the practice of aeration by removing small sod cores in order to improve water penetration and root development. It is done either manually with a small aeration tool that is pushed into the ground with your foot or with a machine that can be done by commercial landscapers, the machine that is used forces metal tubes into the ground which force up small cores. The cores are left on the ground to decompose. This technique is particularly useful on heavily compacted (high traffic) or on heavy soils. It is also useful in areas of poor drainage. Aeration should be done during the cooler times of the year.
Thatch buildup is the layer of dead and living plant material that exists between the soil and the blades of grass. When the thatch layer is more than ½ inch then dethatching is beneficial for the lawn. The best way to remove thatch in corporate landscaping is with a vertical mower which can be performed as part of commercial property maintenance. The vertical mower brings the thatch to the surface where it can be removed. Commercial landscaping companies perform this service along with aeration and over seeding. Best times for landscape maintenance to perform dethatching are fall through spring. By reviewing these water saving tips, regardless of what irrigation system or lawn you may have there are still ways to increase water efficiency, reduce your water costs and have a great looking lawn.
Need to drought proof your landscaping? Join up with our Commercial Landscaping Team!
What’s your goal this year? We can help you improve the water effciecncy of your landscape. For over 15 years, FloraTerra has been helping commercial properties solve their safety problems. Consult with one of our Certified Landscape Managers for a complete landscape assessment.
Through the various stages of landscape design and installation, FloraTerra provides a suite of commercial landscape management services meeting your goals, and increasing your commercial asset value.
FloraTerra provides commercial property landscaping , multi-residential landscape management services, retail landscaping in and around the south san francisco bay area. Our corporate lawn care includes a complete range of services appropriate for sustainable landscape design, landscape water management , Retail Mall Landscape Management, R & D Landscape Development, Luxury Apartment and Condominium Landscaping, Residential Estate Landscaping, HOA Community Landscaping Services for Multi-Building Developments, Commercial Office Park Landscaping and Corporate Campus Landscaping. Our landscape service territory extends throughout the greater South San Francisco Bay Area.
ABOUT FloraTerra Landscape Management
FloraTerra of Silicon Valley and its affiliates, are based in San Jose, California. As a leading commercial landscaping service for office and multi-residential properties.Since its origin the company and its affiliates have installed and maintain some of the most prestigious properties throughout the san jose and greater bay area. For more information about FloraTerra please visit us at: http://www.floraterra.com.
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