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

Late summer 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 

Summer is a great time to refresh your bark mulch. Mulching is beneficial for your property but can also cause damage if not installed appropriately. The damaging effects occur when  a landscape maintenance service applies excessive amounts of mulch. Suffocation occurs when the bark is piled around the base of your trees and plants. The effects of excessive mulching cause decay because of the high water retention rate inviting disease and harmful pathogens to enter into the plants bark. 

Trees have a life span, some living longer than others. That might somewhat irrational, but dead trees on commercial properties are more common than one might think. Weekly landscape crews may not see or address these problems in their weekly site visits for a variety of reasons. The real question is: How can you tell if a tree is declining on your commercial property?

The right plantings around your properties building perimeter can make a big difference in many ways. Having the right plants that can ultimately tolerate the drought is part of the equation for great water conservation but plant material that could potentially take the place of your water thirsty lawn areas. Planting the right combination of foliage and plants will ultimately impact your water costs and maintenance in one way or the other. The real challenge for most commercial properties is deciding on the right balance of plants that can tolerate the drought conditions we are experiencing in the bay area and fit them into your design.

Crush Your Commercial Landscaping Water Budget

Some companies who want to reduce their Landscape maintenance cost bottom line may choose to go with the lowest monthly landscape maintenance price not realizing the hidden costs of maintenance inefficiencies.

It Wears Well, Its Innovative and Its Natural

Using natural aggregates can be a great addition for commercial landscape maintenance. These natural substrates really help you connect with nature and they are great solutions for many high foot traffic areas.

Applying mulch to your corporate office park landscaping and hoa landscaping can provide a number of benefits, including reduced erosion and water loss, improved soil nutrition and a more balanced soil temperature. Different kinds of mulch provide these benefits at different levels. The river rocks and other small stones often used to prevent weed growth in landscapes are attractive, can help conserve water and require little maintenance, but they don't nourish or insulate the soil in the same ways as conventional organic mulch.

What are you doing to reduce water consumption on your property? In the bay area, although we have received some sporadic rainfall, this winter has been relatively dry. From reduced snowpack in the Sierra’s to low water reserves in lakes and reservoirs, in California, the lack of rainfall is a concerning matter, especially for Bay area water supplies. The California’s Department of Water Resources is urging businesses and residences state wide to reduce water use by 20 percent and have communicated that despite the fact that we have reduced our water footprint by 20%, the cost of water will continue to rise. Here are some ways you can help to conserve water usage in and around your commercial property.

 

Fortunately, Nature has been pretty nice to us compared to storms in past seasons and unfortunately has a way of catching us off guard. We have been hit hard with the drought all this year, but that could change quickly.

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.