Your landscape gives the first impression that passers-by and visitors have of your business. What kind of first impression does your commercial property give? Here are 3 seasonal landscaping ideas for commercial properties in the Scarsdale and Riverdale, NY, areas.
Using these tips will present an attractive and welcoming landscape that welcomes customers and says you care.
First Impressions Are Important… And Lasting
Even if your products and services are industry-leading, even if the interior of your rental properties are immaculate, if your potential customers or tenants drive up to your commercial property and see weed-choked unkempt landscaping, crumbling walkways, and steps, and if your signage has seen better days… they will keep driving.
Your commercial property’s exterior speaks volumes about how people can expect to be treated once they step inside, but it’s your landscaping that will draw them in, or not.
Your landscape acts as a business card that conveys as much about your business as possible: and the short story for any business, whether it’s retail, manufacturing, services, or residential is that people want to know you care about them and they will have a great experience.
These seasonal landscaping ideas will send a cheerful welcome to everyone.
Signage and Visibility
Don’t make people hunt for your property. Signage and front entries that are obstructed by overgrown vegetation must be taken care of immediately - and not just for the sake of appearance, but for safety, too (you don’t want emergency crews wondering where your entrance is).
Sprucing up your signage with fresh paint or lights, and adding a cheerful plant bed bursting with colorful annuals and perennials will put people in a good mood before they even step out of the car.
Attractive and Safe Surfaces
Nothing says “cheap” more than crumbling concrete or cracked, weed-infested asphalt. Upgrade to chic pavers for your walkways, parking lots, entryway, and any paved outdoor spaces to give the message that your business is successful. The subtle message is, if you have the means to care for your landscape, you have the means to care for your customers.
Quality concrete pavers feature a non-slip texture even when wet. Some pavers can be installed on a permeable surface, which keeps them drier all year. Permeable pavers aren’t permeable; but the spaces between them are slightly larger and they are set on a base that allows water to seep back into the ground, rather than pooling or running off.
And if a paver should break, you can replace just the one rather than dealing with ugly patches. Pavers won’t need replacing for many, many decades so they’re a great long-term investment.
Native Plants
Many commercial properties feature lawns and evergreens, and that’s it. Evergreen shrubs and trees are great, and a small lawn area is wonderful - employees will love to spend time there on their lunch breaks, and tenants will appreciate the natural touch. However, lawns take work, so replacing a portion of a lawn with native deciduous shrubs, flowers, and trees is a great option to balance the darkness and visual weight of evergreen trees and shrubs.
Wherever possible, choose water-wise native plants that are perfectly adapted to the location. Your landscaping contractor can install gorgeous native annuals and perennials, and rotate them seasonally so that your landscape always looks fresh and appealing. And, many deciduous shrubs and trees will blossom in spring, and reward you again with gorgeous fall foliage.
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