4 Commercial Landscaping Ideas to Consider This Summer in the Westchester County, NY Area

In a competitive marketplace, first impressions are important. Part of the first impression your local customers get - along with the impression your community gets - is your landscaping. If a commercial property’s landscaping doesn’t say “This is a successful business that cares…” here are 4 commercial landscaping ideas to consider this summer in the Westchester County, NY area.

Your products or services could be top-notch, but if potential customers, employees, or partners are put off by your landscaping, you could miss out. Overgrown weed-choked plant beds, cracked walkways, missing light bulbs, crumbling retaining walls, or dead patches on the lawn send a terrible message that speaks louder than advertising. The message is: “We don’t care.” If a business doesn’t care about its community presence - starting with its appearance - then by default, it must not care about its customers. While this is a harsh truth, it’s important to know - and relatively easy to fix.

A beautiful, low-maintenance and cost-effective landscape lets a business show its best face to the community and its local customers, as well as employees.

What makes a commercial landscape great: visibility, safety, a welcoming presence, and aesthetics. Here’s how a commercial landscaping company can help.

1. Visibility: Attractive Signage

One of the most effective ways to welcome customers and make a great impression on the community is to enhance your signage. Signs placed in flower-filled masonry planters (with fresh, seasonal flowers) makes your commercial property feel more inviting. Trees and shrubs should be pruned to prevent obstructing the signage, while adding shade and beauty to the property.

2. Safety: Paver Surfaces

Keeping your exterior surfaces safe in all seasons can be achieved with concrete pavers. Pavers are non-slip when wet, longer-lasting than poured concrete or asphalt (not to mention much more attractive), and some styles can be installed on a permeable base which keeps the surface drier and safer. LED lighting throughout the landscape keeps the space safe after dark while maintaining an attractive atmosphere.

3. A Welcoming Presence: Beautiful Plantings and Usable Outdoor Spaces

No matter the nature of a business, a welcoming front entry speaks volumes. Even in a small space, a few planters with rotating seasonal flowers will give a cheerful welcome. On a larger property, a picnic area for employees, shade trees, and even a tranquil fountain can make the space feel welcoming. While these may not be considered “essential business expenses,” they do improve employee satisfaction as well as public perception, both of which can translate into more business.

4. Aesthetics: Curb Appeal

Upgrading to pavers for all pedestrian surfaces immediately increases a building’s curb appeal, which is especially important for client-facing businesses. In the long run, the cost savings can be significant as pavers can be replaced individually in the off chance that they break - without the ugly, weed-infested, and short-lived patches that often plague asphalt and poured concrete surfaces.

A Hidden Benefit: Lower Costs

Good landscape design translates to lower maintenance costs. Lawns are nice, but watering and maintenance costs could be reduced by replacing much of the lawn with treed outdoor spaces with a paver patio and native plants. Shade trees on the south and west exposure can significantly reduce energy costs, and native water-wise plants deliver the looks without the maintenance. And concrete pavers, while initially somewhat more costly than poured concrete or asphalt, are longer-lasting.