Keeping on top of landscape maintenance is a year-round process that is so essential for maintaining the aesthetic appeal of your commercial property - which is a direct reflection of your business. Between mowing the lawn, refreshing plant beds, and preparing the landscape for winter, there’s plenty to do. Commercial landscapers near me suggest these five services for the fall in the Westchester County, NY area.

1. Lawn Care

If your commercial property has a lawn, fall is the time to rejuvenate it after the drought and heat of summer, and to prepare it for winter. Tasks include aeration and dethatching to loosen the soil and allow water and nutrients to reach the roots; ongoing mowing until the grass actually stops growing; ongoing deep watering to ensure robust root systems; edging to give the lawn a crisp, well-kept appearance; application of slow-release fertilizer to give the lawn a boost before winter; weeding as necessary (many weeds spread their seeds in late summer and early fall); debris and leaf removal to prevent lawn suffocation; and restoring dead spots with new sod. With these tasks, the lawn will bounce back in the spring in a healthy way.

2. Hardscape Care

Fall is the perfect time to replace any broken or crumbling paved surfaces. As if ice and snow weren’t bad enough tripping hazards, uneven surfaces just amplify the danger. We recommend switching from concrete and asphalt to concrete pavers, which are much more durable and significantly more attractive. If you already have pavers, fall is a good time for a thorough cleaning and application of sealant.

3. Updated Lighting

As the days get shorter, there’s more need for good landscape lighting around your commercial property. Walkways and parking areas should always be illuminated for safety. If your commercial property features a larger landscape, consider placing a few low-lying fixtures among the shrubs and trees to create a softer transition from well-illuminated pedestrian areas to the darker spaces of the landscape. Even if lighting fixtures aren’t being replaced or added, fall is the ideal time to change out all bulbs to ensure that the dark days and nights of winter are well illuminated.

4. Tree and Shrub Maintenance

While a lot of tree care happens in the spring (such as shaping for aesthetic reasons), fall pruning could be mandated as well. Uneven growth, excessive growth, damaged limbs, or leaning trees may pose safety hazards. Limbs can break under the weight of heavy snow during the winter; overgrown trees could block sight lines or lean against utility lines; and unstable trees too close to the building could potentially fall onto the structure. A tree service professional will be sure to analyze which branches may pose a threat and prune and trim them as needed. Likewise, any diseased or dead branches and trees will be quickly removed so they don’t dry out and collapse during a blizzard, or spread disease to the rest of the tree.

5. Plant Bed Maintenance

Nothing is more off-putting to prospective customers or tenants than ugly landscaping. After all, it’s often the first physical contact they have with a business - and despite a glossy website, unkempt landscaping is the real first impression that counts. Plant bed maintenance should occur throughout the year, to present a welcoming face. In fall, your landscaping contractor could plant perennials and shrubs, remove spent flowers, and refresh mulch to keep your plant beds looking tidy and attractive.