The coronavirus pandemic has many businesses in a tailspin, and we understand that landscaping is probably the last thing on your mind right now. However, neglecting your landscape can actually end up costing you a lot more money in the future. Here are the consequences of neglecting commercial landscaping while you work from home in Oswego, IL. The good thing is that regular maintenance is considered an essential service, which means we can help keep your commercial property attractive and safe.
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Commercial landscaping is so much more than mowing the lawn, planting seasonal flowers, and blowing debris off hardscapes.
Landscape maintenance will ensure the health of the plants on your property, but it also helps keep your tenants, customers, and visitors safe whether you own a residential building, an office building, a retail complex, or a small business. Even if your premises are temporarily closed, this is a good time to prioritize and focus on maintenance and repairs so by the time you reopen, you won’t have to play catch-up.
The hardscaped areas within your landscape see a lot of vehicle and foot traffic. Asphalt, poured concrete, and pavers will all deteriorate over time due to the freeze-thaw cycle which can cause these surfaces to heave, crack, sink, or shift. Even a small crack can become a tripping hazard and it also invites water infiltration and weeds. If that occurs, it’s going to escalate the damage. To make the best of a bad situation, this may be the ideal time to focus on hardscape repairs that will ensure safety as well as add value to your property. Regular sweeping or blowing is also necessary to keep hardscapes clean; and if sealant hasn’t been applied to pavers, this could be a good time to focus on that.
Lawn and plant care need to be done on a regular basis because your landscape can quickly become a weed-infested jungle that looks more like a vacant lot than a place of business. Weeds are often faster-growing than grass, very hardy, and extremely competitive. Letting them go for even a few weeks can mean a long and expensive battle ahead to restore a lawn to its former lush glory.
Although “essential services” do not include new plantings and mulch, your plant beds, shrubs, and trees all need regular maintenance too. Fertilizer, weed management, pruning and trimming are necessary to maintain the health of your landscape.
You may not notice a faulty irrigation system without regular maintenance; one day, you may notice that part of your lawn is a swamp while the rest is a desert. Ongoing maintenance helps spot these problems so you can fix them before real damage is done.
Although new landscaping projects are on hold for the time being, this can be a good time to plan for projects like new hardscape surfaces, more attractive common areas, trees, shade structures, or expanded plant beds. More and more, people are appreciating the peace and serenity that only nature can bring; and even if your green outdoor space is little more than a postage stamp, it can become an island of delight amid the concrete and asphalt – and this small gesture will be very much appreciated by everyone who sees your commercial property!
While planning ahead is important, don’t neglect today. Regular maintenance is preventive in nature, and when all systems (irrigation, lawn care, hardscape care, and softscape care) are working together, you will save money, increase your property value, and prevent small problems from mushrooming into big ones.
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