Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/602685
As a landscaping professional, you under- stand that every landscape has a lifecycle. Whether the landscape is sophisticated or simple, there are components of the land- scape that require a different amount of maintenance/budgetary investment. But when working with a commercial client who may not understand this concept, it can be difficult to carry out certain initia- tives that the landscape needs. By explaining how the lifecycle of their landscape works, and by creating a unique maintenance plan that's tailored to their property's elements, you can ensure that your client will see the added value to their property. THE VALUE OF A LANDSCAPE Before you start working with a new cli- ent, it's important that they understand the value that their landscape can have on their business and on their brand. It's only natural for people to want to invest in the interior of a building; however, a building's landscape gives people their first impres- sion of the company. The landscape is a very important natural resource that adds definition to your client's brand, and, in turn, increases the value of their property. In fact, when an owner chooses to make a significant investment in their landscape, if maintained correctly, it provides a great return on investment. For example, high- end retail plazas will make sure that all of the streets, sidewalks, benches, lighting and other exterior décor have a consistent look and feel. Likewise, the landscape contains vibrant flowerbeds, well-manicured hedges and ornamental trees to align with this par- ticular brand image. The same holds true for business parks. If property managers and owners can work with their contrac- tors to create a routine maintenance sched- ule that fosters a crisp, clean and safe envi- ronment, more businesses will be inclined to lease space in the building. And while the landscape can increase value in your brand, a healthy and attractive landscape also pro- motes an active and engaged community. Just like any living organism, the land- scape has a lifecycle. When working with your clients, it is critical that they under- stand that concept as well. Whether you're just starting out with a client or you've worked with them for several years, when a component of their landscape (bushes, grass, hedges, trees, etc.) starts to look dull, it can be easy to blame the landscaper with- out realizing that features of their prop- erty have reached the end of their cycle. To mitigate this risk, contractors should work with their clients to create a 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-day maintenance schedule that pri- oritizes certain projects and addresses im- mediate issues. This is also the time where you should confirm your client's budget, so that you can propose realistic projects and expectations. However, before you create a plan, you should perform a landscape audit so that you can make the most accurate recom- mendations. For example, as a landscaping professional you will want to take care of high-risk situations such as a pest problem or replacing a sick ornamental tree before tackling other projects like plant selection, replacing the mulch, etc. It's important to point out that audits should be performed routinely to increase the livelihood of the landscape. Once high-risk issues are addressed, you should meet with your client to discuss other maintenance actions that will be car- ried out during that 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-day period so they know what to expect. These services include irrigation, fertilization, pruning, trimming, the selection of plants, mulch replacement, etc. Moreover, when helping your client se- lect foliage for their property, you should let them know that the expected main- tenance and overall lifecycle for different species of plants varies. Some plants will have to be replaced more often, which can be expensive. So if your client is working Exploring the Lifecycle of a Commercial Landscape LANDSCAPE AND TURF MAINTENANCE 34 November/December 2015 Landscape and Irrigation www.landscapeirrigation.com ■ BY KEN HUTCHESON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY U.S. LAWNS.