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LANDSCAPE AND TURF MAINTENANCE www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation November/December 2015 35 with a strict budget, you should advise them to choose foliage that's native to their geographic location. Through proper maintenance practices and plant selection, you can not only foster a healthy and attractive environment for your client, but also extend the life of the plants, grass, flowers and trees. THE IMPACT OF DESIGN The design of the landscape directly cor- relates with the property's maintenance re- quirements — an occurrence often referred to as "design/maintenance interference." The extent and quality of this relationship and the benefits it produces are determined by the degree to which maintenance con- siderations are included in the design stage of a landscape project. Design-wise, vegetation serves the land- scape in three different ways: structural, utilitarian and aesthetic. For example, from an aesthetic perspective, plants cre- ate a visually attractive environment while structurally working to organize and de- fine spaces. Because they have this utilitar- ian ability, plants are also able to transform the environment of the user by modifying light, temperature and humidity. And since they give off a pleasing scent, they also can work to control odor. But as landscaping contractors, you're of- ten not included in the process, so it's impor- tant to take a moment to understand how the design of the landscape influences the type of service and frequency of service it needs. KEY LANDSCAPE FEATURES Trees, shrubs, groundcovers and turf are elements of your landscape that play an in- strumental role on the design and value of your landscape. Trees in particular have an extremely long lifecycle — some living for over several hundred years, making them positive investments. When first planted, trees may not look like much, but as they grow, so does their value. If properly main- tained by a professional, trees can be the cornerstones of a landscape. Willows, palms and oak trees are just a few examples of trees that have prolonged lifecycles and also contribute to the design of any landscape. In addition to trees, shrubs and ground- covers live for several years and can quickly grow into a useful part of the landscape's design. Turf is another feature that plays a crucial role in the design of the landscape. While turf may have a relatively short lifes- pan depending on your geographic loca- tion, it's a dominant force on the property and enhances the overall design. WORKING TOGETHER Managing the lifecycle of the landscape doesn't just fall on the landscaping profes- sional — it's a collaborative effort involving many members. Owners, property manag- ers, landscaping professionals, arborists and designers work together to maintain the health and beauty of the landscape and the overall value of the property. During the first year of working with a client, it's your job as the landscape con- tractor to inform your clients on the im- portance of the value or their landscape and what their particular landscape's life- cycle looks like. For clients with a multi- year agreement, you should encourage a collaborative effort and set time aside to talk about long-term planning. Ken Hutcheson is president of U.S. Lawns, a wholly owned subsidiary of the ValleyCrest Landscape Companies. Hutcheson joined U.S. Lawns in 1995 and has been instru- mental in growing the landscape manage- ment franchise organization from a regional 18-franchise network to a national franchise industry leader with over 250 franchises. U.S. Lawns services customers in all 48 continu- ous states. Based in Orlando, Florida, U.S. Lawns is nourished by the values and pas- sion of family-owned and operated franchise businesses and Hutcheson is a champion of the entrepreneurial spirit and teamwork that defines its culture. His focus on the com- pany's Franchise Development and Support teams are central reasons for the company's steady national expansion and consistently high rankings on landscape and franchise industry lists, including Entrepreneur Maga- zine's listing of best franchises in its annual Franchise 500 report. Hutcheson can be con- tacted at 407-246-1630 or khutcheson@ uslawns.com LI