What is Commercial Landscaping?

Commercial landscaping plays an important role in radiating the first impression of a business and its surroundings. Aside from attractive aesthetics, it is a powerful extension of horticulture for enhancing a commercial property's overall image and functionality. As well as creating an inviting curb appeal to attract customers and staff, it is also an effective way of promoting employee wellbeing and environmental sustainability.  

It is evident that more and more commercial organisations are seeing the advantages of landscaping their surroundings. Industry Market Research company, IBISWorld, reported that the year 2022 saw the market size of the landscaping services industry in the UK increase by 6.1%. So what does commercial landscaping actually cover, and how can it benefit your organisation? 

In this article, we will cover:

• What is commercial landscaping?
• What does commercial landscaping cover?
• Benefits of commercial landscaping

What is commercial landscaping?

Commercial landscaping covers the planning, designing, installation and maintenance of your outdoor business space. Commercial landscapers and gardeners are often required to work on the landscaping of office buildings, hospitals, schools and universities. A well-kept outdoor space creates an atmosphere that supports your staff, residents or customers’ wellbeing, as well as looking appealing and professional. Using your outdoor space to its full potential combines beauty and functionality to exude a positive experience.

What does commercial landscaping cover?

Although there can be a cross-over between a gardener and a landscaper, a gardener will mainly focus on the health of the garden; knowing what needs pruning, nurturing and maintaining. A landscaper, however, focuses on what works well for the building’s space, such as patios, driveways, and walls - and has the necessary resources to bring it to life. Other responsibilities include:

Planning and Design

Commercial landscapers will begin their project by using careful planning and design to ensure they meet the client’s vision of how they would like their outdoor space to look, in order to align with their brand’s image. The process will typically involve:

• Client consultation: liaising with the business or property owner to understand the client’s objectives and budget.
• Site analysis: the landscaper will assess the outdoor space in detail, considering what the space currently looks like, existing vegetation and the typography of the space. This gives the landscape designer the opportunity to see what plants and features would be available for the space. 
• Functional design: the landscaper will identify potential areas that could be improved for practical and aesthetic purposes. For example, walkways, seating areas and water features.
• Plant selection: with professional knowledge, appropriate plants and trees will be chosen for the outdoor space. The benefit of this is that they can thrive in the space they are in.
• Knowledge-based, ecological design and build: as the landscaping industry expands, the growing emphasis on sustainability increases. Landscapers may integrate features that benefit the environment, such as a rain garden. 

Maintenance

Although some commercial landscapers will be hired to start a design project from scratch, it is also common for landscapers to work from existing landscapes which require maintenance of a higher standard. In this case, the professional will evaluate and communicate the requirements needed, and devise a well-structured plan to ensure the green space is frequently looked at on a regular basis. 

Without it, the landscape will start to deteriorate quickly and will become the opposite of the landscape’s purpose, appearing overgrown and unclean. Therefore, it is important that care and attention are paid to the space, which can be achieved by:

• Mowing the grass regularly
• Pruning and weeding where necessary
• Planting that is aligned with the current season, or changing seasons
• Applying sustainable and eco-friendly fertiliser where needed
• Pest control and general cleanups

It is also essential to be prepared to react to maintenance issues that can occur spontaneously. For example, extreme weather conditions such as storms and high winds could cause damage to trees and features in the space. 

Flowers, plants and shrubs planting

No outdoor space is complete without the addition of a selection of thriving flowers, plants or shrubs. When your outdoor space is designed, the landscaper will take the local climate into consideration; as well as the location of your space, the amount of irrigation required, and the current season. Native plants are often chosen because they are suited to the local climate, requiring less demand for water, fertiliser and pesticides.

Hardscapes

While softscaping refers to live horticulture such as flowers, plants, shrubs, soil and ground cover, hardscaping looks at the solid structural aspects. Using materials such as wood, stone, concrete and brick, examples of hardscaping features typically include:

• Driveways
• Patios
• Fountains
• Ponds
• Walkways
• Dining areas
• Outdoor seating

Hardscaping ultimately transforms the functionality of your outdoor space; whether that is giving your clients outdoor seating to enjoy the outdoors, installing a fountain to enjoy the atmosphere, or even applying a clear walkway path for them to enjoy a stroll - it gives a pleasurable experience. 

Irrigation

In order to ensure your water features, plants, shrubs and vegetation thrive, irrigation is crucial. It works by using water from pipes, canals and sprinklers, instead of purely relying on rainfall alone. Your landscaper might build an automatic irrigation system, such as a specialised timed sprinkler, that is programmed to cover the area of your vegetation and prevent overwatering. By using irrigation effectively, it is a sustainable way to conserve water and promote the vitality of your plants. 

Lighting

Using lighting is an excellent way to enhance the attractiveness of an outdoor space, but also clearly demonstrates well-lit entrances, exits and pathways for your clients to follow. In addition to these factors, it is also important to consider the energy consumption of your lights. LED lighting has a small carbon footprint, lasts longer, and also emits a softer, more elegant appearance. When designing and installing lighting systems, your landscaper will consider angles that prevent spill and glare, as well as reflecting the building to make it feel pleasurable to look at. 

Furnishings 

Depending on your preference, furnishings will be made to work well with the function of the area. For example, if you wanted an outdoor seating area for employees to enjoy their lunch break, it is ideal to place a bin nearby. Or perhaps you would position the bike shed to be away from the seating area and plants. Using the functionality of your area makes the space an enjoyable place to spend time in. 

Benefits of commercial landscaping

Working with a landscaping company allows you to see your project ideas and ambitions from beginning to end. You are also able to maintain communication with the landscaper, giving you the opportunity to understand the process and discuss any queries you may have. There are also other advantages that can have long-term benefits for your business, and the environment. 

The environmental benefits of commercial landscaping are that you are giving a dedicated space for nature to prosper. Looking after and regularly maintaining suitable plants, irrigation and soil means that your green space is going to thrive. 2023 has seen a growing trend of using native plants to make the space more eco-friendly, attracting pollinators and supporting the local ecosystem. Additionally, planting trees also helps reduce the noise of the outside world, and provides shaded areas away from sunlight, should your staff, residents, or clients need it. 

The financial benefits of looking after your outdoor space and having a professional to design, plan and build it means your investment is long-lasting. Your environmental and sustainable features can enhance your property’s value, demonstrating that your business is forward-thinking and takes action to look after the planet. Moreover, the more attractive your building and surrounding space are, the more likely you will be to draw in customers or improve your staff’s productivity levels, as they will have a positive experience on your grounds, enticing them to stay. 

For professional commercial landscaping, contact us

At 4thD Landscapes, we are a knowledge-based, ecological garden design and build consultant. With over twenty years of experience, we have a real passion for delivering bespoke landscape services.

To see how we can elevate your outdoor space, contact us today.