In commercial real estate the importance of curb appeal cannot be overstated. However, today’s market requires property manager to balance high-impact landscapes with long-term sustainability and environmentally sound practices. A healthy, well-maintained landscape makes a great first impression, as well as a great lasting impression. But how do you get there?
For many property managers the first step is to understand what sustainable landscaping means. There is not one all inclusive definition. However, at minimum, sustainable landscapes are aesthetically pleasing environments that are regionally-designed to reduce the need for irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. The next step is to understand how to incorporate sustainability into a landscape. A simple two-pronged approach, focusing on design and maintenance, will maximize your efforts towards a more sustainable property.
Design
Eye grabbing color and interesting textures are key to a visually pleasing landscape design. When moving towards a more sustainable landscape, consider the use of native perennials. These hardy plants provide season-long color and are naturally acclimated to your region’s specific environmental concerns. Natural adaptation means that fewer fertilizers and less watering is needed to maintain the health of the plant throughout the season. Native plants often require fewer pesticide applications as well. Because these plants are already a part of the local ecosystem, they provide beneficial insects with nectar and pollen and over time reduce the number of harmful insects.
Once you have selected plants, a simple redesign in the layout of the beds surrounding your building can add visual interest and reduce your irrigation needs. Using irregular shaped beds liven up your property, capturing the attention of your tenants and visitors. Hydrozoning is another important aspect when designing seasonal color beds. Hydrozoning is the practice of grouping plants with similar watering needs together. This not only reduces the excessive use of water, it can improve the overall health and appearance of the landscape. Finally, adding three-to-four inches of mulch will help to keep beds weed free, reduce evaporation and insulate plant roots from extreme temperature fluctuations.
When designing or redesigning your property, incorporate the use of shade trees. Trees are not only a first resource to reduce the heat island effect of parking lots, they also help to reduce cooling costs, control erosion, protect water supplies and remove large volumes of carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the atmosphere. Properly placed trees are estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce air conditioning needs by as much as 30 percent in the summer months. The EPA also estimates that nearly half of heating energy is lost to cool winds in the winter months. By planting evergreen trees as windbreaks between your property and the prevailing winds, your visitors and tenants are able to enjoy deep-green color year ’round, while you are able to enjoy significant energy savings.
Maintainence
- Go native: create a landscaping program that makes use of indigenous plants
- Reduce landfill waste: Nutrient-rich compost reduces the need for fertilizers and produces hardier, drought-resistant turf over time.
- Save water, save money: use drip irrigation or soaker hoses with timers and rain sensors.
- Stop watering the sidewalk: schedule an annual review of your property’s irrigation system.
- Hug a tree: Trees reduce cooling costs, control erosion, remove carbon dioxide from the air and act as windbreaks during the winter
Ongoing maintenance will have the most impact on the sustainability of your landscape. Making environmentally-sound choices will reduce not only your overall chemical use, but it is also an excellent way to reduce the environmental impact of your building. Simply following a regularly scheduled mowing and pruning schedule keeps turf grasses and vegetation in a growing state, which allows plants to capture and remove significant amounts of carbon from the air, increasing the production of oxygen around your facility.
In order to maximize the positive and minimize the negative effects of regular turf maintenance, proper equipment resources and training are essential. Regular inspections and routinely updating equipment is important to guarantee reduced emissions and maximum fuel economy and performance. Technological advances are constantly improving the standards by which the equipment is manufactured, including the production of equipment which utilizes alternative fuels. Equipment design is also a key factor in the long-term sustainability of your property. It is estimated that 18 percent of all yearly landfill refuse is composed of yard waste. Using equipment such as mulching mowers means the need to bag clippings and leaves is eliminated. Not only do mulching mowers eliminate the need to dump clippings, the finely chopped materials naturally decompose, leaving a compost-like material behind and returning vital nitrogen to the soil. These nutrients produce hardier, more drought-resistant turf over time. Incorporating an organic-based fertilizer program along with on-site mulching, will drastically reduce the amount of petroleum-based fertilizer needed to maintain turf health.
These programs should be tailored not only to your specific region, but also to your specific soil type. The best fertilizer program should begin with a soil test, to determine the areas in which your turf will need the most attention. Understanding soil type will reduce the need for fertilizers and help your landscape contractor determine the optimum maintenance program for your specific needs.
Proper maintenance also allows for reduced chemical usage. An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy should be the first step when addressing pest concerns. The use of chemical pesticides has a significant impact on the local environment, actually killing the natural enemies (the good guys) of the most dangerous pests. Routine inspections, along with regular maintenance, eliminate the need for broad spread applications. If a serious problem arises, early detection allows for spot treating, quickly eliminating the problem.
For building managers, following sound irrigation techniques has a strong impact on the overall sustainability of buildings. As mentioned earlier, proper plant selection is the first step towards overall water use reduction; however, the single most important factor in water conservation is proper irrigation management. Irrigation systems that are not tailored to a property’s specific needs are a drain on the water supply and the wallet. Inspecting and monitoring irrigation systems will help determine if your system is making the most of your water usage. Many of us have witnessed sprinklers ‘watering the sidewalk’ or driven by a property in pouring rain only to see the irrigation system running at full capacity. These are just a couple common examples of improper irrigation management. Simple fixes such as rain sensors and programmable timers can reduce water consumption and help ensure that irrigation is operating efficiently.
In evaluating your property for changes and upgrades to increase its sustainability, work with a qualified landscape contractor who can offer expertise in all aspects of a healthy landscape. No matter what steps you choose to take for your property, keep in mind that the most sustainable landscape is a healthy landscape — one that is robust enough to weather fluctuations in temperature, moisture and pests. Taking proactive measures to increase your property’s sustainability will result in a healthy, vibrant landscape that your tenants and visitors will enjoy for years to come.
About the author: Tabitha Kim is a Marketing Coordinator with Brickman, the nation’s largest commercial landscaping firm in the U.S. with more than 150 branches in 29 state, providing landscape maintenance services to a wide variety of commercial real estate properties. She can be reached at Tabitha.Kim@Brickmangroup.com
