A well-maintained commercial landscape always makes a great impression. If you’re looking to elevate your property from well-maintained to pristine, there’s a secret to making that change: soil health and pruning standards.

Impressive features like floral installations and unique landscape designs are the more obvious choices for making a great impression, but must be founded on healthy soil and have a routine pruning schedule to stay up-to-date. Healthy commercial landscapes start from the ground up!

Soil Health

A great landscape is only as great as the soil it is founded on. By starting with soil health, your commercial landscape has a foundation to thrive.

Great turf care necessitates healthy soil for growth and freshness. Fertilizer strengthens the soil and provides beneficial macronutrients, including nitrogen, for conditioning. This promotes a healthy environment for roots to take hold.

After roots have settled in the soil, the grass and soil can absorb water more efficiently. This leads to a full, thick lawn that is a healthy environment for beneficial growth, as well as more easily prevents weeds from growing.

Pruning Standards

A routinely-pruned commercial landscape is aesthetically pleasing. By removing overgrowth and maintaining natural plant shapes, your commercial landscape appeals to the eye and creates a welcoming environment.

But pruning isn’t just for aesthetic purposes — it also promotes the health of your landscape’s greenery. Pruning removes branches that have become diseased or damaged, and their removal saves the health of the rest of the plant. Proper pruning maintains air circulation that helps plants thrive. A healthy plant is a beautiful plant!

Chapel Valley’s Experts Know How to Care for Your Commercial Landscape

While some plants are best maintained with routine pruning, others require little pruning. When paired with great soil care, a commercial landscape not only looks fantastic, but can thrive and among the natural environment.

Our team of landscape experts know how to best care for your property’s greenery, and will only prune when necessary. We want your commercial landscape to look its best.

A Comprehensive Guide for Property Managers to Reinvigorate Your Landscape

Donnalee Harman 

As winter blankets the world in a frosty embrace, it’s natural to long for the warmer, vibrant days of spring. This season is not only a time of rejuvenation for nature but also an excellent opportunity to transform your landscape into a colorful, flourishing haven. In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore a range of ideas and tasks to consider as you prepare your commercial property for the upcoming spring. From tree planting to refreshing your shrubbery, mulching, and collaborating with professional landscapers, we’ve got you covered.

Assess and Renew Your Greenery

The first step in revitalizing your landscape for spring is to evaluate the condition of your existing plants. Remove any dead or dying shrubs and trees. These not only detract from your landscape’s beauty but can also pose risks to your property. Replace them with new, healthy plants that add vibrancy and life to your outdoor space.

Consider planting trees that are known for their springtime beauty. Dogwood and Redbud Trees are excellent choices, known for their stunning flowers. Planting a tree might seem like a significant effort, but it’s one of the best long-term investments you can make in your landscape. Once established, trees are relatively low-maintenance and can provide years of beauty and shade.

Mike Bauer

“Winter” or “dormant” pruning is an essential horticultural practice that an educated and experienced landscape contractor will utilize at their discretion. This is essentially a hard cutback (more than you would cut with hand pruners or shears during a typical pruning session) to reshape the plant and to encourage new growth to form towards the inside of the plant. As plants are pruned during the summer months, a landscaper will strategically take as little plant material off during each pruning to avoid plant stress during hot temperatures. Because of this, the plant will start to form more leaves on the outside of the plant and less on the inside, creating a very bare environment in the middle of the plant over time. It is imperative that most woody shrubs are dormant pruned at strategic intervals during their life cycle. Not every shrub needs yearly dormant pruning, but some do. Your dedicated landscape professional should be able to distinguish which ones those are.

Depending on the plant variety and the amount of sunlight the plant receives each day, be prepared for a relatively slow grow back, especially if these cutbacks are performed in the dead of winter. If viable, we recommend waiting as close to March as possible, with days now starting to get longer which will promote more sunlight and rapid photosynthetic growth. This will shorten the amount of time the plant will remain bare, with Spring becoming the first active growing period of the year for most woody plant material. If hard cutbacks are being done in heavily shaded areas throughout the year, be prepared for an even longer grow back period. Depending on the severity of the cutback needed, it could take over a year for a plant to regain its natural vigor when in a heavily shaded area. 

Dormant pruning also has other perks as well. It can apply to trees too for instance, as this is a great time to provide limb ups and more major cutbacks on them. Less sap is lost in the wintertime which puts less stress on the tree. Dormant pruning in the winter is also great because it can reduce the transmission of diseases and pests, mainly since the frigid temperatures inhibit activity of both.

Whether you are attempting to tackle dormant pruning on your own or trusting a landscape expert, do your research and come up with a plan this winter. Hopefully the points made above will help you give you a baseline of what needs to be done and what to expect given the circumstance.  Please reach out to us today to discuss your dormant pruning needs.

Using the right plants to provide a four-season interest in commercial landscape

While we can see an increase of interesting trends for commercial properties, there are still many sites with the overgrown evergreen vegetation and a few pockets with annual flowers. Landscape enhancements can improve the appearance of these properties, including more than just a flower rotation when adding a color. With the right landscape design, commercial sites can transform into beautiful spaces with the plants that thrive in each season. 

Currently, with COVID-19 shaping the way we live and work, we recognize the importance of spending time outside. This especially relates to a workplace, where employees can benefit from spending time and work outdoors. Working in natural environment allows for a connection with nature, therefore it is important to provide the right plants that will continue giving attention through the whole year. The idea of all-season interest is to include the plants that provide ornamental attributes in one season and overlapping with another group that provides interest in the following season. Certainly, most plants display an interest in spring and summer, however, there are multiple plant options to make fall and winter attractive as well. 

Spring and summer interests are known from providing the showy blooms and interesting textures. After the winter is over, people want to see colors, so the earliest blooms are found in spring bulbs. The swaths of early blooming Daffodils and later drifts of Tulips add a desired color to the landscape. We also like to use the spring blooming ornamental trees, like Cherry and Magnolia to bring the eye-catching flowers. Dogwoods and Redbuds are also popular spring-blooming native trees that we use in commercial landscapes. When it comes to shrubs, many commercial sites are still covered with the popular old-fashioned Forsythia, but we like to often replace it with native Fothergilla and Itea. These shrubs also offer a beautiful fall color.

By late spring, many trees and shrubs are leafed out, giving a way to blooms. One of the popular shrubs in April and May are Encore Azaleas. There are multiple varieties of this relatively new species which provide a multi-season interest and require less maintenance than the traditional Azaleas. Besides blooming in spring, Encore Azaleas re-bloom in fall and stay evergreen through the winter. Another newly introduced plants that we have tried and can recommend are Dwarf Lilacs for late spring color and Little Lime Hydrangea for early summer stunning flowers. In addition to shrubs, we like using the long blooming perennials, like Daylily, Russian Sage, Catmint, Coreopsis, and late summer blooms like Sedum, or Rudbeckia. 

In fall, a must-have color comes from Red Maples, but also shrubs like Nandina, Oakleaf Hydrangea and Spirea can provide a beautiful fall foliage. In combination with ornamental grasses and fall blooming perennials, they provide an outstanding mix of contrasting colors and textures. There also are a few plant options for winter interest. We often use a multi-season Red Twig Dogwood with attractive red stems, Winterberry, known for its bright red berries and ornamental trees like Paperbark Maple, or River Birch with peeling bark. Ornamental grasses still look beautiful and soft in winter, before they will be cut back in early spring.  

We all want to enjoy the outdoors and work in a pleasant environment.  By making a few changes to the property, it is possible to provide an attractive and thriving landscape with multiple interest throughout the whole year. 

Brian Bergmann 

How often do you ask yourself if you are getting the services, you asked for in your Request For Proposal (RFP)?  We see a lot of RFP’s and a lot of them have very detailed scopes of work. 

There is not a scope of work that will be a perfect fit for all properties.  The best thing is to have a conversation with a landscape professional and discuss your goals and expectations.  Ask for a calendar of the services in the contract.  The calendar will not be exact on dates due to the weather but it should be close enough so you know what should have been done already. 

There are several services you will see immediately such as applying mulch, installing annual flowers, pruning, mowing and leaf removal.  Some services such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), spraying turf weeds and fertilizer, fertilizing shrubs, applying preemergent herbicides to beds and aerating and seeding may not be seen right away.  These services will take a while before it is noticeable that they were not done.  If you see weeds in the turf or beds it doesn’t automatically mean they were skipped but it does need to be watched.  The calendar will let you know when they should be done and the Account Manager should be able to give you exact dates for these when they are set in their schedule. 

To best way to make sure you are getting the services you have requested you need to meet with your landscape Account Manager and inspect the property together.  Point out concerns you have and ask if that is included in the maintenance agreement.  A maintenance agreement is set up to maintain the current landscape.  Any changes to plants or beds will be additional enhancement work and that is not included. 

This is a good time to ask for proposals for those changes.  Don’t forget to take pictures as you are discussing these issues.  Agree on a timeline to get the issues you have discussed to be fixed and revisit to make sure it is to your .  After your initial walk you might want to schedule monthly meetings with your Account Manager.  Hopefully your account Manager is already calling or talking with you more than once a month. 

After a few months both of you should be on the same page and if you are happy with the service you are receiving you can cut back on the amount of property inspections and just have a call.  

Victoria Valente 

Communication is not just an aspect of good customer service; it is the most important part of customer service.  Companies can attract sales, but it is good communication that keeps clients coming back.  

At Chapel Valley we strive to provide our clients with the highest level of service, beginning with a high standard for communication. Clients often come to us frustrated about the lack of communication from their previous providers. Realizing that communication is critical to service success and overall client satisfaction, we have made clear communication our top priority by implementing a single point of contact strategy for our portfolio clients.  

We realize your time is valuable, so you should not have to spend hours trying to track down your landscape provider, especially in the case of an emergency. When partnering with Chapel Valley, your portfolio will be provided a designated contact that is independent from daily field operations and acts as a liaison between your team members and the Chapel Valley team.  

This single point of contact provides oversight across the portfolio and focuses on quality control and your customer experience. Having one designated individual removes any confusion surrounding who to contact and how to contact them. In addition to their horticulture knowledge, they can assist in resolving questions or concerns surrounding service, enhancements, or billing. 

Their number one goal is your satisfaction and do so by taking a proactive approach to your sites, conducting independent site walks to ensure maintenance is on track, and finding areas and ideas for enhancement.

We believe that utilizing this strategy helps to meet both your current and long-term needs by ensuring your brand standards are being upheld consistently among your portfolio. 

Communication, whether good or bad, can leave a lasting impression, and we know ours will be a great one.  

Brian Bergmann

Choosing a professional landscape contractor is sometimes a daunting task. There are several things to consider before you make that decision. Be sure you share your reasons for making a change and what you would like to see changed. This will ensure these issues do not continue. It’s important to do some research as most landscape contractors have websites that will tell you about the company and what sets them apart. Landscaping is one of the first things you see when you visit a property and it takes a lot of dedicated work to make sure it looks its best.

A landscape company that has been around a while has done so by making sure they keep their clients happy. Changing names and rebranding could be a sign that they needed to change due to service issues or new management. Look for association affiliations, awards, and horticultural certifications, and make sure they have the proper licenses to provide all landscape services.  

When you receive proposals, it is best to go over them with the landscaper. If you do not provide a scope of work, there are a lot of items to discuss. A good scope of work will help align your goals and clarify what services you require. A good landscape company will be able to assess your property and, based on what you want, they will be able to provide a scope of work to fit your goals.  

It’s necessary to look for companies that put emphasis on safety. Having a company that promotes safety not only keeps them working but it also ensures they are doing the job correctly.  Safety should be about the crews doing the work and it should also be about the crews looking out for the safety of others and your assets.

Be sure to ask for references and visit some of their current jobs. Nothing is better than seeing what kind of work they do than seeing it in person. It is a good idea to ask for similar types of properties. Most landscapers have a variety of work ranging from industrial sites that only need the basic services up to high-end work that requires a full scope of services. Make sure they have a location close to your property. If they are too far away, you may pay more due to traveling and you want a company with ties to the community. Landscaping is all about making your property look its best, and you want someone that takes pride in where they live and how their community looks.  

Asking the right questions, visiting current work, and knowing a little history about the contractors will help you make a good decision when looking for a new landscape contractor. Feel free to call and set up a time to walk around your property, discuss your ideas, and ask for suggestions. A great landscape company wants to build a long-lasting partnership and provide you with amazing curb appeal. 

The Relationship Between Effective Landscape Management and Your Brand

In the words of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

Have you ever wondered what people are saying about your company when you aren’t around? Have you considered all possible avenues to make the best first impression possible? Chances are there is one thing you haven’t thought too deeply about when considering your brand: landscape management.

I’m sure you’re wondering what landscaping has to do with your brand, right? A brand is really nothing more than a combined set of individual perceptions or opinions – the big picture. There are many small components to building a brand, such as logo design, color schemes, a website, social media presence, and physical environment. When you combine multiple successful factors, in theory, you should achieve a successful brand.

Here’s the thing about effective landscaping: it can positively affect or enhance almost every single branding component. If you have quality landscaping at your company’s physical locations, you are already set up for success. Effective landscaping can be used to direct the eye to strategic signage or logo placements. Colorscaping can be utilized to maintain a sense of brand color consistency across a physical campus. Picturesque landscaping can be used in photographs as content for a website or social media pages.

Landscaping alone can be what sets your brand apart from the competition. Commercial retail sites, office buildings, and multi-family housing brands all have one goal in common: to lease available space. When a potential customer goes to visit various sites in search of a lease, a multitude of variables is at play.

Picture this: two properties are identical in square footage, regional location, lease term, and price. One of those properties is well-manicured with green turf, crisp edges, and pops of color. The other property doesn’t look bad, but it certainly doesn’t have the same visual appeal and attention to detail as the first. Considering all other aspects are identical, at which property would you choose to sign a lease?

A common pitfall is an assumption that a low price means the best deal. The problem with that assumption is this: price does not always equal value. Rather than asking yourself how much you’re paying for quality landscaping, ask yourself what you’re getting for what you’re paying.

When initially designing your visual branding, you probably weren’t searching for the cheapest graphic designer you could find. More likely, you spent time researching and choosing a qualified designer who could deliver an exceptional product. The same should apply to the visual appeal of your company’s landscaping.
When deciding on a landscape management provider, you want to ensure you’re hiring a qualified company that can assist you in achieving a professional appearance. Chapel Valley will provide you with a lively, unique landscaping experience.

First impressions are powerful. They quickly determine a person’s feelings. Think about it for a minute. If there are two people to talk to at a party, do you talk with the one standing in the corner scowling with their arms crossed, or do you talk with the person who is smiling and animatedly talking? The vast majority of us would talk to the more inviting person and not go near the scowling one.

The same is true of businesses. First impressions determine if a person will park in the parking lot, walk into the business, and stay long enough to do business. A business needs commercial landscape management to maintain the appearance of the property. It doesn’t matter if it’s a restaurant, a store, or a church. If the building gives off a first impression similar to a scowling person, then most people will avoid the building.

If you own a business, what can you do to give a great first impression? The first step is to contact a commercial landscape management team like Chapel Valley. We understand the importance of first impressions and are committed to giving your business a great look.

Let us consult you about a renovated look. Our business makeovers are handled by our expert team. See how well we are at commercial landscaping. Not every project is a full-scale remodeling. We can provide simple solutions, such as adding new plants, repairing walkways, and rearranging surrounding objects. Here are a few areas we will focus on:

1. Parking Lot. A parking lot is the first place where your customers step foot. Let us show you how to improve your lot and make it presentable for everyone stopping by. Our experts love adding low-maintenance plants and decorative pots to help make the parking lot stand out. Our commercial landscape management team is fully equipped to handle any project.

2. Walkway. Do your walkways have cracks and dents? We don’t want to see your customers trip and fall. Let us use pavers and other stones to create the perfect path for your business. Have your customers walking freely and easily to your front door. Call our commercial landscape management team to get the best results that you won’t regret.

3. Building space. Make a lasting impression with your business’ appearance. Let us create an inviting and appealing look for your professional setting. Stand out from neighboring properties with our bountiful choices of plants and flowers and our wide selection of radiant colors. Create an impression that is both pleasing and slick.

4. Hiding. Do you have those eye-sores that you can’t get rid of like Dumpsters and gas meters? Keep your appearance looking incredible with help from our team. Look at our fencing options and plants to help conceal those nuisances.

Is your business’s exterior not looking how it should? Need some advice on how to make it better? Just contact us and let us have your business looking top notch. Let our experts come by and assist you with tips and tricks on how to make your property eye-catching and inviting. See how well we are at commercial landscape management.

Worried that maintenance will keep you from focusing on your business? No worries! Our management team will have all maintenance covered so you don’t have to. Let us water the plants, keep the soil fertilized, take out the weeds, and more. Keep your business successful while we keep it looking fantastic.

Donnalee Harman

As a Property Manager or Facilities Director, it is your responsibility to ensure that the property you oversee is maintained to a level that will accomplish your objectives whether it be appearance, safety, security, or functionality. Landscaping of the exterior grounds is a primary part of that. It’s everyone’s first visual impression, and we all want to make a good first impression.

There are multiple segments of the landscaping to include in your maintenance scope of work.

• Turf Care: Mowing, trimming, weed and fertilizer applications are all staples of the plan. You should make sure the number of occurrences coincides with the level of “neatness” you would like. You should also make sure if your property is irrigated that you have enough mowings to cover the consistent growth throughout the normally “dryer” weeks of the summer.A step-child of the regular turf care that should always be included in your program is Aeration and Overseeding. This once-a-year service will keep your turf strong and weed free. If budget is an issue, consider performing this on a third of your property annually, or just high visibility areas.

• Spring Clean Up: This is necessary to prep the site for mulch, and subsequent mowing services. Any grasses and perennials not cut back late fall will be cut and made ready for new spring growth.

• Turf applications: If your local ordinances allow, you should include a minimum of 4 turf applications for both weed control and fertilization. 

• Bed Care: Mulching and edging is an obvious must for your landscape beds. A properly prepped bed in early spring made ready for a new coat of dyed shredded mulch will keep the beds looking neat and tidy through the season.

• Plant Care: Tree and shrub pruning should be included as appropriate to keep a tidy appearance. Make sure that if you have shrubs that should grow a bit more naturally (think Nandina, or Forsythia) that these are not sheared or pruned incorrectly.

• Leaf Management: Include an appropriate number of leaf management occurrences considering the site’s tree canopy, and variety of trees. These days, most professional landscaping companies utilize mulching mowers to mulch up the initial leaf drop and allow it to incorporate into the turf giving it extra nutrients. 

• Optional services: This is where seasonal color is added if appropriate. Make sure you consider if you need sun or shade loving plants and deer resistant if necessary. A lime application is only necessary if your soil Ph is off. Make sure a soil test is completed annually.

The basics of your scope of work go a long way to keep your property in tip-top shape. The main component to it all is partnering with a reputable, experienced professional Landscape Management Company. Ask them if after viewing your property if they feel there are items you have in your scope that may not be necessary or is there anything that should be added. 

The main objective of a good landscaper is to make you look good, without you having to expend tremendous amount of time and effort.