Landscaping is one of your site’s greatest attributes for communicating a company’s brand and catching a customer’s eye. A landscape must be aesthetically pleasing, functional and safety-oriented. With proper design and maintenance, landscaping can also function to create privacy, block street level noise, allow for better visibility, and provide a safe environment for everyone.

Your landscape must be kept clean and neat – green shrubs, fresh mulch and neatly trimmed foliage. Prior to initiating any exterior landscaping job, it is always critical that an inspection of the facility’s exterior be performed to determine the most appropriate foliage for your property. This inspection will take into account the geographical location, available sunlight, location in relation to other exterior assets, pedestrian and vehicular traffic and soil types. The reason for the inspection is to determine the best selection of plants, trees and turf for your property.

Aesthetically pleasing exteriors can be designed to establish dimension, texture and lines that draw customers through the property. Turf, planting beds and foliage add instant aesthetic appeal to a location, while enhancing an otherwise plain parking lot.

Hard landscaping and walkways can be integrated to clearly define traffic flow, while ponds, fountains and similar assets can serve as blockades to deter unwanted entry. However, the landscaping must be properly designed, installed and maintained.

If not, overgrown ornamentals and shrubbery can create hiding spaces, damage the building, harbor pest infestations and block visibility.

A property’s asphalt is a major investment that must be well-maintained. Proper preventative maintenance is essential because this asset can quickly become a liability without the proper upkeep. Keep in mind that parking lot maintenance is a large part of curb appeal; potholes, cracks and loose debris will negatively impact perceptions of your property.

The seasonal elements alone tend to harden the pavement, making it more brittle and likely to crack. Water seeping through the asphalt into the sub-structure will accelerate the disintegration of asphalt. Regular maintenance inspections for signs of wear and tear will help maintain and extend the life of hard surface assets and increase the value of your property, while reducing any potential liabilities, lowering unexpected costs and meeting customer expectations.

Although it seems like the green season just kicked into full swing, keep in mind that winter will be here before we know it. Performing proper winterization steps during early fall is perhaps the best method of preventing damage to your system during the cold season and will help save you additional maintenance costs and repair headaches come spring. Ensure these steps are taken when winterizing your irrigation system:

• Disable the water supply;

• Drain and tag backflow preventers;

• Drain all valves, to be left partially open;

• Blow out the system, or utilize previously installed automatic drain valves, to ensure all water is removed from pipes and sprinkler heads;

• Turn off automatic controllers and power.

Unless you are located in the extreme South or Hawaii, a well-developed snow and ice control plan is essential for safety, efficiency and cost-effective exterior facility management. If your locations are in a snow-prone region and your snow and ice control plans have not been finalized, this should become a top priority. After all, the benefit of your planning and early commitment is better service.

The most professional snow removal companies are in high demand and sell snow removal service year-round. Their service availability will fill quickly and early; once their service capacity “cut off” is reached, their resources will be committed and the logistics and planning stage will begin. Simply, your options are much greater the earlier your snow and ice removal needs are finalized.

In addition to the exterior assets on the property, the proper maintenance of the building’s façade must be addressed. Pressure washing and building painting are cost-effective and efficient ways to rejuvenate and protect a building’s exterior, providing “curb appeal” that’s essential for making a great impression.

 Depending upon the surface materials, age of the facility itself and maintenance schedule; pressure washing may be used to remove layers of dirt, mold, grime, grease and other unsightly build-up. Finally, any graffiti on your property should be removed promptly.

Whether it is this winter, spring, summer, or fall there is no reason to be stressed at all. Regular exterior maintenance programs will help to keep your properties looking pristine, and create a stress-free environment to kick off every season.