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Commercial Landscape Safety 101

Commercial landscaping services don’t just keep properties beautiful; they help to keep them safe. Safety hazards like fallen trees, slippery walkways, and overgrown hardscapes can put anyone on your property at unnecessary risk. Now obviously, there is no guarantee on keeping your property accident-free – it’s impossible to predict every safety hazard, but U.S. Lawns can help you substantially reduce the risk of accidents brought about by unsafe conditions.

How Do Unsafe Situations Arise?

No property owner or manager wants to foster an unsafe environment, but even the most well-intentioned managers can inadvertently contribute to hazardous conditions that could be avoided by partnering with a dedicated commercial landscaping expert like U.S. Lawns. For example, strong spring or winter storms can cause damage to property and create unplanned hazards. Getting on the list for a cleanup crew can be costly and there could be long delays, leaving your property at risk. Furthermore, areas of the property that aren’t often visited might become overgrown, obstructing pathways. 

When it comes to addressing these situations effectively, you want to contract with an experienced landscaper. U.S. Lawns has been in the commercial landscaping business for more than 30 years, and our teams work diligently to keep all our customers’ properties healthy and beautiful from corner to corner, even when unexpected situations arise; and our fast response time minimizes potential damage as well as the duration your property will be waiting in disarray. 

What Can Property Owners Do?

As we mentioned earlier, anticipating every potential hazard is impossible. That being said, there are things that property owners and managers can do to reduce the likelihood of accidents on their property. Regular inspections of the property can help to identify potential problems (like leaning trees, breaking branches or overgrown walkways) before they become more serious. It’s also wise to invest in repairs (like cracks in sidewalks or small potholes) right away, reducing the likelihood that someone will get hurt. Finally, one of the most important things that can be done is to find a commercial landscaping partner to help keep the grounds clear of hazards and looking great. U.S. Lawns provides regular maintenance to keep commercial properties in top shape, while working within our clients’ budgets. 

What Does U.S. Lawns Commercial Landscaping Do To Help Ensure Safety?

Many people are already familiar with the U.S. Lawns brand as a company that beautifies commercial properties, but fewer people realize that we actually help keep properties safe as well. Our expert commercial landscaping teams can install and improve hardscapes like water features, benches, and paver walkways. Our regular visits to the properties we serve help to keep all of these elements functioning properly, and we perform regular inspections to ensure their safety. Furthermore, our teams provide valuable snow and ice maintenance services and storm cleanup when it’s needed, removing branches and clearing pathways of debris. We also keep plants and ornamental trees well-manicured and pruned throughout the year, reducing the likelihood that branches will snap off during a storm, and we manage fallen leaves in autumn. These are just a few of the commercial landscaping services we provide that help to increase the safety of our customers’ properties.

Learn more about the ways professional commercial landscaping services can help you minimize safety risks on your property. Contact U.S. Lawns today!

Attract More Customers With A Beautiful Landscape

If you’re running a retail or residential establishment, attracting more business is probably a key concern. While land and landscape maintenance may not be the first thing many managers think about when creating a marketing strategy, a great landscape does have the potential to draw in customers. U.S. Lawns can help you to create an appealing landscape that invites new business to your door while working within your budget. Learn more about what we have to offer below.

Why Customers Love Beautiful Properties

There are many reasons that customers are attracted to beautiful properties. For one thing, a well-maintained landscape indicates care and attention to detail, and implies that the business it’s attached to manages its operations with similar care. Eye-catching flowers and trees grab the attention of passers-by just as effectively as any signage, and an inviting space encourages visitors to linger and appreciate the natural beauty. If you’re running a residential property, your landscape is literally a part of your tenants’ home, and everyone wants to live in a beautiful home. As you can see, great land and landscape maintenance is an effective way to draw in and retain business. 

A Lot Goes Into A Great Landscape

The components of a great landscape will vary on many factors like the size of your property, the region you’re located in, and your budget. U.S. Lawns has the expertise to beautify commercial properties large and small by installing and/or servicing things like:

• Lawns
• Flower and Plant Beds
• Ornamental Trees and Grasses
• Hardscapes

Of course, we can help enhance the beauty and longevity of all of these elements by installing and maintaining irrigation systems that are designed to sufficiently hydrate your landscape without wasting water (or money). 

Partner With U.S. Lawns To Achieve Your Landscape Maintenance Goals

There are a number of ways that U.S. Lawns helps our customers to achieve their land and landscaping maintenance goals. One of the most important services we provide is developing a plan for your landscape that extends up to five years into the future. This allows us to strategically implement plants into your landscape at just the right time to get the maximum value out of your investment and helps us to secure great prices. Our long-term plan further enables us to provide you with comprehensive lawn maintenance year-round, keeping it looking as lush as possible. Our team also helps our customers by minimizing winter damage, keeping your property looking great even in the colder months. 

At U.S. Lawns, we strive to do a lot more than just step in as needed to plant a few flowers and rake some leaves. We want to be your partner for everything related to your land and landscaping maintenance needs so your property can look beautiful within your budget. For many of our customers, this partnership has proven to be an effective way to draw new clientele through their doors. 

Find out more about the ways we can improve your land and landscaping maintenance plan to help you attract customers by contacting us today!

How to Properly Care for Ornamental Trees in Urban Areas

Ornamental trees are a great way to beautify any property and come in many varieties. Each of these different trees have unique care needs, and not all commercial landscapers are equally qualified to maintain them. In urban areas, where these trees often aren’t native, it’s important to find a landscaper who is an expert in ornamental tree care in order to extend their life. U.S. Lawns has years of experience caring for a wide variety of ornamental trees, and we know just how to maximize their lifespan and their beauty.

Choose the Right Variety

There are many varieties of ornamental trees to choose from. Flowering trees like the blooming redbud can introduce a burst of color into your landscape in the spring. Japanese Maples beautify properties with brightly colored leaves throughout the year. Fruit trees make a beautiful and practical addition to many landscapes. While each of these varieties are capable of thriving in areas they’re not native to, property owners should take their needs into account when choosing which ones to incorporate into their landscape. Don’t feel like reading up on ornamental tree care? No worries! U.S. Lawns has the expertise to help you make choices that fit your budget and your local environment.

Prune for Health

One of the most important things commercial landscapers can do for ornamental trees is prune them correctly. Pruning is a great way to keep ornamental trees healthy, as strategically removing branches allows a tree to direct its growth energy to a fewer number of limbs. This has the potential to create stronger branches that are more resistant to snapping off in high winds.

Prune for Beauty

Pruning is also a great way to enhance the natural beauty of an ornamental tree. For one thing, it will likely reduce the amount of leaf fall property owners will have to deal with in the offseason, leading to a cleaner property in between landscaping services. Furthermore, pruning is a great way to enhance the shape of a tree by drawing attention to more beautiful branch and leaf formations. However, pruning inexpertly has the potential to seriously damage ornamental trees. That’s why it’s more important than ever to choose a commercial landscaper like U.S. Lawns that is an expert in tree care.

Irrigate Properly

No matter how hearty the variety, ornamental trees need proper irrigation in order to keep them healthy in the long run. Not only should property managers invest in a great irrigation system, they should ensure that it has proper drainage to keep ornamental trees hydrated. U.S. Lawns offers many irrigation installation and maintenance services and might even be able to help you select an irrigation system that can help you conserve water, energy and your monthly utility budget. Saving money while enhancing the appearance of your landscape is possible when you partner with us.

Learn more about our ornamental tree care expertise. Contact your local U.S. Lawns professionals today!

Start Planning Now For The Upcoming Winter Weather. Here’s How.

If you’re a property owner or manager, you likely understand that preparing for winter land and landscape maintenance is serious business. Snow, ice, and winter storms create an entirely different set of landscape management challenges and safety concerns. If you haven’t had a steady landscaping partner like U.S. Lawns, you might be spending more money than you have to, and waiting longer than you need to, for vital winter groundskeeping services. Read on to learn more about how U.S. Lawns can help you come up with a better plan.

Preparing for Winter

When it comes to securing the best services for the best price, planning ahead is key. U.S. Lawns doesn’t just scramble into action when winter storms hit – we actually plan ahead up to five years in advance! Of course, we don’t just plan for the winter months. We design a comprehensive plan to keep your greenery thriving in every season and make your land and landscape maintenance strategy effective and affordable.

We help our clients to prepare for winter by getting them into our snow and ice maintenance schedules ahead of time. This helps to ensure that they’ll get the service they need as soon as possible. We also prepare irrigation systems for the cold weather, helping to minimize any damage that might occur. We strategically prune trees, reducing the likelihood that branches will snap off in snow or windstorms, and choose annual plants that will be replaced with fresh seasonal color in the springtime, or perennials that will survive the winter – helping our clients make the most of their land and landscape maintenance budget.

When Winter Hits

Since our clients schedule ahead of time for snow and ice maintenance services, they’re guaranteed to be on our roster. Property managers who wait until the snow arrives, on the other hand, might find themselves waiting longer to receive services – extending the time their property and the people on it are being exposed to unnecessary hazards. Speedy service is key during the winter months when deep snow, slick ice, and fallen tree limbs can cause a variety of issues. U.S. Lawns is capable of dealing with all of this and much more. Furthermore, our clients can rest assured that they’re paying a fair price for the services they need, as opposed to those will pay higher prices to be fit into their provider’s schedule because they waited until the last minute to call. 

After Winter

Once winter passes, our land and landscape maintenance experts are able to get your property into shape for spring as soon as possible. We’ll perform spring startup services to get your irrigation system back up and running to keep your turf and other flora hydrated, lush and green. We’ll also help choose and plant seasonal flowers, and trim ornamental trees, to create an inviting and comfortable space. Of course, the planning never stops, so we’ll have already started preparing to address anything next winter will be bringing to your grounds.

Ready to learn more about the winter land and landscape maintenance U.S. Lawns can provide? Contact us today!

Why Ornamental Trees Need to Be Trimmed

Ornamental trees are a great way to add color and dimension to any landscape. There are many varieties to choose from, but tree care that’s tailored to their unique needs is critical when it comes to maintaining the health of your trees and the safety of your commercial landscape. While ornamental trees aren’t always as large as other trees, they still need regular pruning in order to thrive and keep your property looking good.

How Ornamental Trees are Often Used in Landscapes

Ornamental trees are used to provide landscapes with unique beauty. They’re often a great source of seasonal color, like flowering varieties such as cherry blossoms and lilac trees. The burst of color and lush blooms these trees provide creates an unbeatable ambiance in any landscape. Other ornamental trees like Japanese maple provide landscapes with color-changing foliage throughout the year.

The wide assortment of ornamental trees available enables commercial property owners to select varieties that meet their maintenance needs and fit in with their desired color palette. Whichever varieties you choose, proper tree care is key to maintaining the overall health of your landscape. At U.S. Lawns, we’re experts in ornamental trees and their care. We can help you choose trees that meet your unique needs, and we’ll help you maximize their health and beauty year-round.

The Health and Beauty of the Tree

Pruning a tree does a lot more than maintain its desired shape. Regular and strategic pruning actually helps a tree to redirect its growth energy, allowing the remaining branches to flourish. Gardeners and landscapers know that the key to maximizing a tree’s beauty is to carefully prune some branches to encourage growth and flowering in others. This tree care is a great way to draw attention to the most appealing branches and flowers while also improving the view of the trunk. Strategic pruning is also used to enhance the natural branching patterns that make each tree unique.

Furthermore, pruning is a great way to protect against wind damage. Keeping branches trimmed down minimizes wind resistance, reducing the chance that they’ll break off in a storm. In the same way, keeping branches neat during the winter months can lessen the amount of snow that can pile up, helping to guard against breakage.

Tree Care Reduces Hazards and Leaf Fall

Proper tree care isn’t just necessary to protect the health of your ornamental trees, it’s key to keeping your landscape safe. While ornamental trees may be smaller than other varieties, they can still bear large limbs. If they’re not properly pruned, there’s a greater chance that they could break off in a storm, leading to property damage as well as becoming a safety hazard. Similarly, proper maintenance can prevent messes from forming when leaves and flowers fall. Regular pruning can significantly reduce the amount of cleanup there is to be done, keeping your property looking better between visits from your landscapers.

U.S. Lawns provides comprehensive ornamental tree care year-round. Contact us today to learn more about how we can improve your landscape.

How to Cut Exterior Maintenance Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

If you’re running a commercial property, you know that commercial landscape maintenance services can be expensive. Many property managers are always looking for ways to cut exterior maintenance costs. However, a well-maintained landscape has the potential to pay for itself through curb appeal and the new business it attracts. At U.S. Lawns, we’ve developed a number of strategies that help save our clients money without sacrificing quality. Here’s a quick look at some of the ways we’re able to work within a budget.

Planning Ahead Saves Money

At U.S. Lawns, we work with our clients to plan up to five years in advance. This is a highly-effective way to maximize the beauty of a landscape, but it’s also a great way to save money in the long run. For instance, deciding in advance what plants you’d like to use each season enables us to order them early, often securing lower prices. Similarly, snow and ice maintenance can be costly, especially when it’s not planned for until the last minute. We schedule our clients for winter services months ahead of time. Not only does this ensure they’ll get the maintenance they need when they need it, they’re able to pay lower prices by giving service providers ample time to work them into their schedule. These are just two of the ways that planning commercial landscape maintenance services in advance saves our customers money.

Upgrade Your Irrigation System

If you’re working with an outdated irrigation system, a significant part of your budget for commercial landscape maintenance services could be going down the drain. Older irrigation systems often run the risk of overwatering, wasting valuable money and natural resources. Newer “smart” irrigation systems come equipped with sophisticated sensors that significantly cut down on wasted water. For example, soil sensors let the system know when the landscape has received enough water, allowing it to shut down. Older systems that run on timers are unable to adjust for factors like rainfall and humidity, leading to wasted water – and money. U.S. Lawns service providers are experts when it comes to upgrading and maintaining irrigation systems, helping our clients conserve water and save on their monthly utility bills.

U.S. Lawns Passes Savings on to Clients

U.S. Lawns has been in business for decades, and our years of experience in the industry have led us to develop a strong nationwide network of third-party suppliers. These relationships allow us to negotiate great prices on the things we need (like equipment and plants), so we’re able to pass the savings along in the form of competitive rates for our customers. When you get in touch with U.S. Lawns, we’re able to offer you a detailed and accurate quote for our services, so you’ll be able to appreciate the difference right away. Competitive pricing, in combination with factors like those we’ve just discussed, allow us to help our customers save money on the commercial landscape maintenance services they need.

Ready to see how U.S. Lawns can improve your budget for commercial landscape maintenance services? Contact us today!

Why Is Proper Drainage Necessary for a Healthy Landscape?

If you’ve been struggling to achieve the look you want from your landscape, it might be time to explore irrigation systems for commercial lawns. Many people may be overlooking the irrigation system when they’re planning landscape improvements, but the truth is it’s crucial for plants to have their unique watering needs met so they can really thrive. U.S. Lawns not only helps maintain our clients’ landscapes by mowing and planting, we’re also a one-stop shop for irrigation system maintenance and upgrades.

Why Does Drainage Matter?

You might have an irrigation system that adequately waters all of your plants, but is your drainage system working well too? All irrigation systems for commercial lawns need proper drainage in order to achieve the best results. For one thing, improper drainage can lead to standing water, which can be damaging to the landscape and hardscapes as well. Poor drainage can also create a breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes, leading to potential hazards for anyone on your property. Of course, improper drainage can also lead to wasted water that could instead be diverted to other areas of the landscape that need the hydration. In short, maintaining a healthy, long-lived commercial landscape system requires a fully functional drainage system.

Drainage is an Important Part of Irrigation Systems for Commercial Lawns

Many landscapes receive enough water, but not necessarily in the right places. If you feel like you’re spending a fortune watering your landscape but your plants aren’t faring well, call your local U.S. Lawns branch and have our experts take a look. Your drainage system might be preventing water from reaching all the areas of your landscape.

A good solution could be to retrofit or even replace your older irrigation system, which can serve the dual purpose of saving money and preventing improper hydration. Modern “smart” irrigation systems use technology like soil and atmospheric sensors to determine when and where your landscape needs more water. If it’s recently rained, for instance, your system will know that no more water is needed. Older systems that run on timers are unable to make cost-savings determinations like this one. Our experts can help you upgrade your entire system, potentially saving you money on your water bill while supporting conservation efforts and providing your landscape with the irrigation it needs.

U.S. Lawns Can Help

U.S. Lawns owner/operators are experts in irrigation systems for commercial lawns. Our teams can work with you to identify areas in need of improvement on your property. We’ll repair or replace your existing system and work with you to maintain it year-round, helping to minimize damage during the winter months and get it working smoothly in the spring. Best of all, our teams work with clients to select plants that are a great fit for their area and their irrigation system. We’ll help you keep your landscape looking great while working within your budget.

Ready to learn more about how we can improve irrigation systems for commercial lawns? Contact U.S. Lawns today!

It’s Time to Budget for Snow and Ice Management

Snow probably isn’t on your mind in the spring, while flowers are blooming and the sun is shining. However, snow and ice management companies are already booking up fast, preparing for the winter ahead. U.S. Lawns helps our customers get the services they need at great prices by planning ahead. Learn more about why there’s no time to wait when it comes to scheduling your winter maintenance services.

The Importance of Snow and Ice Management

Commercial property managers everywhere understand the importance of snow and ice management. For one thing, improperly maintained properties can present many hazards during the winter months. Slippery walkways and snow and ice in parking lots can make getting around a challenge. Furthermore, snow and ice can cause damage to your existing landscape and hardscape. Broken branches, heavy snow pileup in delicate spots, and sub-zero temperatures all have the potential to lead to costly repairs come spring. But proper winter maintenance can help minimize the damage.

Act Now

Snow and ice management companies are already filling their winter schedules. By now, experienced commercial property managers have secured their position on the calendar because they know waiting too long will likely result in increased rates to cover the overtime created by a last-minute call. Worst of all, procrastinating could mean that you’ll need to do without snow and ice management for days, interrupting the daily routine of tenants, customers and residents and creating unnecessary liability. Fortunately for U.S. Lawns customers, we here to help you stay ahead of every season, so you’ll be covered when winter comes!

U.S. Lawns Plans Ahead

U.S. Lawns always plans ahead for our customers. In fact, when possible, we like to plan as far out as five years in advance. There are many benefits to this approach, and when winter arrives our customers love knowing that they’ll have access to the snow and ice management services they need. Furthermore, we take winter into account when we make all of our landscaping decisions. When and what we plant, and how we maintain trees and irrigation systems are all decisions that we make with winter in mind. We’re able to winterize your irrigation system, helping to minimize any risk of damages, and then get it up and running again in the spring. We want you to get the most value for your money and planning ahead helps to minimize wasted time and resources.

U.S. Lawns also ensures that our customers have a timely response to storm damage. Snow and ice management aside, many of our customers experience windstorms (even tornadoes and hurricanes) in their regions. Our teams will be on-site as quickly as possible, removing hazardous debris and returning your property to its former glory.

Snow and ice management is important to the health and beauty of your landscape, as well as to the safety of anyone on your commercial property. Contact U.S. Lawns today to learn more about how we can help.

Creative Ways to Add a Landscape with Limited Space

Every hotel is different. While some may have a lot of space for lawns and landscapes, many have very limited grounds to work with. However, there are some commercial landscaping improvements that can make your hotel pop, and U.S. Lawns experts know just how to do it. Even the small things matter. Guests have come from near and far to stay at your hotel, and they expect something a little extra that makes your property stand out from the others. Here are some creative ways we can make the most out of a smaller landscape with the help of professional commercial landscaping services.

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