The Importance of Commercial Landscaping: Maximizing the Value of Your Property

Designing an intentional,  creative, and beautiful landscape for your commercial property is an investment in your building as well as your business. While the outside of your space may not be the first thing that comes to your mind, it is the first thing that customers and employees will see. Your landscape provides your first impression to anyone walking onto your premises and you want to ensure that they feel welcome, safe, and confident in choosing your place of business. 

Not only can a well-designed landscape draw attention and increase curbside appeal but it can also be a subtle way to influence how customers and employees engage with your outdoor space. If you want clients to stay a little longer then provide benches and sitting areas for them. Give them clear easy paths to follow. Create outdoor seating areas for employees with some privacy and cover where they can get some refreshing time outside. If you want to communicate quick efficiency, give them one clear and short path from the entrance to the parking lot. Create a landscape that compliments the purpose of your business. 

Providing a beautiful landscape for your business is especially important now during COVID. A well-designed landscape allows employees or tenants to frequently get outside and breathe in fresh air which is shown to help strengthen our immune systems. It allows visitors and tenants space to socially distance while still engaging in outdoor activities together. It is also shown that just 30 mins outdoors in the sun each day can help increase mental health and wellness. 

Another benefit is that you can choose to create a landscape that is environmentally friendly and receive irrigation rebates just by creating a more sustainable landscape. Not to mention that people in the community are usually more eager to support a business that is doing its fair share of helping the environment and local ecosystem.  

Moving forward on designing a landscape for your commercial property doesn’t have to be complicated. Below are some suggestions

Maintenance

The very least that any commercial property should have is a landscape maintenance plan. You want to keep the outside of your premises looking neat and clean with the grass and shrubbery trimmed and any plant beds weeded regularly. If the outside of your property looks overgrown and unkept that communicates a lack of care and attention to detail to potential customers. 

Flowers

Having colorful flower beds is another way to add value to your business. Our eyes are naturally drawn towards color so planting a variety of flowers near entrances and signs brings attention to your business and subtly guides people through your doors.  

Trees

Planting trees is another way to add value to your property. Aside from the visual appeal they also provide shade and cover for customers and employees. They can also provide a home or perch for local wildlife. Plus, trees clean our air. 

Lighting

Lighting is another really important aspect of your landscape that you don’t want to overlook. Lighting can be used to draw attention to your building and entrances at night. Having a properly lit landscape also helps people navigate the property without tripping in the dark. A well-lit area is also shown to discourage criminal activity on the premises thus increasing the security and safety of your property. 

Holiday Decor 

Just because plants go dormant in the winter doesn’t mean your landscape should then sit bare for several months. There are a lot of options for decorating a landscape or entrance during the winter months that can maintain the visual appeal for customers and keep your space looking colorful and welcoming all year long.  

The Landscape design and maintenance of your commercial property is essential if you want to create a space that people will continue frequenting. If you’re interested in getting started on a landscape renovation, new design, maintenance schedule, or making your outdoor space more sustainable, contact Bloom Floralscapes. We have experts in both commercial and residential projects and can help make your vision a reality. Now is the time to plan for the 2021 season if you want to work with us. Don’t delay, we book out early. To schedule a project review and consultation, contact us here.

Alternatives to a Traditional Lawn

There are many advantages to choosing an alternative direction for your landscape beside the standard grass lawn. Switching things up can help reduce your water bill, lower the amount of maintenance required, and provide you with a space that is uniquely styled and will stand out.

There are three elements to consider when setting out to create something different from a standard lawn in your landscape: plant life, stone, features. There are plenty of options within each of these categories that you could incorporate into your space so we will review them below.

PLANT LIFE

If your main qualm with standard lawns is the mowing, watering, and overall maintenance. Synthetic turf could be a great option. You get the look of a normal lawn with minimal effort. Another simple option that allows minimal maintenance would be to lay down mulch or wood chips instead of grass and generously fill your flower beds with plants and spread out different large pots filled with grasses and different flowers. No mowing required. And while some watering will be required for the plants, it is much less than turf requirements.

If using unique and more water-efficient grasses interests you, a great option is to utilize native grasses. Colorado has a handful of native grasses that require no mowing and very little water. Create a stone or cement path and fill the rest of the area with native grasses and enjoy the wild and beautiful look it creates.

If you want an alternative that is easy on the eyes, Creeping Thyme and other Stepables® might be a great choice. This is an easy and drought-resistant ground cover that will bloom in the spring and early summer, and stay evergreen all year. It is “stepable” but never needs mowing. Great for our pollinator friends, and easy on water resources.

STONE and BOULDERS

If you are wanting less greenery and want to use fewer water resources consider filling in your landscape with boulders, gravel, or stone pieces. These add a lot of texture and are great for creating a unique desert-themed look. There are several routes you could go depending on what look you are going for. Boulders are unique and you can add one as a statement piece or create a look by scattering several boulders of varying sizes throughout your landscape with shrubs or grasses to compliment.

Colorado has a fairly dry climate so one option is to choose a few areas to plant drought-resistant shrubs and overlay the rest of your landscape with permeable crushed granite and a stone walkway. This allows the rainwater to soak into the ground instead of running into the street.

In addition to utilizing rock, you can also include stone features like statues, fountains, pathways, and patios. These things take up space and add style without requiring any maintenance or water resources.

FEATURES

Adding in garden features is another great alternative to focusing on plants or stone. This category offers a wide variety of options. Create an oasis in the front or backyard and eliminate the need for grass by designing a landscape that uses mostly hardscape features, such as a deck, patio, an outdoor kitchen, or a fire pit. For pathways, use one of the mentioned low-maintenance ground covers such as moss, gravel, synthetic grass, or mulch. A touch of greenery can be added using several options such as planting bordering flower beds alongside the pathways, designating an area for a vegetable or flower garden, and highlighting areas around decks, ponds, or patios with drought-resistant and ornamental grasses. You can also incorporate low maintenance water features, ponds, or fountains.

There are many landscape alternatives to a standard grass lawn that can save you time on maintenance as well as water. With a little planning, you can create a space that uniquely reflects your own style and preferences while also using fewer resources. Get creative, you may be surprised by all the ways you can make your Colorado landscape stand out.

Here are a few projects we have completed without a traditional lawn:

No sod in this new yard! We incorporated a fully xeric design using native plants, wood mulch, cobble mulch, and drip irrigation. We coordinated and complied with the City of Aurora xeric principles so the homeowner could take advantage of City REBATES! Check with your city to see what rebates you may be eligible for. (Project completed 2020)

 Artificial turf with flagstone pathway (Note: we re-laid the flagstone patio after this photo was taken. Project completed 2020).

Creating a Pet-Friendly Outdoor Space

Designing an outdoor landscape that works for both you and your pets can feel like a challenge. Animals can really do a number on your space from chewing up furniture to digging up plants. It can also easily become an unsafe place for them if you aren’t aware of some of the dangers. Here are a few things to consider that will help you design a landscape that is both beautiful and safe for your pets. 

Plan Strategically

When designing your space, think about the most vulnerable parts of your landscape. Delicate flowers, heirloom plants, the wiring on outdoor lighting — all elements that can be easily damaged by an excited or curious pet. Instead of fighting the habits and patterns of your pet try laying things out in a way that works with them. 

Place your fragile or valuable plants in parts of your yard where your pets never venture or that are hard for them to access. Make sure wiring is buried or strung out of reach, and keep any fuse boards or power controls inside weatherproof containers. 

Thick ground covers, large shrubs, and small trees can establish natural perimeters in your yard, encouraging your pets to stay in easier to access sections of your property. You may also want to consider incorporating a dog run or set paths for your pet with crusher fines or mulch. If you have small pets, raised beds alone are an effective way to keep flowers and other plants away from their curious paws.

Utilize Hardscapes

When designing your yard, think about incorporating more hardscaping into your space. Stone, bricks, tile, concrete, and pebbles are some common examples. A well-balanced landscape will combine both softscapes and hardscapes, like an elegant stone path winding through beds of annual flowers. Hardscaping is less vulnerable to digging, staining, and trampling than flower beds and greenery. Things like retaining walls, stone structures, and paved paths can help your pets navigate your yard without causing damage, and it establishes natural boundaries without using fencing.

Choose Your Plants Carefully

Pet traffic can be hard on your yard. Half-eaten plants, holes dug, trampled flowers, pets can definitely wreak havoc on a landscape. One way to make your yard more pet-friendly is to intentionally choose safe and hardy plants. Select a hardy grass species, especially for your lawn. Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and ryegrass are known for their toughness, even with hyperactive and digging dogs.

As any pet owner knows, your pet will eat — or at least try — just about anything. But many popular landscaping plants are toxic for pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has compiled a comprehensive list of hazardous plants, be aware of these when choosing what to plant in your yard.

Also, consider growing your herbs on a raised bed or behind a barrier — the aromatic plants are enticing to both cats and dogs, and besides eating half your supply, your pet could get sick. Some herbs, such as parsley, basil, and sage, are toxic to many animals, and they could make your yard unsafe for your pet. A simple chicken wire fence or low stone wall could be all it takes to keep your pets from eating your herbs and potentially getting sick.

Use Fencing

One way to keep your pets away from vulnerable landscaping is to use low fences or hardscaping — by establishing a physical barrier, you can add visual interest to your yard and keep your pets from damaging any delicate features. The trick is to learn how to utilize it as a design feature in your landscape. You don’t have to go with chainlink or plain wood — there are plenty of beautiful and effective fencing options.

For properties with limited space, consider fencing off your backyard for your pets and leave your detailed landscaping to the front yard. A well-landscaped front yard boosts your curb appeal and lets you use all of your favorite plants that might be toxic for your furry friends, like azaleas, gardenias, or ferns.

If you don’t like the appearance of stark fencing, try planting bushes and other hardy plants along the edges of your fencing. Not only does this bring an integrated and lush appearance to your yard, but it prevents your pets from wearing a running trail along the fence perimeter. Creeping vines and lovely flower boxes are other ways to make your fence green and stunning, especially if you want to upgrade existing fencing.

Cut the Chemicals

Synthetic herbicides and pesticides can sometimes be toxic to pets. Instead of always opting for the chemical solution,  consider taking the opportunity to use natural or organic pest control methods, including essential oils and diatomaceous earth. To keep tick and flea numbers down, keep your grass well-trimmed and bathe your pets regularly. Watch for any stagnant water and dump it quickly to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard. 

Provide Shade

 If your pet stays outside for extended periods of time, make sure they have a shady spot to rest from the bright summer rays. Cats and dogs love a good sunbathing session but just like humans, your pet can experience sunburn, heatstroke, and dehydration. Having access to shelter and water is vital for their health and safety.

 Planting trees is a great solution, the cost might seem steep at first glance but your investment will provide shade for generations to come. Shrubs are an alternative that grows faster and can also provide some shade for pets in the summer. Another great option is a  doghouse. This provides your pet with its own set-aside space. It could be as simple or as cute as you like. If you want to create a shade structure for both your pets and your human guests, try a timeless pergola with climbing roses, or a vintage gazebo for a classic flair.

Although it can sometimes feel challenging to blend your pet’s safety with a pleasing aesthetic in your landscape, it can be done.  With some creativity and strategic planning, you should be able to find plenty of ways to design the landscape that you want while keeping your pets comfortable and safe. 

What to Consider When Designing Your Outdoor Space

Designing an outdoor landscape that is both beautiful and functional allows you to get the full enjoyment out of your home as well as increase the property value if you decide to sell later on. Here are the key factors to keep in mind when planning your outdoor space. 

Know Your Area, Seasons, and Climate

You may love the look and feel of a Florida backyard oasis but if you live in Colorado the soil, seasons, and plant life are completely different. You need to start designing with your specific area in mind. Start by using the USDA Plant Hardiness Map to find your region’s zone. Once you know what zone you’re in you can see what plants thrive in your specific climate. 

This doesn’t just affect the plants that you will choose but also affects the type of hardscapes and entertaining areas you may build. Thin-set concrete patios may look great but you can only have those in areas that don’t have severe freeze-thaw patterns. If you want a deck, the moisture levels of your climate will influence what materials you should use to build it, as well as what type of maintenance will need to be done. 

If you like the look of other climate’s gardens and outdoor spaces get creative and think about how you can simulate that same look with materials and plants that work for your area. 

How Do You Want to Use Your Space?

 Do you have kids and want to provide them with a play area? Do you have pets? Are you wanting to entertain dinner guests outdoors? do Yoga in the grass? Make a list of all the activities you plan on frequently doing in your outdoor space. This will allow you to look at the list and then prioritize what elements are most important to include when designing your space. 

Just like a home has different rooms, it can help to think of your outdoor space as having different “rooms” that serve different purposes. If you are someone who is stuck with a small outdoor space and your yard feels more like a New York studio apartment, it can help to think of it as one space with multiple sections or functions. Your patio where you entertain guests may also be the place where you do yoga and your kids draw with chalk. The smaller your space the more creative you get to be with overlapping functionality and style. 

How Will You Connect Different Sections?

By now you hopefully have your yard roughly broken out into different sections. The next thing to consider is how to connect those spaces. How will people move through the landscape? What kind of flow do you want to create from one space to the next? Gravel, cement, stepping stones, archways, flower beds, and shrubs are all elements that create paths for people to follow. Some transitions can be subtle like flower beds or blatantly obvious like a gravel path. What you choose will depend on space and preference. 

Consider Your Visual Plane

The next thing to consider in your space is the visual planes. Start from the top and work your way down. Consider the space above you, this may include trees, archways, pergolas, or hedges. What are your desired effects? Are you trying to reduce noise from the street? Direct sunlight? Wind? Do you want privacy but want to still maintain an open feel? Do you like the idea of having a large shade tree overhead or would rather see more sky? All of these are things to consider when planning your upper visual plane. 

Looking next at the vertical plane, consider how closely spaced or far apart plants will be, how plants will be layered or staggered (generally larger plants are used behind smaller plants), as well as the individual and collective heights and widths of your plants. Think about color as well. Are you wanting more greenery or more blooms? Some people prefer a focus on hardscapes, others use it only as an accent. Figure out your style and what works for your individual space. 

To ensure that your landscape feels unified, try repeating similar shapes and structures throughout so that there is a subtle theme that runs through the entire space. 

Don’t Forget About Maintenance

An important element that people forget when planning a landscape is that a garden or outdoor area is not a one and done deal. Your space will need to be maintained in one form or another. When deciding on what plants and elements to include, make sure you know what kind of maintenance and upkeep is required. 

Be realistic about your time and budget. If you don’t have the money to pay for the maintenance that your space will need do you have the time and ability to maintain it yourself? If not, you will want to limit your choices to easier low maintenance options. 

This Space is For YOU

Remember that this space is for you and your family. Don’t get caught up in feeling like your yard has to be a certain way because of what your neighbor or your friends have done. This space is meant for you to enjoy. Maybe that means more concrete and space for entertaining and less lawn to mow. Maybe that means more lawn and fewer flowers so your kids have space to set up the volleyball net. Whatever you decide to do, remember that your landscape doesn’t have to look any way except the way you want. Have fun and enjoy creating an outdoor space you love. 

Landscape Project Timelines

Despite the snow on the ground and the temperature barely making it above freezing, now is the time to begin thinking about spring and summer outdoor projects. 

A frequent question we receive is how long does it take to complete a landscape project? We live in the era of immediacy, but landscape projects take time to plan, design, and install. So how long should you plan for your landscape project? Is there anything within your control?

Phases of a landscape project

Landscapes come in different shapes and sizes, and they vary depending on purpose and desired outcome. In general, landscape projects occur in several phases: consultation, design, planning and procurement, and installation.

Consultation is the initial step when we sit down with you to discuss what you want and need in your outdoor space. We ask questions about likes and dislikes, concerns, budget, and overall goal for the space so that we can best understand how to design the project. After the consultation, the design is created and presented. At this time, you can approve the design and move forward with planning and installation or return to design for additional items.

After a design is approved by you, planning and procurement can begin. This is when material selection and procurement occur with timelines regarding estimated delivery on products. Once all the material is received, then installation can be scheduled.

So why does a landscape project take so long after a design is approved? The simple answers are labor and supply.

Let’s dive a little deeper into both the labor market for landscape companies, as well as the supply chain for inventory necessary for project completion.

Labor

As we all know, there is a labor shortage in Colorado. Driving down the street will offer as many now hiring signs as businesses. However, seeing signs on the side of the road is rarely an indicator of facts.

The current unemployment rates for Colorado is 2.3 percent. This is compared to 3.9 percent for the rest of the country. Of 88 construction firms surveyed, 80 percent reported having a hard time filling some or all their open positions. This puts pressure on landscape companies as they compete with construction for skilled and non-skilled labor.

A program which has historically been offered to alleviate labor shortages is the H2b visa program. Unlike the agriculture visa program, the H2b program offers seasonal help with 6 months as the average stay for a non-immigrant worker.  The visa program is not a path to citizenship.

Unfortunately, the current political environment has added instability and costs associated with the program. Landscape companies can no longer rely on the program to supplement labor shortages.

As we can see, labor is hard to find. What does this mean for your job? It means that crews are being scheduled out weeks and months in advance. 

Supply

The supply for a landscape project relies on product inventory and labor. As we discussed above, labor is difficult to find in sectors reliant on skilled and non-skilled labor. Just as this shortage affects landscape projects, it affects the ability of suppliers to grow plant material and pull products for availability.

Also, as the season moves forward, vendors have less inventory on hand.

In general, suppliers require a minimum of one week to process new orders for products, excluding special order or backlogged items. The time allows vendors to ensure accurate on-hand count and pull for pick up. Requests for immediate product are impossible for vendors to fill. Even if they have inventory, they lack labor to pull the order.

Of course, the timeline applies if the material is grown in Colorado or is in stock. Due to Colorado’s shorter growing season, much of the plant material is grown out of state and imported into Colorado. The import requirements limit both plant selection, quality, and lead times.

Best way to approach a landscape project

The first and best way to approach a landscape project is to plan your project well in advance. Spring and summer projects are best planned during the fall and winter, ensuring everything is prepared for installation in the Spring. If the desired completion date is June, begin planning your project in January/February. This ensures crews will be scheduled and specific materials for your project will be available.

The second is to embrace two more seasons as an opportunity for projects. While we are all excited to work on our gardens during April and May, summer and fall can offer some of the best opportunities to install projects. Often times, suppliers offer better pricing at this time so they can clear their inventory before winter.

Also, contracts control scheduling and ordering, as neither occur until the executed contract is returned. A project start date of June 1st will not occur if the contract is not received several weeks before a planned start date. The longer the delay in the contract, the more likely other jobs will be scheduled.

Our commitment to you

We understand the moving variables regarding project budgets. At the end of the day, we are here to give you the outdoor space you want and need. Our talented, skilled, and certified staff are here to provide excellent service and landscape. We will guide you through the process.

We will continue to build value on your site, exceeding your expectations, and maximizing your outdoor space. Call us today so we can begin planning your landscape project.

Fiore&Sons Award Winning Landscape

“Fiore & Sons, Inc. is proud to announce that our building at 80 East 62nd Ave. is earning numerous awards for construction excellence.  Last year we were awarded the Adams County Excellence Award for Business Expansion.  Tonight, we will be attending the Associated Builders and Contractors dinner where we will receive the Excellence In Construction Award for Community Service.  We are also proud to let you know this project is now qualified for an ABC National award. 

The purpose of this email is to first recognize and thank you for your collaborative and timely work on this project.  The National award entry specifically requests a list of those designers and design-builders who are responsible for the success of this work.  You are invited to participate in assembling this entry for the National award because our success could not be possible without this great team.  I personally want to thank all of you for your part in this remarkable job, and I hope you had a similar experience on your side.  This project took a great deal of mutual trust, and I believe that trust is the center point of our success.”

Fiore & Sons

Bloom Floralscapes’ letter to the award committee:

It is our great pleasure to support Fiore & Sons in consideration for the 2018 Associated Builders and Contractors’ Annual Excellence in Construction Award in recognition of the work completed on their corporate offices located at 80 E. 62nd Ave.

We enjoyed working with Carter and Fiore & Sons on this project, despite the challenges we came across. Several challenges we faced included the large, flat nature of the property and the time of year scheduled for installation. Both the design and installation needed trust and assistance from Fiore & Sons, and we received both.

Due to the large amount of property, the design required a different level of scale in both design and material amount. We designed around Fiore & Sons main priorities, which were turf grass and keeping the existing trees, but we felt additional plants were necessary for year-round interest and visual appeal. To assist us with the design, Fiore & Sons provided AutoCAD drawings of the property, giving us a great base plan on which to design. Not only was the design accepted quickly, allowing for quicker installation, but they trusted our expertise in plant selection, visual interest, and meeting their requirements.

The installation itself began after August, causing some plant sourcing issues and a looming natural deadline with the threat of winter. Almost all the plants installed were either dormant during planting, or about to go dormant, as we planted most of the material in November. Finally, we laid 18,500 sq. ft. of turf grass the first week of December. Due to the mild winter, we needed irrigation on to water the turf grass and plant material. Unfortunately, the winter was cold also, requiring the irrigation to be turned off, drained, and wrapped between watering. Carter from Fiore & Sons worked with our team to water when needed, as well as communicated when the irrigation needed to be turned off. Without Carter’s assistance and our irrigation tech’s diligence, the plant material would not have made it the first winter.

Ultimately, Carter and Fiore & Sons’ trust and assistance ensured the project would be successful and look amazing moving into spring. Both our designer, Mallory Payson, and our installation manager, Karen Overlin, believe the project went so well due to the trust Fiore & Sons placed in our firm.