We might not be able to read your mind, but we bet if we looked at your Northeast Ohio commercial property wishlist, we’d see safety and security listed as a top priority.
You want a great-looking office park, hospital, industrial, educational, or retail property. And you want the people who constantly visit, work at, or live there to feel welcome and at ease when moving about your site.
That’s not too much to ask, right? We don't think so.
And the good news is that a professionally designed and maintained commercial landscape will not only look better, but will also naturally minimize risks.
Even if you have the most attractive commercial property in the community, there are some things you can do with your landscaping to improve commercial property security and safety.
Let’s take a look at how you can check off this major to-do list item at your commercial facility.
6 Ways to Make Your Commercial Property More Secure
Safety should be at the top of any commercial property manager’s priority list. This includes making everyone feel safe – from employees to customers to visitors and anyone else who steps foot on your landscape.
This is important for so many reasons.
First, landscaping to increase safety and security on commercial properties can attract customers and employees alike. For retail venues, more customers are always a good idea. And landscaping can certainly make their shopping experience more enjoyable.
When commercial business owners are recruiting and attracting talent, having a safe and secure place for them to work can boost the attraction of one job over another. This can definitely be helpful for your hiring efforts.
And because your commercial landscape looks nice and tidy, this can also increase your property value. Boosted values means more customers, employees, or tenants for you. Another positive!
Landscaping for safety on commercial properties also helps decrease your costs. It can save you OSHA fines and liability claims that can result if someone gets hurt on your site. These are expenses no facility manager needs.
Most importantly, thinking about safety is the right thing to do. Providing an environment that makes people feel safe and comfortable is a great way to maintain a positive community reputation and give everyone on your property less to worry about.
Here are 6 ways you can make your commercial property safer for everyone and reap all of these benefits to boot.
1. Tree & Shrub Maintenance
Trees and shrubs are the elements on your commercial property that give the landscape life and depth. They add height, texture, lush greenery, and seasonal interest.
But to remain great assets on your site, these plants like any others need maintenance. Without care, trees and shrubs can get in the way when people are navigating your property.
Large overgrown shrubs and long or drooping branches can become easy visibility and tripping hazards. Make your commercial property more secure with proper and regular pruning to prevent branches from growing out of control and creating hazards.
And overgrown branches aren’t the only things that can cause issues. Diseased branches are more likely to fall in winds or storms since they are weak. But proper fertilization and pest management can prevent disease issues from forming.
Also, it’s important to note that eliminating trees is not the answer either. Tree canopies on commercial properties actually decrease crime rates by 12%. And well-kept trees and shrubs can give people the idea that the property is well-populated and cared for. This helps deter crime.
Well-planned tree placement can also help guide people to an entryway or frame their daily path to safety.
2. Water Management
As a facility manager, you likely don’t sit and wonder about drainage on your property. In fact, you might not think about it at all … until it becomes a problem.
Normally, your Northeast Ohio property will move excess rainwater through sewers and toward lakes or rivers. But sometimes the drainage on your commercial property isn’t working that well, and excess water builds up.
This extra water can damage buildings on your property, turn to ice on your walkways, driveways, and hardscapes, causing slippery surfaces and freezing and thawing that can lead to cracks. Too much water can also create mold problems or high levels of moisture that draw other problems like bugs.
Water management solutions can make your commercial property more secure – whether they come in the form of proper grading, retention or detention ponds, bioswales, or rainwater harvesting systems.
3. Irrigation Maintenance
Excess rainwater that doesn’t flow off of your property can be a problem, as we mentioned in #2. Similarly, irrigation system leaks can lead to water problems as well.
Having your irrigation system inspected and maintained to prevent leaks is another way to make your commercial property more secure.
Irrigation systems that work properly will hydrate different areas of your property adequately, keeping lawn areas, plants, shrubs and trees looking great and improving facility curb appeal. It also saves you money because you’ll replace plants less frequently.
And keeping sprinkler heads working correctly means no leaks or pools of water that could cause slippery, muddy areas or lead to icy patches.
4. Snow & Ice Management
Northeast Ohio commercial property managers certainly know this area can receive its fair share of wintery weather. And having sheets of ice and piles of snow on your site can definitely pose a safety risk on your landscape if not taken care of properly.
As a facility manager, you want to keep your parking lots, driveways, sidewalks, walkways, and steps free of ice and snow to ensure slip-free surfaces. As such, landscaping to increase safety and security on commercial properties must include snow and ice management services. Even though Mother Nature isn’t always predictable, when the weather does turn treacherous and slick, you want to be ready.
5. Entryway Landscape Maintenance and Management
Your entryways are the gateways to your commercial property. They are where employees, tenants, visitors, and guests come and go every day.
Making sure trees and shrubs are trimmed to ensure clear signage is a great way to make your commercial property more secure. But you can also add bright, cheerful flowers to draw positive attention. You want your entryway plantings to have a layered look, with groundcovers in front, perennials and medium-sized plants in the center, and taller shrubs, grasses, and trees in the background.
Maintaining your landscape beds and container plants each season will continue to get your property noticed and create that safe and secure environment feeling you’re after.
6. Boost and Maintain Your Signage Landscaping
Simple, effective landscape tricks can enhance your commercial property signage and boost your property’s visual appeal. Think bold annual blooms and colorful plant creations made with perennials and shrubs. Flowers flanking low signage can set it off, while background shrubs can make signage pop.
Adding the right combination of signage enhancements can increase visibility and bolster your property’s impact. It’s also another strategy for making your commercial property more secure. Clear signage means easier comings and goings and less chance of accidents or other access issues.
Annual mulch can keep both your entryway and signage landscaping looking polished and free of weeds as well.
Trust Turfscape for Landscaping to Increase Safety and Security on Commercial Properties
Commercial landscape maintenance plays a huge role in safety and security on your commercial property in Northeast Ohio – whether you’re managing a healthcare facility, office complex, retail shopping center, college campus, or industrial parkway.
By regularly trimming your turf, trees, and shrubs, tidying your site, picking up trash, managing drainage and irrigation, keeping snow and ice clear, and enhancing areas that need improvement, professional landscape crews become a key part of your safety team.
Left unattended, your plants can grow over security cameras, block signage, and give visitors a difficult time navigating your landscape. Tall, overgrown shrubs can even become places for intruders to hide, and unstable tree branches can fall, injuring property, vehicles, or people. Ice and water issues can cause mold growth and slip-and-fall incidents. No one wants these commercial facility problems.
Plants can greatly enhance your property visually, boosting curb appeal and drawing people in, but they need proper maintenance and care. Don’t let your property’s assets become hazards.
If thinking safety first becomes overwhelming and confusing, let Turfscape help. We’d be happy to review your brand image, goals, and concerns, and come up with some great ways to enhance your landscaping to improve commercial property security and safety that meets your needs and budget.
Want to learn more about how Turfscape can help you amplify your Northeast Ohio commercial property’s safety and security? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can feel confident and make a great choice.
Image Source: puddle in grass
