Solomon tells us in his wise proverbs that the yard of the sluggard is overgrown with weeds. If a homeowner’s reputation can be affected by his lawn care, or lack thereof, surely the same is true of a business. Modern landscaping is defined as including both the shaping of the land itself and the covering of it with flora, mulch, various hardscaping materials, and even artistic and architectural showcase structures. Essentially the whole outside area of your business from the sidewalk to the front door can be “landscaped” to increase its natural beauty to the enjoyment of the workers, customers, and passersby.
According to Hatcherlandscape.com, to beautify your business exterior it may be necessary for re-grading and re-soiling to be done to some degree. Contours that can help visual appearance, drainage, and irrigation of the soon to be introduced plants can be created. Excess dirt may need to be removed or extra dirt trucked in. Top soil may need to be imported for quick and healthy plant growth. Heavy anti-weed paper is often installed on top of the soil and below mulch or rock. Rock edgings, limestone walkways, and decorative boulders are common features. Sod mats or grass seed rolls can be spread over the main part of the lawn. A number of grass species can be chosen among, and you will need to check on shade and climate factors to decide which choices are viable in your area. Shrubs, ferns, bamboo, and numerous other plants can combine with perennial and annual flowers to produce a stunning picture. Evergreen, deciduous, and fruit trees will add a final touch. The tools for beautifying your business’ lawn are endless and you may wish to consult a landscape expert for ideas.
When customers see your gorgeously kept up lawn, there a number of things they may sense it is saying about your business. First, they will recognize your desire to beautify the community and to create a more natural environment even in urban areas. The great exterior will also tend to suggest a more welcoming attitude, especially when greenery is concentrated at entryways. They will appreciate that you care enough about your customers to offer them a pleasant, garden-like experience on their way in. The form, unity, and orderliness of a landscape design may suggest to them that you carry those principles over into the business world as well. Distinctive arrangements and exotic plants may give them the idea that you company is innovative and creative, willing to be bold and try new ideas where necessary. Not least of all, they will know that your business is doing well enough financially to afford good yard care and thus must have a solid and loyal customer base to some degree at least. While all of the above may not be felt by every customer, the message sent will certainly be a positive one, and you do not want, in any case, to be the company with a run-down lawn sitting next to a well-scaped lawn of your competitor.
To retain the beneficial messages sent by a good, healthy lawn, some basic maintenance is required. Hopefully you will not find yourself in the bleak situation of some southwest Texas home owners a few years back where lawns were legal but watering them was not. Short of that dilemma, some form of regular irrigation will be needed- perhaps an underground sprinkler system. A lawn care crew, or for small businesses the business owner himself it may be, will need to cut grass, trim the lawn edges, wack weeds, trim bushes, remove dead branches, fallen leaves, etc. to keep the lawn in excellent condition. Fertilizer for plants and flowers can also help, and developing bald spots in the grass will need to be occasionally seeded. Colleges, hospitals, some restaurants, sports stadiums, and sometimes retail outlets have gained a reputation for great lawn presentation. Almost any business with regular, walk-in customers would do well to join in and give the public some scenes of natural beauty to associate with their institution.
