Landscaping is something we all are familiar with whether be it in a park or your yard. Though we think of landscaping as a traditional design like the trees and bushes, there are so many non-organic or “built” elements to be considered such as paved areas fences, and stones.
And when it comes to commercial landscape design, the idea behind it is to make the space more attractive and inviting. A good landscape design not only enhances the overall look and image of your commercial building but the key elements also serve a functional purpose.
Designing landscape and maintenance of your commercial property in Atlanta
A landscaped garden adds life to any property, commercial ones included. It is easy to go out or search on the internet about the designs and be tempted to follow a design and realize later that it won’t work for your commercial landscape. However, designing a commercial landscape should not be hard when you take help from a landscaping company. Having it created for a smart and visual appeal and maintaining it doesn’t have to be a costly affair.
That said, here are the key elements followed by professionals that will help you develop a plan and convert it into an aesthetic, functional, and environmentally sustainable landscape:
Planning: Starting with planning and organizing makes it easier for you to read and navigate what actually needs to be done, ultimately helping to increase comfort and familiarity. When planning a landscape it is important to know how it will be used. A formal landscape is one of the most challenging to create and the upkeep can also be arduous. It is not a DIY task, symmetry is difficult to maintain, very difficult to find a matching replacement and the most common dilemma is foundation planting and use of materials. Throughout the planning process here are some important things to consider:
- From plant selection to activity location, it is important to understand your site.
- Consider what the visitor would want and need in an outdoor space.
- Follow a style theme to align everything.
- Highlight important points also known as focal points.
- Pay attention to details from the placement to choice of materials, everything plays an important role.
Image credit: Lenny K Photography
Design that complements the building’s architect:
Standing out is good, but not if it is overdone. While you don’t have a theme choosing one can make your landscape look even better. The theme should speak consistency and unity, match well with the building’s architect, in order to make the entire area proportional and not confusing. It means that every part of the landscape must go together. This can be best achieved with the help of a commercial landscaping company offering a full-fledged maintenance program, they can help you build consistency by the use of different characters like similar stones.
Create a balance by linking empty spaces:
Whether people are coming from the entrance or exiting from the cafeteria, or any other area when they enter your landscape. Note if the areas flow well together. Most businesses want to direct people to entrances and that can be done by creating paths and walkways lined with the plantation, or by using brick and stone or wall features. The transition between all these factors is important for the overall flow of your landscape. Having a landscaped area that completely contrasts with your indoor space doesn’t make sense. So, balance is essential while choosing colors, style, composition, and the overall feel of each area in mind to make it all work together.
Incorporate curves or keep it straight:
These can be implemented by your designer to reinforce the order, arrange movement, add life and interest. But how to differentiate between the two and implement these elements in your landscape design? Here’s a simple difference:
- Straight-line complement traditional offices and are common in an urban setting where vehicles and pedestrians need to move around as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- Curved lines embrace asymmetrical compositions and are best used to create focal points for attention.
Highlight important points:
So much thought, planning, and time is spent on the architecture of a building, but the story should not end here. The best designs can highlight the important points by using unique plantings, distinct structures, or garden ornaments that allow you to highlight the important points of your landscape. You can play with visual details and add drama to the front entrance with careful color and texture choices and accentuate the driveway with softscape.
Making it low maintenance:
Determining how much time and effort it takes to maintain your landscape in your Atlanta commercial property, ask for a maintenance plan from your landscaping company with details on proper care per season. Their dedicated team of maintenance specialists will help you preserve its appeal all year round. Moreover, pre-planning can be a great way during the design phase to know what can be manageable. Though it is best to hire a landscaping company for your maintenance or irrigation needs.
Conserve water with the installation of an irrigation system:
An expert team can help consciously manage water and choosing environmentally sound hardscapes, that contribute to protecting and preserving the environment. Adding an irrigation system for your plantations can help control water run-off and with careful planning, such a system can even be incorporated as an aesthetic design element in your commercial landscape.
Implement proper drainage:
Perhaps the most important element to consider for your commercial landscape is setting proper drainage in place. For pedestrian safety as well as longevity of the landscape proper drainage of the area around the building is essential. Effective drainage solutions can help you eliminate standing water and relieve your property from slipping hazards and erode pathways.
Approach it in the right manner!
Taking all of the above elements, you can start to visualize your dream commercial landscape space with sustainability in mind before you consult the experts. These basic elements are intended to guide you with the development of a formal style while encouraging new ideas and landscape goals. Cohesive use of hardscapes and softscapes such as trees, plants, and various pavement designs all together can create a welcoming space that will draw visitors in!