The key to effective property management is organization, and it’s no different when it comes to commercial landscaping. By staying on top of necessary exterior maintenance tasks throughout the year, you can prevent issues before they begin while keeping your property looking its best every season.
One great way to do this is by creating a year-round calendar outlining all crucial tasks and when they should be completed. Read on and learn how to draw up your own calendar to ensure you check all the boxes for commercial landscaping on your property in 2024.
Which Tasks Can You Accomplish at Any Time of Year?
Before addressing seasonal commercial landscaping tasks, it’s a good idea to focus on the work that can be done at any point during the year. You can tackle these tasks whenever you have extra time between seasonal work:
- Analyze current landscaping and decide on potential improvements in aesthetics and design, such as new planters or layouts for mulched areas
- Inspect all tools and equipment for routine maintenance and address any need for repairs or replacements
- Look back at the previous year’s fertilization plan and adjust it according to the results
Break Down Commercial Landscaping Tasks by Season
Once you’ve decided when to address the above tasks, it’s time to dive into the most essential seasonal commercial landscaping work.
Spring
- Apply pre-emergent herbicides
- Maintain any early-springing bulbs
- Adjust pavers
- Do the first of up to four rounds of fertilizing
- Begin weekly lawn mowing
- Refresh all mulched areas
Summer
- Apply insecticides to take on grubs and other ground-based insects during the early summer season
- Adjust and execute a watering plan based on weather patterns
- Apply the second round of fertilizing, this time avoiding salt-heavy synthetic fertilizers
- Schedule more frequent lawn mowing, up to three times per week
- Re-pave walkways and parking areas
Fall
- Aerate the lawn
- Overseed after aeration to develop a thicker and more robust lawn for the following year
- Refresh flowered areas with fall-themed choices
- Execute a leaf cleanup plan one to three times per week
- Towards the end of fall, do a third fertilization pass to prepare for the following spring
Winter
- Turn off and drain all water systems before the first freeze
- Consider a winter fertilization pass
- Snow and ice removal, with at least one weekly cleanup scheduled regardless of emergency conditions
- Prune dormant plants (it’s easier to finish this now than when they’re in full bloom)
Stay Prepared Throughout the Year With Strategic Grounds
There’s a long list of maintenance tasks to take care of throughout the year on your commercial property, which is why it’s important to stay organized with an annual calendar or to-do list. The seasonal requirements above should help you build your annual commercial landscaping plan, and prepare you for the work to be done as the seasons change.
Interested in learning more about developing a commercial landscaping plan or building your yearly maintenance strategy? At Strategic Grounds, our experts have curated a year-round maintenance checklist to keep your commercial property functioning at its best in 2024 and beyond. You can dive into the free resource today or contact us to explore our many commercial maintenance services.
