The Importance of Good Communication with Commercial Landscapers

Commercial landscaping customers run the gamut from property owners who rent space to retailers and businesses, to property managers who are responsible for taking care of apartment buildings and complexes, or homeowners associations that rely on the appearance of their grounds to appeal to would-be home buyers. They all have one thing in common: they depend on the services of landscape property management companies such as GreenEarth, to ensure that their property maintains its beautiful, well-kept appearance year round.

Why Good Communication is Critical

Our work with commercial landscaping customers can be complex. It is fairly common for owners of the commercial property we’re hired to maintain, do not live or work in the area. Unless you delegate the responsibility for handling your landscape maintenance services to a building manager, maintenance supervisor, or on-site property manager, the absence of communication may lead to a lot of misunderstandings.

We know that the communication process varies between the different commercial customer segments. The tenants who rent an office or retail space that is surrounded by green space may not want or expect to have to deal with landscape upkeep. Likewise, many property managers who are responsible for managing residential rental complexes have enough on their plate and prefer to rely on a commercial lawn service to handle their maintenance needs each week.

Commercial landscapers are often left to deal with communication problems with Homeowners Associations and the property owners who live in these communities. If the HOA fails to clarify their expectations from the commercial landscape maintenance company, and what homeowners are entitled to concerning landscaping maintenance, misunderstandings arise.

How Property Managers' Communication Failures Adversely Affects a Landscape's Health and Appearance

A commercial landscaping customer may not understand that they shouldn’t be watering when it’s dark out. Property managers who oversee large apartment complex communities often think that their properties will look their best if they water the different irrigation zones a few times a week for a few minutes. Less than optimal watering will lead to grass turning brown and trees showing signs of stress.

Without proper understanding or training of how to maintain their green landscape, property managers can damage or ruin the surrounding landscape which could lead to huge expenses to replace or repair what was done not to mention hurt the property value.

Many building and property managers and maintenance supervisors expect a commercial landscape management company to provide weekly service. As landscaping professionals, we have an obligation to explain to property managers that the frequency of service and the maintenance tasks vary according to seasonal and individual property needs. During the winter months, we may not mow because many grass species are dormant. During the summer, the frequency with which we mow your lawn will depend on the type of grass, the amount of rainfall, and its growth rate.

Taking Steps to Create a More Effective Communication Strategy

At GreenEarth, we pride ourselves on the lengths to which we go to facilitate communication with our clients. We believe that it’s important to communicate openly and honestly with all of our customers - which is especially true for customers who take responsibility for managing the grounds for their tenants and residents.

Questions Your Commercial Landscape Service Provider Should Be Asking:

• Will you or your staff be handling any grounds maintenance yourselves? Are your tenants or HOA property owners responsible any landscaping maintenance?
• Do we need to provide service before or after business hours?
• Do we need to worry about pets, children or other neighborhood factors?
• How much activity or foot traffic do grassy areas get?
• How often do you anticipate needing service?
• How many properties/buildings will you need help with?
• How large of an area will you need us to service?
• Are there any special requirements for the surrounding landscape and plant life we should know about?

Establishing A Weekly Routine

An efficient way of ensuring that commercial landscaping customers are always satisfied with the work they get from their landscape service provider is establishing a weekly routine. The routine will provide contingencies so that the landscaping team won’t be doing the same thing week after week without considering instances where grass may not need mowing and shrubs may need to be pruned or shaped.

Communication With Your Commercial Landscape Contractor is Essential

In commercial landscaping relationships, the process or method of communication is just as important as the physical labor that the lawn maintenance service does. Your willingness to communicate with us is often the single most important factor in understanding the full scope of your needs and establishing an open and honest business relationship. Don’t be afraid to admit that you don’t know how things should be done. Commercial landscape management is a daunting task! Put our knowledge, expertise, and years of experience to work for you.

Get in touch with GreenEarth Landscape Services to find out how we can make your commercial property look even better. With two locations you can reach us at (850) 236-1959 in Panama City Beach or (850) 267-0010 in Sandestin, or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.