How Winter Planning Sets the Stage for a Lush and Professional Landscape
While the world outside may look grey and quiet during winter, this season offers a unique opportunity to plan and improve your lawn and landscaping. For property managers and facility operators, this downtime is the perfect window to take stock of your current landscape design and prepare for a vibrant, well-maintained outdoor environment in spring.
Landscaping is more than just planting flowers or mowing the lawn. It’s a vital part of property maintenance that enhances curb appeal, improves employee satisfaction, increases tenant interest, and supports environmental health. With City Wide, planning your spring landscaping during winter ensures a smooth rollout when the growing season begins.
Here’s a complete guide to what you should be thinking about right now when it comes to lawn and landscaping preparation for spring.
Assess Your Current Landscaping Situation
Before you begin planning anything new, walk your property with a City Wide team member and take a good look at what’s working, and what’s not.
Are certain areas of your lawn patchy or worn down? Are some beds overcrowded, or worse, empty? Do shrubs block views or pathways? Identify issues that stood out over the past year and note anything that didn’t perform well, like certain flowers that failed to bloom or areas that became muddy after rain.
Also take the time to highlight what did go well. Were there areas of the lawn that stayed lush and green all summer? Were certain plant arrangements particularly eye-catching? Use these wins as a foundation for what you want to recreate or expand in the upcoming season.
Pro tip: Drive by neighboring commercial buildings and facilities. See how they’ve landscaped their entryways, signage, or parking islands. You may find inspiration you can customize to your site.
📌 Learn About the Impact of Landscaping Towards Your Clients & Employees
Construct Your Budget
Once you have an idea of what you’d like to change or add, the next step is to define a realistic landscaping budget.
Landscaping costs can vary widely depending on your goals. A basic plan to refresh mulch and edge garden beds will cost far less than a full redesign with new trees, irrigation, lighting, and hardscaping features.
Our team can help you determine what’s possible within your price range and offer creative solutions to get the most value out of your investment. Whether you’re looking for a simple maintenance upgrade or an entirely new look, knowing your budget in advance will help streamline decisions and avoid delays come spring.
Understand Your Climate and Site Conditions
Every region has unique climate factors that impact landscaping decisions. Plant types, growth cycles, rainfall, and sun exposure all play a role in how well your landscaping will thrive.
Are you in an area with heavy spring rains? Are droughts common in the summer? Do temperatures fluctuate wildly in spring and fall? Knowing the answers to these questions helps you choose the right mix of grass, shrubs, and trees for your location.
Our team has knowledge of regional planting zones and climate trends. They can recommend plants that are drought-resistant, low maintenance, or perfect for high-traffic commercial areas.
Also consider the microclimates around your property. Some areas may get full sun all day, while others stay shaded and moist. Certain species thrive in specific zones, so mapping sunlight, drainage, and elevation across your site can ensure your landscaping selections are well suited.
Pest Control Planning
Unfortunately, pests love a healthy landscape just as much as we do. If you’re not careful, insects and critters can quickly destroy new plants, damage turf, and ruin your curb appeal.
Proactive pest management is essential. This can include natural defenses like pest-resistant plant species or the installation of physical barriers like mesh, fencing, or gravel borders. We can work with pest control partners to implement preventative strategies early on, protecting your investment for the long term.
It’s always more cost-effective to prevent infestations than to recover from them. Build this step into your planning and budget discussions now.
Boost Curb Appeal with Strategic Landscaping
First impressions are everything. When potential clients, tenants, or employees arrive at your facility, the exterior of your building sets the tone.
Landscaping plays a major role in that first impression. A clean, well-maintained lawn paired with seasonal plantings, tidy shrubbery, and appealing color combinations tells visitors you care about your facility and your business.
To make the most impact:
- Use flowering plants near entrances or signage to draw the eye
- Define pathways and borders with low-growing shrubs or mulch
- Update landscaping islands in parking lots
- Add pops of color with planters at doorways
Simple updates like these can make a big difference in how your property is perceived. Our team can help design a plan tailored to your building’s layout, brand image, and customer expectations.
Consider Sustainability in Design
Sustainable landscaping is growing in popularity, and for good reason. Thoughtful designs that incorporate native plants, efficient irrigation systems, and environmentally conscious materials can reduce maintenance costs and resource use.
Talk with us at City Wide about incorporating eco-friendly options such as:
- Native or drought-tolerant plants
- Permeable pavers to help with stormwater runoff
- Mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds
- Efficient irrigation systems with timers and rain sensors
These solutions often result in long-term savings while supporting environmental responsibility, a win for your facility and the community.
Plan for Maintenance Year-Round
Installing a great landscape is just the beginning. Ongoing maintenance is crucial to keeping it looking great throughout the year.
This is where your facility management partner becomes indispensable. Regular mowing, pruning, fertilizing, irrigation checks, and seasonal cleanup are all part of a robust lawn and landscaping maintenance plan.
Discuss the following with our team:
- Weekly or biweekly mowing schedules
- Seasonal pruning and mulching
- Fertilization and aeration timing
- Fall leaf cleanup and winterization
When maintenance is planned in advance and included in your service agreement, you’re less likely to face unexpected costs or see your landscaping deteriorate mid-season.
Winter Is the Time to Act
Many people associate landscaping with spring and summer, but those who wait until the snow melts are already behind.
Winter gives you time to:
- Review last year’s landscaping results
- Develop a new design strategy
- Establish a realistic budget
- Coordinate with vendors and service partners
- Schedule installations and maintenance in advance
By doing the work now, you ensure your facility is on track for a spring transformation the moment the weather allows.
📌 Read to Learn More about City Wide Facility Solutions
Ready to Get Started?
If your property deserves a better lawn and landscape this year, don’t wait until April to begin planning. City Wide Facility Solutions works year-round with businesses like yours to manage commercial landscaping needs, from seasonal maintenance to full redesigns.
Our experts know what it takes to build, maintain, and enhance outdoor spaces that reflect the professionalism of your brand and support the comfort of your customers, tenants, and employees.
Let’s get ahead together. Start your spring planning now and watch your facility bloom with possibility.
