Keep your services up to par by simply staying on top of the basics. There are a few must-follow practices for any commercial landscaping business.
Mulch
Mulch reduces erosion, controls weeds, limits soil evaporation and moderates temperatures. Large symmetrical mulch beds around trees helps protect the trunk from damage caused by mowers and trimmers. However, mulch retains moisture, and while that’s helpful for soil, be cautious because it could harm the tree if there is a mound of it touching the bark.
Shrub Shaping
Well-trimmed hedges can add structure to your landscape, but for best results they need to be properly pruned.
Prune hedges in the shape of a trapezoid to allow light to penetrate to the lowest foliage. The smaller width should be on top, with a wider base.
Raised Tree Canopies
Unmanaged, low-hanging branches are an eyesore and potential hazard. Lift up branches to make any signable more visible while allowing individuals to enjoy their shade with nearby sitting areas.
Equipment
An common mistake is using the wrong equipment for the task at hand. Some equipment is just better suited for certain jobs.
Many people use a string trimmer to edge sidewalks and curbs. Instead, use a stick edger to keep from creating those unsightly ruts that develop during time when a string trimmer is used.
Small equipment changes can make a big impact on the look and health of a lawn.
Mowing
A vast, open green space may call for a mower with a large deck size, but that doesn’t mean you should use that same mower for every part of property.
Smaller sections like parking lot islands, don’t warrant using a large commercial mower, and using a string trimmer won’t give you as even of a cut throughout. Use a push mower for these tighter spaces. Then, you can use the string trimmer to touch up the edges.
Alternate your mowing pattern frequently to avoid wearing out the landscape and prevent ruts from forming. It will also give you straighter standing turf.
Limiting Fertilizer
There are plenty of benefits of applying fertilizer to your landscape, like having greener, healthier turf, but often times people over-apply it. Fertilizer raises the amounts of nitrogen in soil, and too much of it can damage or even kill your grass. Commonly referred to as fertilizer burn, having too much can cause yellow, brown or dead sections.
Leaving your grass clippings on the lawn will typically return one pound of nitrogen to the soil every season.
Leaves
Leaving leaves has a lot of natural benefits. To keep property healthy and looking pristine in the fall, just shred them up instead of bagging them. Mulching the leaves adds nutrients back to the soil, adding nitrogen to help turf look green.
Debris
Don’t make your debris someone else’s problem by blowing it into the streets, streams or down a stormwater drain. That is quite irresponsible and can cause significant pollution problems in surrounding areas.
In addition to these methods, make sure that you’ve safeguarded your operation with an insurance program specifically designed for landscapers. Whether you work with your own operation or are a contractor, you have a very specific set of needs and liabilities, and our Landscaping Insurance program is ready to provide for you.
About Sine Insurance
At Sine Insurance Group, we are dedicated to providing you with custom tailored insurance policies to protect your assets. Our comprehensive packages have been expertly crafted to serve St. Louis and the surrounding areas for the past 25 years. For more information about our products, contact us today at (636) 947-1177.