When done with the right commercial landscaping company, your exterior will create a positive first impression.
When you’re busy running a business, landscaping your property tends to be the last thing on your mind. However, creating visually inspiring landscapes is a necessity and it says a lot about you and your brand.
The exterior of your business is the first thing that people tend to notice.
Furthermore, good landscaping can help you attract more foot traffic and create a much more welcoming space for guests.
If you’re not already working with a quality commercial landscaper, now is the time to do a little research and get one in place.
But before you run out and hire someone to landscape your commercial property here in the Tampa area, make sure you know what to look for.
Here are five major considerations you should keep in mind:
Membership Affiliations
Having national trade organization membership doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your landscaper’s work will be up-to-par, but it does increase the likelihood that you’ll find someone who provides quality service.
When choosing a contractor, be sure to ask for references and consider how long they’ve been in business.
You should also know if they are a local business or a national operation. We recommend contracting with a local landscaping company because they will be familiar with the climate and soil conditions in your area.
They will be able to give you custom commercial landscaping ideas and make recommendations on which type of plants will work best for your property.
Another benefit of hiring a St. Petersburg landscaping company for businesses in St. Pete is that it is much easier for local landscape providers to travel to and from your property.
Close proximity ensures that you will receive timely service without delays.
It’s no secret that Professor Green Thumb takes care of our Tampa Bay area communities like our own backyards because we grew up here, and that’s about as local as it gets.
You will also want to inquire about what certifications and professional training the commercial landscaping company and its landscapers have.
These items demonstrate that the provider values personal and professional growth and remains abreast of best practices in the industry.
It’s important to ask the right questions so that you choose the best company for the job.
Track Record on Safety
If you are hiring a local landscaping company, make sure you hire a contractor that is fully licensed, bonded, and insured.
As a business owner, you have an obligation to put the safety of your clients, guests, visitors, and tenants first.
Be sure that whoever you hire to manage your lawn care has appropriate safety policies in place.
You will also want to make sure that there will be an experienced manager or foreman on-site at all times during the job.
This is important, especially when there are critical decisions that have to be made right away.
You don’t want to hire someone inexperienced and have them learning on the job.
Know Who's Doing the Work
Before hiring a landscaping company, make sure that they have experience working on commercial properties. You should also ensure that they have the capacity to provide service at the scale you need.
For example, if your job requires major renovations or you need to resolve a drainage issue, you will need a contractor who has the proper machinery, internal processes, and the required experience to handle a complex project.
Another thing to keep in mind, especially when it comes to St. Pete and Tampa corporate parks, is that there are landscapers who primarily work with residential properties.
Typically, these types of companies lack the proper equipment and the appropriate number of staff needed to manage a job for a commercial property.
It’s good to note that some commercial landscapers will hire subcontractors to handle some or all of their work requests.
Outsourcing to subcontractors can cause scheduling mishaps, delays, and a ton of unnecessary confusion.
Be sure to hire a company that guarantees one-on-one customer service. This guarantees that you don’t get passed off to a random subcontractor and that you’ll have a direct line to someone if you have a question or concern.
Convenient Billing
If you find a commercial landscaping company to work with, you will want to make certain that they will be responsive and accommodating should any billing concerns come up.
It can be frustrating to discover extra or hidden fees on your invoice. It can be even more upsetting when your complaints go unresolved.
Pay close attention to add-on services that can quickly cause your expenses to increase such as extra mulch, spray services, etc.
Sometimes a quick communication can rectify what was simply miscommunication.
Be sure to check out reviews from other customers to see how the company handled their issues. This will serve as evidence of the type of service you can expect.
How a business handles reviews is often more telling than the review.
Service Guarantee
Eventually you may want to upgrade the landscaping for your business. But not all commercial landscaping companies focus on the same types of services.
While some specialize in turf maintenance, others provide more comprehensive service options that include pruning and other aspects of lawn maintenance.
Once the job is complete, you will want to be sure that the company will stand by their work. Make sure you also closely examine your contract so that you are clear on what you’re signing.
Are the terms of the contract gracious or does it have penalties that you could be stuck paying?
You’ll need to know the contractor’s termination policy in case you’re not satisfied with the work. Understand the length of the contract as well, along with how the billing is broken down each month.
Also, be aware that finding a cheap service provider isn’t always to your benefit. There are many factors that play into how certain landscaping contracts are setup. Usually, the largest expense is contract labor.
Cheaper service likely means that there will be less staff on deck servicing your needs.
Less labor also means that there will be fewer hours to dedicate to your project at each visit. If you’ve got a large landscaping job and need the work to be performed quickly and efficiently, this can seriously hinder your timeline.
Professor Green Thumb offers landscaping for businesses in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Belleair, and Tampa. If you’re looking for a few commercial landscaping ideas for your property, give our team a call for your next landscape maintenance project.
In addition to providing top-notch landscape installation services, our crew is driven by environmentally-conscious practices.
Everything we do on the job aims to prevent waste and contamination. Our crew goes through extensive training, both in the classroom and in the field to provide services that are Florida-friendly.
Rather send a quick form with your project details? Inquire about a project and we'll respond as quickly as possible. Thank you.
