Taking care of your Landscaping Harrisburg PA has many benefits for your home or business. It will increase the value of your property and make spending time outside with family and friends more enjoyable.
Landscape maintenance services include regular upkeep tasks like watering grass and flower beds, weed control, pruning trees and shrubs, mulching, and pest prevention. It also includes soil testing, aeration, and plant feeding.
When someone walks up to or drives past a house, their first impression is determined by the curb appeal. It is not just a matter of the way a yard or landscaping looks but also how well maintained it is. A poorly maintained yard can send the wrong message to potential home buyers and turn them away from the property altogether. A well-maintained yard and landscaping, on the other hand, give a positive first impression to visitors and can help attract potential customers to a business.
When it comes to boosting the curb appeal of your residential or commercial property, there are many things you can do that will not only look good but also be easy on your wallet. Some of the most important elements include mowing your lawn, trimming bushes, adding planters, and planting flowers. Planters and window boxes are a great way to add flower power to your landscaping, and they can be used to frame windows and doors or hide garbage cans and other unsightly items in the yard. Even something as simple as replacing or updating your mailbox can make a huge difference in how attractive your front yard is.
The old saying that “you only get one chance to make a first impression” is especially true for properties and their exteriors. Whether it is an apartment building, office complex, or retail store, the landscape and curb appeal of a property are the first things that draw in potential tenants, buyers, customers, or clients.
This is why it is so important to focus on the curb appeal of your property and keep it looking its best at all times. Most real estate agents recommend that sellers improve the landscaping of their homes before putting them on the market, and the majority of these projects are outdoor-related, including mowing the lawn, adding planters and mulch, and planting flowering shrubs and trees. This is an inexpensive and highly effective way to boost a property’s value in the eyes of prospective buyers. Even the costs associated with hiring a professional to do these tasks can often be recovered at the time of sale.
Health
As part of their job, landscapers work with a variety of tools and equipment. They need to be able to follow safety standards and use the tools properly in order to avoid injuries. For example, a worker may need to stand on a ladder to reach higher areas of the yard. To keep them safe, landscapers should make sure the ladder is secure and that they’re wearing proper footwear. Workers also need to take note of environmental hazards, like debris that could get caught in equipment or puddles that pose a trip risk.
Many people don’t realize that landscaping maintenance services also include weeding, planting, mulching, and mowing. Performing these tasks regularly can help your property look its best and stay healthy.
It’s important to find a reputable and professional landscaping company. You’ll want to make sure they have a good reputation and a team that is dedicated to customer service. In addition, you should ask what is and isn’t included in their maintenance plan. For instance, some companies won’t provide replanting or special projects for a property. Others will only provide mowing, watering, and pruning.
Landscaping workers may not face the same deadly construction risks as other types of workers, such as falls from heights and working with silica or chemicals. However, the industry still has its own set of hazards that can lead to serious injuries and health problems.
One of the most common hazards for landscapers is being hit by cars. This is because they are often on the road between jobs or going to and from their landscaping site. To reduce this risk, workers should always drive defensively and wear high-visibility clothing.
Another common hazard for landscapers is getting injured by power equipment. This is because these pieces of equipment have moving parts that can cause severe cuts, punctures, and amputations. To prevent these injuries, landscapers should read the instructions for each piece of equipment and get training on how to operate it correctly.
Lastly, landscapers must be aware of the risks associated with using chemicals and pesticides. This is because these chemicals can be hazardous to the environment and human health. To help protect themselves, landscapers should wear protective equipment, use caution when handling chemicals, and keep the containers closed. In addition, they should take care to rinse out sprayers daily to maintain their integrity and keep them from leaking or running low on pressurization.
Safety
Landscapers must deal with a variety of different risks and hazards on a regular basis. These include heat and weather hazards, chemical exposures, equipment accidents, construction dangers, and more. It is important for property managers to choose a landscaping maintenance service that prioritizes safety above all else.
A good landscaping company will provide a comprehensive set of services that address all areas of the property’s landscape. This may include planting, weed removal, mulching, tree trimming, irrigation, and more. In addition, they will provide a team of professionals who are trained and skilled in each area of landscape maintenance and will take into consideration the specific needs of the property and its landscape.
It is also important that the landscaping company take a proactive approach to safety and provide their crews with all the tools they need to work safely. This includes safety vests, eye protection, ear and hearing protection, and protective gloves. It is also important to keep all power equipment and hand tools sharp and in good working order. This will ensure that they are safe to use and will not cause injuries.
A professional landscaper will also know the proper times to prune shrubs, bushes, flowers, and trees. This can be crucial to the health and longevity of the plant as well as helping it maintain its shape. They will also be able to determine if a particular plant is nutrient-deficient and recommend a proper plant feed to help it grow.
Lastly, a professional landscaping company will also be able to help their clients with water conservation by providing tips and recommendations on how to best save on water usage. This is especially important during the hotter months, when it is most critical to conserve water.
As a property manager, it is your job to ensure that the landscape maintenance company you hire has a strong safety culture and will take all necessary steps to protect their employees from the many hazards associated with this industry. This may even mean offering a bonus to all employees who work safely and/or providing them with additional perks and rewards that encourage them to remain safe on the job.
Value
When it comes to the value of your property, you can’t underestimate the power of a well-designed and properly maintained landscape. Not only does a healthy, beautiful yard improve curb appeal, but it can also help save on energy costs, reduce insurance premiums, and shield your building from wind and rain damage. When you choose the right plants and materials for your region and climate, landscaping can add significant value to your home or commercial property.
When you look at a property that is well-maintained, it gives off a positive first impression and shows that the owners care about the property. This is a great way to make people feel comfortable and welcome on the premises, which can lead to higher occupancy rates and retail sales. Landscaping can also contribute to the value of a commercial property by enhancing the view from a storefront window, helping with brand awareness, and making the space more aesthetically pleasing.
Many people use the terms “landscape management” and “landscape maintenance” interchangeably, but they are actually two different things. Management deals with the bigger picture of the overall property, while maintenance deals with keeping things in working order. Some services that fall under the umbrella of landscape maintenance include mowing, trimming, fertilizing, weed control, irrigation, planting, and mulching.
Another service that is a big part of a comprehensive landscape maintenance plan is edging, which involves cutting into the turf or garden areas with a tool to create a straight line. The edging is then covered with material like mulch or topsoil to improve the appearance of the area.
The best way to get the most out of your landscaping maintenance is by finding a provider that can offer a full range of services and stick to a schedule, so you don’t have to worry about onboarding a new service company every time you need something done. You can check out a potential provider’s reputation by reading online reviews and looking at their social media profiles.
You can also evaluate a landscape maintenance company’s value by analyzing their earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). However, this method is more volatile than using comparable business sales or multiples because it doesn’t account for the owner-operator’s salary.
