A Handy Commercial Landscape Maintenance Checklist

Michael Hatcher

Jan 4, 2022 9:04:11 AM

If you’re a busy, overworked Memphis property manager, you know a thing or two about lists.

You’ll probably move at least a couple things from today’s to-do list to tomorrow’s. (Hey, we’ve all done it.)

Maybe the last thing you need is another list. But this landscape maintenance checklist for commercial properties is a great way to make sure all the important outdoor tasks get done.
Better yet, turn your Memphis landscape maintenance over to us and consider this list tackled.

Here’s what’s on it:

Monthly Irrigation Inspections

Proper irrigation is key to healthy turf.

And there’s a lot that can go wrong out there, from leaky valves to clogged or broken heads to a controller that might be set to water too many times for the season, or not enough.

irrigation expert repairs broken sprinkler head

You could be wasting a ton of water. Or your lawn and landscaping might be struggling if it’s not getting the water it needs.

Monthly irrigation inspections to the rescue.

During these monthly irrigation inspections, technicians check everything over, spotting the little issues that can lead to bigger problems later, from cracked lines and leaky valves to clogged nozzles or broken spray heads.

Once colder weather moves in, it’s important to get all the water out of your irrigation system’s valves, pipes, and sprinkler heads. If water freezes and expands, your pipes break. Check this off your commercial property maintenance checklist and avoid that expensive repair.

Mulch Madness

If you’ve hung out here with us at all, you know how much we love mulch.

Adding a fresh batch in spring makes your beds look rich and tidy, helps your soil retain moisture, keeps weeds from sprouting, and prevents rain from washing away your landscape soil.

A fresh coating in fall insulates your soil, so helpful earthworms stay active longer in the season, improving your soil.

mulch

And it insulates your plant roots, protecting them through the stressful freeze and thaw cycles all winter.

Mulch is a must for your Memphis commercial property maintenance checklist.

Weekly Mowing and Maintenance

That means every week. Not every two weeks.

Your curb appeal is at stake.

maintenance technician mows lawn at church

Here in Memphis, things grow fast. It doesn’t take long for weeds to take over, for your lawn to get shaggy, for things to start looking embarrassing.

Weekly Leaf Removal

Ensure your property looks as tidy as possible. Have commercial landscape services pick up those leaves every week to keep your property neat and your lawn healthy.

Turf and Bed Programs (Weed, Feed, Insect Control)

This vital trio keeps your commercial property lawn healthy and looking great. It’s a must for any commercial grounds maintenance checklist.

Bye, Weeds

Weeds, ugh. They compete with your lawn for water, sunlight, and important nutrients.

Not only that, they look terrible, making your property look neglected and untidy.

Commercial landscaping maintenance crew weeding

Pre-emergent zaps weeds before they can sprout, while post-emergent jumps in to banish any that sneak through.

Banish Bugs

A host of damaging insects, from aphids to grubs to mites, can harm your lawn, wreck your trees, and munch your plants and flowers down to the stems.

Bugs can be a huge landscape problem for your commercial property. The right pest control at the right times can save your landscaping.

Feed That Hungry Turf

Your grass needs nutrients to thrive, and fertilizing is a year-round process. It starts in the spring, to jump-start your turf with the nutrition it needs to get going.

lawn care technician fertilizes lawn with ride on liquid spray machine

And it runs through fall, to feed your hungry lawn before it settles in for the winter.

Proactive Pruning

Plants are supposed to grow. That’s a good thing.

But when plants, shrubs, and trees get too big or out of control, they cause visibility and safety issues around doors and windows. They can obstruct your signage and traffic signs on your property, becoming a big commercial landscape problem.

Dead tree branches can suddenly crash down from above, threatening pedestrians, parked cars, and your building.

plant health expert prunes tree

Proactive pruning prevents all that, so it's an important item on your commercial property landscape maintenance checklist.

Another reason for proactive pruning: Mature trees can shade the grass too much, causing it to struggle and even die.

Thinning the branches can let more sunlight in, for happier, healthier turf.

Detention Pond Maintenance

Does your commercial property include a detention or retention pond? Plenty do.

When they get clogged by trash, debris, or weeds, they won’t drain well. But these important ponds are often tucked away out of sight, which means they sometimes get left off a commercial property landscape maintenance checklist. You might not notice the mess.

retention pond 1

It’s on our checklist. Hatcher crews check these periodically to see if vegetation or debris is obstructing the water flow. They inspect the pond banks to make sure there’s no erosion. They ensure any concrete or brick is structurally sound.

Spring Clean Up

Winter leaves a real mess, doesn’t it?

There are leaves, weeds, fallen twigs, and branches to remove, as well as unsightly litter.

lawn care expert cleans up commercial property after winter

Getting rid of winter’s mess keeps your Memphis commercial property tidy and attractive, but it’s also good for your landscape’s health.

Lingering soggy debris can attract pests, cause mold, and smother the lawn, blocking the air and sunlight it needs to thrive.

Trust Your Commercial Landscaping to Hatcher

If you’re managing a busy commercial property, you have a lot on your plate.

You don’t want dead plants giving your company a bad name. You don’t need the hassle of a clogged detention pond full of floating trash. You don’t need a flooded parking lot or irrigation heads spraying pedestrians.

Here at Michael Hatcher & Associates, we specialize in solving commercial property landscape problems — and preventing them in the first place with a comprehensive commercial landscape maintenance checklist.

Our skilled crews know the drill.

Ready to boost the appeal and safety of your commercial property? Talk to one of our commercial landscaping experts today! We’ll meet at your property, create a custom plan, and get you on your way to enjoying a beautiful, worry-free property.

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Image Source: Retention Pond, Mulch

Michael Hatcher

Written by Michael Hatcher

Michael Hatcher is Founder and Chairman of Michael Hatcher & Associates.