A commercial facility can be a busy place.
Even though the variety of commercial sites in Greater Chicago is vast, all of them experience traffic. From employees coming and going at an office park or industrial property to customers at a retail facility, foot and vehicle traffic can be quite hectic daily. As such, the landscaping at these places has to keep up. It can’t be weak or wimpy or need extra special care or it won’t be able to last. You know you don’t have time to check on tender plants every day.
That’s why low-maintenance commercial landscaping is so important.
Are you unsure which plants can provide a nice aesthetic to your commercial site while also being low-maintenance? Here are a few to consider.
Best Low-Maintenance Plants For Commercial Landscapes
Plants are a key component to any landscape, including commercial facilities. Any landscape without lots of green and pops of color is pretty dull and dreary.
However, there are three key considerations to keep in mind when selecting low-maintenance plants for commercial landscapes.
- Always consider site location, sun exposure, soil condition, irrigation availability, and traffic when choosing low-maintenance landscaping plants.
- Plants that grow uncontrollably and could invasively cover windows or doors would be a maintenance nightmare and a safety hazard. As a rule, the low-maintenance plants you choose should never block windows, walkways, fire hydrants, or entrances and exits.
- Be mindful of snow and salt. If you have spots where you tend to pile snow in the winter, you don’t want key trees planted there. However, some perennials, annuals, and ornamental grasses may be suitable because they are less affected by snow. The same could be said for salt. You want to choose hardy plants for areas where salt may be a concern. Adding burlap or snow fencing to the edges of parking lots, where you tend to apply a lot of salt, could also help protect plants.
Even the best low-maintenance varieties need the right planting environments. For instance, plant sun-loving plants in areas that receive 6 hours or more of direct sunlight and shade-loving plants in areas that receive less than 4 hours of direct sunlight. There are similar rules for each plant on soil moisture and type.
This ensures your plants thrive and showcase the best flowers and color while being low-maintenance.
Here are some of our favorites.
1. Boxwood
Boxwoods are great plants for commercial landscapes because they are evergreen and you can use them as reliable backdrops or to provide structure in your commercial beds.
They can be kept to a 30-inch height with selective pruning and shaping, but they can also reach 4 feet without much effort. Smaller leaf varieties are nice; try ‘Green Gem,’ ‘Chicagoland Green,’ or ‘Northern Charm.’
If you’re not a fan of boxwoods, try inkberry holly; the ‘Shamrock’ variety is similar in size and texture to boxwoods but offers something different.
2. Globe Arborvitae
We’ve used ‘Fire Chief’ globe arborvitae in some Greater Chicago commercial landscapes to incorporate a high-contrast evergreen.
This low-maintenance plant for commercial landscapes features orange to red foliage at a height of 3 to 4 feet. It’s not what you’d expect from an arborvitae, which is what makes it so special.
3. Hydrangea
Hydrangea varieties are excellent low-maintenance plants for commercial landscapes because they have large, showy flower heads that persist throughout the summer, which is exactly what can make commercial properties stand out.
Hydrangea ‘Annabell’ has lovely white flowers and is adaptable to both sun and shade, as well as wet conditions. It also offers a height of 3 to 4 feet. ‘Incrediball’ is a bigger version. Another great low-maintenance landscape plant is ‘Invincibelle Ruby,’ which does best in full sun and promises some red color.
Get Creative With Low-Maintenance Plants
Being creative is part of the fun of incorporating low-maintenance plants for commercial landscapes in Chicago.
There are several ways to pair low-maintenance plants together for maximum impact. For instance, pairing red-leaf plants with chartreuse-leaf plants provides nice contrast. Add something blue in the foreground to bring another element.
Try ‘Tiger Eye’ sumac, for example, combined with ‘Spilled Wine’ weigela in front of a ‘Diablo’ or ‘Little Devil’ ninebark, featuring its darker burgundy leaves. Then add a blue-toned ornamental grass, such as blue oatgrass, for another contrasting texture and color.
Low Maintenance Can Bring Great Aesthetics and Reduce Care Costs
The best plants for commercial landscapes can be both beautiful and low maintenance. We hope this list helps prove that.
Choosing the right ones can seem challenging. You don’t want to pick the wrong plant or waste time and money adding to your commercial maintenance costs.
We completely understand. KD Landscape can help. We live and breathe plants every day. We can help you make the right choices so you can achieve the look you want within your budget. We can help you identify which plants are truly low-maintenance and how they can best integrate into your Greater Chicago Commercial landscape.
Want to learn more about how to choose the best low-maintenance plants for your Greater Chicago commercial property? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice.
