Commercial landscape repairs can be a frustrating hassle for property managers. Not only do repairs often come up as an unwanted surprise, but they also can get really costly, especially if they aren’t addressed quickly.
A big part of the battle is knowing what to watch out for and taking a proactive approach to prevent problems whenever possible.
Obviously, some commercial landscaping repairs are simply unavoidable. Even when you do all the right things, sometimes the weather and other variables beyond your control still cause problems. But how you react will be key.
Even better, you’ll want to make sure you partner with a commercial grounds maintenance company that is being proactive for you. They’ll already know what to watch for and what action to take.
The most common landscaping repairs on commercial properties include irrigation repairs, landscape drainage repairs, turf repair, commercial hardscape repairs, tree and shrub replacement, and erosion control.
Let’s look at how these can impact the landscape.
Whether it’s from a random pedestrian, a mower blade, or just the normal ground swelling, irrigation heads can shift or become damaged, no longer working smoothly as a part of your entire irrigation system.
This is when landscape irrigation repair will be necessary on your commercial property. Your grounds maintenance provider will regularly check your irrigation system for these issues and watering inconsistencies to stay ahead of repairs when they are minimal and can be easily fixed.
Water failing to drain properly is another common problem on commercial properties that warrants repair. The first step will be to figure out what’s causing the drainage issues in the first place. Standing water or runoff is usually a telltale sign that you need landscape drainage repair.
As with any commercial landscape repair, it can start small and lead to larger problems if ignored. Sometimes it takes some proper grading to fix the problem or manage the water flow. Other times, French drains, rain gardens or even dry creek beds can create a more permanent solution for a spot that tends to collect excess water.
For Greater Chicago industrial properties with many hard surfaces, stormwater can’t seep into the concrete, so it runs off into lower areas. For these properties, a solution like a detention pond might be necessary to prevent flooding.
You have a lot of traffic on a commercial property, so it’s natural that your grass might suffer from compaction damage.
Compacted turf can lead to increased turf problems, such as weeds, disease and dead patches. Annual aeration and fall overseeding can help prevent compacted turf, keeping it healthy and sparing you the cost of costly turf repairs.
Dead or brown grass is not appealing on your site either. Grass that isn’t healthy can also leave bare spots open to weed invasions. For this commercial landscape repair, your commercial grounds manager will want to check your turf for disease or irrigation problems and address small issues before they become bigger problems that require more costly turf renovation.
Hardscaping is often one of the most expensive elements on a commercial property. Unfortunately, it can also sometimes develop problems and require repairs. For instance, when pathways buckle or roots grow and disrupt walkways, uneven ground results. And uneven ground can lead to big liability issues: trips and falls.
Uneven ground poses a major liability issue for commercial properties: trips and falls.
Another common hardscape repair is potholes. Commercial properties are very likely to experience problems with potholes due to heavy traffic.
It’s important to regularly check hardscape stability to prevent retaining wall failures, maintain walkway cracks, repair potholes, and stay ahead of safety issues.
When not properly cared for, trees and shrubs can become overgrown. This is obviously an aesthetic concern, but a bigger issue is that they pose numerous safety and security hazards.
Overgrown branches can obstruct people walking on your site. They can also block doorways and windows, creating security risks at night, as these areas often become out of reach of security cameras and lighting.
Keeping up with tree and shrub pruning can prevent them from becoming overgrown in the first place. This is a valuable proactive approach. But over time, replacement might be your best option. Trees and shrubs do have a shelf life and don’t live forever.
As rainwater collects on a property, such as in standing water, erosion issues can emerge.
If there is a hilly spot that isn’t properly graded, or a nearby retaining wall wasn’t built properly or is no longer doing its job, mud and debris will continue to move and leak onto walkways, creating additional issues.
These threats include trip-and-fall hazards and unattractive areas that no longer serve a useful or aesthetic purpose on the commercial property.
The solution to this common landscape repair issue is to identify the cause and fix it before it becomes a bigger problem.
As we mentioned, taking a proactive approach is crucial to preventing costly repairs.
Many of these issues are out of your control. Freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rain, snow and ice, salt exposure, high-traffic areas, and large paved surfaces can all create or worsen landscape problems. But working with a proactive commercial landscape contractor in Chicago can ensure these problems are identified early and the proper solutions are implemented.
This is where routine site inspections are so invaluable. During these meetings, problems can be identified early on. You’ll also want to invest in essential maintenance services that help protect your investment.
Maintaining irrigation systems and performing proactive seasonal maintenance will go a long way in keeping your property in top shape and avoiding costly repairs.
What are the most common commercial landscape repairs?
Irrigation repairs, drainage issues, damaged turf, broken curbs or edging, tree and shrub replacement, potholes, and erosion control.
How can property managers prevent costly landscape repairs?
Schedule routine inspections, maintain irrigation systems, address drainage problems early, and perform proactive seasonal maintenance.
What landscape issues are most notorious for creating safety risks on commercial properties?
Uneven sidewalks, potholes, poor drainage, overgrown vegetation, low-hanging branches, and icy walkways.
Why is standing water a problem on commercial properties?
It damages landscaping and pavement, creates slip hazards, attracts mosquitoes, and can lead to costly erosion and foundation issues.
How do commercial landscape maintenance programs reduce repair costs?
Regular inspections and preventative maintenance identify small issues before they become expensive repairs, extending the life of the landscape and infrastructure.
When should a commercial property call a landscape contractor?
At the first sign of drainage problems, irrigation failures, declining plant health, storm damage, safety hazards, or when routine maintenance is no longer sufficient.
We know you have a lot of facilities and operations headaches that need your attention. Hopefully, this guide helps you target the worst outdoor issues head-on so you can feel confident in how you tackle them.
KD Landscape can assist you by offering a customized, proactive commercial maintenance program. From proper lawn care and mowing/maintenance to trash patrol, spring and fall cleaning, regular pruning and seasonal color boosts and enhancements, we can become an addition to your team.
By doing this, we can ensure these commercial landscape repairs are completed on time, helping your property look good and keeping you within your budget.
But we can also help you identify problems in their early stages. Not all problems can be prevented, but when issues arise, you want a company that will take swift action. That should give you valuable peace of mind.
Want a more beautiful Greater Chicago commercial property that doesn’t give you a lot of hassles and headaches? Request a proposal for a customized plan.