The landscaping around a commercial property is the first thing tenants, customers and visitors see. Clean beds, healthy turf and well-kept entrances tell people the property is managed well. Overgrown shrubs, bare patches and dead plants send the opposite message before anyone walks through the door.
This site celebrates the local companies doing great work, and our first spotlight goes to White Oak Landscape. Based in Marietta, White Oak has served the Atlanta area since 1977.
For commercial properties, their team of Atlanta landscapers provides landscape design, installation and maintenance for offices, business parks and HOA communities across the greater Atlanta area.
Here's what commercial landscaping includes and what to look for when you hire a company to handle it.
What commercial landscaping covers
Commercial landscaping usually falls into three parts:
- Design: planning plantings, entrances, signage beds, walkways and gathering spaces that fit the building and how people move around it.
- Installation: building that plan, from new trees and beds to hardscapes, lighting and irrigation.
- Maintenance: the ongoing work that keeps the property looking right every week of the year.
Most properties need all three over time. A new office park may start with design and installation, then shift to a long-term maintenance contract.
Maintenance is where quality shows
For most commercial properties, maintenance is the biggest part of the landscaping budget and the part people notice most. A solid program usually includes:
- Regular mowing, edging and blowing of walks and parking areas
- Shrub and hedge trimming on a set schedule
- Seasonal color at entrances and signage beds
- Mulch or pine straw refreshes
- Weed, insect and disease control for turf and beds
- Fall leaf removal and storm cleanup
Ask for the scope in writing, with how often each task happens. That way everyone knows what's included and nothing slips through the cracks.
Irrigation can make or break your water bill
Large properties use a lot of water, and a poorly managed irrigation system wastes plenty of it. Broken heads, zones that spray pavement and controllers left on summer settings all add up. Look for a landscaper who checks the system regularly, repairs problems quickly and adjusts schedules through the seasons. Smart controllers and drip irrigation in beds can lower water use noticeably.
Safety and liability matter too
Commercial landscaping affects how safe a property feels. Overgrown shrubs can block sightlines at driveways and hide walkways at night. Low tree limbs can hit vehicles or pedestrians. Uneven pavers become trip hazards. Good landscape lighting helps people find their way after dark. A thoughtful landscaper keeps these issues in mind on every visit, not only when someone complains.
HOA communities have their own needs
Homeowners associations manage shared spaces like entrances, common areas, amenity centers and retention ponds. Residents notice every detail, and the board has to answer for it. An HOA landscaper should be easy to reach, communicate clearly with the board or management company, and keep the community consistent from one season to the next.
How to choose a commercial landscaper
Before you sign a contract, ask:
- Do you have crews and equipment sized for a property like ours?
- Are you licensed and insured for commercial work?
- Who is our point of contact, and how quickly do you respond?
- Will we get a written scope of work with visit frequency?
- Can you handle design and improvements, or only maintenance?
- Can you share references from similar properties?
A company that answers these clearly and puts the details in writing is usually a company that shows up and does the work.