Schill Blog

We’re in seasonal transition now, downshifting from bright summer in the landscape to rich, harvest colors that take us into late fall and the holidays. Annuals and entryway enhancements with cornstalks and more keep your site relevant and looking crisp for autumn. Don’t let your commercial property miss out on this exciting season of fall color.

In addition to necessary fall clean-up and maintenance, here are four fall landscaping ideas for commercial properties in Cleveland to keep the color blooming until the snow falls.

Container plantings are a cost-effective, big-impact way to draw attention to the entrance of your commercial property. They mark an entry, act as a test garden for new plants, give you the flexibility to change plants each season, and offer opportunities to be creative with interesting planters and bold plant arrangements. You can try new things in a container, and there’s no commitment, like planting in a landscape bed.

Of course, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind when choosing a planter and planning what will go inside.

The entrance of your property is both functional and aesthetic — it welcomes guests to your retail establishment, business or homeowners association. The entryway landscaping contributes to the community’s curb appeal, and sets the tone for the experience people will have while they’re on your property. A combination of signage, hardscape features, plantings and smart execution of design will create a remarkable entrance and increase the property value.

There are plenty of shortcuts to take when designing and installing your entrance landscape, such as choosing an off-the-shelf design that looks generic (think basic mulch and annuals surrounding the sign). The result is a cookie-cutter entryway — who could blame people for not making double-takes as they drive by it?

That’s why we recommend taking time to properly plan this critical space on your property so you can make the most of this key focal point.

High impact. Low maintenance. What property manager wouldn’t want to get those two things out of their commercial landscape — at the same time? One way to accomplish this feat is through sustainable commercial landscaping with ornamental grasses.

Today, ornamental grasses are gaining some nice recognition for their environmentally friendly qualities, including drought tolerance and pest resistance. Available in multiple varieties, textures and heights, they are also stunners in commercial landscapes. When used correctly, grasses will shine year round in borders, as screens or ground cover, and even in planters.

Before heading out the other day, I glanced at my phone to check the temperature: 3 degrees, but “feels like”
-24. Extreme winter conditions in Northeastern Ohio are nothing new, but they do have a way of showing up unannounced.

And while you and I might be ready for another brutal Cleveland winter, can you say the same for your commercial landscape? Whether from an unexpected winter storm, rain turning to ice or a sudden uptick in wind and warmth, winter damage to plants on your property can seem unavoidable.

The work we do now in the landscape fortifies your property so it will survive even the harshest winter. Fall fertilization feeds the lawn so it repairs from summer stress before it must endure cold weather. Winterizing your property’s irrigation system preserves your technology investment and protects sprinklers until spring, when you’re ready to water again.