Can Commercial Landscaping Help Your Business Attract Customers?

Curb appeal, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Homes that are surrounded by fresh blooms, towering trees, and healthy lawns are a surefire way to stop onlookers dead in their tracks and turn your neighbors green with envy. However, did you know Mother Nature’s bounty (or lack thereof) can actually have great effects on your business? Here are a few ways landscaping can positively influence you and your business:

Attract Customers/Clients
We’ve all heard it before, but first impressions really do matter—especially when it comes to your property. Proper landscaping not only boosts your property’s curb appeal, but it may actually attract more customers and drive business. In a survey of one southern community, 74% of the public preferred to patronize commercial establishments that had structures and parking lots planted with trees and other landscaping. Make sure your landscape plan includes a turf program to keep your lawn green, and consider adding seasonal containers for extra pop of color around your entrances.

Stand Out Among Competition
In a world that is full of distractions, it’s easy to get lost in the clutter. Grab your patrons’ attention and make your property easy to find by using landscaping to complement your building and outdoor signage. Roadside studies found that it’s easier for drivers to locate roadside businesses when they were framed by trees and vegetation. Crepe myrtles, hedges, and seasonal flower beds are popular options when it comes to framing your exterior signage.

Add Value to Your Property
In the South, our outdoor spaces are often extensions of our homes and businesses. It’s where we gather to enjoy the seasonally warm days for which our region is known. Aside from the social value and personal enjoyment, did you know that our green spaces actually add monetary value to our homes and properties? According to a recent study, well-landscaped properties are proven more valuable. Looking to sell? We suggest investing some green in your landscape first.

Keep Your Employees Healthy & Happy
Flowers don’t just brighten a property—it turns out they can also brighten your employees’ day. Research shows that employees with more nature contact at work reported significantly less perceived stress and stress-related health complaints. In addition, the journal of Experimental Psychology found that “investing in landscaping the office with plants will pay off through an increase in office workers’ quality of life and productivity.” In addition to the productivity benefits, the study also found that participants experienced a 40% increase in workplace satisfaction. Experts encourage employers to invest in garden spaces and outdoor landscape to keep your employees happy and healthy.

Sources: Healthy Workplaces: The Effects of Nature Contact at Work on Employee Stress and Health, Society for Public Health Education; Journal of Experimental Psychology; Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington College of Forest Resources, 1998; Roadside Studies by the University of Washington; National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture