Creating a More Sustainable Tulsa Landscape Design

One of the ways Tulsa homeowners can go “green” is by having a more sustainable Tulsa landscape design.  There are many things we can do to use fewer natural resources and reduce waste.  

Conserve. A major principle of sustainable Tulsa landscape design is to conserve resources already in the landscape. Taking steps to conserve water is also very important.

Make sure your Tulsa irrigation system is working properly and is the right type of irrigation system for your soil. This will help  to reduce water usage. Drip irrigation can be used with soil that drains quickly. Drip irrigation generally uses 30-70% less water than an overhead irrigation system, and plants grow to maturity about twice as fast.

Another key to water conservation is to group plants according to their watering needs. Grouping plants together that need watered more often can help reduce water usage. You can also harvest rainwater with a rain barrel to help conserve water and prevent storm water runoff.

Keep your soil healthy. That is another way to conserve water.  Compacted soil often leads to water runoff.

“Compacted soil leads to problems such as restricted plant growth, erosion, runoff and flooding,” the Landscaping Network noted. “Runoff caused by compacted soils is one of the main sources of water pollution.”

Lawn aeration or removing small core patches of soil and dead grass can help to relieve compacted soil and provide enough room for oxygen and water to reach the root system. The Tulsa landscape design experts at Oklahoma Landscape can aerate your lawn and overseed it so that the soil and lawn are both healthy and sustainable.

Adding mulch to your garden or flowerbed can also do a great deal to conserve water and nutrients while making your landscape look even more attractive.

Choosing the right plants. Which plants you choose for your landscape design can have an effect on the environment. Plants, shrubs, and trees that are native to your area tend to do better and also require less water. As the Landscaping Network noted, often homeowners want to remove many of the existing plants in their landscape, but this can lead to a disruption in the natural processes in the environment. Thus, preserving existing plants and choosing to add others that are native to the local environment can conserve resources while often reducing the time and energy required for maintenance and care.

Hardscape considerations. Another aspect of sustainable Tulsa landscape design is being thoughtful when choosing hardscape materials. Of course, using recycled hardscape materials is ideal when trying to reduce waste, but you can also use more locally sourced materials as well as those that allow for better water conservation. Permeable pavers are hardscape materials that help to conserve water. These pavers allow water to pass through to the soil reducing runoff and pollution. These hardscapes are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to add a decorative effect to your patio, walkway, or driveway while allowing for sustainability.

The landscape design experts at Oklahoma Landscape can create a design plan for your outdoor space that creates a gorgeous oasis for your home while conserving the earth’s natural resources and allowing you to “find yourself outside.”

How Commercial Landscape Design Can Improve Your Tulsa Business

Sometimes business owners can overlook an important aspect of their company, something that can actually have quite a large impact on their business. Although commercial landscape design may not at first seem like it will greatly affect a business, there are a number of ways that landscaping or a lack of landscape design can impact a company - either for the good or for the bad.

First impressions are most important. 

Business owners are well familiar with how important first impressions are for a customer. But sometimes owners can focus on how the inside of their store looks without realizing that the inside isn’t exactly the first impression the customer may have. When a customer drives up to your store, what do they see? A beautiful and eye-catching landscape design can really impress customers even before they reach your front door and even attract new customers. If two similar businesses were next door to each other, wouldn’t you first walk into the business that was most attractive on the outside? Effective commercial landscape design can help a business stand out amid the competition. Landscape design can take into consideration the personality or brand of the company and successfully reflect that brand image with unique landscaping elements.

As with first impressions, we often do judge a book by its cover, and the same can be said with businesses. A well-manicured lawn and good landscape design can tell a customer that the business owner is diligent, pro-active, and interested in delivering quality. On the other hand, a building without any landscaping can give the opposite impression of its owners.

Attention to landscape design at a business can also tell customers that the owner is concerned about the environment, is eco-friendly, and is interested in creating a pleasant atmosphere for his employees.

Increase employee productivity.

Studies have shown that employees work better at companies that have attractive commercial landscape design and other natural elements.

Regarding a commercial landscape design project at PepsiCo World Headquarters, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) noted that the improved outdoor environment “resulted in lower turnover, less absenteeism, shorter lunch hours, and greater productivity.”

“The quality of a person’s physical surroundings has a real and profound impact on their attitude and performance as well as their enjoyment of a place,” the ASLA noted.

Thus, adding more greenery and landscape design to your business, possible even with outside benches, fountains, or other decorative landscaping elements, can help increase job satisfaction for employees and promote a peaceful, happy environment for employees and customers alike.

Improve market values. 

Commercial landscape design has also been shown to help enhance the market value and curb appeal of a business.

“The proof is in the data, with 99% of real estate appraisers confirming that plants enhance tenancy and the sales appeal of commercial real estate,” E-Landscape Specialty Solutions of Maryland noted. They noted that commercial landscape design provides an “instant wow” factor to a company, providing the quickest way to give a “face-lift” to a building’s façade.

Thus, commercial landscape design can quickly and easily refurbish the look of an otherwise older building, giving it new life, literally and figuratively.

Good landscape design and maintenance might even help to deter crime.

“In a California study, landscaped areas were relatively graffiti-free, while open, no landscaped areas were graffiti targets,” Terra Flora Landscaping in West Virginia noted. “Well planned and maintained landscapes are seen as safer than unmaintained plantings.”

And there’s many other benefits to Tulsa commercial landscape design including significant energy-savings when landscapes are designed specifically with these elements in mind.

The Tulsa landscape design professionals at Oklahoma Landscape can engineer the best landscape design plan for your commercial property. We can take care of all your commercial landscape design and lawn maintenance needs so that you can focus more on your business. From office parks to apartment complexes to hospitals, we can provide you with a custom landscape and lawn care maintenance program for your specific commercial goals.

Let us take the hassle out of commercial landscape design and maintenance and keep your property looking great all year round.

What is Involved in Landscape Architecture? What is a Tulsa Landscape Architect's Job?

The results of architecture are all around us; they are often intriguing and diverse. Although mainly known for constructing buildings and other physical structures, architecture’s most attractive works of art are perhaps found in the fascinating sceneries created by landscape architects. New York’s Central Park is one example. In fact, the term “landscape architecture” only became common after 1863 when Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Central Park, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) noted.

But what is involved in landscape architecture and how can it benefit your home or business?

“Landscape architects design the balance between the built and natural environment,” ASLA noted. So landscape architecture goes beyond traditional gardening or lawn care to include the careful analysis, planning, design, and management of an outdoor space. These architects design and manage the land of outdoor public areas like public squares, cemeteries, parks, waterfront developments, transportation facilities, and zoos, as well as campuses, office and retail parks, commercial property, hospitals, hotel resorts, golf courses, and residential areas such as your backyard.

They work with engineers and city planners to ‘meet human needs by making wise use of our environmental resources,’ ASLA noted. Using environmental science, these architects help to promote public health and conservation by encouraging the effective use of nature and the built environment – such as tree-lined streets, green roofs, and healing gardens at hospitals. Landscape architects are often involved in restoring damaged natural places like wetlands, mined areas, and polluted sites.

Thus, they must have a diverse set of skills that not only include landscaping but also environmental psychology, geology, site design, horticulture, drainage, grading and more.  To be a landscape architect, a license is required to practice landscape architecture in all 50 states, ASLA noted.  

So, much careful planning is involved in a Tulsa landscape architect’s job. They figure out how the homeowner, property manager, or city planner wants to use the landscape and designs an outdoor environment best fit for those needs so the landscape is not only beautiful but practical and engaging. But this also includes site analysis to know how best to care for the landscape and protect its long-term well-being. With artistic style and science, a landscape architect can help your outdoor living space reach its full potential even by adding hardscape features like an outdoor fireplace or kitchen.

With this careful design comes detailed drawing and often 3D modelling of how the outdoor space will look, what features it will include, and where to plant trees, shrubs, etc. to best use the landscape and help conserve energy. By strategic placement of trees and shrubs, landscape architects can even lower a home’s heating and cooling costs.

After initial planning and design, landscape architects continue to oversee the landscape development throughout the construction process to ensure the project is done right. They may continue to oversee the care of the landscape after project competition, providing direction for how to best care for the landscape.

Thus, when you hire a Tulsa landscape architect, you get a wealth of knowledge and well-thought out planning that far exceeds simple lawn care. A licensed landscape architect can help you create a balanced, practical, and artful outdoor environment for your backyard or commercial property. They can help you ‘find yourself outside’ by utilizing nature and the built environment to create a captivating architectural environment. 

 

Commercial Lawn Care Tulsa - Advantages of Professional Lawn Maintenance for your Business

When you approach the door of a business, college campus, retail park, or hospital, what catches your eye? Does the landscaping have a bearing on what you think of the company?

As a business owner, you understand how essential first impressions are, especially for a company. When clients first approach your Tulsa commercial property, the property’s landscaping can have a vivid effect on the image your company portrays. A neat, well-designed, organized landscape gives the impression that the organization also manifests those qualities and as well as caring for the environment. A beautiful, well-kept lawn instils confidence in customers, employees, future residents, or students. Thus, Tulsa commercial lawn maintenance and landscaping can be a crucial part of a company’s corporate identity, effectively conveying the professional brand image you want your company to have. This, in turn, translate into a significant return on investment.

What are some of the advantages of having a professional Tulsa landscaping company manage your commercial lawn care?

Less Stress

Why spend time worrying about the lawn care needs of your company? Lawn care can be very laborious for a business owner, and supervising multiple landscape contractors and handling lawn maintenance dilemmas can be stressful. With one professional landscaping company taking care of all your lawn care needs, you can save time, money, and focus on more important business matters.

With Tulsa commercial lawn maintenance, you’ll know your landscape will be cared for on a consistent basis. Regular care is needed for lawns to maintain their beauty and health. Your staff may not be able to consistently mow or manage your entire landscape. Hiring a professional company dedicated to maintaining the beauty of your landscape will ensure that it’s attended to regularly.

Landscape Design

A landscaping company can give your lawn the professional appearance you want your company to showcase. Landscaping experts can design a functional and aesthetically-engaging outdoor space for your business, homeowner’s association, campus, retail park, outdoor sports facility, office park, golf club, or apartment property. And these landscape design professionals can keep your landscape looking fresh and new, giving you ideas on how to effectively update your landscape in the most cost-effective way. Tulsa lawn care professionals understand how to get the most from your landscape and bring out its full beauty and potential with innovative landscaping techniques.

Skilled Lawn Care

Keeping a landscape healthy and beauty involves more than mowing it regularly. To have a vibrant, healthy lawn, you would need to help the lawn have all the nutrients it needs and be able to detect any potential problems.

Professional Tulsa lawn care experts have the in-depth knowledge and skills needed to promote the long-term health of your landscape, including fertilization and weed control programs, tree and shrub care, lawn aeration, overseeding, and prevent and treat insect disease. Knowing how to effectively treat the overall health of your lawn will help it to thrive, and in the end, save you money by preventing costly problems.

Equipment Savings

Buying enough lawn care equipment to adequately take care of an entire commercial property can be quite expensive. And maintaining that equipment over the years can only add to that expense. Prevent the added worry, stress, and costs of having to buy your own equipment by hiring professional lawn maintenance. Leave the responsibility and expense of having the right lawn care tools, fertilizers, and equipment to the lawn care professionals.

Business owners, property managers, schools, healthcare facilities, and other organizations can all benefit greatly from the positive first impression a well-designed and manicured landscape can have on customers.

Commercial Landscape Design in Tulsa - Increase Productivity and Relieve Stress

We've probably all taken a walk through a  relaxing city park or left our cubicle to sit outside next to trees and plants that provide a refreshing break on a hectic workday. These are all part of Tulsa commercial landscape design that artistically blends nature and greenery into the architecture of commercial properties.
Why is commercial landscape design in Tulsa important? Being around nature is vital for our mental and physical health. Studies that were published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology noted that “being outside in nature for just 20 minutes in a day was enough to significantly boost vitality levels.” Thus, incorporating landscape design into a commercial campus or office park can help to increase productivity in employees.

“The quality of a person’s physical surroundings has a real and profound impact on their attitude and performance as well as their enjoyment of a place,” the American Society of Landscape Architects said regarding the PepsiCo World Headquarters commercial landscape design project. In this project landscape architects created a sustainable, quality environment with accessibility to nature, formal landscapes as well as sculptures. “The quality environment created at PepsiCo resulted in lower turnover, less absenteeism, shorter lunch hours and greater productivity,” the article noted.

This improved outlook and increased energy in relation to being in nature can also translate to clients. Many retail environments and corporate office parks have brought thoughtful landscape design to their Tulsa commercial properties to create a more welcoming atmosphere for customers. Well-manicured and beautifully-captivating commercial properties provide a curb appeal that greatly enhances the image of a company and can attract more business.

Many cities are incorporating more landscape design and water conservation into their streetscapes, giving a more natural, sustainable appeal to their city and creating a more enjoyable place for residents and customers. Students can learn more studying outside on a beautifully-manicured college campus. Tenants are attracted more to apartment communities with nature parks and stylish greenery areas.

All of these commercial spaces are benefiting from landscape design. Commercial lawn maintenance also relieves stress from Tulsa businesses. Landscape design and lawn maintenance can be one less thing a property manager has to worry about with professional landscape design for his or her company. Not only increasing the curb appeal and beauty of the property, commercial landscape design in Tulsa can also increase productivity and even sales by creating a more positive, refreshing environment for everyone.