Environmental Benefits of Commercial Landscaping
Commercial landscaping is more than just placing a few trees and flower beds on your property to make it look inviting to customers. Landscaping in the commercial sector also means taking responsibility for the environment you and your customers work in. Irrigation and drainage are two separate but complimentary aspects of commercial landscaping that can provide environmental benefits. Discover the differences and how the two can work together to create a positive environmental impact on your organization’s property and community.
What Is Irrigation?
From the simplest standpoint, irrigation is applying water to create a favorable condition for plant growth. While many people think of irrigation as a means to water large agricultural areas to create or maintain food supplies, irrigation is just as important in managing landscaping for aesthetics and property health.
Proper landscaping needs water to stay healthy. Living plants don’t just use water for a little drink every once in a while; water is gathered by a plant’s root system to deliver the nutrients from the soil that plants need to survive. It also keeps plants moist and flexible, helping them create their own food. If the plants, shrubs and trees on your property become water-deprived, they die, leaving your grounds looking brown, lifeless and dull.
What Is Drainage?
In opposition to irrigation, drainage is removing excess water from the soil so plants don’t suffer from too much water. Plants need air in addition to water. If the root systems are standing in water (aside from aquatic plants, which thrive on immersion in water), plants won’t get the air they need to survive because the water displaces the air in the soil.
When plants get oversaturated, they can also develop unhealthy conditions. Mold and bacterial growth can damage and kill the roots and spread to the entire plant. Fungus growth encourages brown patches and weed growth on lawns. Plants can get an overall wilted look, with lower leaves turning yellow and young leaves turning brown. You may see little or no growth, and the soil surrounding the plants may appear green with algae.
Excess water may also attract insects that can damage and kill plants and trees. Insect infestation detracts from your property’s aesthetics as well as decreases your property value. Pests like mosquitoes can even pose health risks to humans, spreading disease with each bite.
How Irrigation and Drainage Work Together to Benefit the Environment
Making sure that your landscaping gets the water it needs while not overwatering is a careful balance. Proper irrigation and drainage systems can improve water consumption and distribute water evenly which equates to water conservation. If your community is prone to water shortages, installing and maintaining both types of systems will save money on your water bill and help provide water to those who need it.
Erosion control is another environmental benefit you can garner by utilizing both an irrigation and drainage system. Too much watering as a result of improper irrigation or standing water from inefficient drainage systems can cause erosion, resulting in costly landscape and property repairs. But regular maintenance combined with fully functioning irrigation and drainage will keep your property and the surrounding community healthier.
Even if you’re not in an area with water shortages or erosion issues, keeping your landscape efficiently watered will keep plants healthy and your landscape looking good, which will make your community look even better. For more information on irrigation and drainage systems and our many other commercial services, contact Coastal Spray today.