Commercial Landscape Maintenance in Perth. What Should Be Included in a Maintenance Contract?
A well-maintained commercial landscape does more than keep a property looking presentable. It creates a positive first impression, protects the investment made in the landscaping and helps ensure outdoor areas remain safe, functional and healthy throughout the year.
For property managers, developers, schools, strata properties, commercial facilities and local organisations, engaging a professional commercial landscape maintenance company in Perth can also remove the headache of trying to coordinate multiple contractors.
But not all landscape maintenance contracts are the same.
Before signing an agreement, it is important to understand exactly what will be maintained, how regularly the work will be carried out and what happens when something outside the normal maintenance schedule requires attention.
Here are some of the key services that should be considered when putting together a commercial landscape maintenance contract.
- Lawn and Turf Maintenance
For commercial properties with lawn areas, regular turf maintenance is one of the most visible parts of the landscaping program.
Depending on the property and the time of year, this may include:
- Lawn mowing
- Edging around pathways and garden beds
- Fertilising
- Weed control
- Aeration
- Soil improvement
- Identifying worn or damaged areas
- Turf repairs or replacement where required
The frequency of mowing and other lawn treatments may change throughout the year. Perth’s warmer months can create very different maintenance requirements compared with winter, so a good maintenance program should take seasonal growth into consideration.
- Garden Bed Maintenance
Garden beds can quickly lose their appearance without regular attention.
A commercial maintenance contract should outline how garden areas will be managed, including tasks such as:
- Removing weeds
- Pruning plants
- Removing dead or damaged vegetation
- Maintaining plant shape and presentation
- Mulching
- Fertilising
- Soil improvement
- Replacing plants where required
- Monitoring overall plant health
Regular maintenance can also help identify problems before they become more expensive to rectify.
A struggling plant, irrigation issue or pest problem may be relatively simple to address when identified early but considerably more difficult once damage has spread throughout a landscaped area.
- Tree and Shrub Pruning
Trees and larger shrubs play an important role in many commercial landscapes, providing shade, screening, structure and visual appeal.
However, they also require ongoing management.
Depending on the site, a landscape maintenance program may include regular formative pruning, removal of dead growth and management of shrubs that are obstructing pathways, signage, lighting or access areas.
Larger tree works or specialised arboricultural services may sit outside a standard landscaping agreement, so it is worth confirming exactly what is and isn’t included in your contract.
- Irrigation and Reticulation Checks
In Perth, a healthy commercial landscape often relies heavily on an efficient irrigation system.
An irrigation fault can sometimes go unnoticed until plants or turf begin to deteriorate. Alternatively, a damaged sprinkler, leaking pipe or incorrectly programmed controller can result in unnecessary water use.
Regular irrigation and reticulation inspections should therefore be an important part of a commercial landscape maintenance program.
This can include checking:
- Sprinkler operation
- Drip irrigation
- Irrigation controllers
- Watering schedules
- Broken or blocked sprinkler heads
- Leaks and damaged pipes
- Water coverage
- Seasonal controller adjustments
Ideally, your landscaping and irrigation contractors should work together rather than treating the two systems separately.
Healthy landscaping and effective irrigation go hand in hand.
- Weed Management
Weeds can have a major impact on both the appearance and health of landscaped areas.
Commercial sites often contain large garden beds, verges, pathways and open areas, making consistent weed management particularly important.
A maintenance contract should specify how weeds will be controlled and how frequently landscaped areas will be inspected.
Maintaining weed control throughout the year is generally much easier than allowing weeds to become established and attempting to address the problem later.
- Fertilising and Plant Health
Plants and turf require more than regular watering to perform at their best.
A commercial landscape maintenance program should consider the nutritional requirements of the plants across the property, including appropriate fertilising and soil improvement where required.
Your landscape maintenance team should also be keeping an eye out for signs of:
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Plant stress
- Pest activity
- Disease
- Overwatering
- Underwatering
- Poor drainage
- Soil problems
The objective shouldn’t simply be to make a property look tidy during each visit. Good commercial landscape maintenance should focus on the long-term health and performance of the landscape.
- Seasonal Landscape Maintenance
Perth’s climate means landscape requirements can change significantly throughout the year.
A maintenance schedule that works during winter may not be appropriate during the warmer months.
Seasonal maintenance may involve:
- Adjusting irrigation schedules
- Applying fertilisers at appropriate times
- Preparing lawns and gardens for summer
- Additional pruning
- Mulching
- Plant replacements
- Checking irrigation before periods of hot weather
- Managing increased or reduced plant growth
A commercial maintenance contract should therefore be flexible enough to accommodate seasonal requirements rather than simply repeating exactly the same tasks every visit.
- Mulching
Maintaining mulch throughout garden beds can help improve the appearance of landscaped areas while also assisting with moisture retention, weed suppression and soil protection.
Over time, mulch naturally breaks down or becomes displaced.
Depending on the property, topping up mulch may form part of scheduled maintenance or may be quoted separately as a periodic service.
For larger commercial properties, it is worth clarifying this from the beginning so there are no surprises later.
- Green Waste and Site Presentation
A maintenance visit shouldn’t leave the property covered in lawn clippings, branches or other garden waste.
Your contract should make it clear whether green waste generated during regular maintenance is removed from the property.
The landscaping team should also leave pathways, entrances and surrounding areas clean and presentable after completing their work.
For commercial properties, this is particularly important because landscaping work is often being completed while customers, residents, staff or members of the public continue to use the site.
- Regular Inspections and Reporting
For larger commercial properties, good communication can be just as important as the physical maintenance itself.
Property managers shouldn’t have to discover landscaping problems themselves.
Regular inspections allow the landscaping contractor to identify potential issues and recommend additional works where necessary.
This could include:
- Irrigation faults
- Failed plants
- Drainage problems
- Damaged turf
- Pest or disease concerns
- Safety issues
- Areas requiring additional maintenance
- Recommended improvement works
Depending on the size and complexity of the property, scheduled reporting can provide property managers with greater visibility over the condition of the landscape and upcoming requirements.
- A Clear Maintenance Schedule
One of the most important parts of any commercial landscape maintenance contract is understanding how often the contractor will attend the property and what will be completed during those visits.
Some commercial properties require weekly attention, while others may only require scheduled visits at different intervals.
The appropriate frequency will depend on factors including:
- Property size
- Amount of lawn and garden area
- Type of landscaping
- Irrigation requirements
- Usage of the property
- Desired presentation standard
- Season
- Budget
Rather than simply choosing the cheapest maintenance schedule, it is worth determining what level of service is actually required to keep the property at the desired standard.
What Should You Ask Before Signing a Commercial Landscape Maintenance Contract?
Before appointing a landscaping contractor, make sure both parties are clear about the scope of work.
Some useful questions include:
- How frequently will the property be serviced?
- Which landscaping tasks are included?
- Is irrigation inspection included?
- Are materials such as fertiliser and mulch included?
- Is green waste removed?
- How are additional works quoted and approved?
- Who will be the main point of contact?
- How will landscaping issues be reported?
- Does the maintenance schedule change seasonally?
- Can the contractor manage both landscaping and irrigation requirements?
Having a clearly defined scope helps avoid misunderstandings and makes it easier to compare maintenance providers based on the actual service being offered rather than price alone.
Choosing a Commercial Landscape Maintenance Company in Perth
Commercial landscaping requires a different approach to maintaining a residential backyard.
Larger sites, public access, irrigation infrastructure, scheduling requirements and higher presentation expectations all need to be taken into consideration.
Working with an experienced commercial landscaping team means your property can be managed as one complete outdoor environment rather than a series of individual gardening tasks.
At LHP Landscaping + Joel Irrigation, we provide commercial landscaping and maintenance services throughout Perth, working with commercial properties, developers, schools, councils and other organisations.
Our team can assist with both landscaping and irrigation requirements, providing a coordinated approach to keeping outdoor areas healthy, functional and professionally presented.
Looking for Commercial Landscape Maintenance in Perth?
Whether you need ongoing landscape maintenance for an existing property or are looking for a team that can manage a commercial landscape following construction, LHP Landscaping + Joel Irrigation can tailor a maintenance program to suit your site.
Contact our team today to discuss your commercial landscape maintenance requirements or request an obligation-free quote.