If you were to invest $200 in gold, or $200 in a sugar maple tree, which would most likely give you the best return on your money after 10 years' time?
If you said the sugar maple tree, you're right according to the findings of an informational study done by a Wisconsin landscaper. And he isn't alone. Many property owners have discovered the monetary gains from investing in good landscaping. In fact, it, has been estimated that landscaping enhancements are the only property improvement offering 100 percent return on the original investment.
Another study showed 95% of surveyed real estate appraisers agreed that good landscaping adds to the dollar value of identical real estate property. Of course, landscapes can offer many other things to you besides improved property values. Whatever your goals, they can be met with a good master installation and design plan.
What do you want from your property? Decreased crime? Increased property values? Lower operating costs? You can have one or all of these with targeted landscape installation and design.
Would you like lower operating costs? Install long term plantings that need little maintenance and will increase in value over the years.
Decreases crime? Remove large bushes by entryways or any overgrown plants that someone could hide behind. Keep traffic areas relatively clear and therefore safe.
Increased property values? Landscaping can help you sell your property. Even if you don't want to sell, a good landscape can attract better tenants who are willing to pay higher rental costs and who will likely remain longer, reducing turnover and leasing expenses.
Whatever you want, get it with a good installation and design master plan. Meet with a contractor and discuss your ideas for a master plan. A good contractor can estimate how long it will take you to reach those goals, and together you can work on making them come true.
You will also want the contractor to look at your property to discover any problems you now have, and if there is anything on your property that would get in the way of your master plan. A good contractor will also know what part of your property can support certain kinds of plants and will adjust installation and design plans accordingly.
You should also have your landscaping services evaluated at least once a year to make sure they are pointing toward your master plan.
Don't be afraid to invest in your landscaping dreams. You'll find that the rewards pay off personally as well as professionally. Who said money doesn't grow on trees?
Flowers are an inexpensive way to add a sense of personality to your grounds. When thinking about your flower options, keep in mind the different characteristics of flowers available to you:
 | Annuals supply bright, long-lasting color, frost to frost. They add dimension and create a sense of vitality and movement to your landscape. Plant them by Memorial Day. |
| Perennials last from year to year and are relatively easy to grow. They vary greatly in shape, size and color and blend with the landscape to produce a more tranquil and natural setting. Plant them in spring or fall. |
| Wildflowers can include annuals and perennials and should be flowers that grow naturally in your region. Long- or short-stemmed wildflowers are long-lasting, pretty and give a sense of simple beauty. Plant in early. spring. |
| Meet with your association's landscape committee to review maintenance contracts and to set goals for 1993. |
| Finish your final winter (dormant) pruning. |
| Get your turf ready for the growing season: Ask your landscape company to core aerate and fertilize your lawn. |
| Spray for crab grass -- before it grows! |
| Prepare beds for plant growth. |
| Schedule plan replacements for dead and diseased- plants. |
| Fertilize shrubs and trees. |
| Have a spring clean-up and get rid of accumulated winter debris. |
| Sit back, enjoy the spring and watch your property bloom! |
We know that environmental responsibility is a must. But what do you do when your landscape is being destroyed by insects? Can you get rid, of them and still be politically correct? The answer is yes if you practice the theory of Integrated Pest Management, or IPM.
IPM takes an holistic approach to getting rid of damaging insects. It advocates not just the use of chemicals, but considers such variants as type of insect, insect life-cycles, and the best ways to use pesticides to get the maximum potential from the smallest amount of chemical.
The following are steps included in every good IMP program:
| Pick a qualify landscape company that uses EPA-approved chemicals only. |
| Choose plants for your landscape that are naturally that are naturally resist insects, thus reducing the amount of needed pesticides. |
| Time the application of pesticides to coincide with insect life stages and activities for maximum effectiveness, |
| Put chemicals where the pests are. Chemicals for above-ground pests and below-ground pests should be applied differently. |
Yes, it is possible to have a great, healthy lawn and be environmentally aware. Find a landscape company that practices IPM.
"Every flower is a soul blossoming out to nature."
-- Gerard de Nerval
This information is provided as a public
service by Alan Horticultural Enterprises, a full-service landscape management company.
Although we've been in business 20 years and service over 80 multifamily properties, we
maintain personal, one-on-one relationships with all of our clients to ensure customer
satisfaction. We are an environmentally conscious company, using EPA-approved products to
maintain healthy lawns that are beneficial for humans, pets and wildlife. If we can help
you with your lawn needs or questions, please call us at 630-739-0205.
ALAN HORTICULTURAL ENTERPRISES, INC.