Does your landscape maintenance company really get you?
Do they understand that landscape maintenance for retail centers involves tricky timing, bold and innovative enhancements, and an eye on safety as well as beauty?
Are you wondering how to choose a commercial landscaping company that specializes in your unique needs?
Look for these key traits:
1. They Should Suggest Exciting Landscape Enhancements
Retail center landscaping enhancements need to work harder than ever these days to attract both shoppers and tenants.
Look for a landscape maintenance company that’s enthusiastic about suggesting innovative ideas.
- Strings of festive lights to draw shoppers over and entice them to linger.
- A fire pit beckoning shoppers with a flickering glow to your courtyard as the sun goes down.
- Built-in seating and umbrella-shaded tables flanked by built-in planters packed with pretty plants.
- A modern landscaping re-do to add the contemporary luxury shoppers and tenants crave.
All this helps you stay competitive. If you don’t offer the latest perks at your shopping center, your competitors will. Why let them attract all the best new tenants and customers?/hardscaping-wall-flowers-plants-shrubs.jpg?width=1500&name=hardscaping-wall-flowers-plants-shrubs.jpg)
2. Do They Care About Your Budget?
When you’re worried about budget issues (and who isn’t?), a good commercial landscape maintenance company will work with you to ease the stress.
They can help you sort out the critical issues, like an irrigation repair, from the things that can wait a bit.
And they’ll suggest ways to save money in the long run, like using drip irrigation or switching to xeriscape landscaping that needs little water.
3. Are They Tech Savvy?
Choose a landscaping company that uses the latest technology.
If they’re still using hand-written proposals, that’s going to slow you down.
A tech-savvy company can pump out a proposal in 10 minutes. They use business management software designed by landscapers for landscapers to do budgeting, estimating, scheduling, time tracking, and invoicing to meet customer needs quickly and accurately.
Tech-forward companies like North by Northwest use Apple iPhones and iPads so they can use FaceTime for instant communication.
This means work gets done on your property quickly and efficiently, with no unnecessary delays.
4. Meticulous Landscape Maintenance
Landscape maintenance for retail centers makes a big impact. You need meticulous maintenance.
- Healthy, weed-free turf shows the property is well maintained.
- Trees, shrubs, and flowers add pretty appeal.
- Attention to safety means tree limbs aren’t tumbling down on walkways or scratching cars
No dead plants, weeds, overgrown limbs, or litter in the parking lot, please.
5. Is Irrigation Maintenance a Top Priority?
A big part of keeping your turf, shrubs, and plants lush and healthy is top-notch irrigation.
Look for a landscape maintenance company that emphasizes on-going irrigation maintenance, including monthly walkthroughs by irrigation technicians to stay ahead of any problems.
An irrigation tech should check your system for small issues like broken spray heads and leaky nozzles before they turn into big, costly problems.
They check all the system’s run times to make sure it isn’t watering the landscaping too much or too little.
Regular irrigation inspections keep everything running smoothly — and keep your costs down.
6. Do They Know a Retail Center’s Particular Needs?
If a landscape company specializes in industrial warehouse properties or HOAs, they might not be in tune with the specific needs of a busy retail center, from working around busy shopping times to enhancements that attract new tenants.
Tree trimming is just one example. It’s a tricky task at a shopping center.
Are crews willing to show up to work in the middle of the night?
North by Northwest crews trimmed trees at the Mueller Shopping Center from 9 pm to 4 a.m. to trim trees when there were no shoppers or vehicles on site.
Hire a company with experience meeting your unique landscape needs.
7. Can They Tackle a Multitude of Tasks?
You want a landscape maintenance company that makes your job easier — and that means having the skills and knowledge to tackle a lot more than just mowing and mulching.
North by Northwest crews installed an iron hand railing at the Mueller Shopping Center, added river rock with steel edging; replaced electric box covers; and installed permanent holiday-style lighting — all tasks that saved the property manager the hassle of hiring other vendors.
8. Do They Stress Safety?
Good landscape maintenance companies don’t just make things pretty. They keep your commercial property safe by looking out for potential safety hazards.
Dead branches could topple onto pedestrians or cars. Wayward branches can snag passersby. Overgrown shrubs can hamper visibility and obscure signage. Cracked or crumbling paths are trip hazards.
But not if your commercial landscaping company sees them first.
9. A Top-notch Account Manager is Everything
Will your commercial landscape company provide you with a superstar account manager?
A great account manager handles all your landscaping worries. You should barely have to give it a thought. 
That leaves you more time and brain power for the rest of your demanding job.
10. Are They Proactive?
You’re hiring landscaping experts, so they should recommend ways you can improve your retail center landscape and suggest action before you need to ask.
Would updated landscaping by your signage draw more attention?
Do some dead tree branches need pruning — before they crash onto a shopper’s parked car?
If they suggest improvements you hadn’t even considered, bonus points!
11. How’s Their Communication?
Do you hear bells ringing, or is it just us? This one is huge.
You have a lot on your hands. You shouldn’t have to be the one constantly calling, emailing, or texting your landscaping company to find out when they’re showing up, what they’ll be doing, or bugging them to take care of a task they were supposed to do last month.
North by Northwest account managers will text you photos of potential problems on your property and send you prompt follow-up emails detailing exactly what crews just accomplished.
When you leave a message, we’ll call you back promptly. You can count on it.
Clear, honest communication will keep things running smoothly.
12. Making Things Easy
Landscape maintenance companies should make your job easier.
They keep your irrigation running smoothly and your property safe from hazards and liability issues.
They don’t bug you about it. They just do it — so you can focus on all the other tasks on your list.
You need a commercial landscaping company that not only makes your job easy, but who makes you look good. 
Go ahead and take credit for how great your property looks.
We boost your property’s value and appeal with the latest amenities in a process that goes so smoothly, you’ll wonder why you waited.
Need a Great Landscape Company for Your Retail Center in Austin, TX? Trust North by Northwest
We want to be the people you can trust to show up, deliver great results, and make your life easier.
When it’s time for you to choose a top-notch commercial landscaping company to handle your retail property’s needs, do your research, ask questions, check reviews, see who’s the best fit for you.
Make an informed decision. We wish you the best and hope you decide the best is us.
Are you ready for stress-free landscaping? Schedule a time to meet with one of our experts today. We’ll gather the details, create a customized plan just for you, and you can stop stressing as we improve and beautify your Austin, TX property.
