Landscape Audits
Did you know? Landscaping is the biggest waste of your money!
Landscape Audits are Ideal for:
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HOAs (Home Owner's Associations)
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Property Management Companies
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Any Real Estate Development
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Corporate Campuses
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Resort/Hospitality
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....and more
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The 'Root' of the Problem
-Most landscapes are over-designed with too many plants 'per square foot'
-Extensive & unused lawn areas (in addition to pesticides)
-Irrigation systems which are never updated/analyzed
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We Need to Re-Program Our Brains
-The 'human mentality' is that our plants must be sheared/manicured into odd shapes and we must have beautiful lush 'extensive' lawn areas. In all reality, this 'mentality' is the opposite of how our landscapes should be, and the MAIN reason property owners are wasting their money.
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The Result
Too many plants per square foot - a waste of money
Hedges everywhere - high maintenance
Trees 'Balls'
This is a perfect example of plant material being trimmed that does not need to be trimmed
Blocked Signage and too many plants
Native Sea Grape
Waste of government money, unsightly and high maintenance
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There should have been only one row of (small-medium-sized) shrubs between these two walks. The lawn is a waste and (properly) irrigating this takes more zones
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If I could see the phone number at the bottom, I might be interested in buying a house
Also, Native Sea Grape
Yes, this is how big it gets (and should get!), so why do we plant them like the picture to the left?
The beauty of a plant is in its' natural form and size with minimal maintenance, so why are we butchering our plants?
Landscapes Need to Change
With proper design, plant selection and an implemented maintenance plan, landscapes should look natural and allowed to mature.....like this!
Less lawn....more natural....no shearing/hedges
The Audit
Lawn Areas
-What is needed for 'functional uses'?
-Do you honestly need all your lawn areas that no one even steps foot in?
-Could some lawn area be turned into natural habitats which you don't have to spend additional money on to mow/apply pesticides/irrigate?
-Are you wasting irrigation on your lawn?
-Lawn costs more to maintain than shrubs. Could some lawn areas be removed and replaced with low maintenance plants?
-Pesticides (fertilizer/weed control) - are there natural/more environmentally friendly options available other than the typical chemicals? We agree there is not much success for weed control, but there are for fertilizers. The ultimate question is, "Does it need treated at all?" Weeds have flowers that are still good for wildlife, so maybe concentrate on the fertilizer and not so much the weed control, after all, weeds are still 'green'.
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Plant Material
-Are you shearing/creating hedges out of all your plants? Shaping trees? Why?
-Do they actually need trimmed? Did you know not everything needs to be trimmed?
-Do you have too many plants 'per square foot'? Less plants 'per square foot' is actually better and healthier for the plants.
-Are you replacing plants often? Why?
-Can you see signage?
-Are plants blocking emergency equipment like fire hydrants?
-Do you have plants blocking your line of sight (pedestrians and vehicles ) which can be a safety issue?
-Do you have any invasive plants? Even plants that are not on an official invasive list; can be invasive.
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Irrigation
-Do you have one?
-Does it work and does it work properly?
-Are the lawn areas separate from the planting beds?
-Do you actually need to water everything?
-Potable or Non-potable water coming through the system? Does it have the right equipment for the type of water?
-Is anything leaking?
-Is there a separate water meter for the system?
-How much are you spending on water each month?
-Does the contractor come through and test everything?
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General
-Who handles your landscape related needs for your property? Property management company? Yourselves? Is it working? Do you know if you are wasting or saving money?
-How much money are you currently spending on mowing/maintenance/irrigation/new plantings? Budget? Overflow/Extras?
-How is your current (and past) maintenance contracts set up?
-What do you do when you need landscape work done? Deal with one contractor? Call multiple to get quotes?
-Do you have an established maintenance plan?
-Do you have a replacement/renovation plan for lawn/planting areas?
Goal and Purpose of the Audit and Proposed Solutions by GSB Landscape Architecture
Much Lower Construction Costs
Reduced Maintenance and Maintenance Costs
Increased Aesthetics
More Environmentally Friendly
Education
Right Plant, Right Place, Right Space
There is a saying in the landscape industry, 'Right Plant, Right Place', which incorporates looking at a plants needs (light, water, soil, wind exposure, salt tolerance, etc) when selecting and installing plants. The key components which no one takes into consideration is the mature size (height AND width) and properly spacing the plants appropriately, so they can grow into their mature size (and natural shape)....hence, 'Right Space'. GSB Landscape Architecture created the 'Right Space' terminology extension to this saying and practices it on every project.