Treat your trees well and you could see more green (and we don’t just mean in the canopy). Healthy, mature trees boost property value and can cool temperatures by up to 10 degrees in an urban environment. That makes tree care one of the smartest investments you can make in your property. Here’s how to maximize your ROI.

1. Only Work with a Certified Arborist

Utilizing an unqualified crew for your tree care could cause serious harm to your trees and expose you to unnecessary risk. At BrightView, our on-staff certified arborists oversee professional tree care crews that are trained to our stringent safety standards.

2. Prune Regularly

Regular pruning improves wind-resistance, maintains good clearance and sight lines, and removes dead, diseased, or weak branches before they can cause harm to people, property, or the tree itself.

3. Employ a Health Management Plan

Health management plans are designed to address and correct existing deficiencies and guard against any that could arise. After examining the conditions that impact your trees’ health—such as irrigation, soil compaction, and pest pressure—a certified arborist develops a proactive plan to help your trees thrive.

4. Cable and Brace At-Risk Trees

Young trees often need extra support; but you might be surprised to learn there are other situations that require cabling and bracing as well. For example, if a tree is leaning, showing cracks, has suffered storm damage, or has overextended limbs, it could benefit from a helping hand. An arborist may prescribe the installation of cables or braces to fortify your tree, and ultimately ensure its viability for the long term.

5. Don’t Ignore Damage to the Roots, Trunk, or Crown

The full extent of the damage could take years to become apparent, and by then, it may be too late. Plus, injury to roots, limbs, or the trunk could make your tree more susceptible to serious infections or infestations. Certified arborists can see signs the untrained eye might miss, catching problems early while they’re easier to treat and preventing costly tree removal down the line.

6. Have a Plan for Before and After Severe Storms

Regular pruning and inspection by a certified arborist are key to keeping you and your trees safe in the event of a severe storm. But what about after a severe storm? That’s where it can help to have an ongoing relationship with a qualified tree care team like BrightView. We create a customized storm response plan for our clients in advance of storm season. Then, in the event of an emergency, we’re able to mobilize our local and national resources to quickly restore safety to your property.

7. Protect Against Lightning

And speaking of storms, if you have a particularly old or valuable tree on your property, you may want to consider lightning protection. A series of copper cables can be installed (with flexible connectors that won’t impede the tree’s growth) to divert lightning bolts to the ground.

From lightning protection to routine pruning, our certified arborists and experienced tree care crews can do it all. Even better, all the services mentioned above are available with a single call, putting the expertise you need at your fingertips. Now that’s how you make tree care truly a breeze.

Much like professional athletes, sports turf is expected to perform at a higher standard. As a result, sports turf requires the care of knowledgeable, specialized pros at every phase of its lifecycle. Finding this expertise in a landscape partner is unusual, but not at BrightView. In fact, we’re the Official Field Consultant of Major League Baseball, and our experts have consulted on fields from the municipal-level up to the Olympic-level. Dig into how this expertise provides our sports turf clients with a competitive advantage.

Designed to Win

Creating a winning field begins in the design phase. Our team of experts consults on key factors like layout, location, drainage, and irrigation to ensure the best possible outcome. They also consider other use-cases for the field, such as concerts, and local weather conditions so that the potential impacts can be mitigated with smart design.

Built for Performance

Our technical evaluation limits problems before they begin. Experience makes the difference in recommending the most durable surfaces, controlling maintenance costs and maximizing investment. But the attention to detail isn’t limited to the concept phase; it also carries into execution. From the moment we break ground, we adhere closely to a comprehensive project plan that keeps track of all activities, important dates, and budgets. This ensures all trades stay in close communication and issues are troubleshooted before they become a problem. The result is a high-quality build finished on-time and on-budget.

Championship Maintenance

Once a field is complete—regardless of whether it has natural or synthetic grass—it needs continuing specialized care to stay in top form. This is also true of existing fields that are rehabbed to their original glory. At BrightView, regular aeration, irrigation tune-ups, mowing, and graphics are performed with care. And, in the event of weather events, careful steps are taken to protect the field in advance. But that’s not the only way we help protect your investment. We also consult on event scheduling to help preserve the field and conserve your maintenance budget.

If keeping your sports field in top form sounds like an Olympic sport, that’s because it is. However, having the right experts to rely on makes the task easy. Athletes at all levels deserve a consistently safe, high-quality playing surface. BrightView is the MVP you need to make it happen.

If you’re looking to make a big difference for your landscape and the environment, you can’t go wrong with a pollinator garden. Also known as bee or wildflower gardens, pollinator gardens bring beauty and beneficial insects to your property, creating a win-win for everyone. Getting started is easy, especially with the right landscape partner by your side. Here’s what to “bee” mindful of:

Choose the Right Site

For the greatest success, pollinator gardens are best located in a spot that gets at least partial sun and isn’t too windy. If the site currently has sod, it will need to be removed, and the soil tilled prior to planting your pollinator garden. Your landscape partner can advise on the best approach. 

Pro Tip: Aim to plant in clumps of a single type of plant. It makes it easier for pollinators to find their preferred food source.

Choose Native Plants

Not only are native plants well-adapted to your region, they’re also an important food source for pollinators. Check out the website for Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which maintains a list of native plants for each state. For year-round interest, we like to select plants that bloom in different seasons. 

Pro Tip: Beware of cultivars of native plants. Through selective breeding, these plants may have lost some of the qualities that originally made them attractive to pollinators.

Choose with Bees in Mind

According to the Xerces Society, bees are the most important group of pollinators because they spend most of their lives collecting pollen. In fact, a single female bee can visit hundreds of flowers in a single foraging trip. However, not all flowers are universally appealing. That’s because different species of bees have different tongues. Some have long tongues that work well for tubular blooms while others have short tongues that are better suited for small florets. Plant a mix of shapes and sizes to appeal to as many bee species as possible. 

Pro Tip: Save your red flowers for hummingbirds and butterflies. Bees can’t see red, but are attracted to purple, blue, white, and yellow.

Choose the Right Time to Plant

Spring is the best time to install a pollinator garden as it allows plenty of time for transplants to get established before their first winter freeze. If you live in a region with mild winters, fall planting could also be an option.

Pro Tip: It’s not uncommon for native plants to spend their first couple growing seasons establishing their root system instead of directing energy toward aboveground growth.

Choose the Right Landscape Provider

BrightView is experienced in implementing environmentally-friendly landscaping solutions—like pollinator gardens—across the country. Whether you’re looking to create unique outdoors spaces that attract top talent, promote healing, or enhance learning, our team of experts has you covered. Take the first step toward bringing your vision to life by scheduling a free consultation.

Believe it or not, your landscape has a secret. And being the good landscape whisperers we are, we’re going to share it: 

Landscapes don’t live forever.

Like all living things, a landscape has a lifecycle. Understanding how this lifecycle works––and the appropriate care to provide at each stage­­––can make it seem like your landscape is eternally at its peak. 

So, what are the key considerations?

Good landscape care takes into account:

• Seasonal requirements
• Your landscape’s maturity
• Areas requiring specialized expertise, such as tree care, golf courses, and sports turf

From there, a plan can be developed that meets your landscape’s individual needs. What exactly does that look like? And when do you need certain services? Let’s dig into the details! 

When you’re building new or renovating… 

You need: Landscape Development 

Good landscape development minimizes your ongoing maintenance costs. The key is skilled professionals who are trained in the latest methodologies, have a track record for delivering quality results, and are committed to finishing projects on-time and on-budget. For example, that means taking care to source healthy plant material, carefully considering irrigation plans, and providing thoughtful project management that develops solutions before problems arise.

When you’re managing an existing property… 

You need: Landscape Maintenance 

Here, the focus is maximizing the health and longevity of your landscape through ongoing fertilization, weed and pest management, and exterior upkeep. This includes maintenance during the active growing season—like mowing and edging—and less frequent seasonal tasks, like mulch, dormant pruning, and storm preparedness and response.

Then there are the aspects of your landscape that require regular upkeep from specialists, such as irrigation technicians and certified arborists. Having a partner like BrightView, who has these experts on-staff, makes life that much easier.

These include:

• Water Management
• Tree Care
• Enhancements

When winter means snow…

You need: Snow & Ice Services

Though your landscape may be dormant, planning for the care of your landscape is not. It’s helpful to have a partner who is looking out for you year-round.  That’s why you may want to consider a landscape partner who can also handle your snow services, such as BrightView. Not only is it one less partner to vet, but your landscape team is already familiar with your property, which makes planning seamless.

When you manage a golf course or playing field…

You need: Golf Course Maintenance & Sports Turf Services

Finally, it’s important to mention that golf courses and sports facilities require specialized care, which many landscape providers aren’t equipped to provide. At BrightView, we’re proud to have agronomists and veteran sports turf and golf operations consultants on-staff, helping keep your field or course at the top of its game.

Take a Holistic Approach to Landscape Services

Getting the most from your landscape involves a holistic approach. That’s why you’ll often hear us talk about the landscape lifecycle, and the importance of the having a partner who can serve your landscape throughout. At BrightView, we have experts on-staff who can handle every stage and specialty need. So instead of finding a new partner for every season of your landscape, reach out to the trusted team that already knows your property or portfolio well. Now good landscape care is seamless; and best of all, it’s no longer a secret.