When you think of the urban landscape in New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island, you probably think of historic architecture, modern skyscrapers, roads, and the infrastructures that keep our towns and cities moving.
However, green spaces are an equally important part of the urban landscape, and businesses in these areas can play a vital role in beautifying urban settings.
Landscaping in an urban environment comes with numerous benefits but also some challenges. In this post, we will explore the main challenges of corporate landscape design in an urban setting and share some ways we overcome them for our clients.
The Benefits of Landscape Design and Green Infrastructure for City Dwellers and Urban Businesses
Incorporating landscape design into urban spaces has numerous benefits. For businesses, landscaping can help create more memorable corporate spaces, offering a positive experience to workers and visitors alike. Incorporating recognizable elements such as color schemes can enhance brand identity and improve brand recognition.
Some businesses even find that beautiful landscaping can help raise their social media profile and create a more positive relationship with the local community.
For individual city dwellers and workers, incorporating elements of the natural environment into urban spaces can boost morale, improve air quality through plants’ natural air purification, and even have practical benefits such as providing shade on hot days.
Challenge No. 1: Limited Space Availability
Urban spaces and business premises come in all shapes and sizes. In expensive locales such as New York City, space can be at a premium, and every square foot must be maximized.
Small sizes and oddly shaped spaces can prove challenging for businesses seeking to incorporate landscaping design. Business owners may assume that they do not have the space to integrate landscaping.
Solution: Get Creative With Green Walls, Hanging Planters, and More
No space is too small to benefit from landscaping. With a little planning and creative thinking, creating visual interest and enjoying all the benefits of landscaping for even the smallest of premises is possible.
When we start a new project, our landscape designers perform an on-site walk-through to assess the space and then use this knowledge to develop a tailored landscaping solution. Regardless of the space, our design team can create a vibrant layout that efficiently uses the available room.
Some of the best choices for businesses with limited space include vertical gardens and green walls. We also incorporate planters creatively, such as positioning them in wall niches or using hanging planters.
Challenge No. 2: Soil Quality and Drainage
Many urban settings have preexisting issues, such as poor soil quality and drainage problems. These can prove detrimental to any landscaping design, limiting a space’s potential.
Solution: Use Organic Compost and Implement Effective Drainage
Good compost can overcome poor-quality soil. At Cambridge, we use organic compost, bone and blood meal, and kelp meal treatments to improve soil quality and allow plants to thrive.
In addition, improving the soil structure and drainage system and implementing lawn aeration where appropriate can overcome drainage challenges.
Challenge No. 3: Lack of Sunlight and Extreme Weather Conditions
Tall buildings in New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey can block natural light. This can impact plants’ life cycles, making it harder for those plants to grow and thrive. Harsh weather conditions, such as rainstorms and heat waves, can add additional stress.
Due to the urban heat island effect, urban regions tend to be warmer than the surrounding rural or suburban ones. New York City, in particular, experiences an intense urban heat island effect, with temperatures averaging 9.7 degrees higher in the city than in the surrounding areas.
Solution: Choose Plants That Are Suited to These Conditions
The best way to overcome weather challenges is to choose native plant species that are optimally suited to the urban environment and local climate. Those that thrive in the shade are ideal for areas with limited sunlight, and drought-tolerant plants are an excellent choice for dry regions.
During our initial on-site walk-through with a new client, our landscape design team will consider the local weather conditions and unique factors, such as whether surrounding buildings block sunlight. We can then select plants that are best suited to the relevant conditions.
Solutions such as drip irrigation and permeable paving are critical in managing water effectively and minimizing water waste. We work with carefully selected partners to provide comprehensive irrigation solutions to ensure that plants receive consistent watering and water is not wasted.
Challenge No. 4: Maintenance Costs and Time Constraints
Consistent maintenance is essential to keep any landscape design thriving and looking pristine. However, many businesses have a restricted budget and limited staff time to dedicate to maintaining their landscaping. They may also lack the expertise to care for plants and outdoor spaces effectively.
These constraints can hinder businesses from providing plants with the care they require, such as meeting their watering needs. This can prove detrimental in the long run, with poor maintenance leading to long-term issues and increasing maintenance costs.
Solution: Choose Low-Maintenance Plants and Work With a Trusted Landscaping Partner
Plants vary tremendously in the level of care and maintenance they require. By choosing low-maintenance plants, you can reduce maintenance costs and the burden of upkeep.
At Cambridge, we offer weekly maintenance services to ensure the upkeep of your space. This can include watering, pruning, fertilizing, implementing pest control solutions, and performing regular inspections to ensure that equipment and amenities are in good working order.
Challenge No. 5: Keeping Spaces Beautiful Yet Functional
Cities are busy, bustling spaces where millions of people live and work. Issues such as limited space, narrow sidewalks, and overcrowding must be considered when designing urban landscapes.
Functionality and practicality are critical components of urban planning, including urban landscape design. The key is to create beautiful urban landscapes without sacrificing function.
It is also essential to be mindful of local rules and regulations, such as building codes and any restrictions relating to planting trees, using certain plants, or controlling pests.
Solution: Know Your Space and Choose a Provider With Excellent Local Knowledge
At Cambridge, we always prioritize ensuring an urban landscape design works well with the available space. Practicality is always at the forefront of mind, particularly in high-traffic areas. We ensure our landscape designs look beautiful without obstructing traffic flow through a space.
As a local landscape provider serving New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, and the surrounding areas, we have extensive local knowledge of the relevant state and city regulations.
When a client comes to us with a landscaping design idea, we will do our due diligence, identifying any issues and devising alternative solutions where necessary.
Our regional expertise also allows us to select the best native plant species for a given space.
Challenge No. 6: Sustainable City Landscaping
April is Earth Month, and sustainability has never been more critical. When it comes to urban sustainability, landscape design plays a key role.
Thriving green spaces that work alongside natural ecosystems can be tremendously beneficial to creating more sustainable cities. However, poor pest control, water overuse, and soil pollution can all harm delicate urban ecosystems and undermine sustainability efforts.
Solution: Green Roofs and Other Landscape Design Strategies That Enhance the Natural Ecosystem
When creating urban landscape designs, everything must be approached with sustainability in mind. From using electric tools to incorporate native plants that will not require many resources, implementing integrated pest management, choosing more sustainable building materials, and using effective irrigation systems to manage soil moisture, there are numerous ways to design urban landscapes to be as sustainable as possible.
Green roofs are one great option for urban spaces. Green roofs can help to mitigate the urban heat island effect, support biodiversity, attract beneficial insects, and reduce energy consumption.
At Cambridge, we are mindful of our impact on the environment in everything we do. We strive to reduce energy usage and emissions, conserve water, keep soil more efficient, and use electric tools instead of fossil fuels wherever possible.
Overcoming Urban Landscaping Challenges in New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island
Numerous challenges are inherent in urban planning, landscape design, and creating beautiful and functional green spaces amidst our busy cities. From space limitations to the risk of pests, businesses in urban areas must consider numerous factors.
At Cambridge, we have been designing urban landscapes for clients in New York City and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Our landscape designers have extensive local knowledge and a robust understanding of the local climate, native plant species, and practical considerations.
When you choose Cambridge for your landscape design, you gain a true partner in realizing the potential of urban landscaping for your commercial space. Our comprehensive and client-focused design process ensures we work with your premises to create beautiful, low-maintenance, and sustainable outdoor spaces that your employees, customers, and visitors will love.
Ready to get started? Check out our portfolio for some inspiration.