Contra Costa County – Landscape Maintenance – Commercial

The invoice from your commercial landscaping contractor should include the following:

• The landscape maintenance contractor’s name, physical address and license number.
• A complete list of all commercial landscaping services performed.
• An itemized list of all materials used.
• The total cost for the services, including the itemized amount charged for labor.
• A written explanation of any warranties or guarantees provided by the product manufacturers and the contractors.

Not all commercial landscape maintenance companies serving Danville, Antioch, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg and other areas guarantee their services, but most will offer a satisfaction guarantee.

If your Contra Costa County landscaper has made promises regarding the commercial landscaping services you’re contracted for, make sure that they’re willing to back up those promises and put them in writing. It’s your assurance that they’re honest about their word and it protects you and them if you need to redeem the warranty. In addition, they should be happy to warranty any installation, construction, irrigation, or other work they perform and materials they install.

The following items should be included in any written guarantee document:

• The Contra Costa County commercial landscape maintenance contractor’s name, physical address and license number.
• A description of what exactly the warranty covers. This should include whether the Contra Costa County commercial landscaping maintenance company will repair or replace faulty materials or workmanship.
• Any exclusions to the warranty or guarantee must be explicitly stated.
• Your responsibility in the case of a problem, and what you need to do in order to redeem the warranty.
• How long the warranty is valid, and whether it expires on a specific day or is prorated or diminishes over time.
• If the warranty coverage is transferable to the new owner if you sell the commercial building at which the work was done.
• Any actions or inactions on your part that may invalidate the warranty.

Commercial Lawn Services (Mowing)
Most commercial buildings, government buildings, HOAs, condos, schools, and public spaces hire commercial landscape maintenance companies to provide regular mowing and lawn services to keep grass looking manicured and tidy. Contra Costa County commercial lawn services provide mowing, weeding, edging and trimming, fertilization, irrigation and watering, and more to keep lawns looking their best.

Weeding
Weeds can quickly take over if they’re not kept in check. Local commercial landscaping maintenance companies in Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Concord, Richmond, Brentwood, Danville, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon and the rest of Contra Costa County provide weeding services to keep lawns, flower beds, sidewalks and concrete, patios, and other areas weed-free. Some also offer application of herbicides and weed prevention to keep weeds from coming back up.

Mulching
Mulching usually takes the form of pine, straw, or bark mulch applied to plants, planter beds, and the base of trees and shrubs. Mulch helps commercial gardens and plantings by preventing water from evaporating from the soil, feeding root systems, and making commercial planting areas look finished.

Shrub Trimming
Many types of shrubs and bushes require regular trimming and pruning to stay small, maintain their shape, and prevent bolting or leggy growth. Contra Costa County commercial landscape maintenance firms can often trim shrubs and bushes for aesthetic and maintenance reasons.

Trimming and Edging
Grass and other plants that grow too close to sidewalks, parking lots, planters, and other solid surfaces need to be trimmed back. Many of the best Contra Costa County groundskeeping services for commercial clients provide trimming and edging that keep landscapes looking fresh and manicured.

Flower Bed Management
Flower beds need to be cleaned, refreshed, maintained and weeded to stay beautiful and healthy. Contra Costa County commercial landscape maintenance services can provide flower bed weeding, planting, plant trimming and thinning, watering, seasonal cleaning, and other services for commercial flower beds and planting areas.

Seasonal Landscaping / Tidying
Before new growth springs up, the old and dead growth from the previous year should be cleared away. Dead areas should be pruned, leaves and other debris removed, and other seasonal cleaning should take place. Most good Contra Costa County commercial landscaping maintenance services provide annual and seasonal landscape maintenance to start your business landscaping off fresh.

Lawn Fertilizing
Green grass is beautiful, and fertilized lawns appear healthier and more lush than lawns that aren’t maintained. Contra Costa County commercial landscape maintenance services in Danville, Antioch, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, Clayton, Byron, Los Medanos, San Pablo, Rodeo, Martinez, Crockett, Discovery Bay and beyond can provide lawn fertilization that helps prevent weeds, thicken lawns, and make turf look its best.

Organic Landscape Maintenance Services
Lawn and garden chemicals can be toxic to good insects and plants as well as unwanted pests and weeds, so many local businesses request organic or nontoxic landscape maintenance services. These Contra Costa County landscape maintenance companies use natural, organic, nontoxic, and less harmful fertilizers and weed and pest preventatives to care for lawns and landscapes.

Irrigation System Installation and Maintenance
Landscape maintenance is made easier by having good, working irrigation systems to keep plants watered without overwatering or wasting water. Many Contra Costa County commercial groundskeeping services in Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Concord, Richmond, Brentwood, Danville, Antioch, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, San Ramon and other areas can also provide irrigation system installation, repair, cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring. This can allow for watering zones, specialized watering schedules, and better-functioning irrigation systems.

Brands Used By Commercial Landscape Maintenance Companies
From mowers and blowers and edgers to fertilizer, mulch, irrigation, and more. Contra Costa County commercial landscape maintenance firms use equipment and products from a number of manufacturers to keep their clients’ commercial building landscaping looking great.

Here are a number of the most popular brands used by commercial landscaping contractors in Danville, Antioch, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg and beyond.

• Honda
• Kawasaki
• Kubota
• Exmark
• Toro
• Scag
• John Deere
• Bobcat\Caterpillar
• Husqvarna
• Cub Cadet
• Stihl
• Echo
• RedMax
• Bayer
• Monsanto
• Dow
• BASF
• Syngenta

aeration
A method of increasing water and oxygen into compact soil by creating tiny slices or holes throughout the area.

Also known as: lawn aeration, soil aeration, aerator services, commercial aeration services

amendments
Amendments are organic or mineral material including peat moss, worm casings, compost, and perlite that are added to soil to improve soil composition.

Also known as: soil amendments, dirt amendment, planting amendments

annual
A plant that grows to full maturity and dies in the course of one season. Most annuals are frost sensitive and die during the winter months. Annuals usually need to be planted each year, although some may winter over in warmer climates.

Also known as: annual planting, annual flowers, annual color

commercial lawn restoration
Commercial lawn restoration is a service provided by commercial landscape maintenance companies that improves grass lawns without first killing or removing and then replacing all existing turf.

Also known as: turf restoration, grass restoration, lawn restoration services

commercial mowing lawn service
Most commercial buildings, government buildings, HOAs, condos, schools, and public spaces hire commercial landscape maintenance companies to provide regular mowing and lawn services to keep grass looking manicured and tidy. Local commercial lawn services provide mowing, weeding, edging and trimming, fertilization, irrigation and watering, and more to keep lawns looking their best.

Also known as: commercial mowing, lawn mowing, mowing services, lawn service

dethatching
Dethatching is the process of removing dead grass thatches from lawns, usually with a dethatching machine or a large dethatching rake.

Also known as: dethatch, dethatching services

edging
Edging refers to a shallow trench or physical barrier made of metal, wood, brick, or another synthetic material used to create a physical border between lawn turf and other areas like walking paths, paved surfaces, driveways, flower beds, and patios. Edging can also be a term meaning to clean along the edge of where a lawn or grass meets another, non-grassed area.

Also known as: lawn edging, edging barrier, physical edging barrier

fertilizer
Lawn fertilizer is an organic or chemical material added to feed lawns. Fertilizers are rich in nutrients including nitrogen, phosphates, and potash that are lost during mowing and growing seasons.

Also known as: grass fertilizer, lawn fertilizer, nitrogen fertilizer, weed and feed

flower bed management
Flower beds need to be cleaned, refreshed, maintained and weeded to stay beautiful and healthy. Good commercial landscape maintenance services can provide flower bed weeding, planting, plant trimming and thinning, watering, seasonal cleaning, and other services for commercial flower beds and planting areas.

Also known as: flower bed replanting, flower planting services, flower bed weeding, flower trimming and care

grass shears
Grass shears can be used to clip grass along the edge of a garden bed or other sensitive area. While using grass shears isn’t as fast of a process as using a motorized trimmer, grass shears are more easily wielded and can help protect flowers, shrubs, bushes, and other plants that can be hurt by accidental contact by traditional mowers and trimmers.

Also known as: grass clippers, grass trimmers, safety trimmers

groundskeeping
Groundskeeping is another word for landscape maintenance. It is the practice of keeping landscapes healthy and attractive. Commercial groundskeeping is specific to commercial landscaping, gardens, yards, and other areas around commercial buildings that may require planting, weeding, fertilizing, grass cutting and mowing, edging, trimming, shrub pruning, plant pruning, lawn care, annual cleaning and maintenance, path maintenance, drainage and irrigation, and other services.

Also known as: landscape maintenance, commercial groundskeeping, grounds keeping, commercial groundskeeping

irrigation system installation and maintenance
Landscape maintenance is made easier by having good, working irrigation systems to keep plants watered without overwatering or wasting water. Many local commercial groundskeeping services can also provide irrigation system installation, repair, cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring. This can allow for watering zones, specialized watering schedules, and better-functioning irrigation systems.

Also known as: landscape irrigation, irrigation maintenance

landscaping
Landscaping is the purposeful enhancement of the appearance of land, especially around buildings like homes and commercial buildings, by planting and maintaining manicured areas of lawn, plants, and hardscape features.

Also known as: landscape, landscapes

lawn
Lawns are areas of mowed grass, usually around buildings and sometimes as part of a yard or park area. Lawns require maintenance to stay trimmed, beautiful, and usable.

Also known as: lawns, commercial lawns, HOA lawns, condo lawns, small business lawns

lawn fertilizing
Green grass is beautiful, and fertilized lawns appear healthier and more lush than lawns that aren’t maintained. Good commercial landscape maintenance services can provide lawn fertilization that helps prevent weeds, thicken lawns, and make turf look its best.

Also known as: lawn fertilization, lawn fertilizing services, fertilization for lawns

mulch
Mulch is a layer of bark, peat moss, compost, shredded leaves, hay, straw, lawn or grass clippings, gravel, river stones and river rock, shredded paper, shredded plastic, or another material that’s spread over the dirt around the base of plants and other areas where grass and weeds are not wanted. The presence of mulch can help prevent water evaporation, weed growth, soil overheating, and drastic temperature changes. Some types of mulch also add a decorative feature that helps commercial landscapes look polished and stand out.

Also known as: mulches, mulching

mulching
Mulching usually takes the form of pine, straw, or bark mulch applied to plants, planter beds, and the base of trees and shrubs. Mulch helps commercial gardens and plantings by preventing water from evaporating from the soil, feeding root systems, suppressing weeds, and making commercial planting areas look finished.

Also known as: mulch application, mulching services

organic landscape maintenance services
Lawn and garden chemicals can be toxic to good insects and plants as well as unwanted pests and weeds, so many local businesses request organic or nontoxic landscape maintenance services. Good landscape maintenance companies use natural, organic, nontoxic, and less harmful fertilizers and weed and pest preventatives to care for lawns and landscapes.

Also known as: organic landscape maintenance, nontoxic landscape maintenance, natural landscaping care

perennial plants
Perennial plants life for more than one year. Unlike annuals that must be replanted every year, perennials don’t require regular replanting and usually winter over in even cold climates.

Also known as: perennials

power dethatcher
Power dethatchers are dethatching tools that are electric or gas-powered and have heavy metal tines that remove dead grass and other dead materials from lawns. Power dethatchers are used to prepare soil for seeding or replanting and they can be used annually as part of a spring cleanup program by commercial landscape maintenance companies.

Also known as: power dethatching, dethatching machine

power edger
Power edgers are gasoline-powered or electric tools with a single short blade that trims grass horizontally along lawn edges to keep lawns and grass from encroaching on walkways, driveways, or other areas.

Also known as: power edging tool, electric edger, gas-powered edger

pruning
Pruning is a popular method of cutting dead and living parts of plant off to control the size, health, and appearance of the plant. Bushes, shrubs, trees, and other large growth are the most common plants to be pruned, but even flowers and smaller plants can benefit from pruning.

Also known as: commercial pruning services, plant pruning, shrub pruning, bush pruning, tree pruning

seasonal landscaping
Before new growth springs up, old and dead growth from the previous year should be cleared away. Dead areas should be pruned, leaves and other debris removed, and other seasonal cleaning should take place. Most good commercial landscaping maintenance services provide annual and seasonal landscape maintenance to start business landscaping off fresh for the new year.

Also known as: tidying, seasonal tidying, spring landscaping, spring tidying, flower bed cleaning, leaf removal, spring landscape maintenance

selective pruning
Using pruning shears to remove or cut back unwanted limbs or branches of woody plants like shrubs, trees, and bushes is known as selective pruning. Commercial landscape maintenance companies will selectively prune overgrown branches, branches that pose hazards or problems with power lines or parking areas, or to give lawns and flower beds better sun exposure.

Also known as: selective trimming, branch pruning

shrub trimming
Many types of shrubs and bushes require regular trimming and pruning to stay small, maintain their shape, and prevent bolting or leggy growth. Good local commercial landscape maintenance firms can trim shrubs and bushes for aesthetic and maintenance reasons.

Also known as: shrub pruning

string trimmers
String trimmers, also colloquially called weed whackers, are handheld devices that use a plastic line or string that rotates at a high rate of speed to trim grass, weeds, and other thin materials along fence lines, lawn edges, building edges, and other areas where traditional mowers and trimmers can’t fit.

Also known as: weed whacker, edge trimmers, handheld grass trimmer

thatching rake:
Thatching rakes are used by commercial landscape maintenance companies to remove thatch from lawns without damaging turf. Usually it’s only dead grass that is removed in the dethatching process to keep lawns healthier and better looking.

thatch
Thatch is the mat-like buildup of grass roots and stems at the base of grass between the blades and the soil. Thatch that has grown too thick can inhibit healthy lawn growth and choke out new grass blades. Thatch should be removed regularly or annually to help lawns grow healthy.

Also known as: dead grass, grass thatch

trimming and edging
Grass and other plants that grow too close to sidewalks, parking lots, planters, and other solid surfaces need to be trimmed back. Many of the best local groundskeeping services for commercial clients provide trimming and edging that keep landscapes looking fresh and manicured.

weeding
Weeds can quickly take over if they’re not kept in check. Local commercial landscaping maintenance companies provide weeding services to keep lawns, flower beds, sidewalks and concrete, patios, and other areas weed-free. Some also offer application of herbicides and weed prevention to keep weeds from coming back up.

Also known as: weed removal, flower bed weeding, lawn weeding, lawn weed eradication

Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified commercial landscape maintenance companies?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose among local commercial landscape maintenance contractors with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies that have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only commercial landscape maintenance services rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing Diamond Certified commercial landscape maintenance services to keep your commercial building landscaping looking beautiful and inviting.

Q: What services do local landscape maintenance companies provide?

A: Typical commercial landscape maintenance services include the following:

• Commercial lawn services
• Grass mowing
• Trimming
• Edging
• Tree pruning
• Shrub trimming
• Mulching
• Weeding
• Irrigation system control audits and management
• Pressure washing
• Grounds management and commercial landscaping care plans
• Organic landscape maintenance services
• Landscape pesticide application
• Flower bed planting and management
• Turf management and lawn care
• Turf and plant fertilizing services
• Seasonal landscape cleaning and spring landscape maintenance services
• Soil testing

Q: What types of businesses and commercial buildings do commercial landscape maintenance companies serve?
A: Most commercial landscape maintenance and groundskeeping companies provide landscape maintenance services to all non-single-family-residential clients, including the following:

• Commercial office buildings
• Mixed-use buildings (combined living and commercial space)
• Retail stores
• Municipal buildings
• Government facilities
• HOA (homeowners’ association properties)
• Condominiums and apartment buildings
• Schools, colleges, and other educational facilities
• Hospitals, clinics, and health care institutions
• Churches and religious buildings
• Parks, playgrounds, and public spaces

Q: Can I do my own commercial building landscape maintenance or have my current employees also do the landscape maintenance?
A: Some small businesses and commercial buildings do have employees that are able to provide some landscape maintenance services. However, most businesses don’t have employees who are qualified, the necessary equipment, or the budget to buy or room to store landscape maintenance equipment like mowers and trimmers. It’s smart for local businesses to consider hiring local landscape maintenance companies to provide the landscape maintenance services they need.

Q: How often should I have my commercial landscape maintenance contractor visit my property?
A: That depends on your commercial property, the season, and what services you need. In the early spring or during peak grass growing season, weekly visits may be needed for mowing and trimming services. An annual spring cleaning visit may be required to get the property ready for new growth. And flower beds, planting areas, and other special locations may need regular care. Your local landscape maintenance company should be able to recommend a time frame that fits your needs and budget, and your contract should be flexible enough to allow for all of the services you need without expensive add-ons.

Q: What should I look for in a commercial landscaping services contract?
A: Your contract for commercial landscaping services should be detailed, easy to read and understand, and give specifics about your needs and expectations. Contracts should spell out the number of visits, services to be provided, day and time, number of employees, payment details, additional fees, and other details that are important to your job. If the commercial landscape maintenance contractor you’re hiring has a boilerplate contract for you to sign, feel free to ask to write in details that will cement your agreement and clarify your understanding. The contract is there to protect you and your contractor, so the more detailed, the better.

Q: Can my commercial groundskeeping service provide one-time services to get our commercial property looking good before special events?
A: Most local landscape maintenance companies are able to accommodate special services or add-ons to ready businesses and properties for special events. If you already have a local landscape maintenance company in your employ, call and ask them about adding a service. If you don’t have a company you currently work with, call and ask good local contractors to bid a one-time service. You may even find a company you want to hire for regular commercial groundskeeping services. Be sure to call well in advance to schedule such services as adding a special service may be hard to do on short notice during certain times of the year.