What To Look for in a Commercial Landscape Architecture Firm
Landscape architecture is vital in commercial and civic development, influencing everything from permitting and drainage to safety, long-term maintenance, and how well the space works.
How Sustainable Landscape Design Is Saving Our Clients in Landscape Maintenance & Water Usage Costs
Landscape maintenance can cost $4 to $12 per square foot, which adds up quickly on civic, multifamily, and commercial sites. Outdated designs increase water use, labor needs, and recurring repairs, making long-term costs harder to control.
Sustainable landscape design offers a more innovative and cost-effective approach. It lowers water bills, reduces maintenance, and delivers lasting value across every property type.
At Evergreen Design Group, we create high-performing landscapes that do more with fewer resources.
Performing Our Due Diligence
The biggest cost savings often start before a single plant goes into the ground. Our landscape designs lay the groundwork for a landscape that’s easier to build, simpler to maintain, and less resource-intensive over time.
Our team of landscape architects looks at what the site already offers — natural drainage, healthy soil, existing trees — and prepares the design from there. Designing around what works helps avoid unnecessary grading, rework, and long-term maintenance headaches.
Here’s how that approach pays off:
- Keeping mature trees avoids costly new plantings and offers immediate shade.
- Site-sensitive grading cuts down on earthwork and minimizes erosion-control needs.
- Coordinating utilities early helps avoid conflicts with irrigation lines, tree roots, and infrastructure.
Incorporating a tree disposition plan early in the process isn’t only good ecology — it’s good economics. Preserving mature trees provides instant shade, stabilizes soil, and reduces future planting costs.
For example, the City of Phoenix found that increasing urban tree canopy by just 10% could lower summer air temperatures by about (1.4°C) — a measurable cooling effect that reduces irrigation needs in shaded zones.
Planting Plans Cut Water Use by Up to 75%
Plant choices have a major impact on two of the biggest influences on landscape cost: water use and time on site. Oregon State University found that water-efficient planting options can reduce outdoor water use by 35% to 75% — a substantial drop that adds up over time.
We prepare every planting plan at Evergreen Design Group around real site conditions — climate, sun exposure, and soil. This keeps things looking good even in high-visibility or low-access zones where crews can’t be on-site every week.
Why it matters:
- Choosing native and drought-tolerant plants can use 20% to 50% less water than traditional turf or ornamental species.
- Hydrozoning (grouping plants by watering needs) boosts irrigation efficiency and improves plant survival.
- A layered plant palette shades soil, blocks weeds, and extends mulch life.
When turf is needed, we keep it to a minimum and recommend hardy varieties like buffalograss, zoysiagrass, or hybrid Bermuda. That means less mowing, less water needs, fewer chemical inputs, and longer-lasting results.
Custom Irrigation Systems That Deliver Real Savings
When irrigation systems aren’t designed around site conditions, the result is wasted water, stressed plants, and ongoing maintenance headaches. We create irrigation designs that match the layout, plant palette, and soil profile.
Zones are calculated to deliver the right amount of water to each area, using drip irrigation in beds, rotary heads on large turf areas, and weather-based controllers that adjust automatically. This reduces runoff, protects plant health, and the numbers speak for themselves:
- Drip irrigation can reduce water use by up to 70% compared to traditional sprinkler systems, since it delivers water directly to the root zone and minimizes evaporation and runoff
- Weather-based controllers can reduce irrigation water use by 20% to 40% annually.
- Separate turf and plant zones allow for precise scheduling and lower overwatering risk.
We also prioritize systems that are easy for property managers or facility teams to adjust, monitor, and maintain.
Landscape Hardscape Designs That Don’t Need Constant Attention
Low-maintenance doesn’t have to mean low-impact. You can create functional, durable spaces with a well-thought-out landscape hardscape design.
Incorporating sustainable hardscape elements helps reduce the maintenance footprint and avoid unnecessary landscaping labor:
- Permeable pavers support stormwater goals and reduce erosion near plant beds.
- Stabilized decomposed granite offers a cost-effective, natural-looking alternative to turf in passive zones.
- Reinforced base prep and expansion joints reduce cracking, repairs, and tripping hazards over time.
Using durable hardscape surfaces in high-traffic zones reduces labor and keeps the landscape functional and accessible year-round, especially in community-facing projects or amenity centers.
Low-Maintenance Community Spaces That Are Functional and Beautiful
Community green spaces and amenities are some of the most visible — and expensive — parts of a development to maintain. Our landscape architects take a strategic approach to community amenities design so that outdoor spaces look inviting while withstanding frequent use without continuous repairs or replacements.
Rather than overbuild or overplant, we focus on usability, durability, and sustainability:
- Keeping mature trees avoids costly new plantings and offers immediate shade.
- Limiting turf to areas with a clear use — like play spaces, gathering areas, or visual corridors — means less mowing, irrigation, and unnecessary maintenance.
- Naturalized play areas use logs, boulders, native plants, and open green space instead of traditional structures, which drives down installation and upkeep costs.
Every decision at this stage shapes long-term costs. Making the right calls early can lower landscape maintenance fees, water costs, reduce capital repairs, and create a more functional, welcoming space for residents and visitors.
Work With a Team That Designs for the Future
Sustainable landscapes don’t come together by chance. They’re built through early, strategic decisions and detailed execution because every element, from plant selection to irrigation layout, influences long-term cost and reliability.
Partner with Evergreen Design Group to build a site that lasts. Contact us today to get started.
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