How To Keep Your Office Building Looking Great During the California Drought

There is chronic illness spreading its way throughout the state of California, and its impact is devastating. Millions already have the disease in their bloodstream, and since it is highly contagious, countless others will soon be infected with its germs.

It is known as End-of-the-Weekend Syndrome, and its symptoms include extreme stress Sunday night, fear of returning to work, and hopeless motivation to do anything productive.

Work is considered “the grind” and people often look more like the walking dead than the actual living, breathing souls they are supposed to be. But there is also an easy prescription to this problem: make work more glamorous and beautiful!

People are more productive and inspired in a place that feels welcoming and homey, which usually looks something like a blossoming garden. Unfortunately, this task has become increasingly difficult due to California’s drought shriveling up any hopeful blade of grass. Luckily, there is a solution when it comes to revitalizing the office (both its employees and the building) once again without using much water. It may just keep everyone from walking in like the crisped up twigs currently shrouding your office landscape.

Miracle Medicine #1: Pavements:

Concrete can’t die, unlike grass, and it needs no tending, water, or words of encouragement to grow into something beautiful. A well-paved walkway can be the simple solution to the collection of brown tumbleweeds slowly gathering out front. However, be tasteful about it. Most buildings are made of concrete, so don’t simply go out and stick more of the stuff on the ground; this is one place where matching doesn’t work.

Get creative! Choose different textured and colored tiles to make a fun pattern, or stained wood to give a nod to a classy-but-rustic astatic. Outdoor paints and stains, available at most home refurbishing or hardware stores, offer previously poured concrete a fresh appeal, and it’ll save both the stress and money of having to rip out rock.

Miracle Medicine #2: Mulch and bedding:

Paired with a neat walkway, mulch and bedding can be added between tiles or around stone patterns to add different textures, colors, and plant life without breaking the bank. Mulch is usually chopped bits of tree bark and other rich minerals like soils and sands that still give an “earthy feel” to an environment. Beddings, such as mosses and clover, grow quickly with little water so your office can still have greenery without using those other water guzzlers like grasses, trees and high maintenance shrubs.

Miracle Medicine #3: Succulents:

Sometimes Mother Nature lives within us, and we need to let her out in expressions of lush greenery. I hear you; I love a good garden! Fortunately, succulents, and other desert type plants allow my fellow flower lovers to enjoy plants without having the burden of using excessive amounts of water.

These plants can turn a dry desert office into a much-needed oasis and they include succulents, cactus breeds, and flowers. Yes! Flowers! Many cacti and desert shrubs create incredible flowers of brilliant color that will please even the worst brown thumb in town because they are beautiful yet require little human intervention.

Miracle Medicine # 4: Artificial lawns:

Can’t get enough lawn? You can still have the turf, and yet keep off the grass with artificial lawns. No, these aren’t the tacky, prickly, supper-fake looking grasses that we all saw back in the 60s when AstroTurf first made an appearance. These new and improved lawns look just as wonderful and inviting as the real deal without having to face the water issues. Fake lawns are made of a multitude of materials from recycled plastic to fabric, can be installed in most locations, and are weather and water resistant.

Still want the true greenery, but can’t keep the lawn green? Try a fresh coat of lawn paint! Many landscaping companies provide a grass paint that can be sprayed over crunchy, dead grass to give it a fresh breath of new life. And it looks natural because the paint is made with nontoxic, plant dye extracted from other green machines like spinach.

Miracle Medicine #5: Cheat the Water:

H20 comes with a hefty ransom these days. We can’t use as much as we used to, so its time to cut corners when we can. Many old sprinkler systems and irrigation methods were designed when water was in surplus, but are now considered obsolete and not efficient. Update the system! Our iPhones need an upgrade, so does our water management. Many landscaping services offer free estimates on projects and can help figure out a better, more environmentally friendly way to build your garden and fix outdated sprinklers.

Smile! The sun is out, but just because water can’t always beat the heat doesn’t mean the office garden has to suffer. Visit your landscape doctor for some advice on a new, healthy lifestyle because your plants, and employees, will thank you.

For more information on drought friendly solutions, or if you want more ideas on how to improve the relationship with your office walkway, visit us at Western Landscape Maintenance or call 1(888) 829-8333.