Grounds and Landscaping

Weather predictions for 2022 confirm what Californians already feel in their bones

Drought is here to stay—at least through the summer. Driving this reality home, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in March calling for the State Water Board to consider “banning irrigation of non-functional turf in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors” except in rare situations. What will this ban mean to your landscaping and grounds maintenance operations, and how can organizations, nationwide, become responsible water stewards?

We’ve turned to the experts and, from their data and suggestions, compiled our top picks. Here are seven best practices in landscaping for 2022.

Tip 1: Begin with a plan

A commercial landscape that is both aesthetically pleasing and water-wise starts with a blueprint—one that includes everything from plant placement to surface materials to upkeep schedules. Beale Air Force Base in Northern California relies on just such a blueprint to maintain its grounds efficiently. Their detailed plan covers everything from the incorporation of existing trees to the placement of Sonoma Goldstone to the arrangement of new water-wise plants—including Mexican Bush Sage, Quadracolor Agave, Italian Cyprus, and Red New Zealand Flax.

Tip 2: Use mulch

In addition to being decorative, mulch adds an extra protective layer between plant roots and air. A weed-growth and erosion inhibitor, mulch also reduces evaporation—translating to less frequent watering.

One organization that’s making the most of mulch is the General Services Administration, a federal agency that manages a portfolio of buildings and grounds valued at more than $500 billion. At many of these properties, including a swath of land in downtown Sacramento, the GSA uses mulch to provide a fresh, manicured look and achieve its environmental impact goals.

Tip 3: Choose drought-tolerant plants

Before the drought, the use of native plants was enough to spare water. Now, however, commercial landscapes will thrive with plants that are both native and water-wise.

A drought-tolerant California landscape favorite is Ceanothus, which, with its bluish blossoms, is not only beautiful but is also a magnet for pollinators. And with so many varieties available, you can always find the right growth pattern to fit your needs.

Tip 4: Enhance landscapes with stone and gravel

Available in myriad colors and textures, stone and gravel make for innovative, drought tolerant designs. Think dry creek beds, Zen gardens, and geometric patterns—none of which need water.

This approach to water conservations has proven so successful that it’s been adopted by the U.S. military. At Beale Air Force Base, the turf surrounding the Ops building was recently replaced with stone and gravel of contrasting colors and varied textures. The result was a neat, manicured aesthetic that reflects the disciplined order of the Air Force and meets the base’s water conservation goals.

Tip 5: Consider using hardscapes

A cousin to stone and gravel, hardscapes refer to the built aspects of a landscape, including staircases, fireplaces, pavers, retaining walls, bridges, and more. Hardscapes are an ideal way to create space for outdoor meetings and “personal health” spaces for those who occupy nearby buildings.

Sacramento County Regional Sanitation District now boasts a simple outdoor “contemplation space.” Here, shady trees and colorful flowers surround benches and a walkway, making the space an ideal resting spot for employees who need a break from the demanding work of treating Sacramento County’s waste water.

Tip 6: Install smart irrigation systems

Such systems use moisture sensors to monitor growing conditions, and turn the water on or off as needed—and only where needed. These systems also tap into local weather data, which they use to adjust the watering schedule—so you’ll never find your sprinklers running during a rainstorm.

Smart irrigation can save you up to 15 gallons per watering cycle. Best of all, a smart system allows you to take a more hands-off approach, freeing you to focus on other grounds maintenance issues.

Tip 7: Let the grass grow a bit longer

If your property includes grass, consider keeping it on the long side. Slightly taller grass goes a long way to shade root systems and reduce evaporation, keeping soil moist for longer periods. Experts recommend setting mower blades to three inches.

Keep in mind too that grass species vary widely in their need for water. You can cut down on the cost of maintaining a lawn by choosing a grass that thrives with less hydration. Hybrid Bermuda, for example, is extremely well adapted to low water needs and can save a facility around 30 percent on irrigation water bills per year—while still providing a lush appearance.

Making the most of a scarce resource

The California drought is in its third year. Meanwhile, according to federal climate officials, early May’s first week found 45.01 percent of the U.S. and 53.77 percent of the lower 48 states in drought. Under these circumstances, water-wise strategies don’t just produce innovative, creative landscapes—they also demonstrate an organization’s commitment to environmental stewardship. That’s a value-added proposition that many of today’s environmentally conscious customers are looking for.

Your Conservation Partner

PRIDE Industries has more than three decades of experience in landscaping and grounds care. Our highly trained staff will keep your grounds lush and beautiful—and help you conserve water while doing so.

Californians know what it takes to deal with drought

But in early 2022, the severity of the state’s drought passed a new milestone, with “the driest first three months of the year” ever in California history.

In response, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order addressing the statewide drought, saying:

While we have made historic investments to protect our communities, economy, and ecosystems from the worsening drought across the West, it is clear we need to do more. Today, I am calling on local water agencies to implement more aggressive water conservation measures.

These water conservation measures allow each water provider to set its own rules. However, these rules must be based on Level 2 Water Shortage Contingency Plans, which are designed to help local communities cope with water shortages of up to 20 percent.

Level 2 plans could mean reducing the number of days when residents can water outdoors, for example. The scope of action rests with each local water management team, who can request funding to carry out their water conservation plans.

Enabling water conservation across California

Being savvy about water usage ensures that communities can access an adequate water supply, even when shortages exist. It also helps residents lower their water bills.

One company that exemplifies the benefits of carefully planned water use is the Golden State Water Company, which has partnered with PRIDE Industries to help nearly 80 communities across California enjoy greater water efficiency. The partnership encourages wise water usage, regardless of drought conditions.

As part of this conservation effort, PRIDE Industries employees help GSWC customers in a number of ways. They replace and install water-efficient devices for home use—including toilets, showerheads, and aerators. They distribute rain barrels for water capture. They even package and distribute water-saving devices that help residents cut down on water use.

Jim Schafer, director of Projects & Energy Services at PRIDE Industries, said the partnership underscores a key focus on people and planet.

PRIDE Industries and the Golden State Water Company have partnered together to provide a diverse workforce. These highly respected workers help deliver efficient water conservation programs during a critical time of drought. With every new installation or piece of kit that gets sent out, our people are helping look after water as a precious resource. They are making an essential difference to many local communities.

Managing water resources in the Golden State

The conservation of water, particularly during times of drought, requires innovative solutions like the GSWC/PRIDE Industries partnership. Thriving during a drought also depends on the daily decisions and best practices of multiple actors: residents, communities, and businesses.

As one of the largest users of water, commercial facilities have much to contribute through conservation—saving this precious resource for other essential applications such as farming. Businesses also have much to gain by reducing their water use, as the price of this commodity continues to rise.

Fortunately, facilities managers today have even more options for water conservation than the average resident, making their role in combatting the drought more crucial than ever.

Your Conservation Partner

As one of the largest users of water, commercial facilities have much to contribute through conservation.

As summer nears, facilities managers are focused on maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces that enhance their customers’ experience. Yet this year, the annual “spring spruce-up” is likely to be impacted by rising costs and other global challenges. Let’s take a look at some of the key trends in grounds and landscaping.

Promoting Sustainability

Increasingly, sustainability must factor into the outdoor design and maintenance of commercial real estate. In California, for example, facilities must comply with the Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (MWELO), which regulates water usage in outdoor landscaping.

Experts recommend a range of best practices for incorporating sustainability into commercial landscaping. For example, you might consider:

Choosing native plants that won’t become invasive, yet can withstand drought conditions.
Adding strategic landscaping that can also help regulate building temperatures.
Introducing beneficial insects that can help naturally deter pests.

Strengthening Resilience to Climate Change

With every landscaping decision, facilities managers must consider climate change resilience. You might begin by asking:

How energy efficient is your organization’s landscaping?
What incremental improvements could be made this year?
Could you begin planning longer-term modifications over a five- or 10-year period?
Are your customers likely to make decisions based on brand commitments?
If so, is your organization on the same page as its customer base, in terms of climate change?

In addition to longer-term climate change, you must also plan for the impacts of seasonal weather patterns. Damage caused by summer storms and flooding, for example, often triggers reactive maintenance.

Unfortunately, reactive maintenance does not allow for adequate planning, and can lead to expensive repairs. Your organization may also experience costly downtime in the aftermath of unexpected events.

In today’s environment, you must make key decisions with both climate change and seasonal weather patterns in mind. Allocate a portion of your budget to reactive maintenance, while providing longer-term recommendations that sync with the values of your customers. This approach will buffer your maintenance budget from the unexpected.

Managing Supply Chain Disruptions

Are supply chain challenges delaying the delivery of preferred landscaping materials or equipment? If these global difficulties are affecting your commercial groundskeeping, you may want to recalibrate your near-term priorities. Simply put, use this time to focus on what you can more readily influence.

Start with an assessment of your existing outdoor space. Is there any overgrown shrubbery, possibly blocking signage? Are weeds creeping into curbs or parking lots? By proactively and regularly addressing these areas, you’ll help ensure a welcoming first impression of your premises.

Areas that are not commonly seen by the public tend to fall low on the maintenance priority list. Take the time now to uplift all outdoor zones, including storage spaces and employee break rooms. Relatively simple updates—such as adding colorful flowers or changing seasonal plantings—can help shape a positive and healthy work environment.

Tackling Labor Shortages

Labor shortages have impacted many groundskeeping teams across the country. The prevalence of covid continues to impact resourcing, while the general labor market remains tight.

If you’re finding it difficult to fill essential positions, consider an interim staffing solution. By leveraging a flexible talent partnership, you’ll get access to experienced workers when you need them most. Customizable or outsourced staffing solutions offer many benefits. They can help you reduce overhead, for example, while shortening the time to hire.

If you’re seeking a service provider to help support your groundskeeping efforts, look for a team with a track record in landscaping services. Make sure the company has up-to-date licenses and certifications, professional and vetted technicians, and a great attitude towards customer service.

A Partner You Can Rely On

At PRIDE Industries, we help hundreds of customers keep their grounds beautiful and their maintenance costs low. Our broad range of landscaping and groundskeeping services is backed by a 30-year track record of success. And because we know you can’t always predict when you’ll need extra help, our award-winning customer service is available 24/7. Contact us today to learn more.

As a licensed landscape contractor, Nancy Santoriello belongs to the National Association of Landscape Professionals. She has 20 years of experience in landscape operations and horticultural commercial production, as well as a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of California, Davis.

Nancy lives in California, where she enjoys indulging her green thumb.

“I have a vegetable garden at home, and one in a nearby community garden. I grow everything from arugula to zucchini,” she says. “I love plants and the outdoors, so I certainly picked the right career.”

We recently spoke with Nancy about the issues faced by facilities professionals who manage outdoor spaces. Read her insights on planning for drought, what to expect from new legislation, and more.

Integrated Facilities Services News (IFSN): Operational planning is certainly a key topic. For example, California recently passed legislation banning the sale of gas-powered landscaping equipment. What are your thoughts on that, and do you expect similar changes to take place outside California?

Nancy: In my opinion, this trend will eventually expand beyond California and into many other states. From an operational perspective, the legislation is likely to increase customer costs while impacting efficiency, at least until more manufacturers enter the electric market.

The main challenge is that even though battery technology has improved significantly in the last few years, commercial electric equipment continues to lag in power and efficiency compared to its gas-powered counterpart.

Groundskeeping teams typically use their equipment for five to seven hours per day. If a single battery is not able to supply the power needed to meet that goal, then two or three batteries might be required each day, for each landscaper on site. This drains efficiency, adding more time to complete jobs, which increases labor costs.

More manufacturers will eventually enter the electric market, which should drive down prices. But for now, batteries for commercial landscape equipment continue to be very expensive. In the short term, this will mean higher costs, despite the fuel and maintenance savings of not having a gas-powered engine.

IFSN: What can facilities managers do to address these concerns?

Nancy: We need to tackle this challenge in two different ways. First, as industry leaders we need to continue putting pressure on equipment manufacturers to develop more efficient electric equipment, because this trend towards greener solutions is likely to expand across the United States.

Next, we need to educate our customers and stakeholders on the effect these changes will have on their bottom line. Between new equipment regulations, new pesticide restrictions, water restrictions, rising labor costs, and other challenges, our industry looks vastly different today than it did a decade ago.

Finally, when installing new landscapes, or modifying or re-designing existing landscapes, we must take these challenges into consideration. ‘Low maintenance’ does not mean what it did yesterday, so we need to redefine that term.

IFSN: Drought is a big concern in our industry. What advice do you have for facilities managers who are implementing conservation and preparedness plans?

Nancy: As a starting point, consider replacing grass with trees. This can help reduce water usage, while achieving cost savings from reduced maintenance. In general, if replacing plants is within your budget, consider using drought-tolerant, well-adapted plants. California natives are a great option.

When choosing drought-resistant natives, you might consider:

Arbutus unedo – Strawberry tree
Cercis occidentalis – Western Redbud
Muhlenbergia rigens – Deergrass
Salvia leucophylla – Purple Sage
Baccharis pilularis – Dwarf coyote brush

Also, closely monitor your irrigation system. This is extremely important for a couple of reasons. First, you want to make sure that it’s fully operational. Second, you can program it according to the needs of the plant material and the seasonal conditions, both of which change over time. In addition, if your budget allows, consider upgrading your irrigation. Newer systems use more sophisticated clocks and emitters for greater efficiency.

IFSN: Labor shortages are also an ongoing concern for many facilities managers. What advice can you offer leaders who are looking for a fresh approach to team resourcing?

Nancy: It’s not always enough to post a job ad and hope for quality applicants. If you want to build a reliable workforce, one that’s highly dedicated, you need to take a broad approach to recruiting. People with disabilities, for example, are sometimes overlooked. But with just a bit of support, they can be very reliable, productive workers. I’ve worked with many people with disabilities, and I’ve long been impressed with the great work ethic and positive attitude that so many bring to the job. That’s why I recommend proactively recruiting people from diverse backgrounds, such as people with disabilities and veterans. You’ll not only build a great workforce this way, you’ll also make a positive impact in your community.

IFSN: Outdoor spaces are key to community life. They proved particularly vital throughout the pandemic. As we move forward, how can facilities managers continue to engage the public?

Nancy: Whether you manage a commercial facility, a government site, or any other large operation, your grounds reflect your organization’s values. With that in mind, don’t overlook the opportunity to connect the roots of your mission with the roots of your plants and trees.

That means going a step beyond your competitors. For example, consider adding signage that educates visitors on the flora and fauna they are likely to come across. Then, post some examples on your organization’s social media. Invite people to share photos, to vote on new additions to your grounds, etc. Whether online or in person, explain why your grounds are designed a certain way. Tell the story of your landscaped environment, and invite people to become a part of that story.

Looking for Reliable & Responsive Landscaping Professionals?

PRIDE Industries maintains more than three million acres nationwide at commercial, federal, and local government facilities. Our 24/7 customer service and highly certified professionals can help you tackle any problem. Contact us to see how.

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“Your grounds reflect your organization's values...don't overlook the opportunity to connect the roots of your mission with the roots of your plants and trees.”

—Nancy Santoriello, Regional Operations Director, Commercial Facilities

PRIDE Industries Gets a Sensitive Military Forensic Lab into Pristine Condition

Located in the Gillem Enclave in Forest Park, Georgia, Fort Gillem is home to the Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC), the Department of Defense’s premier forensic center. At the DFSC, scientists and technicians examine and analyze crime scene evidence for the Army, DoD entities, and federal agencies. Center services include specialized forensic training, research and laboratory analyses, and management of the DoD Convicted Offender DNA Database Program. Since 2016, PRIDE Industries has provided facility operations and maintenance support to the DFSC, maintaining 150,000 square feet of building space. Over the last several years, we have improved the site mechanics through ongoing maintenance and added improvements.

Situation

In 2016, the Defense Forensics Science Center (DFSC) was seeking a contractor who could meet their unique needs and was up to the demanding task of keeping this vitally important lab in peak condition. Due to the exacting nature of the lab’s work, which includes handling delicate forensic evidence for the U.S. military, the DFSC must maintain a pristine environment at all times. After a thorough search, the DFSC chose PRIDE Industries to take on the crucial work of ensuring that key infrastructure elements, such as HVAC and video gate controls, were in working order. There were also important repairs to be made. In one mechanical room, for example, a series of leaks had caused water to pool on the floor.

Solution

PRIDE Industries systematically addressed each of the issues that were preventing the lab from operating at peak efficiency. Actions taken included:

Cleaning and repairing all broken systems
Documenting all center assets and implementing preventative maintenance protocols
Ensuring that HVAC temperature and humidity controls were functional and accurate
Optimizing the facility’s up-time

PRIDE Industries employed an inclusive team to make repairs and improvements. Today, this team ensures that critical systems are properly maintained. By working with PRIDE Industries, the DFSC is able to meet its diversity goals as it reaps the benefits of a proven workforce with statistically high retention rates and low turnover.

Services Provided

Repair and maintenance of HVAC systems
Repair and maintenance of gate and video gate controls
Repair of pipe leakage
Documentation of assets
Implementation of preventative maintenance protocols
Ongoing maintenance of laboratory’s critical mechanical systems
Pest control
PH monitoring
Sign making
Appliance maintenance
Grounds maintenance

Results

Assurance of laboratory-optimal environmental conditions
Maximization of up-time
Meeting of inclusivity goals
Consistent service provided by a proven, reliable workforce
Positive community impact resulting from the employment of nearly 50 local subcontractors

Highlights

150,000 sq. ft.

of building space maintained

“PRIDE Industries solved a long-term generator malfunction that had plagued the facility for years. Working side by side with the generator’s manufacturer, they were able to document and troubleshoot each failure—eventually discovering a minor manufacturing wiring assembly problem. In correcting this, PRIDE Industries relieved the DFSC of a chronic issue.”

— Fort Gillem Customer

Cutting Grounds Maintenance Costs at the World’s 2nd Largest Military Base

In 2014, PRIDE Industries began providing grounds landscape support services to Fort Campbell, a U.S. Army Installation located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. When we began, we were one of three contracted service providers. However, in time, Fort Campbell asked us to step in and take over all of the facility’s landscaping needs. In doing so, not only have we provided excellent service, we have also helped Fort Campbell fulfill its commitment to inclusion through the employment of people with disabilities—all while saving time and money.

Situation

Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Division, whose soldiers played a key role in the Gulf War. Equipped with thousands of acres of improved and semi-improved grounds, the fort’s needs include landscape installations, pest management, mowing, trimming, edging, vegetation control, mulching, aerating, fertilizing, seeding, and parking lot maintenance. Additionally, in keeping with the federal government’s commitment to hire people with disabilities, Fort Campbell wanted the benefits of this workforce—including their statistically-demonstrated high retention rates and low turnover. Finally, Fort Campbell wanted one reliable contractor, rather than three.

Solution

PRIDE Industries provides all management, supervision, labor, equipment, vehicles, and materials to maintain more than 6,200 acres of grounds at Fort Campbell—including the Kentucky cantonment area and parade grounds.

Services Provided

Landscape installations
Pest management
Mowing, trimming, and edging
Vegetation control
Mulching and aerating
Fertilizing and seeding
Parking lot maintenance

Results

Reduced site expenses by providing all required landscaping services
92% of PRIDE Industries employees who work at the base have a declared disability
PRIDE Industries consistently employs multiple military veterans on the contract

Highlights

2nd

largest military base in the world

6,217

acres maintained

Cost Savings

through one provider